Since I have stomach issues with stronger stuff, my doc prescribed 2 Z-packs for my sinus infection. Day 2 of the second pack, and it’s clear this will not cure me. So they called in Levaquin, but I have to wait for the eternally-half-lived azithromycin to clear my system before taking it.
Meanwhile, my upper molars ache every time I move, and I’m developing pressure behind my nose and cheekbones. I can’t take Sudafed. It won’t be a fun couple days.
I have 3 different neti pots. I’ve started using one or the other twice a day, using the salt packs that came with my Waterpik one. I feel better for a short time after, but it’s not knocking back the infection. Here are my questions:
Should I put a few drops of grapefruit seed extract in the solution? Evidently it contains either benzalkonium or benzethonium chloride, well documented antimicrobials.
Should I try a higher concentration of salt?
Clearly my maxillary sinuses are involved - can you even get to those with a saline rinse? Would the battery powered Waterpik be worth trying?
How should I clean the pots? Also wondering when/if to sterilize them.
The Waterpik instructions call for distilled or previously boiled water, not straight tap water. Is this necessary?
Beyond that, I’m open to other suggestions for coping and maybe even killing the wee beasties while I’m in med limbo. Thanks!
My chiropractor did a ‘sinuplasty’ for me once. A long thin deflated ballon is threaded up a sinus passage. He then takes a bulb syringe and inflates the ballon quickly. This helps compress the inflammed tissue to allow air into the sinus cavity so it can drain more effectively. I know how it sounds, and its not like I would do this every day, but compared to the pain of full sinuses, its a blessing. It won’t cure the infection, but it can help relieve the pressure until the antibiotics can take effect.
Within 30 minutes, enough crud drained out that I was weak with relief. And no drugs
You said you can’t take Sudafed, but what about Afrin or other nasal decongestant spray? You can’t use it more than a couple days, but I have found it quite effective.
I am not a netipot expert but I think it can be marginally more helpful if you take a hot shower beforehand to loosen things up a little bit before going for the big flush.
I doubt a neti pot is going to affect a sinus infection at all, other than to temporarily flush out the mucus. It’s not a cure, it just relieves symptoms. I’ve found a squirt of nasal decongestant a few minutes prior to the neti pot helps clear more mucus.
For sterilization, you can wipe the spout with some rubbing alcohol.
UC, we use the Waterpik for nasal irrigation and get lots of relief. We use just plain warm tap water with salt. (It was a lifesaver for me while pregnant; I suffered from terrible dry nose/sinuses and sinus headaches).
Don’t put in too much salt; it will burn your nose out and just kill you. Too little salt and you’ll feel like you’re drowning.
My advice is to irrigate about twice as often as you’re doing now. But if you’re not getting any “yield” you should probably discontinue… Be gentle and don’t irritate the passages or you’ll just have that injury on top of your infection.
I do have some Afrin - I will try using that if I’m particularly clogged, and see if it helps the neti flush stuff out. But the weird thing is I’m not really feeling totally stuffed up - like my main passages are clear and it’s some occult, off-the-beaten-path caverns that are festering away.
I have gotten pretty skilled at using the neti - I can tilt my head so I do get some otherwise ignored areas (I can tell because the water suddenly goes glug glug, while I have that sensation you get as the congestion shifts) But I rarely feel any irritation while flushing, so that’s good. I will also try to irrigate more often - that’s a good idea. And I went ahead and bought the little battery powered Waterpik thing.
Evidently there’s some risk of my heart asploding if I have any azithromycin in my system and I start the Levaquin, but it will probably be pretty low if I wait just 48 hours to get the levels decently low. So at least I only have to make it till Sunday!
I grant that the placebo effect is real. But two things make me think this truly was bacterial - Not only did I have really bad pressure, etc., but my tonsils were full of pus. And within 24 hours of taking the first z-pack dose, I felt about 75% better.
That said, I’m not feeling terrible today. I might just hold onto the Levaquin and see how things go for a while.
And within 24 hours of taking the first z-pack dose, I felt about 75% better.