I get sinus infections. A lot. Especially come cold/flu season. I am in the middle of one right now and I'm miserable. My whole upper body aches and I'm so tired, I just don't feel like exercising. They take a huge toll on my weight loss efforts and it's frustrating.

It's usually brought on by stress (or I'm more susceptible) and I seem to get one if I'm in proximity to anyone who's sick. I just cringe when anyone around me gets sick- they could have a cold for 5-7 days while I could suffer from a darn sinus infection for 2-3 weeks.

Normally, I just take OTC sinus meds (usually Sudafed (sp?), drink lots of fluids, use a lot of steam, and get extra sleep. (I hate the sinus rinses, it just makes me gag.) But still, they can last for weeks- it's not a huge life hindrance, but it's a steady body ache, congestion, and an icky smell in my nose for what seems like forever.

I have been told that surgery may be the only option to make them less frequent. But, I've also heard that surgery really may not do that much good. I'd still get them, just not as often. I've never had surgery and I'm absolutely horrified of hospitals (long story, but last time, I passed out in an emergency room :\). But, if it's something that would make a significant difference, I would be willing to look into it as an option.

Does anyone else get sinus infections or have had sinus surgery? What's your take?

Sinus infections are the WORST! I feel so bad for you!! I used to get them all the time, like weeks at a time where even my face and even molars were throbbing. I hate hate that horrible feeling...... I knew I was gonna get sick because of the sinus pain and pressure when I still felt fine.

I have since discovered Musinex DM. It's so nice to find a product that takes care of the problem, so I am not in pain any more (The Mucinex D makes me very sick-fast heart, headache, dry mouth etc), but if you tolerate Sudafed, the D might work fine for you too.

The other thing I discovered was the NETTI pot!! It's the best thing ever! I don't even have to hit up the Dr for antibiotics any more--well just once in like a year!! If you haven't tried those things, try them, they saved me.

I hope you get some relief

I've had three sinus surgeryies. The first two helped noticeably, but the third was truly miraculous. Apparently the first surgeon just did a "cleaning" of the sinuses. The second surgeon found that I had extra chambers in my sinuses, and he "remodeled" them to be more like "normal" (turning four chambers into two by removing the walls).

The second surgery also removed a fungal mass that had been growing in my sinuses. The culture wasn't successful, so they couldn't tell me what type of fungus it was (which the doctor said was actually a good sign, because the really nasty types tend to culture easily).

After that second surgery it was life-altering. The improvement was amazing. I still got at least two sinus infections a year (one of which almost always turned to pneumonia mid-winter). Then I discovered that I didn't have asthma at all, I was allergic to NSAID pain relievers. Since I stopped taking NSAIDs, I have only had one sinus infection in the past couple of years, and even colds last 3 to 5 days instead of two weeks or more.

Oh ick I know the nasal rinses are gross, but they are the ONLY thing that saves me. Maybe try it again?

Also - sleep with a humidifier (or keep one on all the time if you can).

And remember to stay hydrated!

GreenTeaYum, sinus infections can be so annoying, and of course make it difficult to breath easily. I haven't found any answers yet but wanted to say you're not alone. Hang in there.

Kaplods, could I ask a few questions about your procedure? How did they determine that the mass was fungal, like before it had to be removed, how did they determine that it needed to be removed (x-ray, mri, nasal culture, etc.)? Also, what was the procedure for removing it? Was it done using a scope? Thanks!

I went to the doctor last winter because I have two different teeth where the roots actually push right up against my sinuses, when I get a sinus infection it feels like someone trying to rip my teeth out. The doctor I saw told me that while Mucinex was originally developed to help with chest congestion, they've found that it breaks up sinus congestion just as well. She said that some doctors are even having patients with chronic sinus infections take one a day to keep the congestion from building in their sinuses. It takes a few days to really start breaking stuff up, but I used it for mine and it did a great job. Of course, something you might want to run by your doctor as I am not a doctor...just my experience.

The one thing that I cannot say enough good things about is a neti pot. Use it daily, or several times a day. It takes a bit of practice to get comfortable with using it, but it really does help. I've found it also helps tremendously with allergies.

Bleh. I feel for you. I had my first sinus infection when I was only a few weeks old. It was so bad that my eyes had swollen completely shut. I was probably the only infant in town who looked like she'd been in a bar fight.

I suffered for years and even slept in an old hospital bed during most of my childhood because it allowed my head to be raised which allowed me to sleep better.

Finally I had a doctor who told me that most people with chronic sinus issues have environmental allergies and suggested that I take an allergy pill daily.

That made a HUGE difference for me. I take a Claritin everyday now which has seriously cut down on the amount of severe sinus infections that I have (went from at least 8 a year to about 1 or 2 a year). I've also discovered that Mucinex and Afrin are my best friends when I am having issues.

I completely feel your pain! I too am a chronic sufferer of sinus infections. I only recently have gotten health insurance again so the next time I get one I'll be making a trip to my doctor and see what he says about it.

I was also going to mention allergies. My son and I both get recurrent sinus infections that start off as allergies. Mine often get bad enough that it progresses from a mere sinus infection. Last fall/early winter I was almost hospitalized because my lung capacity was so diminished after the infection passed into my lungs and caused complications with my asthma. :/ I'm talkin' 33% lung capacity left... not good stuff.

My son and I both take zyrtec. He's going to have to get back on Singulair too, since he said his breath was whistling earlier, anyway... I also use Flonase before bed so I can sleep. That. Stuff. Is. AMAZING. Within a few minutes of using it I can actually feel it opening up my sinuses. I also applaud the Neti pot. It does take some practice, but it's worth it.

I soooo feel your pain. I years I got sinus infections regularly that would have me on antibiotics for months at a time. I remember going to the dentist because my teeth were hurting, and it was my sinuses! I was finally referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. He told me to stop taking decongestants as they dry up the mucus in the sinus passages and then it blocks up. Since I stopped taking them, I haven't had an infection (it's been over 15 years).

I also hang my clothes to dry in our bedroom in the winter, to humidify the air (bonus - it saves money!). I have placed 2X4 wood blocks under the head of the bed, to raise the bed a bit. Finally, get checked for allergies/take an antihistamine. As others have said, that could help. Hope you resolve this soon!

Thank you everyone- I feel so much better just knowing that I'm not alone. You all have really good ideas that I'm certainly going to have to try. I'm curious about Mucinex, I've heard it works really well, but I've never used it. Also, I may have to look into using Claritin on a regular basis. I hate taking drugs (even OTC) if I don't absolutely have to, the side effects are killer, but I have to do something.

@ kaplods I have heard that fungus can lead to a lot of sinus infections. And honestly, I'm almost afraid to find out if there's some crazy mold in my house or something, I would not be able to live there anymore.

Is there a way they can test for that, or do they just have to go into your sinuses and poke around?

@ SeaWave I like the idea of hanging wet clothes up in the bedroom and the wood blocks under the bed. I live in a very dry area, I think that has a lot to do with my problem, but I don't like the smell of my humidfier- it makes the room have a musty smell. (Maybe I just need a better humidifier.)

I have noticed that when I have a sinus infection, using an extra pillow for elevation at night seems to help things drain better. But, it gives me a neck ache the next day too.

I had sinus surgeries 4 or 5 times before I was 12... until they discovered I was allergic to my pet hamster. Seriously. I still struggle with sinus infection problems, but nowhere near as bad. Definitely get tested for allergies. And don't be afraid to ask for a different antibiotic, if you are taking them. My sinus infections think Augmentin is candy.

Sinus rinses are good- but be careful of doing them too frequently, especially if you don't have an active infection. They are gross, and a pain, but the only thing that make me feel human when I'm having a bad infection.

Also, the surgery isn't too terribly bad. It's an outpatient procedure, and generally not even done inside of a hospital. (surgery centers are less scary to me)

It was an MRI that detected the mass, and my ENT surgeon said he suspected it was fungus, just by it's shape and location. I don't know the exact procedure for removing it, as it was removed just as part of the same surgery that remodeled my sinuses. When they took out the extra walls, they also took out the fungal ball that was I believe attached or nestled in the extra wall. The surgery was laproscopic.

I don't know if they would have removed the fungus if my sinuses were normal otherwise. But because of the very severe symptoms I had, he recommended remodeling my sinuses to look like the more normal configuration (two large chambers, as opposed to four smaller ones). He said that having the extra sinus walls created more nooks and crannies for bacteria, viruses, and fungi to grow, so that the sinus "remodel" would likely make the sinuses less hospitable as a breeding ground to "unwanted guests."

After the surgery (which was laparoscopic), he confirmed that it was a fungal mass. The mass was quite large, the diameter of a golf ball he said. He said that he could tell visually that it was some type of fungus, but he had to culture it to tell which species, and it would take several weeks to get the results back, if we got any back at all. He said that many fungi are notoriously difficult to culture.

He said that the difficulty in culturing for the most part, ruled out the two worst types of fungi/mold, because the really bad ones tend to culture easily. He named both types, but I only remember/recognized one - Aspergillus (the infamous black mold).

The symptom relief was almost immediate.

I think it depends on how big the fungal mass is, where it's located, and how they test for it.

The ENT who found it, saw it on an MRI of my sinuses. My previous ENT (in IL before we moved to WI) had done a CT scan. My new ENT said that the fungal ball probably wouldn't have shown up on a CT scan.

The new ENT said that he was almost positive it was a fungal ball from it's shape and size on the MRI and that it probably had been growing for at least six to eight years. When he removed the extra walls of my sinuses, he also removed the fungal ball and said he could tell visually that it was some type of mold.

At the time, I was also being treated for autoimmune disease and I had other immune-related illnesses, and the ENT said that fungi can cause immune problems, but that I probably had the immunity problems first, as most people are more resistant to molds. So it's a chicken and egg thing. I had to have a reduced immunity to allow the fungal ball to grow so large, and the growing fungal ball weakened my immunity further.

That surgery changed my life though, because it was a turning point for all of the symptoms I'd been having. Until that time, my weird assortment of symptoms had just been getting worse and worse. After the surgery, I finally started getting better.

Kaplods, thank you so much for sharing your experience. I'm trying to figure out some sinus issues, so hearing about successful treatments is helpful. Glad that everything worked out so well for you and that you were symptom free so quickly and haven't had any additional issues. Thanks again!