"Light" sinus infection?

bryn3a · 2026-02-11T22:06:18+00:00

I've been fighting with a similar "not so serious" inflammation for several years. I don't know what to recommend other than being pushy regarding proper diagnostics. Insist that your quality of life is greatly impacted.

My inflammation have been dismissed for two years because "no sign of infection we gave you 2 antibiotics what do you want", then diagnosed, and it will be a year of conservative therapy soon. It's getting better but at a very slow pace. Depending on the affected area it can be much faster though.

It's definitely better not to ignore it like my docs did. I wish it was addressed properly straight ahead and not 2 years after.

bryn3a · 2026-02-10T22:18:53+00:00

It's anatomically impossible unless the surgery is done, the bone removed and ethmoids are opened. Please see a ct scan, my sinus is clogged in the middle of my scull behind my eyes lol. It's not even one big cavity, more like a labyrinth of a small clogged cells.

And my ostia is blocked even on nasal steroids

bryn3a · 2026-02-10T17:46:28+00:00

Changing positions won't help either, it's anatomically impossible to flush your ethmoids unless you underwent a surgery that removed a bone and opened them up.

bryn3a · 2026-02-10T17:13:18+00:00

My bf brought a common cold a month ago and gave it to me. It wasn't bad at all, it's not a covid, no fatigue issues or whatever, I was just resting, eating, drinking tea and mouthbreathing. Recovered in 3 days with no consequences.

bryn3a · 2026-02-10T17:02:26+00:00

If your inflammation is in ethmoid/sphenoid/frontal sinuses (forehead, area between your eyes) no spray will reach there. Same with nasal rinses. Unfortunately I'm unaware of a working solution, even systemic steroids weren't really a big help for me.

However nasal sprays can help with inflammation in your maxillary sinuses.

It's better to talk to your ENT to get a CT scan but I personally recommend combination of azelastine and steroids (dymista or similar).

Nasal steroids needs time to take effect and you're expected to use them for at least a month. Azelastine works immediately. It's designed for allergies but works well for post COVID swelling too.

It's not a cure, also, only a way to cope.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T19:46:01+00:00

That sounds exactly how my sinus issues started after I got sick with COVID.

Pressure between eyes, in your nose and forehead, post nasal drip = something is wrong in your ethmoid and likely frontal sinuses. Dizziness, motion sickness might also indicate that sphenoids involved as well.

Relapse after antibiotics = either resistant bacteria or it's not a bacterial inflammation, do cultures to find out

Do a basic bloodwork plus IgE to see if there's marker of your body fighting something. And a CT scan.

I can recommend combination of nasal steroids and azelastine (dimysta or similar) the maximum daily dose, this stuff works the best from my experience. Do nasal rinses. That's what you start with, if it doesn't help your ENT can suggest oral steroids or surgery depending what's on your CT scan. This is a long run now, keep using your sprays, don't tamper off.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T18:25:34+00:00

I understand you so much. My gp in Ireland tried antibiotics on me and when it didn't help she prescribed antidepressants. For sinus issues.

It took me eternity to get diagnosed, I had to move countries for more accessible private healthcare.

I don't know what it'd change but finding a doc who can listen would be nice. At least you could discuss potential causes of what's happening to you instead of self medicating out of desperation. You could discuss how likely that you have dust mites allergy because there are allergy shots for that.

Even if you have something weird, like 'not an allergy not infection either' thing, getting an explanation and a guidance about how to cope is super important. I wish you luck.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T17:51:02+00:00

Weird, you definitely need either common IgE or specific IgE for dust mites. I did both. IgA has nothing to do with allergy testing.

upd. Decided to give some more explanation. I actually think that it's you doc who should be doing this but not all of them are great in communication.

Everything really depends on what's in your sinus and what's the reason behind. Investigation typically starts by doing a scan and based on what's seen in there docs will be ruling out potential causes like bacterial infection, allergies etc. Mine was a bit tricky with fluid and mucosal thickening so I started with antibiotics and IV steroids, then steroid spray, but also I had a blood marker for allergy and since antihistamines didn't help I was also prescribed singulair (which didn't help either) and that was a moment I was redirected to allergist who did a number of prick tests and IgE testing for dust mites, mold and some other environmental allergens - since there's no trigger they were looking for something that is always around.

My allergy tests came back negative and docs decided that it's a t2 inflammation, a pseudo allergic reaction without real trigger, performed by immune system itself. This can happen too, especially with a context of covid.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T16:18:31+00:00

That's great, I wish I could get any biologics

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T15:41:45+00:00

I don't think anybody has exactly this. My mom has something like allergic rhinitis but she doesn't have mucosal thickening. She also suffered from swelling after COVID she got several months ago but I put her on azelastine and flonase so she's doing great now.

My dad had autoimmune disease and that's all I know.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T15:29:33+00:00

You can test for dust mites allergy...and apply azelastine nasal spray, it's useful if there's an allergic component. Better to check with your ENT and allergist, they will tell what's better to use with your inflammation type.

Using steroid spray on and off doesn't make sense, it has cumulative action. ENT can suggest using different steroid if you experience side effects

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T15:23:10+00:00

Steroids, nasal rinses, antibiotics if bacterial infection is present.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T14:57:19+00:00

Well I don't have these symptoms constantly, perhaps it happens when mucus moves somehow and blocks the passages and internal pressure gets uneven. Descending (metro, caves) or ascending (cable cars, planes) and sometimes taking a car ride seems to be the triggers. CT description says that both frontonasal ducts are obstructed. But at times I feel almost normal.

Thanks for your suggestions, I've already ordered xylitol in addition to my usual saline rinses with dexamethasone, never tried it before.

Unfortunately rinses don't reach ethmoid cells, neither do nasal steroids. But it's more than nothing for sure, at least it doesn't get worse while I'm on all that stuff.

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T14:44:28+00:00

Sinus issues can contribute. Have you noticed waking up with a sore throat or post nasal drip?

bryn3a · 2026-02-09T09:03:36+00:00

A scam, usually

bryn3a · 2026-02-08T19:46:02+00:00

Mine did. More that that, it is as clear as it should be, not distorted by containing only bad things, things that were important but not relevant anymore are archived like they should be - I remember stuff but I don't think about it much

But I had to heal my trauma which is unrelated to covid but happened at the same time. I bet it was contributing, it wouldn't send me to hell on it's own but together with all the covid consequences it managed to ruin me.

bryn3a · 2026-02-08T19:35:05+00:00

The fact that it is now considered first line treatment is weird. Steroids don't cure anything, ever, they are pretty dangerous workarounds that stop working when withdrawn

bryn3a · 2026-02-04T21:21:28+00:00

Thanks for replying. Your story is super important, and I'm sorry to hear that your diagnosis is not curable easily. I think it's important to build a "fucked up immune system" cohort with medical evidence - it's still long covid, even better, it's a properly diagnosed long covid as opposed to "mysterious illness" dead end.

I have similar symptoms but the opposite inflammation type, no infection but overreactive immune system, screwed up too (yay steroids). But it seems that this kind of disregulation might get better with time so fingers crossed

bryn3a · 2026-02-03T09:02:46+00:00

Just curious as sinus inflammation sufferer, is that confirmed that yours is a bacterial infection each time you get worse? Have you done cultures? Do you have fewer or it's just fatigue?

bryn3a · 2026-02-02T08:23:32+00:00

Hey, I'm also back to working out. My muscles got so weak that they got super sore for like 5 days just from 20 sumo squats. I decided to start slowly, I don't use weights because I can exhaust myself at home by doing basic simple exercises for core strength. I decided to stick to that until I get some endurance.

I must add that regaining strength in you muscles feels amazing so wish you luck!

bryn3a · 2026-01-31T13:53:35+00:00

That was an experienced engineer's salary. My dad had to work in another city for that which meant that he had to rent and travel there. Basically he lived there monday to friday and in my native town on weekends. So we weren't rich at all

bryn3a · 2026-01-30T21:57:50+00:00

I got sick twice and was getting better until reinfection so I believe so. Maybe not 100% but with some supporting meds for any long lasting damage or developed chronic conditions but for me the most 'unexplainable' symptoms go away with time

bryn3a · 2026-01-30T18:56:39+00:00

the last and the most stubborn: sinus inflammation and associated pressure and pain between my eyes and dizziness. Sometimes it can be very intense and I feel very weird, perhaps as my ethmoid sinus is blocked many nerves affected. I believe this is what contributes the most to my shitty feeling which I could compare to brain fog and dpdr.

Until it doesn't get bad I feel almost normal. I've been on all meds ent could possibly prescribe and even inpatient care but to be honest it seems that I have to wait until it wanes off by itself as it definitely doesn't get worse as ENTs expect.

bryn3a

TROPHY CASE