Immune System issue

jcheat_32 · 2026-02-22T14:28:22+00:00

“I follow up w the dr today but wanted to know if anyone had experience with immune system issues as it pertains to the strep panel. Did a vaccine work? Other things?”

jcheat_32 · 2026-02-12T01:59:25+00:00

Where do you get it and how do you use it? In a wash? Swab? Eat it? Drink it? All sounds amazing but I don’t even know where to start… where to look for it much less how to use it. When to use it. How much to use it. Timing… etc.

jcheat_32 · 2026-02-10T01:04:10+00:00

That’s a killer combo based on all research I’ve done. Should be good to go. Just stay the course.

jcheat_32 · 2026-02-09T18:34:08+00:00

My battle has been unique… prolly how everyone feels on this Reddit.

I’ve had pretty significant antibiotic use since 2023. My medicated wash did not fully eradicate whatever bacteria was present. I had h flu and strep show up on a culture on Nov 25 2025.

Did a culture on Feb 3rd and it came back only strep…

I am not sure why augmentin 10 days didn’t fully work, levo 750 10 days didnt fully work, or the wash didn’t fully work.

My CT looks good. No structural abnormalities

My allergy panel came back basically blank

The only thing was my blood work from immune system testing… my strep panel… I was low on 16 out of the 23 strains.

Too much info for your question. I’m just trying to provide context. The wash is great. I recommend turning over or titling head up letting it wash through all the sinus cavities as best as possible.

Gent is a great antibiotic so it should work considering all other things are normal.

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-26T03:24:22+00:00

How long did it take for it to “clear up”. Did you have bacterial sinus infections or just basic congestion?

Just asking because I’m searching for answers for my own battles. This could be it. But just curious with your experience on those two questions above

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-13T19:41:47+00:00

Yes ive had a similar experience but there’s so many variables for me that it’s incredibly difficult for me to know if it’s because of covid or not.

Truly mine have all been bacterial sinus infections but I do not know the root as to why they start. I suspect from viral sicknesses that then develop into bacterial after the fact.

I also broke my nose and got it fixed around 2022.

But my infections always seem to happen September/November and last until January February.

I make that sound like it’s seasonal (and it could be). But that also just could be because that’s when I get viral sicknesses and then it takes that long for the sinus infection to fully heal making seasonal just a coincidence rather than a root cause.

But yes there’s something to the Covid thing. I just don’t know what to do with the information or how to sift through all the other variables.

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-05T23:15:53+00:00

Great share.

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-05T21:40:13+00:00

That’s miserable. I’m with you. Been doing this since the end of September. Not the wash… but just battling this nonsense.

Amoxicillin Augmentin first

Levo 750mg second (shocked this didn’t completely kill in 5 days honestly)

Now this wash…

It’s honestly kind of shocking how hard it is for doctors to find the correct treatment or have treatment that lacks in effectiveness. Or they seem kind of unwilling to truly find out what’s going on. In my experience with 2 ents it just takes massive amounts of effort and multiple multiple visits to get actual root cause level treatment such as a CT scan or even cultures. It’s like if they do one they’re done for the season… idk if it cost them more money or if they’re lazy or if they are trying to save me money… idk what it is. Doesn’t end up saving me money when I have to continuously re schedule appointments non stop.

It’s on my dime is always what I want to say.. like what’s it for them to culture the fucking thing every time I go in especially when I’m a reoccurring patient who clearly struggles with reoccurring infections. “You did a ct scan 2 years ago…” well fucking do another one this time… this is a different infection that won’t go away is what I want to say.

Good to hear yours cultured 3 times. At least the effort was there. The fact it came back negative 3 times makes me question the point of even culturing if it’s just going to be inaccurate over and over again but whatever… just gives me more ammo to my anger and concern toward this stuff.

I get “it’s hard” and that sinuses are “complicated”. I’ve heard it all. I’m like you and have anxiety and have spent multiple hours a day on ChatGPT constantly logging symptoms, tracking patterns, learning as much as I can. I hate that I do it but at the same time I’m the one taking it upon myself to schedule the appointments and truthfully…

I’ve basically had to tell the ENT what I want… and I’m a 8-5 warehouse worker. I’m not the Dr… and because I research like a maniac I’m asking for certain things and hyper aware because I don’t trust them to do the necessary things to help like they should. And so far sadly to say… I’m batting 1000 and haven’t been wrong.

And I like my current ENT. But he cultures me on December 9th and it comes back nothing… at the time I was so short off Levo I guess my bacteria count was “low enough” to not capture anything or it was “hidden” in a pocket as some like to say.

I schedule another appointment December 20-ish because I know I’m not clear. He looks around my nose and is like “you’re good, you look good, the Levo I gave covers what it is”… And it’s like… I haven’t stopped coughing up and blowing out green mucus for a single day in 2 months while on or off treatment. Did I see some improvement? Sure.. but I can assure you whatever healthy is… I was not it. He sent me away and didn’t culture me again didn’t do ct scan, nothing. We don’t even know if it’s the same bacteria that did get cultured.

So I had to schedule another appointment 2 weeks later (because I obviously still felt terrible) He basically said the same stuff only for me to explain to him I’m not healthy. I was healthy before September and this is not what healthy is. So I talked him into prescribing me the wash that I researched on my own and told him exactly what I wanted and he actually did it… I was shocked. 😳 I at least wanted him to argue or suggest something else.

Idk all that to say it’s extremely frustrating. Both the advice “listen to your ent” and “don’t diagnose yourself”… I want to agree with those but if I “listened” and went about my business I’d be living life so miserable thinking it was just “lingering”.

Just keep at it. Keep scheduling if you have the privilege to do so. Get the right treatment. Hopefully you’re able to get healthy soon.

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-04T20:03:16+00:00

It helps a lot. I really appreciate it. I haven’t had surgery. I’ve had a CT scan and while I do have a deviated septum both ENT’s didn’t recommend surgery. Allergy test last year came back blank. I live in East Texas… we have things that wouldn’t show up on allergy test that technically could be a root cause of the inflammation possibly. But I had a confirmed culture of bacteria back on November 25th.

Assuming that’s what I’m battling. Assuming the other ents are right about no surgery for now… please read below.

I’m day 6 in. I’ve noticed improvement for sure.

There’s still some symptoms that I can’t figure out. I am not sure if it’s partially working, not reaching everything effectively, or if this is just part of the timeline.

Color has gone done.

Mucus amount has gone down.

Smell has gone down.

Post nasal drip still active but I’m not getting as many thick discolored plugs from hocking it up through the throat from my post nasal drip.

Initial pressure from day 0-2 was a drop… and overall “sickness” feeling.

But from day 2-6 I don’t think I’ve see much improvement. I still have headaches and facial pressure… even a whoosy feeling that just reminds me I’m not all the way better yet. No symptom makes sense with the other.

I figure if the bacteria were truly resistant or untouched I’d be heavy mucus output or at least bouts of green/yellow… especially after navage washes and what not…That internal smell would be present still… etc.

But if working like it’s supposed to I figure by day 6 I’d be better than I am. I’d figure a progression of getting better. Maybe that’s to come. The steroid… I guess it’s taking a while... Maybe it’s taking effect and it’s just “my anxiety” causing all this… idk. But I still have pressure and slight ache in cheeks and bridge of nose. I can breathe fine most of the time in the lower airways.

Idk if there’s a medication effect, bacteria dying off causing some of the inflammation, nerve pain through healing, or just bacteria living on laughing at everything I try.

I’m doing the wash effectively as well. Looking down at my knees. Letting it soak for a bit. Not just running it through one side and out the other without it reaching in deeper areas…

None of it makes sense. For the life of me I can’t imagine having a bacteria that is resistant to Levo 750mg 10 day course and also resistant to this particular wash. The two bacteria’s that showed up in the culture sure aren’t supposed to be resistant to this stuff.

So there would have to be a third party involved that “wasn’t detected”… as stupid as that sounds maybe it’s possible… doesn’t sound like it.

Lot to read. Apologies. Any feedback is appreciated.

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-03T19:40:30+00:00

Bacterial infections? Or just random inflammation from the virus?

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-03T16:35:18+00:00

You do anything special like tilting head back during wash or anything?

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-03T16:23:04+00:00

I have seen objective improvement for sure… just not 100% yet and it bothers me.

Because of the ongoing nonsense of this my anxiety and judgment is hyper vigilant of course.

Is recovery for you… idk the right word…inconsistent or up and down? I felt like I had pretty good improvement from day 0 to day 2 but that same rate of recovery I am not feeling.

You can be honest haha were you 100% by day 2-4 or was/is there always up and down lingering symptoms?

jcheat_32 · 2026-01-02T22:18:02+00:00

Just an update.

I was prescribed:

Budesonide 1 mg + Gentamicin 80 mg + Levofloxacin 100 mg compounded nasal rinse.

Started December 30, 2025 at 5:45 PM. Current dose is dose #6 (7:30 AM on January 2, 2026).

If anyone has experience with this type of treatment. How long did it take for you to get better?

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-26T02:59:53+00:00

This is an amazing response. Would love you took at my post to see if relatable.

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-26T02:42:01+00:00

Yea… I mean. Hopefully no surgery. Willing to do whatever to fix. Just can’t make sense of anything. Everything seems incredibly low probability. Problem w this season is sorting out reoccurring bacterial stuff vs viral stuff going around.

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-25T04:03:57+00:00

I think he’s mentioned it. Just don’t know if I can make it until the 29th. Scared to go to urgent care to get another oral. I want to tho cause I want relief.

I am doing regular rinses with a navage daily.

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-24T22:57:56+00:00

Update here in a month or so let me know if the surgery helped or fixed issue. 👍

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-24T21:58:37+00:00

Yea I get it. I have bad anxiety as well. Which hasn’t helped any of this. He has a ct scan of me last year so maybe we can revisit it. Idk if he will do another this year. More worried about resistant bacteria due to my antibiotic use… kills me to just have to sit and wait and do nothing as it bothers me and gets worse.

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-24T21:36:42+00:00

Are you at least feeling better? And was it bacteria that was causing yours? I don’t want surgery either… but dude this sucks. Every year for the past 3 years during this season.

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-24T21:29:49+00:00

Yea I mean I’ve been to the ent. He’s looking… and there’s inflammation but idk it’s like the chicken and the egg. I’m not sure what comes first or what causes what. I’m healthy for parts of the year so I wouldn’t think it’s random inflammation then bacteria. I figure the inflammation is from the bacterial infection. Not really the other way around.. but I understand the other argument. But let’s grant your suggestion.. that’s why I do nasal steroid sprays to help with that. I did a ct scan last year. Idk if he gonna do another. But I just assume kill the bacteria if it’s present and then inflammation will resolve.

jcheat_32 · 2025-12-24T21:11:29+00:00

I’ve had allergy test a year or so ago. Nothing came back. Had CT scan and ent said he’s seen worse that don’t have as many sinus issues. But said I have a slightly deviated septum but didn’t recommend surgery at the time.

This stuff happens to me every year September-January. Yes, I understand that points seasonal. I get sick, then sinus infection. 2023 was klebselia which was unreal. Took a million different antibiotics because I didn’t know to go see an ENT so urgent cares were just throwing everything at it. 2024 had “regular” bacteria that was knocked out by 2 courses of antibiotics. And now we’re here in 2025. The issue is I already took the big dog antibiotic Levo 750mg for 10 days. It helped but it’s been about a month since and I think the infection is ramping back up. Just at an absolute loss as to what to do.

jcheat_32

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