have you had fess sinus surgery?

did your sinsus cavitites become 'filled' again after surgery (with or without polyps) on subsequent mri's or ct's?

However, I had an MRI of the brain recently, and it shows that my sinuses are completely empty. They appear normal. So what accounts for my symptoms of chronic sinusitis? I think it implicates Lyme Disease, but we'll see if continued treatment helps.

I also had a brain MRI which showed clear sinuses. But, it did show a cyst right behind my right eye that my ENT says could contribute to sinusitis.

I will say, I always feel better when my yeast is under control.

Plus deviated septum, and osteoblasts (air retention pockets I was born with) that fill with fluid when I have an infection.

I've always had sinus issues since I was a kid. However, the infections didn't start until after I got Lyme.

My ENT, who was treating me for months for the sinus infection from heck (pre-Lyme dx) was pretty sure I would have to have the surgery. However, convincing him to keep me on long-term abx changed his mind. My sinuses (and Lyme symptoms) all seemed to clear up while on abx, and he felt surgery was not in my best interest.

And now that I've done lots of Candida treatment (and 8 mos. of Lyme treatment), my sinuses and allergies are better than they've been in years. And my ENT and Allergist don't think they need to see me any more.

I'd opt for skipping the surgery for now - the last thing your body needs is more stress on your immune system. Stick with the abx, flush your sinuses frequently with saline, run a humidifier near your bed, and

treat THE YEAST!!! I can almost bet that's the real culprit. Whenever I cheat and indulge in carbs, my sinuses instantly clog.

Diflucan, low carb diet, Oil of Oregano will do wonders.

I had sinus surgery in 1998 and it helped a lot but was not a cure all.

My daughter is 8 and awaiting an appointment with an LLMD next month started out with horible sinus headaches.

I think sinus headaches are one of the first symptoms for many people.

Ive had them since I was a kid but when I first got sick at 13 I had a sinus infection for 6 months strait.

ABX and Nasal-Cortis wouldnt touch it. Eventually things waxed and wained untill I started smoking cigarettes at 19.

Smoked for a year.

Then I had my first case of VERTIGO, I thought it was a brain tumor, (honestlly)

Went to an allergost and he took xrays gave me an anti and told me that I was all set.

Yea right.

Here I am7 years later with chronic phlegm in my throat and chronic vertigo for 6 months strait.

My arms feel like they are 10 feet away from me and I feel that Im always moving.

This time it was triggered by PVC mats that I exposed myself to in a sauna about 6 times.

Other guys got a sore throat, I just got a whole load of mucus, draining in my ears, ear pain, phelgm in my throat ,,....and oh yea

...did I say VERTIGO!!!!!!!!

I need some help, going to an ENT on the 30th.

I coulndt have sued the gym for enough money to make up for my suffering now.

I would pay anything just to get rid of it.

Lyme can definitely hide in the sinuses. But it can also be a different bug. Chlamydia pneumoniae is an upper respiratory bug that you might want to get tested for. I think other mycoplasma too.

I bet we were in the doctor for sinus infections about every other month. We would be on abx, and not get a whole lot better - sometimes worse. Dr. would say you've been on a long enough course of abx.

Two weeks later, back in for sinus infection. Both of my children had CAT scans that said they had chronic sinusitis.

My LD suggested I see an ENT and have a biopsy to see what bug is growing in my sinuses.
This has been an ongoing problem for 10 years now.

What are your symptoms?

Do you have vertigo at all?

I do use nasal rinses, which make a big difference. I can't use the plastic bottle that comes with the Neilmed, because of sensitivity to the plastic. I use a ceramic Neti Pot which works just fine.

Yesterday my osteopath gave me two herbal tinctures to add to the saltwater. Yerba Mansa and Anemopsis, which she says helps reduce inflammation. I'm giving them a try.

I began to get what I call "sinus migraines" in my senior year in college (1981). The first time this happened, I had traveled from the northeast to Houston for a job interview and assumed I was just allergic to Houston (many people are...). Since I was moving there, I assumed that, with time, my body would adjust and the headaches would stop. I could not have been more wrong. For starters, I had varying degrees of these headaches nearly every day for the first summer and too often for comfort thereafter. They did not go away when I left Houston 7 1/2 years later.

At their worst, my head pounded horribly and I was nauseous and could not keep food down. I refer to them as sinus migraines because of the pressure and pain in my sinuses and jaw but also the nausea and vomiting seemed more like migraine. There were days that I looked sufficiently awful that my boss would send me home for the rest of the day.

In 1989, I moved to Southern Cal, a year later, to MA, two years later to DC. My horrid headaches, which I had thought were an allergic reaction to Houston, followed me. I'd had enough and saw an ENT who did an x-ray and saw some areas of my sinuses that were partially blocked. While he was not convinced that my entire problem was due to this, he did think it might have played a large role in setting them off and that surgery would help.

And it did. I did not have a single headache of any kind for a year and a half, even when I was laid off six months later and subsequently moved to Switzlerland. Since I had always felt that stress (positive or negative) was a factor in my headaches, this amazed me.

The headaches did come back but not nearly so badly and only rarely, if ever, were the cause of missed work days after that. I have recently had some of these same type of headaches but believe that they are part of Lyme herx since starting treatment.

Please keep in mind that, at the time of my surgery, I was feeling pretty well, and indeed had no idea I was physically ill, so others will have different decision factors. I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone sees enough of their own situtaion in it to be helpful.

Also, I add depending on the symptoms, Eucalyptus oil one or two drops to the saltwater solution and sometimes H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide.

In addition to the Neti pot I also use the H2O2 in my ears- 1/2 capful in each ear daily (or if signs of cold or flu several times a day).

Recently I was introduced to the Xylitol spray and use it in nose, ears and mouth.

Here is a link re: the Neti pot for those who are unfamiliar with it's origin and usage.

Nasal Irrigation is a procedure that uses a saline solution to cleanse the nasal passages. Physicians have been recommending nasal saline irrigation since ancient times. Nasal irrigation can be used for allergy relief, sinus infection, sinusitis, snoring, post nasal drip and sinus pain.

This annotation was written by Steve Hall, M.D.
http://www.americanbluegreen.com/html/nasal_wash.html

Also, for info on Xylitol spray check out
http://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/Forum1/HTML/028514.html

Best of health,

I have this chronic drip and vertigo now for 7 months,, am I gonna live my whole life like this?

Im thinking now of yeast and or that chlamidia infection my kinesiologist told me I tested sensitive for.

My kinesiologist says it thins the mucus.

I was taking 8 guaifenessin a day.
This is costing me almost as much as that stupid gym membership did.

Damn PVC mats in the sauna.

After sitting in there once my ears were draining and there was so much mucus in my throat.

Stupid me I should have not gone back in there 6 times.

I thought I could be a man and deal with it cause I liked the sauna so much.

May the lord bless me and all of you.
I send prayers of healing, choice, forgiveness and hope.,

dont know if the iodine is doing anything.

I did stop taking antihistamines thinking that these are making the mucous more thick and not promoting drainage,

Have an appointment with the ent next week, my kinesiologist and my LLMD

wow 3 doctors in one week. One would think im going just for the attention;

gotta go clean and pay bills.

By the way Ive been putting off cleaning for years now. I have one room in particular which is a mess for years.

My sinuses are much worse now, then before treatment... and when I get into the shower... I am so stuffed up, as well as asthmatic.

I am thinking candida, because of the reaction to the humidity, but am on the nystatin and oil of oregano... but not working for the sinuses.

What are/have you people used to treat candida that affects the sinuses?

I belive that it could be candida in the sinuses for me, and was thinking to do the homeopathic candida that I had used in the past.

I also read a book on candida that was saying that many times the candida in the GUT is causing the candida in the sinuses.

The sinuses are reacting in an allergy like way to the candida in the gut, as the toxins from the candida in the gut, go into the blood stream, and then go everywhere.

Who knows,!

I use a dropper with some silver in it...two to three drops in each sinus.

I react terrible to cigarrette smoke and perfume.

This sucks because I always used to wear cologne and it never bothered me.

Now Im sensitive to everything it seems.

My LLMD keeps saying that its now yeast because Id have lots more gas.

they will check for toxic effects on the body by quantifying your levels of D-arabinitol, a specific marker for Candida sp.

Lymeherx: your llmd treats lyme, which is awesome, but really doesnt know much about yeast. some LLMDS dont. Ive actually found that MOST dont. Can you find a good ND or holistic doc to work with?

Gas is just ONE SYMPTOM Of yeast. Just one.

Allthough this chronic vertigo was triggered by the PVC mats in the sauna.

I have to belive that there is another reason that it is not clearing up apart from some sensitivity,

It is more then possible in my opinion that my sinuses were bad due to yeast or another infection apart from lyme, and the PVCs was the straw that broke the camels back.

I have been celebrating my "no more burning from sugar" by eating sugar and carbs.

This is bad bad bad,, I need to remind myself.

Im sure im feeding the yeast.

Ive done terrific on an all protein and veggie diet in the past and this is just another reason to go that route.

The thing is people I work in a high school with the yearbook and all the "kids" have all this candy and chips,, all junk food.

They think Im a freak when I dont eat it,!!

I dont have the heart to bother them with all my serious health challenges through out the years,

It bad enough when I forget there names! I just laugh it off.

They may think Im a bit odd, but funny at the same time.

I have never really complained once to them about my conditions. I commend myself for that.

I just found a doctor that is going to treat me for yeast. She thinks this really can be contributing to my dry sinuses , MCS and vertigo.

Shes giving me a anti-yeast nasal spray and some anti-fungals,, not diflucan,, I think its the same family though.

Well like my LLMD says,, well see what will happen. Wait untill I tell him that this other doctor gave me more medication.

I dont think that he likes when other doctors give me more medication and he doesnt know.

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheCrimeOfLyme:
My sinusitis is directly related to two things: GERD( acid reflux disease) and yeast. I dont think it ever had anythign to do with my lyme.

Lymeherx: your llmd treats lyme, which is awesome, but really doesnt know much about yeast. some LLMDS dont. Ive actually found that MOST dont. Can you find a good ND or holistic doc to work with?

Gas is just ONE SYMPTOM Of yeast. Just one.

---

What your other doc doesnt know, maybe wont hurt him.

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheCrimeOfLyme:
Lymeherx:

What your other doc doesnt know, maybe wont hurt him.

---

Now after 6 months of ABX I am relapsing for the first time and have a,"sinus cold" with the same aches, pains and low fever

This is the first time my sinus has acted up since the initial infection.

In my case, I don't think that this points to yeast- perhaps lowered immune while trying to fight the Lyme....?

I've been on 200 mg Diflucan/day for almost 3 weeks but have had little relief. The raw, red throat is the worst. My LLMD had initially offered me Mycelex troches, but I preferred the Diflucan because I also had other systemic yeast symptoms at the time.

It's really frustrating when we are on the right diet, take the right probiotics and supplements, are on anti-fungal meds, and still can't shake the yeast. Staying on abx surely can't be helping either though.

The good news is now that I 've been on abx forever, I don't get sinus headaches.

Or the CDC the way that Lyme can be cured in 2 weeks with doxy?

When I came back from my honeymoon (over seas) I was sick for 9 months (I kept ignoring it). My office mates ended up asking me to get checked for TB! LOL!

I think I ended up on abx to get rid of it.

Ive taken so many drugs allready.
So whats some anti-fungals that I havent tried yet gonna hurt.

Ill keep you posted.
And if I die, all you probabbly will never find out.

Had really bad chronic sinusitis for a few years but had many MRI's and CAT scans done of my sinuses and everything always came back normal.

My right eye would swell slightly and I'd have a redness around my eyebrow and then I developed 6th nerve palsy in that eye.

Went to an ENT again for an emergency MRI which came back negative.

I still have sinus problems but since starting treatment for Lyme since Aug 2004 my sinuses are much better.

I dont have lots of congestion just very red and irritated.

Oh yea the wonderfull post nasal drip too!!

Diflucan cleared up my 'chronic' sinus infections. I have no doubt in my mind that mine was fungal related. My kicked in after a month of rain and soggy weather - mold was literally everywhere (and I tested quite high on exposure). I too, was told I would have to have surgery... Hah!!

As far as dry sinuses go - have you checked the humidity levels where you spend most of your time? This sounds SOOOO familiar, because that's what was happening with me.

My office - 15% relative humidity - 40% is healthy. I run a cool air humidifier all winter long now at work, and at night at home.

Until this clears up, get used to traveling with Saline Spray, and flush those sinuses constantly.

If it's really bad, try Axyr Saline Gel. Put it on a Qtip, and work it into your nostrils. I still always carry these with me, just in case.. And even though no more infections or congestion for me, on really heavy pollen count days, I make sure to regularly flush my nose out.

Stick to mold-free diet and the antifungals for a few weeks. I'd really be surprised if your sinuses don't clear and your vertigo doesn't let up... along with your MCS. Which, during the worst of it, I suffered from as well.