27
submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by wrekone@lemmyf.uk to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

In the winter, I spend more time with sinus infections than without. I feel like I've tried everything, but relief is temporary at best.

edit: Thanks for the tips everyone. Upvotes all around! Some of these suggestions I've tried, others are new to me. I'm going to give them all a shot. Looking forward to breathing again!

all 11 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] jared@mander.xyz 12 points 8 months ago

I use a neti pot or saline spay often durning the spring and fall. For last few years flonaze has helped a lot too. An air filter and staying away from smoke helps too.

[-] green_witch@beehaw.org 12 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

The only thing that helped me was seeing a good ENT. It took several different visits to different ENTs, because while they all identified my issues were structural, I was told surgery wouldn't help.

I finally was able to get reconstructive surgery, which included removing a bone spur that had grown big enough to almost completely block my left sinus, as well as a reduction of the turbinates on either side.

Probably the most brutal recovery period I've ever experienced, because I was breathing through tubes that were basically airline hose for about two weeks, but when they took everything out and my first breath of cold air hit the back of my sinuses for the first time... all worth it.

No on/off sinus infections or sinus issues since then.

[-] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

Get set up with an ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialist.

They will take a look at your sinuses and probably get you tested for allergies.

From there they can come up with a plan that may be as easy as getting rid of pillows you’re allergic to, drugs, or surgery.

[-] jws_shadotak@sh.itjust.works 6 points 8 months ago

Wash your hands more. Clean commonly touched surfaces with disinfecting spray (mouse, keyboard, door handles, etc)

[-] foggy@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Eat local honey.

Local bees make honey after having bee sex with the local pollinators and birds, or so I'm told.

But no, getting small inoculations of local irritants helps many overcome these sorts of reactions.

Ymmv.

[-] lettruthout@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

What helped me was to eat better. In general my health improved by getting further away from a SAD (Standard American Diet): no meat, only occasional fish, lots of vegetables, much fewer processed foods. But what might be the most important was to replace sugar with local and/or unfiltered honey. (Maybe its pollen immunized me from certain allergies that started the infections?) I haven't had a sinus infection for months, almost years now.

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

My mom used to be like this and the only solution was surgery. Worked very well though.

If you do want to go the route that others have suggested, NeilMed sinus rinse is better than a netipot.

[-] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

Do you have a house? Do you regularly change your furnace filters? Is your house over 10 years old and had the ducts cleaned?

I know a guy that would get sinus infections yearly and had his ducts cleaned, problem went away. He was rather extreme and does it yearly, but it works for him and spending a few hundred a year is worth it to not have sinus problems every year.

[-] snek@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Have you tried clearing your sinuses with a netty pot or similar?

[-] pelletbucket@lemm.ee 1 points 8 months ago

deffo see an ent. there might be a bean that you shoved up there when you were a child

this post was submitted on 29 Feb 2024
27 points (90.9% liked)

Asklemmy

43915 readers
989 users here now

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy 🔍

If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS