Sinus headache - Bored docs and anyone, please

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Bob Juch · #1 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:11 pm

I need some medical advice:

I've had a sinus headaches that's so bad today that I haven't been able to see clearly enough to read the Bored, let alone do anything else. I had one when I woke up on Wednesday and went to my ophthalmologist at noon as I thought I was having a problem with my right eye. I've had recurrences since then, but this morning it feels like my eye is about to pop out of my head.

I've taken two Vicodin so far today which are keeping me from gouging my eye out of my head, but I need to do something that's actually going to cure this thing!

I don't have any sinus symptoms to speak of, but my tear duct can't handle the overflow.

I like to hear from any Bored members who get these suckers and have any idea as to what I can do to return to "normal".

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #2 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:28 pm

I am not a doctor, I am married to one. To some people, this makes me qualified to give medical device.

The Vicodin is nice and I am sure that taking away your pain, but it's not getting rid of the problem that is causing the pain. Excedirin Sinus is a good product for getting rid of sinus headaches. If you have Sudafed around your house, that would be another way of getting rid of the clogged sinuses. A hot shower might give you temporary relief from the pain as well.

mrkelley23 · #3 Post by **mrkelley23** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:33 pm

If Vicodin is only taking the edge off, I have a hard time thinking it's a relatively normal headache.

First, to answer the question you asked, I'm nowhere near a doctor, but I have had sinus headaches most of my adult life. Here are the things that work for me, at varying times and in varying degrees:

1. Sauna or steambath, followed ASAP by a power nap in a darkened room.

2. Afrin or other nasal spray, followed at regular intervals by regular blasts of saline solution up the schnozz.

3. Sometimes (rarely) Claritin or other antihistamine will work.

All of these suggestions are in addition to pain relievers (usually ibuprofen to battle the swelling, sometimes cascading ibuprofen and acetaminophen), hot herbal tea -- with or without medicinal ethanol, And warm sinus packs applied to the face.

I have heard of people who have learned an adaptation of reflexology to relieve sinus headaches -- basically locating pressure points on the head and neck, and massaging them or having them massaged -- but I'm skeptical.

Now, for an answer to a question you didn't ask -- please remember that circulatory problems, including heart attack and stroke, can manifest themselves with the kinds of symptoms you're describing. If you're at risk, it's probably worth at least a phone call.

Good luck -- I hate those buggers, I really do.

Bob Juch · #4 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:35 pm

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I am not a doctor, I am married to one. To some people, this makes me qualified to give medical device.

The Vicodin is nice and I am sure that taking away your pain, but it's not getting rid of the problem that is causing the pain. Excedirin Sinus is a good product for getting rid of sinus headaches. If you have Sudafed around your house, that would be another way of getting rid of the clogged sinuses. A hot shower might give you temporary relief from the pain as well.

The Vicodin hasn't been taking away enough pain. It's been helping me to nap most of the day though.

A very hot bath this morning helped a lot but I can't keep doing that all day.

So far the best help has been a bottle of Red Lava Vinyards 2002 Syrah.

I can't even think of driving to a drugstore for anything I don't have.

mrkelley23 · #5 Post by **mrkelley23** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:44 pm

Bob Juch wrote:
PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:I am not a doctor, I am married to one. To some people, this makes me qualified to give medical device.

The Vicodin is nice and I am sure that taking away your pain, but it's not getting rid of the problem that is causing the pain. Excedirin Sinus is a good product for getting rid of sinus headaches. If you have Sudafed around your house, that would be another way of getting rid of the clogged sinuses. A hot shower might give you temporary relief from the pain as well.
The Vicodin hasn't been taking away enough pain. It's been helping me to nap most of the day though.

A very hot bath this morning helped a lot but I can't keep doing that all day.

So far the best help has been a bottle of Red Lava Vinyards 2002 Syrah.

I can't even think of driving to a drugstore for anything I don't have.

If a hot bath helped, you don't have to keep taking baths, but you can do a localized version. Put a pot of water on the stove, and heat to boiling. Take a damp towel and drape it over your head, lean over the pot, and breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. If you have any oil of mentholyptus to add to the vapor, all the better. The big thing is to keep the sinuses moist. If you have a vaporizer, it might be a good thing to use tonight when you go to sleep.

kayrharris · #6 Post by **kayrharris** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:55 pm

I'll throw in my two cents....if the pain is localized in your eye area, it could be a migraine. My migraines always have severe pain behind and just above my right eye. It usually leaves a sore spot on my forehead for a couple of days.

A cold cloth on your forehead is good if it is a migraine. Good luck! Maybe your doctor could call something in for you? We have a local drug store that delivers. Maybe there's one in your neighborhood.

I hope you feel better soon.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #7 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 7:59 pm

My migraines usually come with the urge to vomit. If he can drink wine, I don't think that it's a migraine. Plus, I can't imagine him being able to type on the computer because the light from the display would make it worse.

When I get my migraines, I have to be in a dark room devoid of sound. It sounds strange, but I can only wear light cotton clothing because anything else feels heavy. I use a cold washcloth and take Ultram, Imitrex or Vicodin. I've also had to go in for IV drugs if I can't catch it in time and start vomiting up the pills.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #8 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:00 pm

The hot bath giving relief makes me think that it's sinuses, too. Have you tried a hot shower rather than a bath?

kayrharris · #9 Post by **kayrharris** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:22 pm

You get the killer migraines. Mine have never made me nauseous or sick to my stomach, but I do prefer quiet, darkness and cold rags.

Maxalt (the kind that dissolves under your tongue) works best for me. Imitrex never helped me at all. My MIL (may she rest in peace) got migraines daily. She did Imitrex injections and sometimes still ended up in the ER for IV - usually Demoral I think.

I know a severe sinus headache can be as bad a migraine. The pressure can be terrible.

Beebs52 · #10 Post by **Beebs52** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:11 pm

This sounds like the cluster headaches that I've had in the past. They're similar to migraines. You feel like a blowtorch is poking through your head. No aura. No nausea. Unless I missed that part.

Either go to your doc and get antibiotics for a possible secondary sinus infection or plop hot rags on your head and continue to take whatever painkillers you have. It will go away.

marrymeflyfree · #11 Post by **marrymeflyfree** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:34 pm

Bob Juch wrote: So far the best help has been a bottle of Red Lava Vinyards 2002 Syrah.

You need my famous hot toddy.

Steep green tea, black tea, and peppermint tea together, and leave the peppermint in.

Add a boatload of honey.

A slice of lemon with cloves.

And a generous shot of Jameson's Irish Whisky.

It cures everything. Or at least makes you think it does.

peacock2121 · #12 Post by **peacock2121** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:41 am

I have been lucky to never, ever have such headache pain or any sinus problems. I do have a friend who has suffered from sinus headaches his whole life. This helped him beyond his wildest dreams.

http://www.achooallergy.com/blog/neti-pot-on-oprah/

I saw it on Oprah and sent him the link. It was gross to see it used and he didn't care. It worked for him.

mrkelley23 · #13 Post by **mrkelley23** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:12 am

peacock2121 wrote:I have been lucky to never, ever have such headache pain or any sinus problems. I do have a friend who has suffered from sinus headaches his whole life. This helped him beyond his wildest dreams.

http://www.achooallergy.com/blog/neti-pot-on-oprah/

I saw it on Oprah and sent him the link. It was gross to see it used and he didn't care. It worked for him.

Just based on the picture and some of the comments, this sounds useful, as long as you use it carefully. It's even more direct than breathing steam, and it's the same thing that makes hot baths and showers work -- cleaning and moistening the sinus cavities.

ne1410s · #14 Post by **ne1410s** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:42 am

Just based on the picture and some of the comments, this sounds useful, as long as you use it carefully. It's even more direct than breathing steam, and it's the same thing that makes hot baths and showers work -- cleaning and moistening the sinus cavities.

I think wintergreen posted something like this low those many years ago--only it was glass. Saltwater is key.

marrymeflyfree · #15 Post by **marrymeflyfree** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:57 am

peacock2121 wrote: I saw it on Oprah and sent him the link. It was gross to see it used and he didn't care. It worked for him.

I started using one of these quite a while ago on the suggestion of several bored members, and am now a big believer! I'd been getting sinus infections like crazy...went to an ENT, and she suggested surgery to remove polyps. I'd have been out of work for 6 weeks, so I decided to really buckle down and try once more to get it under control before going ahead with that. It's been about a year and a half now, and I've had only one full-on sinusitis issue since then.

My 'holy trinity' is the neti pot, garlic soup, and the hot toddy I posted - but it works best if you hit it at the very first sign of any nasal ickiness. After that...it gives good nasal congestion relief, but does little for the sinuses themselves aside from keeping things moist up in there. At least for me, anyway..

Bob Juch · #16 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:33 am

Thanks for the suggestions folks! The problem with some is that I can't see well enough to drive to buy stuff.

It now looks like I have an eye infection, not a sinus problem. I can't see clearly through my right eye. Everything is fuzzy. I think that's because of the buggers.

AnnieCamaro · #17 Post by **AnnieCamaro** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:50 am

Bob Juch wrote:Thanks for the suggestions folks! The problem with some is that I can't see well enough to drive to buy stuff.

It now looks like I have an eye infection, not a sinus problem. I can't see clearly through my right eye. Everything is fuzzy. I think that's because of the buggers.

Maybe you have eyeballitis. Lizbit had an eye infection once when she poked herself in the eye with a stick. I hope you haven't done that. But, anyway, please go to the doctor tomorrow. Get somebody to drive you if you can't drive yourself. (My mom would drive if she were closer to you -- she drives me and Lizzle to the doctor all the time -- but I don't think she could get to your house by tomorrow morning.)

I hope you get better soon, Mr. Bob. I send warm snuggles only. My wet kisses might not feel good on the hurty places.

/:P\

Bob Juch · #18 Post by **Bob Juch** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:25 am

AnnieCamaro wrote:
Bob Juch wrote:Thanks for the suggestions folks! The problem with some is that I can't see well enough to drive to buy stuff.

It now looks like I have an eye infection, not a sinus problem. I can't see clearly through my right eye. Everything is fuzzy. I think that's because of the buggers.
Maybe you have eyeballitis. Lizbit had an eye infection once when she poked herself in the eye with a stick. I hope you haven't done that. But, anyway, please go to the doctor tomorrow. Get somebody to drive you if you can't drive yourself. (My mom would drive if she were closer to you -- she drives me and Lizzle to the doctor all the time -- but I don't think she could get to your house by tomorrow morning.)

I hope you get better soon, Mr. Bob. I send warm snuggles only. My wet kisses might not feel good on the hurty places.

/:P\

Thanks Annie! I would have had someone drive me yesterday but there was no one else here. I'm able to see well enough today that I can go pick up an antibiotic that my doctor called into the drugstore in town.

If you saw the roads around here - with 15 MPH turns - you'd understand why I didn't want to drive myself yesterday.

tanstaafl2 · #19 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:30 am

If you have orbital cellulitis, which can most typically be secondary to sinusitis, then you should seek treatment as soon as possible. I doubt that is what you have as you tend to have more marked systemic symptoms like fever than you have noted so far. But it can be serious and needs to be treated with appropriate antibiotics.

Could also be periorbital cellulitis which is less serious but still unpleasant or perhaps more likely just a secondary conjunctivitis because of sinus congestion causing back up through the nasolacrimal system. In any case it sounds like it needs to be evaluated and possibly treated with appropriate antibiotics as indicated if it is giving you that much trouble.

kayrharris · #20 Post by **kayrharris** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:15 pm

ne1410s wrote:
Just based on the picture and some of the comments, this sounds useful, as long as you use it carefully. It's even more direct than breathing steam, and it's the same thing that makes hot baths and showers work -- cleaning and moistening the sinus cavities.
I think wintergreen posted something like this low those many years ago--only it was glass. Saltwater is key.

When my son was little, he got a lot of sinus infections. His pediatrician demonstrated how to use the saline up the nose thing as the most important part of helping clear it up. It was funny watching him show us how to do it right there in the office, but it sure helped my son get over the infection.

Rexer25 · #21 Post by **Rexer25** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:31 am

peacock2121 wrote:I have been lucky to never, ever have such headache pain or any sinus problems. I do have a friend who has suffered from sinus headaches his whole life. This helped him beyond his wildest dreams.

http://www.achooallergy.com/blog/neti-pot-on-oprah/

I saw it on Oprah and sent him the link. It was gross to see it used and he didn't care. It worked for him.

I will testify for the neti pot thingie. My wife bought me one after Dr. Oz recommended it. I do get a slightly uncomfortable feeling when I start to use it, but I think that's because I got a lot of severe nosebleeds when I was a kid, and I still hate the feeling of my nose suddenly filling up. The chiropractor where we used to live didn't know about the neti pot, but he recommended the salt, baking soda and water combination to clean your sinuses. He also said pickling salt was the purest salt on the market, and recommended using it for this purpose.

Bob Juch · #22 Post by **Bob Juch** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:44 pm

I forgot to post an update yesterday:

On Sunday my family practice doctor prescribed Augmentin which is playing havoc with my intestines as it kills half the bacteria and the other half reproduce like crazy.

Yesterday I saw him for a follow-up and he said my right eye looked terrible, the white was red and so were the eyelids, so he called my ophthalmologist who said I had blepharitis and prescribed two different eye drops: a corticosteroid (Lotemax) and an antibiotic (Vigamox).

I've had no recurrence of pain, but my vision is affected. Based on what I've been reading what I actually have is endophthalmitis. Since it seems the proper treatment is the same, I'm hoping things will clear up soon.

AnnieCamaro · #23 Post by **AnnieCamaro** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:08 pm

I'm glad you're on the way to getting better, Mr. Bob. I'm sorry your doctors didn't have some trick to make you all well right away. My doctors never have one of those tricks, either. Still, better counts.

/:P\

tanstaafl2 · #24 Post by **tanstaafl2** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:18 pm

Bob Juch wrote:I forgot to post an update yesterday:

On Sunday my family practice doctor prescribed Augmentin which is playing havoc with my intestines as it kills half the bacteria and the other half reproduce like crazy.

Yesterday I saw him for a follow-up and he said my right eye looked terrible, the white was red and so were the eyelids, so he called my ophthalmologist who said I had blepharitis and prescribed two different eye drops: a corticosteroid (Lotemax) and an antibiotic (Vigamox).

I've had no recurrence of pain, but my vision is affected. Based on what I've been reading what I actually have is endophthalmitis. Since it seems the proper treatment is the same, I'm hoping things will clear up soon.

You may have a variety of things but I am relatively certain, even based on the paucity of detail here, that you don't have endophthalmitis! Perhaps this is a bit of an April 1st self diagnosis?

Endophthalmitis is a serious vision threatening infection of the inside of the eye, is relatively rare, and would require aggressive treatment to try to reduce the risk of permanent loss of vision and potentially the loss of the eye. You don't even want to think aobut having endophthalmitis. As Martha might say, it's not a good thing!

Bob Juch · #25 Post by **Bob Juch** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:02 pm

tanstaafl2 wrote:
Bob Juch wrote:I forgot to post an update yesterday:

On Sunday my family practice doctor prescribed Augmentin which is playing havoc with my intestines as it kills half the bacteria and the other half reproduce like crazy.

Yesterday I saw him for a follow-up and he said my right eye looked terrible, the white was red and so were the eyelids, so he called my ophthalmologist who said I had blepharitis and prescribed two different eye drops: a corticosteroid (Lotemax) and an antibiotic (Vigamox).

I've had no recurrence of pain, but my vision is affected. Based on what I've been reading what I actually have is endophthalmitis. Since it seems the proper treatment is the same, I'm hoping things will clear up soon.
You may have a variety of things but I am relatively certain, even based on the paucity of detail here, that you don't have endophthalmitis! Perhaps this is a bit of an April 1st self diagnosis?

Endophthalmitis is a serious vision threatening infection of the inside of the eye, is relatively rare, and would require aggressive treatment to try to reduce the risk of permanent loss of vision and potentially the loss of the eye. You don't even want to think about having endophthalmitis. As Martha might say, it's not a good thing!

No joke. I think the antibiotics have saved my eye.

I could actually see well enough to drive to NTN tonight. My bright red eye (the "white" is red) got some attention though.

The pus settles to the bottom of my eye after I get up and vertical, so I can function somewhat.