Sinus problems & waiting

[Mike Durning] Dear friends,

I have sinus problems so severe that I am limited to about 6 useful hours per day — a marked decline from my usual 16 to 18. The slow-down is enjoyed by friends and family, but I need to get well, and I need relief from the discomfort. Please pray for me to improve, or I may have to take a coat hangar to my sinuses soon!

Also, I am awaiting word on something quite important. Please pray for positive word quickly.

Thanks as always.

Mike Durning

I am “Mr. Sinus.” One doctor in Chicago nearly 30 years ago told me I was “the worst he had seen.” I had loads of polyps and had to have surgery. I was a mouth breather throughout my grade school years. Headaches, and the worst symptom: fatigue. I was part of what they call the “allergic stress fatigue syndrome.” Your body can fight off allergic reactions through adrenaline. Eventually, your adrenal glands get out of sync and your sleep cycle becomes a mess. They also wear out.

I used to have to take antihistamines 365 days a year. Now I just started laying off them last week and should be pretty good till March, with an occasional need for them here and there.

Here is about everything I know and have tried. Maybe there is one thing you don’t know or haven’t tried. If you use many tricks that each lessen the problem 5%, it adds up!

1. A nettie pot. You can get them at a pharmacy. It is a pot to pour salt water in one nostril and through to the other. It is important to use it in the morning and before you go to bed. You want your sinuses clear (and thin) when you go to bed so you sleep well. Otherwise, your sleep is broken (you may not realize this because you do not always wake up enough to remember).

2. Tussin (expectorant) to help the lungs and sinuses secrete liquid, thus thinning “stuff” out.

3. Steroid spray, available from prescription.

4. For bad headaches, aspirin is best. Try rubbing vicks over your cheek bones and on your forehead, avoiding your eyes.

5. Garlic soup brings great temporary relief. 4 cloves crushed garlic to one cup chicken broth/bullion

6. Antihistamines: zytrec and claritin helped me quite a bit

7. I keep a cookie jar of metholyptus cough drops (I buy cheat Wal-mart “equate” brand to save $— actually, all the above can be purchased there).

8. When sinuses are swollen, ice helps. When plugged up, wet warmth. You can buy sinus masks that you heat in microwaves and you might be able to find an electric one with a sponge portion to make the warmth warm.

9. I cannot take “red” decongestant pills anymore because I have a heart stent. But they are helpful, too. Careful, they can mess up your sleep cycle. Take ‘em in the morning and early afternoon only.

10. Silver spray, available at health food stores. It will kill everything it touches (very slowly and gently), including infections in sinuses. But for an established infection, you need to see the Doc and get antibiotics. But for beginning ones, this can give your immune system enough of a break to mount an attack.

Perhaps some other SI members have other ideas in their bags of tricks.

One gal my wife works with had excruciating sinus headaches. Finally, her ear nose and throat doctor sent her to a neruologist.

It seems the nerves in her sinuses were the culprit, and they were irritated because her sinus muscles (or whatever) were tight. He prescribed muscle relaxant, and it helped her almost immediately.

Don’t know if your problem is like that, but I thought I’d pass it on. If I can help you with more details, please email me.

This is familiar territory for me as well. What Bro Ed has offered above is a fairly thorough run down. I would add that taking a supplement for adrenal support would likely help as well. Something like http://www.phr.net/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=78] Drena Plus .