ideas for sinus problems please

[jhandley]

Hi everyone
It s 3 am in the morning here in Melbourne Australia and I am being kept awake by sinus pain. Herceptin seems to make my chronic sinus problems much worse. Does anyone have any "cures" that have worked? I havent been taking as much Q10 as I should and have been off my fish/flax oil for a week or so which probably isnt helping.

Regards
Jackie (down under)

PS: Having scans in 4 days wish me luck.

[hutchibk]

Is it sinus congestion? And is it complicated by allergies as well? Or is it simply pain in the sinuses resulting from the Herceptin? It could be an allergic reaction to Herceptin and the one time I had that type of reaction during my Herceptin infusion, it went away pretty immediately with the assistance of Benadryl, so after that I took Benadryl during every infusion and it stemmed the reaction. I wonder if simply taking Benadryl post infusion might continue to help you in between treatments...

[Sheila]

If its pain in the sinuses, I have found that using saline nasal spray has helped me immensley...it is the first thing I grab when I get up in the morning.

[Soccermom]

I have heard that the use of a "Neti" pot can be beneficial. I think they can be found in the health food stores. Its like a long spouted tea pot ...

Marcia

http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm

to purchase...

http://www.iherb.com/ProductsList.aspx?c=1&cid=2201&gclid=CMD2g5q5l5MCFQN0sgodEVQcAA

[PinkGirl]

Hi Jackie Down Under

I too have sinus problems and they were made worse
by the herceptin.

I have always used a steroid nasal spray (beclomethasone).
I use it when I have a cold to help keep the passages open
and prevent an infection from developing. I also use it
during allergy season.

Like Sheila, I am a firm believer in the plain saline nasal sprays.
They make a huge difference.

If I'm having major pain but do not have an infection, I use
tylenol for the pain and I put a hot face cloth on my forehead.

Hope some of these ideas help.

[abitjaded]

I, also, am a chronic sinus sufferer. Used to get sinus infections all the time.

Quit taking antibiotics for it years ago (never worked anyway, and just stripped my gut so I had to chow down on macrobiotics every time after.)

This guy is not a total wacko. Book is Sinus Survival and you can probably get it dirt cheap from an Internet book monger in your area. Actually has some very sound medical advice (and some strange advice):

http://www.amazon.com/Sinus-Survival-Self-help-Robert-Ivker/dp/1585420581

Gives many explanations as to what the guck growing in your sinuses might be. And how to combat it.

Make your own warm saline: 8oz warm water, 1/3 tsp uniodized salt, pinch of baking powder (sterilize all in distilled water at first to be safe, especially if immune compromised). I just use tap water (ours is quite good), and keep a pot of salt with bicarb in the bathroom. You can also buy pre-measured saline mix on the net or at lots of pharmacies (at least in U.S.).

There is a kind of sinus pot (kinda like Aladdin would live in) that you can put the mix in to really snort it up your nose. But not easily found. I use an ear bulb, very soft rubber about 2" with a long tapered 2" narrow barrel. Can be found at medical supply companies. You can also use a kid's/infants nose bulb but the longer barrel helps you get the saline way up and in. Suck up the saline with the bulb and breath in. Takes some practice. Then blow VERY GENTLY. Once you get good at it you'll even have to move your head side to side and hang your head upside down to gently blow and decongest your sinus. But oh, after you learn to get good at it your sinuses will feel so much better. Clears out the goo and decreases the swelling of the tissue. Keep practicing.

Because of allergies I even rinse my sinuses after being outside or cleaning my dusty house (ha! when was the last time that happened).

I'm so good at it now I can hit all the sinuses. Look at maps on Internet, your sinus are huge, above eyebrows even.

If you cannot pull this off, lay on your back and just dribble in some home-made saline. I prefer the home-made because it does not have the plasticy (cannot seem to spell) taste and smell that Ocean and the like have. Heck of a lot cheaper, too.

Had a couple colds (two snotty boys!) during ACTax and rad, still kept flushing and getting similar results. Didn't have to do any antibiotics for the sinus during treatment. Did not have any problems that were unusual with a year of weekly herceptin, so cannot help there. No chance it is an allergy to the herceptin? But why in your sinuses?? Would not make sense? Brenda, did they give you a mechanism?

JUST BE VERY CAREFUL. Check with your Doctor first, if you are prone to bleeding, make sure your doc says this is O.K......

Carla

[R.B.]

I have seen a couple of trials suggesting fish oil will assist along with reduction of Omega 6 fruit veg etc.

So it back to the 3s and 6s again

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=24410&highlight=greek+diet

RB

Ps got me thinking and I went and looked up sinuses on wikpedia.

Fascinating.

It might explain an occassional skin problem at the bridge of my nose, and be caused by an occasionally minorly grumbling many years ago apisectomised tooth
http://www.dentalsurgeon.co.nz/dental/topics/sgap.htm
in the area of the lower sinus, which I keep meaning to get attended to, and I will now put up the list.

Many thanks for highlighting the issue.

PPS Very good luck with the scans.

[Ruth]

Neti pot was/is my savior!!! Seriously, it works wonders. I have my kids do it too. Doesn't look the like fun.....but no drugs, just good old nasal cleansing!

Hugs ~ Ruth

I'm from Georgia and we have major pollen problems. It really helps.

[abitjaded]

Jackie,

Any better?

Carla

[Sheila]

FYI
Most Walgreens now carry the Netti Pots, as do CVS ad some Osco's/....makes them easy to find!

[sassy]

I rarely have sinus congestion, just pressure and pain. I put a hot(as hot as I can stand) moist cloth on my face, particularly over sinus areas and also breathe in the moisture. It relieves the pressure--I also sometimes rub Vicks vaporub on the sinus area and breathe in the vapor.

[jhandley]

I tried the nasal wash which was OK and upped my Q10 and olive leaf extract. Fine now for the time being.
cheer

Jackie

[abitjaded]

Yeah, Jackie!

What is the season down there right now? Fall, molds and mildew and such or are you in a dry area?

Carla

[Mgarr]

Another vote for the neti pot w/ the saline solution it did wonders for my sinuses I use it everday and don't use allergy or sinus meds anymore. Also, agree with RB on the diet.

Mary

[Sherryg683]

I'm going to have to look up the neti pot because Herceptin has played hell with my sinus'. The headaches were constant and terrible for the first year and then I adjusted to herceptin, still had headaches just not as bad. Now that I am getting the triple dose, I've had problems with them again, in fact have a headache right now. I've always found Sudafed non drowsy would help. I'd rather do something natural though..sherryg683