wish me luck: sinus infection and antibiotics

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:45 pm

I'm really worried about taking the antibiotic that my doctor prescribed for my sings infection. I asked her if it could be either Arithromycin ( spelling?) or Z=Pak, but she said neither is right for this ailment. I am looking at the bottle of Doxycycline and reading the possible side effects and of course the first things listed is stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea! SHould I risk it? I've been sick now for 3 weeks and am still blowing out and hacking up thick green mucus. :(

leah

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 8:12 pm

I'm so sorry,Leah. I don't know what kind of antibiotic would work and hope I don't end up needing one, ever. Hopefully, Tex or Polly will give you help.

Feel better,

Sheila W

Post by **tex** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 9:54 pm

Hi Leah,

Sorry to hear about the sinus infection. As you're probably well aware, they can be very difficult to treat. Green mucus is not a good sign, but there is a lot of disagreement about the use of antibiotics to treat sinus infections. Did your doctor determine whether your sinus infection is due to bacteria or a virus? If your sinus problems are caused by a virus (rather than bacteria), then an antibiotic will do absolutely no good, no matter which antibiotic you use.

Are you using a Neti-pot? Many members here swear by them for relieving and preventing sinus issues. You might gain some insight by reading the WebMD article at the following link (please read page 2 also, because it discusses the virus issue):

Sinus Problems: Do Antibiotics Help or Hurt?

Good luck with finding a treatment that will work, and please keep us posted.

Tex

Patricia · Post by **Patricia** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 10:38 pm

Hi Leah,

I am allergic to several antibiotics and I never liked taking them in the first place (even before being diagnosed with MC). What I noticed while I was still swimming twice a week (until I started having shoulder issues) is the following: the swimming would often help me get rid of a sinus infection. Here is what I did when I had one, and yes, I know it sounds absolutely disgusting. I would swim one lap crawl stroke and then turn onto my back to do a lane of back stroke. While turning over, I would breathe in all the water that was still in/around my nose as hard as I could, instead of blowing it out like usual. I would let the water run back all the way up my nose during the entire lane of back stroke. I would do that repeatedly during my swim. It didn't work every single time I had a sinus infection, but most of the time I could get rid of it that way instead of taking antibiotics. Three weeks is a long time, though. I don't know if it would work after so much time. But I think the chlorine kills the germs and I'd rather sniff up pool water than swallow antibiotics.

I hope you feel better soon!!!

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Dec 12, 2014 11:53 pm

Leah
both Polly and I believe one of the contributors of our MC starting, was taking Doxycycline...

If it was me, i would try every other natural /wholistic process first... and only use the Doxy as a 'last resort'

I agree with Tex, most sinus issues are viral based.
I would opt for coconut oil...
http://coconutoil.com/coconut-oil-offer ... ant-germs/

netti pot and steaming with eucalyptus

Healing Hugs...

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 5:40 am

Found this posted on facebook this morning for flu. Some of the suggestions might help with the sinus infection as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giDOrgc ... e=youtu.be
I will be interested to hear what those more experienced think about these suggestions.

ldubois7 · Post by **ldubois7** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:35 pm

Leah...it sounds like you have a doozy of an infection.

I would use a netti pot and find herb teas to heal infections, as well as soaking in Epsom salts to detoxify your body. I have read that colloidal silver is great with infections.

I had a sinus infection a few years ago that sounded a lot like yours. It took a month to get symptoms under control without antibiotics but since then I haven't one again. I use a netti pot with sea salt & baking soda, when I feel something coming on and I have avoided a full blown infection since then.

Good luck & rest!

sseven · Post by **sseven** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:28 pm

Leah, so sorry you have been sick. I am going to pray for that sinus infection to clear up without using antibiotics.

You have been such an encouragement to me on this journey and I will wait to hear how you are feeling in a few days.

Sharon

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:08 pm

Leah,
I feel for you, I've been sick with a sinus infection for two weeks. The pressure got so bad that I had an ocular hemmorage and my eye has looked bloody for a week, but it's getting better. I moved my part to cover the eye with my hair :)

I'm taking sudafed (the real stuff) and lots of mucinex, and benadryl at night. I also eat a lot of raw garlic which is antibacterial and antiviral. When I started to get the green mucus, when things got real bad I ate a big clove or two every three hours, chewed it in my mouth and swallowed with water or hot tea. It burns and can ruin relationships, but I've been doing this for years and almost never take ABs anymore.

I learned about it from Dr Weil a long time ago and it has worked for me when I get a bad chest cold or sinus infection.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/ART00364

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:36 pm

Leah,

I don't know about the antibiotic but I agree with sinus rinsing. I use the Neil Med system. It comes with a squeeze bottle and premixed little packets of the buffered salt. I heat up distilled water. That is critical, distilled water! In the microwave for about 30 seconds, depends how strong your microwave is. Want body temperature. Add one packet and the water to the bottle and follow the directions. It rinses out the mucus but some of the salt water stays in the sinuses and bacteria cannot grow in the salt water. You don't feel that it stays but I am sure it does because later if you turn your head over it will come out and you can taste it if it runs down in your mouth.

I also use Mucinex. It thins the mucus. And I use sudafed, 12 hour. The one you have to get from behind the counter at the pharmacy. It is over the counter but because some people use it to make meth it is controlled. You can only buy so much in a certain period of time. They keep track with your drivers license. Works! But I don't take it at night because it will keep me awake. At night I use Afrin.

Hope this helps. You may still have to take an antibiotic.

Pat

nerdhume · Post by **nerdhume** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:11 am

I have been researching the benefits of honey. I never realized there was so much difference in raw honey until I started buying it locally. It is an effective antibiotic and probiotic... apparently even against MRSA.
Found this article:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/artic ... sitis.aspx

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:41 pm

Thank You all for your support and suggestions. I do have a neti pot, but it didn't seem to be helping much. Luckily, I don't think my MC had anything to do with antibiotic use because I was never a big user of them. Mine, I think, came on because of my IgA deficiency plus a very high fiber diet. I have to say that I gave in and started taking the Doxi. It was just getting too difficult to do my job well. Besides a bit of nausea right after taking it ( on an empty stomach), I have had no other side effect. Hey maybe the LDN I'm taking is working! So, yay for that. Now, lets see if it actually helps with this gunk. This is the 3rd day out of 7. Fingers crossed.

Leah

CathyMe. · Post by **CathyMe.** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 10:10 am

Here's hoping it works for you quickly Leah and you're feeling better. I'm a Neil Med user as well. I start cleaning out my sinuses the minute I get a sniffle or a sore throat and (knock on wood) so far so good this winter.

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:43 pm

Hi,Leah. I use the Neil Med squeeze bottle as well. I use it every other day during the winter to keep colds at bay. My son's ENT always said to use Sudafed when he was congested. One time when his sinuses would not clear up the ENT suctioned all of the goop out of his nose and then he was on the road to recovery. Clogged sinuses are the worst so I hope something helps you soon!

Marcia

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 12:20 am

Leah, feel better. I agree about a Neti pot helping, but if your infection is bacterial you do need abx. Only the lab can tell you.
I know IV abx set off my MC. I would avoid it if possible, but if you can't - well you have MC already. It's just a flare and you know how to control it don't you. I have to look at it like that because I am fighting off a cold, which usually becomes a sinus infection with me.