Sinus infection - please help! All welcome

[turquoisequeen]

What started as a cough/cold a week ago has turned into a full blown sinus infection. I am miserable. I started a z-pak from my OB on Tuesday. I'm also doing:

- sudafed
- cough pills from my OB called something pearls
- saline spray
- humidifier
- and occasionally tylenol and Benadryl

Every day seems worse than the day before. Yesterday was a debilitating headache which is only slightly better today. And today ear crackling and pain and then loss of hearing in one ear. I had no idea this was even a sinus infection thing but apparently it is. I had to hire a sitter for today for my toddler bc I just couldn't parent.

It seems cruel this is happening less than 3 weeks from baby's arrival. I am hardly sleeping due to extreme congestion. Anyone have any ideas on what else to do?? I am desperate to get better! I am waiting on a response from my OB about starting another antibiotic when the z-pak ends on Saturday.

[bluefairy5]

Oh man, I'm so sorry. Paging kensie5226 because I think she has some sinus infection experience so she might have some tried and true ideas?

[TJ]

I just had a wicked sinus infection. My dr suggested hot compresses on my face. It felt surprisingly good. You also need to try to drink as much water as you can possibly manage. It will help thin the mucous.

I'm betting the pearls are tessalon pearls, which have always been useless to me. I am pretty sure you can take the plain regular robitussin. That helped me more.

Also, Vicks on your feet, socks on top. And keep pushing the Tylenol. I'm sorry you feel so badly.

ETA: I was also convinced that my antibiotic was not working. I didn't start feeling better until the next to last day of my antibiotic. So tomorrow for you, if I math and calendar correctly.

[dp21]

turquoisequeen, Use a neti pot to rinse out those sinuses. It looks like you are doing everything I'd recommend to a patient. Make sure you buy some water for the neti pot, don't use tap water unless you boil it.

[Amelia]

Oh, I'm sorry. I just got over a sinus infection before Christmas. I can't imagine being that miserable (and coughing that much) while pregnant!
+1 to drinking a ton of water to help thin out the mucous. Can you sleep sitting upright or slightly reclined? Maybe prop your head up with pillows?
The pearls were ineffective for me. My doctor said he believes they only work in half of his patients. I was cleared to take Robitussin when I had a cold while pregnant.

[mrswillie]

Ugh! Sorry you're so miserable. I had bronchitis for 2 months in third tri and it was completely awful. I was given a z-pak, but it did absolutely nothing. I can't remember what the doctor told me exactly, but something about the z-pak not being strong enough or whatever. Perhaps your doctor can call in a different antibiotic now since you haven't seen any improvement. It's so hard with being limited what you can take.

I'm assuming you're coughing a lot since you were given the tessalon pearls? The doctor gave me vicodin and it worked wonders to stop the coughing at night and allow me to get some sleep. That was my last resort. Thank goodness something helped.

[turquoisequeen]

Jan 26, 2017 13:46:40 GMT -5 dp21 said:

turquoisequeen, Use a neti pot to rinse out those sinuses. It looks like you are doing everything I'd recommend to a patient. Make sure you buy some water for the neti pot, don't use tap water unless you boil it.

I was a little afraid of the neti pot since last time I used it a couple years ago I felt like I was drowning but maybe I'll give it another try. Is water from the fridge water filter ok or should it be distilled water?

Any idea on the ear pain/hearing loss or how long that will last. I asked my OB and she ignored that part of my question to her 😒

[kensie5226]

turquoisequeen, you'll be fine with fridge water, but I suggest maybe popping it in the microwave for a seconds. I wouldn't want to put cold water through my sinuses. I don't like neti pots when I'm super congested. They're great for helping to keep sinuses clear, but when you're already congested it is torture.

You're doing all of my tricks. I will say to make sure you get the 12-hour Sudafed version. It's an extended release tablet and it's a million times better that the regular 4-6 hour red ones.

For the ear pain, I use hydrogen peroxide. A few drops in the ear can help to clear up some of the fluid in there. It's not a miracle, but it helps me out.

My best weapon is sleep. I say if you have babysitter pop the shit out of some unisom and sleep for as long as you can. Usually a Z-pack should be kicking in by now so that is one serious as sinus infection. You keep mentioning Your OB. Have checked in with your PCP?

[dp21]

turquoisequeen, We don't recommend tap water because there have been rare cases of people getting a brain infection from infected water and dying. VERY VERY rare but not worth it in my opinion lol especially with a baby on board. I just looked up recommendations, you can use filtered water but it needs to be at least 0.2 micron filter, boiled water, or distilled water. Also make sure you add the "salt" packet so it doesn't burn. I usually get the drowning feeling initially but stick with it and it's not too bad once it gets going.

The ear pain is basically from all the sinus pressure putting pressure on your ears....same with your headaches. It will be relieved once your sinus pressure goes down. I don't think there is a specific time frame as everyone's infection is different.

mrswillie, I usually go with Augmentin for sinusitis. I don't have a lot of clinical hours with pregnant population but just looked at up to date and they recommend augmentin unless she has a penicillin allergy.

[kaf7]

So I have extreme sympathy. I had severe sinus pain from when I had a cold at about 37 weeks until the day I delivered. My Dr's refused to give me antibiotics and I think to some extent the whole body swelling in late PG was contributing. I got no relief with ibuprofen but heat packs helped a bit. I couldn't parent much either. I hope you get relief sooner than delivery.

[dp21]

@ketchup, yes Afrin works wonders too. No more than 3 days because it can cause a rebound effect and actually make things worse!

[MellyKnu]

Since everything else was suggested, I was going to chime in and suggest calling your doctor and letting them know you can't deal with the pain and need something stronger to help. But @ketchup beat me to that, too! I hope you can get it under control stat!

[luvboston]

Hugs your a trooper!

I second the Neti pot and also call and ask for a referral to an ent, they can look all the way down and see if things are better. You might need a stronger antibiotic.

[karabear4409]

I don't have anything else to add that hasn't already been said, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. That sounds miserable. Being sick and pregnant is the absolute worst. I hope you feel better soon!

[turquoisequeen]

Thanks everyone! I sent a I'm in serious pain over here message to my OB so hopefully she will Rx something stronger and in the meantime I have afrin and robitussin on hand to try also. I don't currently have a PCP since we switched insurance after DS was born and there hasn't been anything crop up that I couldn't get from urgent care until I started seeing the OB again for this preg. That's something I def need to get fixed after delivery.

[nomnom]

Unisom for sleep. Ask if you can use flonase. It's on the questionable list, but my OB allowed it and it seemed to help a lot with sinus swelling so I could get some of the gunk out.

I took a 10-day course of amoxicillin from the walk-in clinic. Z-pack would have been next. I think Augmentin would come after that, but it makes me puke.

The ENT I saw said that usually they also prescribe oral steroids, Afrin, and/or stronger antibiotics, but my OB wouldn't allow most of it. They're on the table for post delivery if the infection sticks around. I tried tylenol with codeine (T3) and it did nothing for pain. YMMV. The OB also gave me Norco with the provisio that too much used could make the babies ho into withdrawal upon birth. I didn't touch that shit--not desperate enough for that.

The infection seemed to go away for a few days, but I wonder if it is coming back or I'm really sensitive to the change in weather.

@ketchup My OB said that Afrin can raise blood pressure, so it may be more risky in later pregnancy.

[bocaburger]

Jan 26, 2017 14:04:39 GMT -5 turquoisequeen said:

Jan 26, 2017 13:46:40 GMT -5 dp21 said:

turquoisequeen, Use a neti pot to rinse out those sinuses. It looks like you are doing everything I'd recommend to a patient. Make sure you buy some water for the neti pot, don't use tap water unless you boil it.

I was a little afraid of the neti pot since last time I used it a couple years ago I felt like I was drowning but maybe I'll give it another try. Is water from the fridge water filter ok or should it be distilled water?

Any idea on the ear pain/hearing loss or how long that will last. I asked my OB and she ignored that part of my question to her 😒

Distilled water only.

[madamewaffles]

Oh no! Hope you feel better soon. Lots of great advice here.,Just here to plug the NeilMed Sinus Rinse bottle. Easier to use than a Neti pot IMO and they come with water sterilizing packets that you can use with filtered water. Feel better!!

[dp21]

Straight from Up-to-date.

Looked up sinusitis in pregnancy FYI: amoxicillin-clavulanate is Augmentin.

Sinusitis

When antibiotic treatment is indicated, we suggest amoxicillin-clavulanate for most patients and azithromycin in patients with penicillin allergies (Grade 2C). Clindamycin plus an oral cephalosporin can be prescribed for patients with a non-Type I hypersensitivity to penicillin. The fluoroquinolones, tetracycline, and doxycycline should be avoided. Acceptable adjunct treatment includes saline nasal spray, buffered saline nasal irrigation, or steroid nasal sprays (eg, beclomethasone or budesonide)

[mrswillie]

To add to what nomnom said I had one dipshit doctor try to prescribe me prednisolone while my doctor was off. Good thing I knew to talk to another doctor before taking it. That doctor, my regular doctor and my OB all said no to oral steroids. The T3 did nothing for my pain. As for the Norco, yes, it's ok in small amounts. I think they gave me like 5 pills that I only took one before bed to just be able to get some rest and ease from the pain. It was a last resort for me after trying everything else and ending up in the ER.

Keep us posted. Hopefully your OB is able to give you something else.

[mrspotatohead91]

Hugs! Everyone pretty much covered it. I currently have a sinus infection and forgot how miserable they are. I've had two sinus surgeries due to chronic sinusitis so I've tried all the tricks in the book. I know someone mentioned a warm compress but cold over the eyes/eyebrows helps a lot too. Afrin is amazing. I don't think anyone suggested Mucinex, although not sure if it's allowed during pregnancy. You can also try the breathe right strips. Since you're so congested, it might not provide a ton of relief but could help some. Drink lots of water and use a ton of saline and blow your nose a lot! The ear pain (and tooth pain) is very common with bad sinus infections. Hang in there! Hope the z-pak knocks it out asap!

[gsancho]

Jan 26, 2017 14:04:39 GMT -5 turquoisequeen said:

Jan 26, 2017 13:46:40 GMT -5 dp21 said:

turquoisequeen , Use a neti pot to rinse out those sinuses. It looks like you are doing everything I'd recommend to a patient. Make sure you buy some water for the neti pot, don't use tap water unless you boil it.

I was a little afraid of the neti pot since last time I used it a couple years ago I felt like I was drowning but maybe I'll give it another try. Is water from the fridge water filter ok or should it be distilled water?

Any idea on the ear pain/hearing loss or how long that will last. I asked my OB and she ignored that part of my question to her 😒

When using the neti pot, you have to press your tongue up to the roof of your mouth, like to the VERY back, to keep the water from running down to your throat.  Until I figured that out, I felt like I was drowning and hated it, too!

[turquoisequeen]

Hey everyone, OB told me to try mucinex and is fine to give me another antibiotic but is hopeful the zpak will just take care of it. 🙄
Last night I did the mucinex and the afrin and unisom. I think the afrin helped me breath a little better so that was good. The unisom wasn't the miracle sleep medicine I hoped for as I still woke every hour or 2 to pee but it helped me go back to sleep quickly. I still have extreme sinus pressure/congestion and headache today. I'm going to see if OB will at least call in some augmentin to start after the zpak ends since it will be the weekend.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

mrspotatohead91 thanks for mentioning teeth pain... mine started hurting last night and I was like wtf and then I saw your post.

[dp21]

turquoisequeen, Feel better!!!!!

[ampaints]

turquoisequeen how is your ear pain? The pain and then not being able to hear out of an ear worries me.

Last year I had issues with my sinuses and at first it just looked like my eardrums were a little irritated because of that. Within a week I had an ear infection and then my eardrum burst. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen.

[turquoisequeen]

Jan 27, 2017 9:38:59 GMT -5 ampaints said:

turquoisequeen how is your ear pain? The pain and then not being able to hear out of an ear worries me.

Last year I had issues with my sinuses and at first it just looked like my eardrums were a little irritated because of that. Within a week I had an ear infection and then my eardrum burst. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen.

It seems to come and go. I tried the hydrogen peroxide and that helped clear it up but popping and ear pain comes back some when I am blowing my nose.

That sounds super scary for you. Were you on antibiotics for the ear infection?

[TJ]

Just a heads up on augmentin, if you start it. I have a really hard time with it... (TMI warning) severe diarrhea and raging YI's. Pound the yogurt and an otc probiotic like it's your job if you take it.

Also, make sure to drink a full 8 oz glass of water with your mucinex.

[ampaints]

turquoisequeen I had gone to the doctor the day before. As I was getting ready to leave she just mentioned in passing that if I had any drainage to call them because it's a rare thing that happened. The next morning as I was getting out of the shower I noticed drainage 😕 But that actually relieved the intense pain!

[nomnom]

turquoisequeen Unisom wasn't a miracle sleep-through-the-night drug for me either. The key was that I could get back to sleep so all totaled I got a better night of sleep (and slept off and on until noon the next day). I had teeth pain also and ended up moving to a liquid diet for a few days because it hurt too much to chew. Muscle milk and meal replacement shakes (store bought or home made) help.

Has anyone had a sinus infection seem like it was gone and then start to return? I was feeling pretty good for several days and now I'm having trouble breathing through my nose again, just like the beginning of the sinus infection.

[turquoisequeen]

Jan 27, 2017 10:54:43 GMT -5 TJ said:

Just a heads up on augmentin, if you start it. I have a really hard time with it... (TMI warning) severe diarrhea and raging YI's. Pound the yogurt and an otc probiotic like it's your job if you take it.

Also, make sure to drink a full 8 oz glass of water with your mucinex.

Thanks. I've heard that's common with augmentin. I'm well stocked on probiotics and yogurt just in case I take it.