BG Medical: Sinusitis

[Fievel]

Are you kind of a doctor because you watch a lot of medical shows?

[Tonko]

I'm an actual nurse. RN. No "kinda" about it.

Go get some antibiotics. That mucus color is bad news.

And quit smoking.

[Fievel]

I'm an actual nurse. RN. No "kinda" about it.

Go get some antibiotics. That mucus color is bad news.

And quit smoking.

I was asking the poster before me, but yeah totally agree on the color. It probably really does have a LOT to do with smoking though.

[Nekonaruto]

Yup, I know the color is kinda iffy, but there's some little drips of blood in there, which is either from a popped blood vessel or from the smack on the nose I got on New Year's, since the first time I had that kind of umm plug (not sure if that's the correct word in this case) come out it was bloodier and that happend on like the January 5th, after that it calmed down on the blood side.

And yeah, brown is definetely from the smoking, whenever I get a cold where I have a lot of mucus build up in my lung it's the same color...

As for quitting...I've been smoking for 12 years now (soon to be 24) so it's kinda hard, haha. But maybe it'll become easier when smoking is banned in pubs here...we'll see.

[Elesirdur]

Go see a physician and at least get a swab taken to confirm the presence of a bacterial infection. If so, please do take the antibiotics - you'll feel better within 24 hours.

As for recurrent problems, get a neti pot and use it every other day. (Every day while on the antibiotics and a week or two after would be good.) If you don't want to buy any pre-mixed sachets you can just use non-iodized salt like pickling salt, and a little bit of sodium bicarbonate. There are lots of recipes online for making your own saline mix.

I suffer with dust allergies and smoke, and using the neti pot makes life much better. The regular use will keep your sinuses from getting too dry, which you might find with some steroidal-based nasal sprays (though I could be wrong on this part, just remembering something from an anecdote).

[Nekio]

Actual doctor stepping in. You should see a doctor, but based on what you're telling us, that's not likely a bacterial infection. The quack docs are the ones that use antibiotics for sinusitis, which is 99% of the time viral, not bacterial. Just tell him/her that you don't want an antibiotic, and ask them to help you quit smoking. Use the Neti Pot. It's saline, and safe.

P.S. Cold weather doesn't cause infections. Cold weather causes people to stay inside warm places, around other people with infections.

[Sanjiyan]

I'm a medical student in my final months of training. Just need to pass an exam and I have my MD degree.
Granted, I don't know everything yet, but sinusitis is pretty straightforward.

[wop]

Yup, I know the color is kinda iffy, but there's some little drips of blood in there, which is either from a popped blood vessel or from the smack on the nose I got on New Year's, since the first time I had that kind of umm plug (not sure if that's the correct word in this case) come out it was bloodier and that happend on like the January 5th, after that it calmed down on the blood side.

Hello?

No one here takes coke?

High doses of coke say 2-3g a night/4 times a week, gives the exact symptoms.

Classic signs, phelgm, and nosebleed.

[Omniyoji]

OMG Wop does coke! Of course, it all makes sense. Coke, the high rollers drug! >_>

[Uzor]

Why I clicked the spoiler while eating I will never know.

Good day to you, sir.

[Fievel]

OMG Wop does coke! Of course, it all makes sense. Coke, the high rollers drug! >_>

It's why he's so damn skinny.

[Weeks]

Actual doctor stepping in. You should see a doctor, but based on what you're telling us, that's not likely a bacterial infection. The quack docs are the ones that use antibiotics for sinusitis, which is 99% of the time viral, not bacterial. Just tell him/her that you don't want an antibiotic, and ask them to help you quit smoking. Use the Neti Pot. It's saline, and safe.

P.S. Cold weather doesn't cause infections. Cold weather causes people to stay inside warm places, around other people with infections.

Wow, a doctor who believes in viruses? You have to still be in residency.

[kuronosan]

Wait, what? Most cases of sinusitis are because of bacterial infections. The reason why antibiotics tend not to work on Sinusitis are because the symptoms are much like a cold virus, which is not affected by antibiotics. This is the same reason why people have allergic reactions and instead of taking anti-histamines they take cold or flu medicine or antibiotics.

No offense, but the answer in this episode is to have lab-work done to determine if it is viral in nature or bacterial, or if it's just allergies.

Judging by the color of your mucus, it is most definitely bacterial. Most likely it is a staph infection, who knows?

P.S. Cold weather can't cause infections, but it can facilitate the growth of certain bugs which can. It can also cause Cold Agglutinin Disease.

Also, it can be a combination - viruses and even other bacteria are known to weaken the immune system which can result in opportunistic infections.

Have fun with your self-diagnosis, OP. Maybe when your sinuses explode from the hot air in your head you can come back and show us pictures of that too.

[Silenka]

Why I clicked the spoiler while eating I will never know.

Good day to you, sir.

I did so after eating, felt a little nauseated...

also, smoking is bad mmkay

[Elesirdur]

Hello?

No one here takes coke?

High doses of coke say 2-3g a night/4 times a week, gives the exact symptoms.

Classic signs, phelgm, and nosebleed.

Either way, a neti pot is the best solution.

[Weeks]

Wait, what? Most cases of sinusitis are because of bacterial infections.

Nope.

The reason why antibiotics tend not to work on Sinusitis are because the symptoms are much like a cold virus, which is not affected by antibiotics.

Nope, it's because most sinusitis is viral and even bacterial sinusitis is not all that susceptible to oral antibiotics.

No offense, but the answer in this episode is to have lab-work done to determine if it is viral in nature or bacterial, or if it's just allergies.

Nope. Sinusitis vs. allergic rhinitis is clinically determined, and routine bloodwork is not recommended and would never be done. A trial of symptomatic treatment is what's indicated, though almost everyone will just prescribe an antibiotic.

Judging by the color of your mucus, it is most definitely bacterial. Most likely it is a staph infection, who knows?

Mucus/sputum color is not at all reliable for differentiating between bacterial and viral infections anywhere in the respiratory tract.

Just tell him/her that you don't want an antibiotic, and ask them to help you quit smoking. Use the Neti Pot. It's saline, and safe.

Agree with this, btw, but someone should mention that saline washes are shown to increase the incidence of sinusitis, though the symptomatic relief may be a worthwhile tradeoff.

[ZarakiKujata]

Hello?

No one here takes coke?

High doses of coke say 2-3g a night/4 times a week, gives the exact symptoms.

Classic signs, phelgm, and nosebleed.

Done alot of coke have you? I guess

http://cdn.theurbandaily.com/files/2010/07/cocaine.gif

would explain paying that much for a scarf?

[Tymon]

I wasn't gonna make a thread because of how dumb most BG-Med threads are but I might as well ask since one is already made for this

I get sinusitis every once in a while and go to the doctor, get meds, get over it.. big deal

I'm pretty sure I have it again, except the difference this time is that I'm not blowing much of anything out of my nose, and my ears are clogged more than normal, there's also pain if you push in on my right ear in this area (just this area):



Left ear is unaffected, other than being a little clogged up.

My uncle in-law is a doctor, and he gave me something called Ciprofloaxin (sp?) which I looked up to be a strong antibiotic so I'm taking 500mg pills 2x per day right now, haven't been taking long enough to notice a difference yet but not worried.

Question being, think this is sinusitis or something else?

Going to the doctor is basically out of the question unless it gets a lot worse atm, I have an outstanding bill that I'm still paying off and I don't have my insurance settled enough to get anything done for anything less than 3 figures

[Hyan]

Eh, otitis?

[Tymon]

Eh, otitis?

I guess so, but that wouldn't explain the other more generic symptoms of a sinus infection (headache behind eyes, clogged nose, ears, drainage on throat overnight, etc)

edit: eyes, not ears