I am glad they did a culture on your sinuses. Sometimes they suggest IV treatment becuase it crosses the blood brain barrier better than oral, but that also depends on the drug they are using. Either way, the antibiotics will cause changes in the normal body flora which keep some of the more exotic organisms in check. (Interestingly, many nurses when cultured nasally carried MRSA and had no symptoms, obviously because they wre exposed to it way before it was even identified...sorry for the digression.)

I think you are wise to ponder the situation. Will the treatment irradicate it or is it likely to come back due to the dryness or other drugs such as anti-inflammatory or immune suppressants? It is a tough call. How dangerous are the organisms?

On the cholesterol, mine is running high too, not quite as high as yours, and I found if I walked even two miles per day, I got it down, somewhat. I have not agreed to taking any cholesterol lowering drugs and just try diet and exercise and kind of live on the cusp. I know exercise is not in the picture for many of us, at least on many days. I am thinking if I have to make the choice....I am thinking zetia....but I hope I do not have to make the choice. Way back when my husband had great luck with some garlic thing he bought, LOL, but it also messed up his liver enzymes, just like the cholesterol drugs. I have a real concern regarding rhabdomyolosis and those drugs. Again, a really, really hard call.

I am one of those 'fortunate' people who gets so darn sick on most drugs, that I can't take most of them....which will probably do me in at some point. But I guess that is what I have to weigh....risk versus benefit, with very little margin for error. Docs can be too cavalier about doling out some drugs and way too stingy with others. It does sound like they are thinking this thru, as are you, and in the long run, you will make the right decision for the circumstances, and you can't look back on it and ruminate. (Been there, done that and it does no good.)

Is running a large area, high quality HEPA filter all the time of any use? I use one during the winter and we seldom get sick from colds or flu. I used to have hideous sinus problems. Every cold became a sinus infection. If you are dry, don't run the HEPA in the room you are in the most, as it really blows out air hard....very drying. I also got rid of every carpeted surface in the house...(had too, have pets, hubby has allergies). Getting rid of carpet really helped.