infection in the sphenoid sinus
 

Hey there, along with my lower back pain I have had a sinus infection for months now. I am scheduled for surgery on the on the 17th of this month where they are planning on opening up my sinus (I think they have to drill into this area).

This situation turned serious when over Thanksgiving i was put in the hospital for two day. They though I had menengitus at first, but now they think it was this infection. If anyone knows about this issue please respond and give me your experience or knowledge. Oh, and I have been on strong antibiotics for months now and I'm dealing with headaches, vertigo, fatigue, ear throbbing and an overall bad attitude at this point.

ty, Mitch

Mitch, this has been a rough ride for your buddy...I can't imagine how awful you must be feeling. Sounds like there is an end to this trouble with your sinus...I will send you positive healing energy....Hang in there :hug:

I had an infection in my sphenoid sinus! Antibiotics do not work. I was on them forever. I got mine after pituitary surgery and the sinus closed up before everything had drained. It smelled awful. Hard to get away from a smell in your nose.

I hope a pituitary guy or someone with an endoscope is doing your surgery as they can see.

These were my instructions - yours may differ.

After the surgery, I had to keep the area cleaned out. It was er, not fun. I had to keep going back to the ENT for debridement. At home, I had to use a water pik with saline to shoot the saline up the nostril to get it way up there and clean things out. I did this by leaning over the tub as it was very mess and some giant things come out. They may fall out later (ugh) so carry around tissues. I was also using saline to keep my nose moist.

My husband says he has fond memories of the ENT taking a trip to the center of the earth so to speak... You may want someone to drive you to the ENT as the debridements can be painful - please consider taking pain pills beforehand. You should rest afterwards for at least a little bit. They reach in with long tools and pull out what they can. They do numb you as best they can but the tugging and all sometimes can give you a headache.

Thank you very much
 

I go in for surgery on next tuesday the 17th. I have been dealing with this since late october and I am ready to be done. My surgeon doesnt think my symptoms are due to this infecton, but it has to be, I never felt like this before this sinus infection.

What symptoms did you have prior to surgery, did you have any of the vertigo, ear throbbing and extreme fatgigue?

thanks,

mitch

Ah - they never think there are any symptoms!!! I had mostly smell (it is very rank), I was tired... my WBC never went up... I had only a low grade fever from time to time. My ears are wonky so cannot equate it to the infection (I have menieres).

How did you get an infection way up there?

Hey there,

This all started with a simple sinus infection back in october 08, that wasnt treated long enough with antibiotic and came back. I did have a really bad smell in my nose for weeks when this first started, but havent had this in months.

Like I said I am getting surgery to get what looks like infection out of my sphenoid sinus. My ENT doc dosnt think my syptoms are caused by this and menieres disease is one of the possible things thrown out there. As I read about this disease, I have just about all the symptoms of it. The only thing is I had a 103 fever for a couple of days with this when i had a really bad eppisode. I dont think menieres would do that.

Anyhow, just thought I would keep this thread going to get anymore info or insight. thanks again,.............Mitch

surgery is over!
 

Well, surgery is over and It caused minimal pain! Ever since I woke up from the surgery I have not had any vertigo or ear throbbing. I am so amazed.

I felt so good that I over did it and ran myself into the ground day two, but I think I have adjusted and realized I need to rest for a week or two here. I have really no soreness, but this surgery in the middle of my head thing is new to me, its all a different kind of pain. I found out the hard way that I get extreme migraines if I have to deal with loud noises. Well I now know that if my 2 year old is having a fit, I just have to close my ears and move back to a dark quiet room. Again I have a new found respect for those of you dealing with these head issues.

I am excited about the prospects of consentrating on my lower back pt and core strengthing. I will be taking it easy and slowly moving back into pool pt and getting on my treadmill. Thanks again for being so supportive.....Mitch

Great! Yes, sometimes without the obvious scar, one will forget they had surgery and overdo...
Take it easy!

sphenoid sinus infection /surgery
 

Hi Everyone, This is my first posting looks like a good site to get some info .
I like the information I am seeing on this sphenoid sinus. I have also been dealing with sinus infectios sine Oct. ,contantly sick, throbbing in head, ears, always exhausted not fun at all.Not also dealing with acid reflux . I have been going to a ENT for about 1 month. I was in a car accident and hit my head which cause me to get a cat scan.Otherwise I still might not have found out about this sphenoid sinus. I never even knew there was a sinus that close to the brain. Doctor put me on penicillin,nose sprays. I have to go back for a 3rd ct scan if sinus not better then he said I have to go to John Hopkins for surgery. Which I am scared to death. Doctor told me that this is at a very sensitive area at the brain. Anyone have any advise let me know.
Diana

Make sure that you also get hormone testing. After car accidents like that, often the pituitary gets mushed up a bit and growth hormone goes down. You may not feel like you are sleeping as well and not want to be around people, and may gain some weight.
GH is the most common hormone that goes - but others can go. So if you start to feel a bit off, see an endo.