Sinus Drainage

[Autocar]

Any body find any home of over the counter cure for sinus problem. My sinus seem to drain worse at night and all day. It has been sixty plus years that I could breath though my noise one side is plug all the time. Thanks Bill 

[sawguy21]

Welcome back! Haven't seen you for a spell. Flonase is the most effective antihistamine I know of, I get it on prescription but believe it is over the counter in the U.S. Nasal drip irritates my throat and gives me a cough, not good under present conditions.

[sprucebunny]

I have the same problem. Only have a "cold" on one side of my head ! But also my ear is kind of 'plugged' or full feeling and a little deaf.

I Always sleep with the bad side up or on my back.

I'm guessing it's a low grade infection cause every few years I get fed up and make a Dr. give me a round of antibiotics and it will be good until the next winter.

It's irritating. Sorry you have it but glad to know I'm not alone.

[Ed_K]

 Your not alone, I'm right there with y'all left side is plugged as I type this .

[Magicman]

Flonase is the most effective antihistamine

"Dymista" is the expensive prescription version of Flonase that has another ingredient, but I can not tell any difference.  I recommend Flonase and use the generic version.

[dgdrls]

Warm saltwater rinses as often as you need but at lease twice a day.

Clears the crap and you'll feel better with no meds,

D

[sawguy21]

I do that as well but the med reduces the swelling and slows the flow.

[doc henderson]

well guys.  Flonase is a steroid nasal spray.  I did not know it was over the counter, but I see it is.  If you have nasal drainage or congestion (stuffy)  it may be nasal and not from the sinuses located in the bones of the face (like heart wood).  If you have has trouble with one side for 60 years, it is likely a polyp or deviated septum.  an ENT do can differentiate that.  if it is allergy or viral infection, you really do not need/want an antibiotic.  a ct scan can see a chronic or acute sinus infection.  often inflammation has blocked the opening to a sinus and the sinus has filled with fluid and is infected.  more symptoms of pain in the face or behind the eyes.  not so much drainage.  the infection happens when the fluid is trapped in the sinus.  the nasal steroid reduces the inflammation that has caused swelling of mucosa and blocking the opening of the sinus.  If that does not work or happens often, an ENT can do a surgery to open and enlarge the opening.  Nasal steroids are used so that you do not get the side effects from a systemic (oral) steroid like prednisone.

[kantuckid]

Via my allergy doc I use Rx for azelastine nasal spray and flonase following a nettii pot sinus rinse out. It is the best three things for my oxygen level and breathing I've done!
Flonase is cheaper via Rx than OTC for me.  
Netti pots are something most all of us should consider IMO. Since most everyone on this forum breaths dust it makes even more sense. 
Knowing the technique to clear the water out helps! In pollen seasons I occasionally use another spray called ibatroprium (sp?) bromide which stops the "drips", i.e. runny nose thing.
Sinus drainage is not my problem-chronic seasonal allergies is a yes for me.  

[Texas Ranger]

For general use I get an OTC called Allergy Relief, cheap, loratadine Antihistamine, flonase when really bad, don,t like steroids, but hey.

[Gary_C]

I've had the problem with excess mucus drainage for years. I went to an ENT doc and he diagnosed the problem as Vasomotor Rhinitis for which there is no cure nor effective treatment. He prescribed Flonase and Ipratropium Bromide plus use of a nettii pot. All three are effective but short term remedies. Learn to live with the problem.

I strongly recommend if you are having a problem with congestion to get the nettii pot and use it. My doctor recommended the NeilMed Sinus Rinse and I both use it and hate it. But it helps clear congestion.

[kantuckid]

My understanding of the Ipatropium Bromide is that it's to control drips, not open up your breathing passages. I rarely use it, mostly on rare occasions when pollens heavy. Azelastine is not a steriod nor is it habit forming as are certain inhalers, so I feel better about using it. The flonase and the azelastine work together in different ways. 
I actually went back to a new allergy doc when I was getting a colon scope in 2012 and nurse told me my oxygen was low. Turned out she'd worked for a pulmonologist doc and said thats who I needed to see to improve my oxy level. I saw him and a new allergy doc- a Greek guy whos great! My allergies had changed over time from my first allergy doc who'd retired. Mostly the same but not all were such. 
As a senior with borderline asthma I also self inject an allegy serum mailed to me by my allergy docs lab girl. Keeps me away from a doc office and all the germy people there plus no need to sit and wait for an allergic reaction after someone else gives me the shot. 
Interestingly the health insurer had an issue with me self injecting which as we all know is very commonly done. Few years ago, after like 13 phone calls, I became what was the first person in the whole damned state to be allowed to self inject myself. Our Teacher retirement system has an Rx plan which saves us money. They have two FT pharmacists in capital office of the system to deal with that stuff, thats how I had to work it to get the serum paid for. meanwhile most folks medicare pays for somebody else to give the same shots and we all pay for it in the end. 

[Ed_K]

 Every yr when the humidity goes up I get liquid in my inner ear, I use flonase but it don't work to well.

[doc henderson]

nasal admin of steroid is to decrease inflammation and swelling to the opening of your Eustachian tubes so the fluid can drain from your middle ear.  vaso-motor rhinorrhea is a constant runny nose from being OLD.    .  a runny nose from a cold is not really sinus drainage per se.  it is nasal drainage, and the bodies way of getting rid of infection (virus, cold)  or irritants (allergens, pollen).  it is like vomiting, but for your upper airways.  Ipratropium bromide is half of what is in a duo neb for breathing, but some feel it helps with VMR.  nasal congestion is when the mucosa (the lining that secretes mucus) is swollen so air does not pass.  do not go to the ED and tell them you cannot breath, when what you mean is you cannot breath through your nose.     .  hydrated mucus is thin, dehydrated mucus is thick.  

[farmfromkansas]

Nice to have Doc explain these issues.  Thanks, Doc.

[moosehunter]

I use Alkalol nasal wash. It'll make you do the "Alkalol dance" but it'll clean you out. It seems to me that it also shortens a cold if I get one.
mh

[kantuckid]

I use the same stuff for my netti pot flush as they sell, it's common salt and baking soda. Neither my allergy doc nor the pulmonologist he sent me to for eval prescribed the alcohol flush mentioned above-only the salt & baking soda version. It's not a crucial ratio but consists of 3 parts un-iodized salt/1 part baking soda per the allergy doc website -I use Kosher flaked salt, as it's not iodized and wife cooks with it and doesn't irritate the delicate lining of nasal passages. A tip a pulmonary nurse for a doc gave me back when.  Kept in a snack bag with a plastic spoon and use about a 1/2 tsp in the squeeze bottle full of clean water. Not a delicate subject but some serious nastyness comes out of there folks! 
For me, what with chronic seasonal allegies plus dirty shop work, it's an after my shower ritual everday. Given my allergies and the two sprays I use it's imperative to flush towards making the Rx sprays effective. I never flush right before bedtime as there's some residual moisture that needs to blow out. 
The Flonase steroid is a bit touchy in the winter heating season when my nasal dries out so if I see a tinge of pink when I flush out I avoid the Flonase/Fluticasone spray for a day or so and also my Azelastine spray.
Over several years I've found that it helps to sequence the two sprays some minutes apart, thus allowing them to do their thing.
My general practice doc once told me it was important to not "snuff heavily" when actually spraying the flonase as it needed to be on the entry tissues as well as back further.
In my own situ the flonase is cheaper via Rx than OTC, so worth checking that out with your pharmacist.
Last few days I removed some old lumber from a high shop shelf and ate a bunch of dust ( mice and more-yuk!)
I always do a netti pot as soon as logical after a dusty or nasty encounter.  

[sawguy21]

There are two versions of the Flonase. I use aqueous as the spray dries my nasal passages out too much resulting in nose bleeds. The mild winter we are experiencing really makes my life miserable so I use it frequently, especially helpful when I go to bed. I don't wake up struggling to breathe.

[Mean Dean]

I go to the Dollar Store and buy generic Zertec. 14 tabs $1. It works for me.one each morning 

[kantuckid]

I go to the Dollar General too for trash bags and more-as it's all we've got here! but I buy Walmart's Equal to Claritin as that's what my allergy doc prescribed as best for my specific allergies.
 Some of those OTC pills don't jive with hypertension and some cause drowzyness. Zyrtec is one of those listed as not to drive or operate machinery. 
I find that my nasals are at their worst when the weather closes in and find myself inside too much.