Printable View
I had pinkeye, too! In early January!Quote:
Originally Posted by redfox
DH brought it home from his family reunion which included many small children. His version lasted many days; mine was only 24 hours. But then, I did use his eye meds so perhaps that nipped it in the bud.
I agree with Suzanne. Antiobiotics reek havoc on the immune system. Taking a quality probiotic is a simple thing to try!!!
Please take care!
I've had chronic sinus infections almost every winter for years. If I get a head cold in the winter, I will usually have sinus problems until the weather warms. At least from my experience, the traditional OTC medicines will make things worse. Decongestants and nasal sprays (other than saline) give temporary relief but have a rebound effect that dries the sinus membranes out (what they are supposed to do) which causes more irritation to the sinus membranes and then the perceived need for more relief, which turns into a vicious cycle.
It's interesting the other issues that come from sinus infections. I've had tooth pain, sensitive areas on my forehead, killer headaches, and yes, it causes me to wear out easily and feel tired a lot.
I've never had luck with antibiotics and nettie pots. I bought a steam inhaler for about $40 and it is the best thing for me. I will use it 2 or 3 time a day for 5 or ten minutes when I have problems. It's the same effect has a hot shower or breathing steam over a hot kettle. I also use saline nasal spray.
Colds can turn into a vicious cycle for me if I'm not alert to remembering that this happens: the constant post-nasal drip makes me swallow more often. More swallowing means swallowing more air, which is a trigger for silent reflux (the type that does not cause heartburn and is very difficult to diagnose). Silent reflux, in turn, has caused for me: laryngitis, sinus infections, sharp pains in my ears, and ear infections.
What I have to do to stop the cycle is cut out all acidic foods (including apples, yogurt, etc) for at least a few days - this helps the esophagus and larynx heal. I also have to put conscious effort into reducing the swallowing, and eat smaller meals to avoid pressure on the sphincter muscle.
You'd think I would remember this, but even though I've been through it before, it usually takes me more time than it should to figure it out. I had an episode in the fall that went on for almost 3 weeks before I figured out what was happening - and then healed myself within 3 days.
Anyway, my theory is that everyone has a weakness that shows up when they are sick or otherwise stressed. For me, it's the reflux. My DD has this, too. In fact, so does my mom, and she had chronic sinus infections for years that her MD never figured out - until she started taking zantac all the time, after which she never had another. Some people seem to be predisposed to strep throat; while my DD has never had it, some of her friends get it at least 2x/year. Others have a generally fussy stomach and seem to be prone to vomiting illnesses.
I did not experience more than usual illness during menopause, unlike what others reported. In fact, I generally felt fantastic, surprisingly enough!
Anyway, what I would do is support the parts of the body that are usually weaknesses. For instance: if the stomach, eat small meals, avoid spicy and acidic foods and beverages, and don't eat within 3 hours of bedtime. If it's fatigue, I'd look for ways to increase energy, such as eating lots of greens, doing gentle exercises, and keeping a very regular sleep pattern. If it were my sinuses, I'd breathe steam, saline drops, and strictly avoid anything that triggers congestion (for me, that's wheat, dairy, and any artificial scents).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellane
This is completely anecdotal, not scientific, but I read somewhere that drinking Roobios tea is good for maintaining health. In the late summer, I got a cold/sinus thing and it kept coming back every week or two, and repeating. I wasn't kicking it. I decided to start drinking Roobios, just one cup a day. Who knows, it could be completely a coincidence, but from that day on, I didn't get sick. I've been sick with a virus one time since August.
Have you been tested for anything by a doctor? Some of the symptoms you have could be from one of any number of autoimmune diseases (something I've unfortunately become too familiar with recently) or even worse (cancer). You probably should go for a full lab work up just to see what's up. Don't assume that an infection is just an infection - it could be caused by something else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Cellane