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I really hope someone can help me with this infection I've had for the past month as I'm getting really worried and feeling hopeless. First it started off like a normal sinus infection (post nasal drip, sinus headaches, coughs) then after a few weeks I started to get an occasional low grade fever (99.5-100.5) with body aches (like the flu). These fevers lasted for about a day then went away the next day only to come back in a few days then go away again. Now I've had this fever with body aches for 2 days straight and I'm just feeling hopeless. I've been to the doctor 3 times already, tried Mucinex-D, Flonase, Neti pot, Robitusin, all to no avail. Now I'm taking Advil just to reduce my fever and ease my pain. The doctor took a bunch of blood test (except a high count of immature granulocytes), urine, chest X-ray, nasal culture, all normal. Now I have a sinus headache everyday, although my post-nasal drip has gotten better. The biggest problem right now is fever, body aches, and sinus congestion.
I've had sinus infections before but they usually went away after a couple weeks and I've never had a fever with them. Anyone had a sinus infection before that lasted for over a month? I'm missing so much work and feeling really frustrated. Does anyone know what's going on? Is it a really bad sinus infection or something worse? Anyone know anything else I should do to help myself get better faster? Any help is appreciated.
You didn't mention antibiotics, allergy medication, or steroid taper.
I'd go back to the doctor to talk about those treatment options.
If you don't get better, I'd go see an ENT.
I took Avelox for 7 days, no result. I also took Flonase for a few days, no result, in fact I think I got worse. I was thinking of seeing a ENT specialist but just wanted to know if anyone experienced something similar. I haven't been travelling prior to my illness.
Yes. I used to have that all the time and I'll agree with you, it was horrible. Chills, fever, aching, weakness, fatigue, and ever present sinus headache and pressure. Kind of ruins your life.
I kept having to go on antibiotics but what eventually helped a lot was allergy shots. That stops it before it even starts. I also got tested for food allergies and MILK was causing the sinus congestion. Since then I barely ever have dairy products but it's worth it to not have the ongoing sinus infection. Don't ever think that you couldn't have developed a food allergy, I didn't believe it myself until I got tested. It's wonderful to know what's causing the problem. I also turned out to have a lot of seasonal allergies and the shots have truly helped a lot.
The ultimate was to have good sinus surgery. That's after the damage was done by having so many sinus infections that it left scar tissue. It's been a few years since I've had a sinus headache and what a relief. So--I'd go for antibiotics and allergy testing. An ENT and sinus surgery as a last resort if you are still congested even on allergy shots.
Yes. I used to have that all the time and I'll agree with you, it was horrible. Chills, fever, aching, weakness, fatigue, and ever present sinus headache and pressure. Kind of ruins your life.
I kept having to go on antibiotics but what eventually helped a lot was allergy shots. That stops it before it even starts. I also got tested for food allergies and MILK was causing the sinus congestion. Since then I barely ever have dairy products but it's worth it to not have the ongoing sinus infection. Don't ever think that you couldn't have developed a food allergy, I didn't believe it myself until I got tested. It's wonderful to know what's causing the problem. I also turned out to have a lot of seasonal allergies and the shots have truly helped a lot.
The ultimate was to have good sinus surgery. That's after the damage was done by having so many sinus infections that it left scar tissue. It's been a few years since I've had a sinus headache and what a relief. So--I'd go for antibiotics and allergy testing. An ENT and sinus surgery as a last resort if you are still congested even on allergy shots.
Well it's good to know I'm not alone, not that I wish this upon you. Although I do have allergies (dust, pollen, mold), most of the time I'm feeling okay, despite some sniffles. I'm hesitant to take allergy shots, I don't think my allergies are bad enough to take them. It's just that this particular infection is lingering for a month now. If it doesn't get better soon, I'm going to see an ENT. I asked my internist a while ago about sinus surgery but he said that my condition wasn't near bad enough to consider surgery.
Well it's good to know I'm not alone, not that I wish this upon you. Although I do have allergies (dust, pollen, mold), most of the time I'm feeling okay, despite some sniffles. I'm hesitant to take allergy shots, I don't think my allergies are bad enough to take them. It's just that this particular infection is lingering for a month now. If it doesn't get better soon, I'm going to see an ENT. I asked my internist a while ago about sinus surgery but he said that my condition wasn't near bad enough to consider surgery.
If it doesn't work out with the ENT, I would recommend the allergy shot route. My ENT didn't think I had allergies -- lol. I knew better because I had been tested and was already getting the shots--not highly allergic but allergic to a lot of things. The doctors are so specialized that they don't seem to know much outside of their own specialty. I keep thinking that I don't need the allergy shots--wrong. The constant irritation led to the sinus infections and it still would. When you get better, you could try a spray called Ocean to keep the dryness out of your nose. There's another one that worked miracles -- it's a pump the puts this moistener goop into your nose and it seems to stop the allergens from getting in. Can't think of the name of it offhand. Then there is one prescription that really worked for me, called Astelin. Flonase, etc. did nothing at all. Ever. Good luck and will you keep us posted?
OP, I went through the same situations as you are experiencing a few years ago. I first went to the family doc and he over a period of time (yrs) he prescribed all the meds for sinus problems like yours to no avail. Then in frustration he sent me to see an ENT. The ENT did surgery(3 to be exact) to no avail, though there was some temporary relief from the after surgery meds. So he then prescribed prednisone dose-paks which helped tremendously and it did relieve the headaches and other symptoms. But prednisone is only temporary as it effects the kidneys if taken too often over a period of time. Also after the prednisone is stopped the problem symptoms start all over again
Then one day at a different doctors office, for other reasons, I mentioned to him about my sinus problem. He sent me to see a 'holistic allergist' that he recommended was good with sinus problems. That was the best advice as it turned out that I am very allergic to dairy and wheat products and also some other food items. So he started me off on a high dosage of prednisone for 1 week and also started me on a 'glutten' free diet. Also I was told to use a ''Netti rinse', not the Netti pot, and in just a few days all the headaches were gone and in about 1 week all the allergic reactions that kicked off the headaches and other sinus problems disappeared.
I find if I cheat and get off the diet the symptoms come back and then I have to suffer for a day or 2 till I resume my glutten free diet.
Hope this helps. And I'd recommend you see an allergist that specializes in food products. Many allergists only test you for plant and animal allergic reactions and not food allergies.
OP, I went through the same situations as you are experiencing a few years ago. I first went to the family doc and he over a period of time (yrs) he prescribed all the meds for sinus problems like yours to no avail. Then in frustration he sent me to see an ENT. The ENT did surgery(3 to be exact) to no avail, though there was some temporary relief from the after surgery meds. So he then prescribed prednisone dose-paks which helped tremendously and it did relieve the headaches and other symptoms. But prednisone is only temporary as it effects the kidneys if taken too often over a period of time. Also after the prednisone is stopped the problem symptoms start all over again
Then one day at a different doctors office, for other reasons, I mentioned to him about my sinus problem. He sent me to see a 'holistic allergist' that he recommended was good with sinus problems. That was the best advice as it turned out that I am very allergic to dairy and wheat products and also some other food items. So he started me off on a high dosage of prednisone for 1 week and also started me on a 'glutten' free diet. Also I was told to use a ''Netti rinse', not the Netti pot, and in just a few days all the headaches were gone and in about 1 week all the allergic reactions that kicked off the headaches and other sinus problems disappeared.
I find if I cheat and get off the diet the symptoms come back and then I have to suffer for a day or 2 till I resume my glutten free diet.
Hope this helps. And I'd recommend you see an allergist that specializes in food products. Many allergists only test you for plant and animal allergic reactions and not food allergies.
I hope the OP reads what you wrote. Nothing else will help if it's allergies and you're right, many allergists don't even bother to check for the food allergies. I have no idea why they don't test for foods. I wasted years going to doctors and years with allergists who never tested me for foods. I got a lot worse, seriously worse, before I went to a more alternative style allergist who first ran a blood test and called me immediately and told me never to drink milk -- ever!
Then I went in for the actual, more specific testing and the dairy allergy was off the charts while other food allergies were pretty bad too. I had NO idea, not a clue until they did the testing. Milk was my favorite food so I never wanted to believe I was allergic to it. But it's not horrible, doing without dairy. There are lots of substitutes and you can get perfectly used to it. You can get very used to feeling GOOD again. I'll have allergy shots for the rest of my life but that's fine too. With the allergy shots warding off the allergens, it's less work for your body and you feel better and less fatigued.
Well it's good to know I'm not alone, not that I wish this upon you. Although I do have allergies (dust, pollen, mold), most of the time I'm feeling okay, despite some sniffles. I'm hesitant to take allergy shots, I don't think my allergies are bad enough to take them. It's just that this particular infection is lingering for a month now. If it doesn't get better soon, I'm going to see an ENT. I asked my internist a while ago about sinus surgery but he said that my condition wasn't near bad enough to consider surgery.
I wouldn't hesitate to get the allergy shots. Clearly your allergies are bad enough if you have sinus infections that last forever. You might be able to handle the symptoms of the allergies, but you can't handle the infections that result from the symptoms. I'd definitely do allergy shots before considering surgery. I recommend finding an ENT who is also an allergist.
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I have no idea why they don't test for foods. I wasted years going to doctors and years with allergists who never tested me for foods. I got a lot worse, seriously worse, before I went to a more alternative style allergist who first ran a blood test and called me immediately and told me never to drink milk -- ever! 
