sinus infection and antibiotics duration (allergies, congestion, physician, prescription)

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by Deserterer

Except that link I posted in response to Mike seems to undermine that idea, and suggests longer courses may actually propagate resistance




.

Two ways to look at it-- any bugs that survive a short course of poisoning are relatively more resistant to that antibiotic than the bugs that have been killed...Any bug that survives a long course must be really resistant.

If we always treated with short courses, it wouldn't be long before all the bugs out there are at least reatively resistant...As I said, we really have little data on how long a course should be-- optimizing effect vs relapse rates vs changes in bug population gene frequencies.

In practice, most people don't finish the whole 10 day course anyway, or may take 14 days to do it.

And, as I've always said-- infections take 7 days-- Either you kill the bug or they kill you. Either way, it's over in a week. Anything that lasts longer than that probably isn't an infection.

[Deserterer]

Well crap its Day 8 so I guess this may be my last.

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by Deserterer

Each day has been quite similar. I wake up and think it's gone. By mid-morning I start to smell it, and I'm able to hoooowwwkkkk a little vile yellow mucus/pus out, but only a very little, for a few hours. I doubt I get more than a quarter to half teaspoon out on any day. I have only seen a couple of very tiny flecks of blood. By mid-afternoon it usually feels like it's gone again unless I aggravate it with saline. At no time is my sinus completely clogged. It seems to be completely restricted to my right sinuses. I have no fever and don't feel sick since I finally cleared the RSV out of my lungs a few days after this started

Same again today. I didn't notice it after mid-afternoon yesterday, except for a mild headache, then woke up today with no symptoms. By 11 am the vile smell started.


I was going to try Afrin yesterday (I'm reluctant because I became dependent on it many years ago, and have rarely used it since) but the bottle I have won't spray so I guess I'll have to go to the store. I think its my last ditch effort to get this toxic waste to drain out of my head before having to start the antibiotics.

[svband76]

Most medical doctors are clueless drug pushers. Seek a natural health practitioner if you want to make it into the next year or two. I swear. I had lifelong sinus issues until I took a different path. Stopped relying on the failed medical industry "sick care".

[pathrunner]

I was recently prescribed a 10 day course of Bactrim for a sinus "infection." All it was, was some bacteria in a lab result that showed something was needed. After 5 days i had to stop because Bactrim causes crystals in the urine (see the drug's info) and I have interstitial cystitis. it brought on a bad flare and I had to take an opioid to deal with the pain (OTC's don't work).

I called the office and said I had stopped taking it, does he want to prescribe something else? (I have Amoxi on hand btw.) Forgot to mention it last week when I went in for another issue, and he didn't bring it up either (probably forgot).

Amoxi is probably fine and I would take it unless you are really averse. Sinus infections may start viral but they can become bacterial. Mike please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm a lifelong Tetracycline/Amoxi taker due to birth defects and issues with upper respiratory and lungs. I wouldn't mess around with a sinus infection, but that's me. YMMV.

[Deserterer]

Well today is Day 11 and everything I read said to give it 7 to 10 days. I wanted to go for 14 but I think enough is enough. I'm tired of having a dead, decomposing rat in my head so I popped my first amoxicillin today. And I'm pretty comfortable that if it clears up quickly, 5 to 7 days is all I will need based on the most recent recommendations.

[pathrunner]

That's good Deserterer, left untreated it could result in this:

From an internet search:

Left untreated, a sinus infection has the potential to spread to your meninges (the protective coverings around your brain and spinal cord), causing them to become inflamed — a condition called meningitis. Meningitis gives rise to the following signs and symptoms: Sudden, high-grade fever. Neck stiffness. Sep 2, 2020

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by pathrunner

That's good Deserterer, left untreated it could result in this:

From an internet search:

Left untreated, a sinus infection has the potential to spread to your meninges (the protective coverings around your brain and spinal cord), causing them to become inflamed — a condition called meningitis. Meningitis gives rise to the following signs and symptoms: Sudden, high-grade fever. Neck stiffness. Sep 2, 2020

Yeah it shows no signs of getting worse but no signs of getting better either. Enough! I feel great again and the last thing I want is a new problem.

[mike1003]

Originally Posted by Deserterer

as I said, "I really don't want to go against my doctors recommendations without good reason, but I am starting to question how up to date he is on some things."

Here is another link suggesting shorter courses are more appropriate although it doesn't go into specifics.



So to answer your question, I don't want to ignore him but reasons to question his recommendations are cropping up. Fortunately I still don't feel its necessary to start them so I may be able to dodge the issue..until next time

Then it's time to find a new doc

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by mike1003

Then it's time to find a new doc

Finding someone new has crossed my mind. I've been with him a long time so there are advantages to staying too. Once you've been with someone a long time you're also bound to find some faults. That doesn't necessarily mean I'll find someone better. I'm a big boy now so if I find good reasons to deviate from his recommendations I can always do that.