Possible Sinus Infection — What to Do?

[Julryan]

Hi friends - I have significant sinus pain and pressure on right side of face. This is how my sinus infections present. Not a lot of goop just lots of pressure and feeling spacey/lightheaded/headache and feeling weak.

As I am new to tinnitus (and struggling to adjust) I am afraid to take my usual antibiotic Augmentin XR which is very strong. I can take a lower dose but I'm not sure it will work. Also, sometimes the antibiotic doesn't work and I'm just sick for a few months.

However, when I've tried to skip antibiotics in the past it just gets worse and worse.

I'm afraid to cause a spike as I'm new and my tinnitus is all over the place. Maybe the sinus problem is even causing the tinnitus.

I am using "simply saline" spray but its not helping. Any advice welcome! Thanks!

 

[fishbone]

Hi friends - I have significant sinus pain and pressure on right side of face. This is how my sinus infections present. Not a lot of goop just lots of pressure and feeling spacey/lightheaded/headache and feeling weak.

As I am new to tinnitus (and struggling to adjust) I am afraid to take my usual antibiotic Augmentin XR which is very strong. I can take a lower dose but I'm not sure it will work. Also, sometimes the antibiotic doesn't work and I'm just sick for a few months.

However, when I've tried to skip antibiotics in the past it just gets worse and worse.

I'm afraid to cause a spike as I'm new and my tinnitus is all over the place. Maybe the sinus problem is even causing the tinnitus.

I am using "simply saline" spray but its not helping. Any advice welcome! Thanks!

I am no ENT, but I don't know if sinus infections can go away without antibiotics. I understand your feeling towards Augmentin. I will never touch that med ever again. Possibly your ENT can give you another med, that can be helpful for your infection. The goal is to make sure that, the infection goes away and you start feeling better.

 

[Julryan]

Thanks @fishbone. You look after all of us and its very much noted and appreciated. How are you doing tonight ?

Unfortunately i just went to my first ent and he was quite useless/dismissive. He said (regarding T) i need to "relax" and take some lipo-flavenoids and maybe T will go away or not. No advice or suggestions. Also said he doesnt think *any* antibiotics cause T unless in IV. But im fairly certain mine were a combo of tobramycin drops and advil. But who knows. Im here now. So im dealing with my G.P. and he will give me what i ask for I just dont know what to request. Too many stories on here about augmentin and others so i am searching for least likely to cause a spike or worse. I know there are no guarantees.

 

[fishbone]

Thanks @fishbone. You look after all of us and its very much noted and appreciated. How are you doing tonight ?

Unfortunately i just went to my first ent and he was quite useless/dismissive. He said (regarding T) i need to "relax" and take some lipo-flavenoids and maybe T will go away or not. No advice or suggestions. Also said he doesnt think *any* antibiotics cause T unless in IV. But im fairly certain mine were a combo of tobramycin drops and advil. But who knows. Im here now. So im dealing with my G.P. and he will give me what i ask for I just dont know what to request. Too many stories on here about augmentin and others so i am searching for least likely to cause a spike or worse. I know there are no guarantees.

Lipo-flavenoids might help some, but I haven't seen great reviews for it. I even gave it a try myself and it did nothing for my tinnitus. I hate it when DRs don't own up to it, that meds can cause tinnitus and even make it worst. I took an antibiotic for a possible sinus infection about 2 months ago. right off the bat, it started to give me a new tone and I knew that I could no longer take that med. If I ask a DR about it, they would also deny that meds can cause this.

My night/day has been ok. Early morning in the gym and I had my martial arts class tonight. This is pretty much my usual routine. 6-7 days of the gym and 5-6 days of martial arts training, it keeps me going...

 

[Julryan]

@fishbone that's awesome that you are so fit. I know you've said you have other issues that cause pain as well. You are an inspiration and when i feel a little more solid i will follow your lead and get back to the gym!

 

[GregCA]

As I am new to tinnitus (and struggling to adjust) I am afraid to take my usual antibiotic Augmentin XR which is very strong.

Have you checked this out? https://www.ehealthme.com/ds/augmentin/ototoxicity/

 

[Julryan]

@GregCA That is reassuring but Im mostly concerned with a T spike. There are a lot of people on here that report major spikes after augmentin. Im just really scared of which direction to go. So in other words im frozen in a fear state as its just 2 weeks in... thank you for the info i will consider it all. Much appreciated.

 

[GregCA]

@GregCA That is reassuring but Im mostly concerned with a T spike. There are a lot of people on here that report major spikes after augmentin. Im just really scared of which direction to go. So in other words im frozen in a fear state as its just 2 weeks in... thank you for the info i will consider it all. Much appreciated.

It's always a trade-off: if you don't take the meds, you are also risking a spike, and perhaps much worse (infections can do quite a lot of damage).
I would personally not let an infection flourish if I can help it.

 

[Julryan]

@GregCA

Got it. Thanks. Im so new to this - its all very confusing, disorienting (emotionally) and anxiety provoking!

 

[GregCA]

@GregCA

Got it. Thanks. Im so new to this - its all very confusing, disorienting (emotionally) and anxiety provoking!

It is indeed. I haven't heard of anyone who doesn't go through this at onset. We worry about everything. I had stopped salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, making music, playing video games, etc... I was in the abyss of darkness.

Little by little, I started re-incorporating these things in my life, and noticed it didn't have much of an influence at all on my T (this is likely to vary among T sufferers, which is why re-introducing things one at a time can be used as a strategy to determine the impact of each thing).

 

[Julryan]

@GregCA thanks so much!