Using Antibiotics

I personally have a long history of sinus problems and sinus infections. I typically had several attacks of sinusitis every year, and if memory serves, I was given antibiotics just about every time. I later learned the downside of taking too many antibiotics, and I tried to eliminate them as much as possible.

I had two sinus operations as the years went on, and even after those I would come down with sinus infections. Sinus operations are different from procedures like an appendectomy or even lasik surgery to improve eyesight. Everyone’s sinus issues are slightly different, and what works for one person might not work for someone else. There are also quite a few different causes of sinusitis, and these might include polyps or even harmful immune reactions to certain fungi. Allergies to many different things ranging from pollen to dust mites or any one of a hundred allergens can also trigger bouts with sinusitis.

In desperation after my second sinus operation I came across the practice of pulsating sinus irrigation about nine years ago, and this has been nothing less than a lifesaver. I do supplement this practice with a few medications, like a nasal spray every night. If I feel like I’m on the verge of an infection I will take a mucus thinner and some prednisone. The latter should be taken sparingly because there are side effects associated with it. This regimen usually takes care of my problems.

Early this winter I felt like a sinus infection was coming on, so I started my usual routine. I could tell I had a bit of an infection because I had to blow my nose a lot and the mucus was fairly thick and cloudy. It wasn’t really yellowish in color, which it can get with a strong infection, and I also didn’t have sinus headaches, the telltale sign of an infection. Those headaches deep behind the eyes and along the nostrils are awful. After about a week of this I was better.

The problem is that this condition came back about a month later, and then again a month after that. This is highly unusual because since I started with daily sinus irrigation nine years ago, I haven’t had this sort of repeated sinus issues. Since I have had so much experience with treatment of sinusitis with several ENTs and various doctors, I normally feel like I can treat myself. On this third occasion, however, I threw in the towel and went to see my primary care doctor. He agreed with everything I had been doing, but he also suggested I take an antibiotic.

It wasn’t long and I could tell the antibiotic was having an effect. Hopefully that will be the end of my problems for this winter. Needless to say I finished the course of pills, because antibiotics need to be consumed in their entirety to avoid having bacteria become resistant, which is the problem with taking too many in the first place. Sometimes, however, they are needed, and I should have seen my doctor much earlier than I did to get the problem taken care of once and for all.