Sinus Infection?

[hennaLisa]

I am 21 weeks pregnant and going on I think three months of a sinus infection - it's had ups and downs but has been pretty much continuous since my family and I had a cold in September. Hubby and toddler got over the cold after about five weeks, but mine seemed to turn into deep sinus congestion, headaches, ear-popping/pain, etc. By the end of November, I was having such terrible drainage down my throat that I was gagging on it (and vomiting) and finally decided to learn to use a netti pot. Doing that each morning seemed to help a lot and I noticed significantly worse congestion during the day if I skipped my morning hot shower and netti. I would say the congestion was somewhat manageable for the first few weeks of December and I thought I was maybe getting over it, but then it suddenly became worse again - much worse! About a week ago my nose became a green/yellow/brown slime production factory pumping out more gunk in a day than I ever would have believed possible. I'm still using the netti pot, but the benefits only seem to last an hour. I haven't had headaches, though I am constantly very congested and do have some ear-popping and occasionally aches in my jaw. I know some people experience congestion when pregnant (I did not with my first pregnancy) but this does not seem normal to me. I've never had any cold that came even close to producing this abundance of congestion. Should I be trying to get an antibiotic? Are there other things I can do to get over this? I'm dreading the next 20 weeks if I don't find some relief.

[jenniferadurham]

Yes...thoughts??? I've had a cold that turned into a sinus infection for a week now. I NEED to get better bc I am in a wedding NYE...oye. I don't want to turn to antibiotics, but need to feel better soon. Salt water up the nose hasn't worked...nothing has so far that you would routinely do for this.

[BarefootScientist]

Go get some amoxicillin. Seriously, I'm one for avoiding antibiotics unless necessary, but it's definitely worth it in this case. I hardly ever get antibiotics, but last time I was pregnant I had to - pregnancy seems to prolong and exacerbate my already-awful winter colds. I have one right now...fingers crossed that it's getting better, but if it starts to get worse or if I still have it in the New Year I will be seeking out a doctor. Three months is way too long to suffer, mama.

Best wishes for feeling better soon!

[jenniferadurham]

I will have to see what else they can prescribe...my entire family is allergic to penicillin....and amoxicillin wouldn't be a good idea. I've never had it...but I've never risked it. Calling my ob now! Lol

[EnchantedMamma]

Just an FYI, I know I recall reading articles before about antibiotics not necessarily being the best answer to a sinus infection.

The trouble is they are often viral, as it turns out.

I suffered from constant infections and got tired of taking abx when it seemed the infection went nowhere (and the antibiotics were ones that worked for other things such as UTIs).

It might be worth trying in your case, although for a milder case I would not.

Maybe ask about the safety of using colloidal silver in the netti pot... That does sound like quite the nasty infection.

Also Sudafed to help clear the junk out so it's not sitting there, as long as you are past the 1st trimester.

Have you upped your Vit C & D to help your body fight this off? I would also gargle with salt water in the meantime to help keep down any bacterial growth in your throat.

Hope you find something that works soon!

[zuzunel09]

I am 18 weeks and I've had a cold/sinus/respiratory infection since before Thanksgiving.  It's come and gone about 4 times, this time is the worst with both my son and I unable to take much that is useful.  Sudafed didn't help my congestion and I can't give my son anything but Tylenol and saline drops, poor thing.  And yet he sleeps better than I do...

I'm pretty convinced that my workplace is why I'm getting so sick all the time.  You aren't allowed to take sick days unless someone fills in for you, so basically we are all required to work sick and we keep passing the viruses between each other and our clients. 

[EnchantedMamma]

Make sure you get TONS of water while sick, as you use up more than usual when you're congested. If you don't get enough the Sudafed can't work.

I would also up my Vit C and D (year round, but esp. during flu/cold season).

[hennaLisa]

Hey all = thanks for the suggestions. I am still using the netti pot and hot showers, and found that I can get a whole lot cleared out if I stand over the warm mist humidifier and try to breath through my nose as much as possible. I think this last round is getting a bit better so I've got my fingers crossed. I probably would have gotten antibiotics by now if I had a doctor to go to. I am planning a home birth, and so my midwife can't prescribe. I don't have a family doctor - on the waiting list for a holistic one, but haven't seen a doc since we moved here two years ago. I don't really get very sick usually! I did go into an OB practice for some blood work and an ultrasound and asked both the nurse midwife and OB about it and they said that they don't ever prescribe medicine for respiratory infections - that isn't their domain. They suggested I go to a family doctor! Is that normal for OB's not to be able to prescribe? Anyway, I'm still hoping that maybe I am getting over it, though it has definitely gone on WAY too long!