How long does it take to get over a bad sinus infection?

[nevergiveup]

I thought I had a bad head cold but it turned out to be a sinus infection. I started antibiotics yesterday but my head is still throbbing, I feel like a zombie and need to get back to work.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. i did it in week & half without antibiotics

[Floogeldy]

7. Sounds dangerous to me

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. holistic cure........

The process of sinus infection is:

1. The sinuses get clogged (by common cold, allergies, etc.)
2. The immune system attempts to fix it via inflammation
3. Inflammation includes swelling, which blocks the sinuses further
4. Mucus stagnates, providing a perfect place for bacteria to multiply
5. The bacterial infection becomes a full-blown sinus infection



Here are the remedies for each phase and type of sinusitis:

1. Cang Ling Tang, for sinusitis with yellow colored mucus
2. Jie Ge Cang Er Jian, for sinusitis with green colored mucus
3. Xin Zhi Er Chen Teng, for chronic sinusitis
4. Yu Ping Feng San, for sinusitis prevention

[davsand]

2. Did the doc give you any kind of decongestant?

If not, then you may want to call and ask if you can take some Sudafed or some other kind of decongestant. Guifenasin (Musinex is one brand name) might also help if the doc is ok with you taking it. It won't interfere with your antibiotic, but some docs don't like it with sinus infections.

I've always used a decongestant with sinus infections--but I tend to get them pretty easily because of structural issues with my sinuses.

I'd suggest you take a long hot steamy shower as well. That will do a lot to loosen up part of that congestion where the infection grew. If you own a vaporizer or any kind of humidifier turn it up full blast and sleep with it. Moisture is your buddy when you are trying to get something like a sinus infection to drain.

I have no idea what herbal alternatives are out there--I have always relied on pharmaceutical solutions for this.

Feel better soon!


Laura

[blondeatlast]

3. May my chosen divine spirit have mercy on me, I'm an expert on this.

Drink LOTS of water. LOTS.

Use a humidifier if possible. It makes it much easier to breathe, and also helps loosen things up. I prefer the cool mist type, but I don't think it matters.

Also, it helps to suck on hard candies, actually. They keep things "moist," which helps loosen things up.

Did I mention to drink lots of water? I think I did, but let me just say--drink lots of water. Hot tea can help ease the pain and pressure, too.

I have them frequently, and once ended up in the hospital with IV antibiotics for FIVE days with one.

[Left Is Write]

4. If it's really bad, it may be two or three days before you get relief

with antibiotics alone. See if your doctor will recommend/prescribe a pain killer.

[SarahB]

5. If it's viral, antibiotics will do nothing.

If it's bacterial (likely if any stuff coming out is green), it will take about 3-4 days from when you start to begin to feel better.

Drink plenty of fluids, decongestants, and try plain saline to flush out your nasal passages.

[EC]

6. Forever

it just keeps coming back...

[Shopaholic]

8. I had a horrible sinus infection a couple of years ago and had to

go through 3 courses of antibiotics to get rid of it. It was horrible. They kept using stronger and stronger antibiotics to get to it (it went to my middle ear). And the antibiotics were almost as bad as the infection itself. Yuck! I'd give it a couple of days for them to kick in. I hope s/he gave you a good decongestant too.