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Are sinus problems related to fibromyalgia?

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Posted 8/26/2010 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if there's a connection between sinus-like problems, where my head (and much of the rest of my body) feels "clogged" and fibromyalgia?  It seems there's something sort of polluting my body, especially noticeable when the weather is cooler.  It's as if whatever it is is gelling inside my head and elsewhere.  Can anyone relate to this, and what do you do for it?  Are certain sinus tabs more helpful than others?  Steaming has helped me occasionally.

Thanks for any input.

Posted 8/26/2010 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi luvzminis, I dont know if it is connected to fibro or not but for as long as I can remember I will catch a cold at the beginning of each season. Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall you can count on me having a very runny nose. It will be interesting to see how others respond to this.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley
Posted 8/26/2010 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I have no idea if it is related but I have had sinus problems as long as I can remember and it is not always pollen season. I am also curious to see the responses
Posted 8/26/2010 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
I also don't know for sure if sinus problems are related directly to Fibro, but I definately have sinus issues.  I agree, it will be interesting to see the posts on this topic.

Posted 8/26/2010 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
There are some doctors who believe myofascial trigger points/spasms can cause sinus problems. If you Google "myofascial sinus" you can find lots of info. I have a constant "drip" that is unrelated to my allergies.

Hugs - Austen
Posted 8/26/2010 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
Whether related or not, I can't say. I'm fighting just what you described at the moment.

I also have "nonallergic chronic rhinitis," which means I have junk all the time in my sinuses, so I do nasal washes (just putting salt water in my nose) twice a day year-round. I think this was the symptom I described years ago (this feeling of everything being clogged up) to a doctor who told me to have my husband take me out for Mexican food to clear my sinuses. Jerk.

Debbie

Post Edited (Acheybody) : 8/29/2010 8:28:13 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/26/2010 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh. I have HORRIBLE sinus issues. They claim it's allergies, and been doing shots for a year... no much relief. Taking enough drugs to choke a horse, but I still get episodes where I can't stand it. Right now is one of them. My fibro is worse, too, and I wondered if the two are somehow connected.  I get that spacy foggy feeling with a side of dizziness when things get real bad. Today, it's BAAAAAD.  I guess this thread shows we aren't alone!

They gave me an additional antihistamine to take at times like this, but I pretty much am out for the count if I take it. You can't live like that, and I certainly can't keep my job that way.

I also rinse my sinuses, which does make them feel better at times, but doesn't seem to help overall. I do not do it on a daily basis, though, because I don't have enough time in my day.

Now my ENT is suggesting that I have undiagnosed food allergies, which may be causing the congestion. I might look into it, but I'm too tired from it all to care at the moment. lol.

 

Posted 8/26/2010 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Not directly related, as far as I know. (But how much do I know?) However, my new rheumy was saying that our over sensitive systems tend to react more strongly to many things that wouldn't make the average person react. So if we have basic allergies, are we then possibly reacting more violently because of our heightened systems? I suspect that is true.

Shirley - you mentioned you'll get sick at the turn of each season. Not sure if this will help - but I used to get pretty darned sick every fall and winter and end up with bronchitis at least once - ever since I was a little kid. Ever since I started using benadryl (at least once a day) for my hives - I have found *knock on wood* that the cycle of fall and winter upper respiratory and bronchitis stuff is broken. *knocking on wood again to not jinx myself saying this so arrogantly out loud*
Posted 8/26/2010 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have been dealing with a sinus infection all summer. I just finished my third antibiotic! It is weird most of my sinus infections don't come with a runny nose, just congestion and pain above my eyes. I have even had an MRI and CT scan (year apart for different things) and they were fine except they both noted I had a sinus infection. I think I must always have one!
Posted 8/26/2010 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
I've had fibromyalgia for 14 years now. One thing noticeable (besides the pain) is I can't take heat at all. When it goes to 80F my head clogs up with sinus problems and then a migraine sets in. I have no idea if fibro and sinus are related but do have a lot of sinus issues. Perfume and stress are two other instigators. Perfume causes migraine also (through sinus pain) then lymph nodes in the neck swell to the point where they are painful to touch. One just does the best they can.
Posted 8/26/2010 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Upbeat - I never have a runny nose, either. It is always congestion and pain above and below the eyes. Recently I have progressed to feeling like I have fingers around and behind my eyes trying to push them out... not a good feeling. Does anyone else get swelling in your upper palate? I don't know how to explain it, but YUCK!!

I have always had issues at season changes, most notably spring to summer and summer to fall...but it does seem like everything has gone into hyperdrive. Interesting thought, ChickenPrincess!

I'm hoping everyone has a peaceful night!!
Posted 8/27/2010 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
Wow...this is very interesting. I ALWAYS have sinus issues...sometimes more severe than others but never feels gone. Seasonal stuff makes it worse but you would think it would be better at some time of year. I am fairly new to the fibro diagnosis so I haven't been able to decide what symptoms and pains are related. I do get myofascial release therapy and while it does help the lymph nodes and some drainage...it doesn't completely help either. The pain and pressure is insane. It will be interesting to see if there is a connection to the fibro. It sure sounds like it is a common thing for the majority.
Posted 8/27/2010 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
I get allergy shots weekly that keeps me allergy-free. I take Mucinex 12-hour every morning and evening to liquify and allow the mucus to drain.

I also use a pressurized saline spray to get up into my nasal passages farther than the regular squeeze bottly type does. My doc has me on Flonase because my membranes are too swollen al the time for me to feel like I'm getting enough air.

I had a CT after complaining of forehead pain for a year which showed a sinus infection. It took two rounds of antibiotics to clear it. Doc said these infections often aren't stopped by just one round.
Posted 8/27/2010 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Luvin,
Echinecia/Goldenseal works great for unclogging but only if you're not allergic to ragweed otherwise it will stuff you
up even more (my Son didn't know he was allergic until he took it). Marshmallow Root works good and another one
is a combo of Fennugreek/Thyme and Slippery Elm. I usually take 2 tabs of any of the above.
Nana Monster
Posted 8/28/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
hi,

I also get a lot of sinus problems too. I do not have allergies or an infection. I have been inremission 2 times before and it clears up so I DO think it is from the fibro.

my doctor said you have muscles all around that area so fibro can affect it.

Peggy

Posted 8/28/2010 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have sinus and allegeries really bad.........just starting to get over an infection. I still wake up at night in a coughing fit because we have animals, allergies.
Posted 8/29/2010 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Just had an operation on my nose in may, was all messed up. I still wake up coughing at night at times, last night was pretty bad, but I can breath a little better during the day. We also have animals. The dust really bothers me...
Posted 8/29/2010 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Me too, sinus problems since high school. But as I have noticed lately alot of us seem to have low blood pressure and thyroid problems too. Not sleeping really makes all of our bodies a mess. We just have to be careful not to let our Drs. give us a drug for every little ache and pain. I thought I was doing better by taking the 800 mg Tylenol and now my liver is a mess. Hopefully they will find ONE drug to treat  all that we can tolerate. Or a cure for Fibo and arthtitis. Ok Ive got to get off here. Normally it helps but today everything is making me angry. Sorry guys Im frustrated with the Drs. just wanting to give us meds and be done with us untill we overdose. Five years of constant Drs. and test and I am broke and not aaaaaaaaaany better. Having bad month. The humidity kills me.Ill come back when I am feeling nicer.
Posted 8/29/2010 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry for you, Normal, and I think most, if not all of us, can relate! Very frustrating!

I've been checking into herbs, and Nana Monster has some interesting posts on these.  Might be worth trying.  I'm definitely tired of medications, especially knowing they have side effects, and I really can't handle the fatigue associated with them.  We'll keep working on better solutions!  Wishing you and everyone else the best, and bless you all!

Posted 8/29/2010 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Me too. I have had sinus problems all of my life. Like many of you, my nose does not run, I just get congestion and post nasal drip. We changed our living room carpet a year ago. The other one was probably 20-30 years old. Prior to having it changed, I was averaging being on antibiotics at least once every 1-2 months. Since getting the new one, I have only been on them once, and this was after having had h1-n1 last fall. I still have the sinus problems almost constantly, but I just do not get the infections as often. My doctor also suggested that I start doing sinus irrigations, I don't usually renember to do these unless my sinuses are bothering pretty bad, but they do help. I use the aerosol.type with more pressure, because the saline seems to reach further up into the passageways. If I am feelinl a lot of pressure, as if I might be getting a sinus infection, I start taking one zyrtec daily, and this usually takes care of the increase in synptoms.
Posted 8/29/2010 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried a Neti Pot?  At my doctors's advice, my son tried it and it helped his allergies, as well as sinuses.  I also use the old fashioned salt-in-a-cup rinse and I steam over boiling water.  Helps somewhat.
Posted 11/3/2014 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
GOOD NEWS!! Hope this helps someone out there...I was diagnosed with Fibro several years ago, my sister committed suicide 15 years ago due to the terrible depression caused by her severe pain, headaches, muscle spasms...we all know.  I've been on Tramadol & countless anti depression meds, spent hundreds of dollars on 'miracle fixes' & natural herbs & vitamins to no avail.  My doctors began to suggest trying all natural diets, then Mediterranean diet, then Paleo diet...thru this, I began to pay attention and I noticed that within 30 minutes of injesting certain foods, I was so congested & then I'd feel like I'd been beat up all over!  Could it be?  I began to pay attention to the exact ingredients in these foods because not only had I had sinus infections uncleared by several rounds of meds, but as it got worse, I started itching as well after the injestion of the wheat products.  I'd chalked it up to the meds prior to this.  I'm so happy to say that I've not had the terrible symptoms as before and to test this theory, I accidently ate something that had wheat products a few days ago within 30 minutes came the conjestion and pain.  I told my husband and he dug the box out and sure enough, it was wheat.  My symptoms are so much less & an Immune System Support natural med called Aller-All has helped the less severe pain...I've actually had days where I can say I felt great!  Praise the Lord! Hope this helps someone else...who knows?  Some of you may be feeling these things due to the gluten & wheat products...we'll see in the days to come if this is a real fix or not but for now...I'm enjoying feeling great at 45!
Posted 11/3/2014 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
idea  

Wow, after reading this, I started thinking!

I NEVER had any sinus problems until about 5 yrs before being diagnosed with Fibro (took 4 1/2 yrs to get diagnosed- 40's) and now every Spring & Fall I get sinus infections.  I do nose spray (prescription Flonase) as soon as my nose starts running & headaches start.  Sometimes the nose spray helps and others it just extends the sinus infection that comes.  When I get to the point of sinus infection, my Dr. gives me a shot (steroid) and antibiotic (500 mg Cipro) because just getting one or other doesn't take infection away, just puts "bandaid" on it.  Dr. tells me the steroid shrinks the infection and Cipro knocks it out.

I never realized the connection and it could possibly be "coincidental" but, now I'm wondering also. confused

Brenda

Posted 11/4/2014 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I, too, have sinus issues. An ENT suggested Neil Med. I can't use a neti pot due to the osteoarthritis in my neck. I use the squirt bottle. Whenever I get a virus my sinus gets impacted. I wash out green mucous, blood and some pieces with mucous and blood attached. The ENT looked at my sinuses a few years ago and then did a CT Scan. It was found to be normal and nothing could be detected. My Family Physician shared that I have a slight deviated septum. No surgery suggested.

My head is in so much pain. Yes, my upper palate feels swollen, my jaw joints are in pain. I am currently using Omnaris nasal spray. I do the sinus rinse in the morning and the nasal spray at night. I just got over a bad virus with so much coughing. I tell my Doctors about the mucous. I had a flu shot today and told my Nurse Practitioner about my sinuses. There was one time when I went to my Doctor and said that I cannot stand what is going on in my head. This is going to sound strange but I would be lying down on the bed and if I would hold my painful head my muscles would go out on me and my arm would fall down on the bed. The Doctor gave me a prescription for an antibiotic. We have many similarities.

Loring
Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...
Posted 11/4/2014 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
My rheumatologist says yes. He has me taking a generic Zyrtec every morning, whether or not I'm having sinus problems.
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