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Posted 7/6/2008 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone else had sinus issues?  It seems like I am forever having them, I've only had one remicade treatment and that was back in March, but as of right now, I am just on Imuran (roughly 150 mg) and 2400 mg of Asacol.  My primary doc thinks that it could be allergies, so I am taking the OTC Claritin...

 

Posted 7/6/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I've always had sinus issues. I had sinus surgery years ago but I am always stuffy. Lately I have found that using the saline sprays helps. I used Nasonex for awhile and it might have helped a little but not enough. Ugh!
Posted 7/6/2008 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have always had sinus issues as well. I had a full allergy work up done and it appears that I'm not allergic to anything. But how come I always get so congested and sneezy? Especially in late spring/early summer?
Posted 7/6/2008 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
I also have all sorts of allergy symptoms - stuffy, runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing, etc. My allergist tested and said while my body is definitely reacting, I don't have any Immunoglobulin E mediated reactions. Those are the ones that are typically called "allergy." The research nurses in my GI's office told me a lot of IBD patients seem to have this.

I take Zyrtec, but I think the thing that's helped me most is the saline nasal washes twice a day.
Posted 7/6/2008 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Yup - sinus issues here as well. The best thing I have found for it is a twice daily saline wash called Fess.

It comes as a bottle and sachet's of saline mix. You combine warm water and the stuff from the packet in the bottle, dissolve it and then gently pass the solution in one nostril and out the other. The bottle has a special cap that helps with this procedure.

This both clears out all the gunk, dust, pollen, fluff etc as well as dries the mucus membranes in the nose allowing the sinus' to dilate and drain properly.

This is by far the best solution I have found. Works even better then topical steroid sprays. Although is a little more time consuming, its one less steroid in my system! :-)
Posted 7/6/2008 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Here too. I've had horrible allergies my whole life and this spring was the worst to dated. Sneezing itchy eyes sinus pressure...the works! My whole family absolutely LOVES alavert. I haven't found anything that's worked better!
Posted 7/6/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I also use the saline sinus wash. Mine is a little pot (looks like a tea pot) warm water, disolve the saline and press the spout into one nostril, tip head and it flows out the other nostril. I'm just a little kid, I get the biggest kick out of it. I feel like a science experiment. I saw it on th Oprah show with Dr. Oz. He said if you do this at the 1st signs or when pollen counts are high you can avoid a infection and having to take antibiotics yeah
Posted 7/7/2008 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
I have sinus issues, since I was a kid, it was much worse then, I was even addicted to nasle mist twice in my life...at 10yrs of age and in my early teens...it's gotten much better since but even now I have mild issues with it...I blow my nose alot some days and most of the time when I'm on the toilet and I'm pushing out formed BM's that aren't comming out as easy as usual I actually get a completely stuffed up nose...I've been meaning to ask for a long time if this happens to anyone eles, then again it seems like the majority here deal with D which we all know pretty much comes out without any real effort on our parts (I've been there and done the D thing too).

:)
Posted 7/7/2008 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, my sinus issues have been getting worse as years go on. Astilin spray seems to help me quite a bit. I also used Tylenol severe sinus when the pressure starts to build.  Sinuses draining into the stomach and causing stomach pains are another problem I've noticed. 

Posted 7/7/2008 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
I too use the saline; it's called BreatheEasy Saline Rinse and a neti-pot. Works great!

It's really working now since the fires have left us with the worst air ever here in California. Plus it's going to be 105 degrees today, and the smoke is so bad we can't even see across the street. Scary stuff.

Posted 7/7/2008 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently on 4800mg of asacol. Last year i got C-Diff due to a few doctors neglagence and them prescribing me a zpack with little regard to the fact that i have UC. After a long battle and hosplitalization with that, this year my allergies have been insane.

I have used the neti pot (w/sinus rinse packets), steam showers,claritin and afrin in moderation. I have been doing this since january. it has worked very well and i have fought off any sinus infections using this method.

But, the reason I am posting in reply to this, is I read something this weekend that says that by using probiotics regulary will help with allergy problems.

One of the things I learned from having c-diff was how important it is to regulary take (real/good) probiotics if you have UC.

that is my 2 cents, if you are interested in the article I read on probiotics, pm me or post, and i will supply the link.

Posted 7/7/2008 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Re. sinus problems. I have had non-allergic rhinitis for 35 years and colitis for 30 years . I had never thought of a link until recently. When after 13 years free from colitis symptoms BUT 13 years of rhinitis symptoms -- 3 weeks ago I developed colitis symptoms again and the sniffles and sneezes etc. have gone !! They are both due, are they not, to a breakdown in the immune system ? 8 weeks ago I suffered severe backache, followed 3 weeks later by flu-like symptoms -- then colitis after 13+ years of remission. Is there a virus responsible for all these latter symptoms ?
I certainly look forward to your comments with interest. Thanks
Posted 7/8/2008 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have always had a snuffly nose. I am just recovering from sinus troubles and was using Fess, chest rub and hot mints to try and breath properly.
I think that when I am inflamed - bowel or arthritis, I am more prone to inflame elsewhere - nose, eyes etc.
Joanne
Posted 7/10/2008 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm currently going back to my ENT - had sinus surgery when I was 21 and tonsils out as a kid. Always have had allergy/sinus issues. They run in the fam. My allergies actually started going crazy around the time I got UC. I've heard there's a connection but who knows?
Posted 7/10/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
ok, so im going to get a little technical here.

there is a difference w/ chronic sinusitis as a immune result and sinusitis as a allergic reaction. For anyone who has also had other issues with Mucus membranes of the body (ie. nose, eyes, lungs, throat, gi, uterus/ovaries, any mucus membrane). I recommend u get a simple blood test for Selective IGA deficiency. It is a pretty common (1 in 500 people have it) immune deficiency. If you lack IGA, then you lack the ability to fight invaders in your mucus membranes.

in my 20's i was constantly sick, chest infections, strep throat, chronic sinusitis, ect. I have been plagued w/ gyn related issues from ovarian cysts, endometriosis, infertility, and all the doctors kept telling me nothing was wrong with me. my hematologist was testing me for blood cloting disorders (which i proved to have two) during our infertile years and ended up finding the immune def. It completely explained everything that had been going on with me.

since it is common and also because my doctors have been trying to link everything w/ the uc to the deficiency, i thought i would mention it to u guys.
hope u all can find your answers! it took me over 15yrs and MANY doctors, but now they finally take me seriously! LOL
Posted 7/10/2008 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting info. shannon. Thanks for posting that. It's interesting you have an immune deficiency, since the researchers tend to think of UC as an over-active immune system. I kept getting infections for several months last year and my GI said it would be unusual for someone with UC to have a deficient immune system.

I, too, have had sinus issues for quite a while. I do have allergies which I know accounts for some of my problems, but I got pretty bad sinus problems a few months before I got UC. I wonder if there is a connection.
Posted 7/10/2008 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hello fellow sufferers
As I am free from rhinitis at present I thought you may be interested in an item that a friend recently purchased and used for her asthma -- also usable for nasal problems. It is called " Salt Pipe ". It cost £30 but lasts for 5 years. It is filled with natural salts from the likes of the Dead Sea ? She felt the benefit straight away and came off steroids. Just an idea -- I may consider it if my symptoms crop up again.
Posted 7/10/2008 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, LOL, i seem to be a very strange case (atleast that is what my doctors tell me)

My GI says that while he has no proof, my uc may actually be linked to the immune deficiency. He thinks that because i lack IGA to fight off invaders, that is why the uc kicked in and took advantage of it. I am also very seseptable to stomach flu

It is strange to have an immune def. but also have an overactive immune sys. I take pred during my flares even tho im immune deficient and i take 6mp. These both have never caused me to become anymore sick than i usually deal with. They suspect lupus also (tho no dx has been made) which is autoimmune, so im still waiting on that.

anyways, just wanted to put it out there for everyone....do what u will with it! lol
Posted 7/10/2008 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm...interesting. I'm glad your doctors finally figured it out for you (besides the lupus dx).
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