Can anyone relate? Allergy or Sinusitis?

Hi Brian, when my allergies are at their worse I do notice that my ears pop more and my throat hurts from post nasal drip not to mention the constant stuffy nose. So if you don't have a sinus infection still then it could be from your allergies. Also too, when was the last time you went to the dentist? Sometimes if a tooth is infected/impacted it can affect your ears and throat. And no you don't necessarily have to have pain with an impacted tooth. I had one once that I didn't even know was bad until they started digging around it. I say give the Nasonex and Claritin a chance to do their thing and if you find no relief within a week, call your doc and see about other allergy meds.
Good luck

I doubt that smoking that few of cigarettes will contribute to what you are experiencing so far. You said you moved to a new area....does these symptoms coincide with the move? If so, you might to check your house/apt for mold levels. Do you have a shortness of breath? And the doctor says you're cured of your sinus infection?

When do you feel the most stuffed up morning, midday, night? Have you tried an air purifier yet? A humidifier in your bedroom at night? I guess what I'm trying to find out is what have you tried other then medications? And yes, sometimes allergies can only strike one side of your head or another. Allergies are sort of like colds at times, when you have a cold sometimes one side is more stuffed up then the other. One recommendation for the dry and dusty apartment is get some cheeseclothe and put them over the furnace grates on your floor or wall. If you have a window air conditioner, tape cheeseclothe over the vents. Keep windows closed at all times. The cheeseclothe will trap all the extra dirt, dust and allergens that come from your furnace/air conditioner. Run a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom at night while you sleep. Wash your bed linen regularly with hypoallergenic soap. If you sleep on a mattress, buy a mattress cover. This will help eliminate dust mites. Do you have any animals? Stuffed animals in your room? A ceiling fan in your bedroom?

Sounds as if you are taking the proper precautions if it's allergies but since you mentioned swollen lymph nodes then my bet is that it's not just allergies then. Allergies normally don't make lymph nodes tender especially in the armpit or groin. Something hinky is going on in your body thats for sure and I hope that you find the answer soon. Don't worry yourself over the "C" word, it will just make you a nervous wreck! I bet that when you find your diagnoses it will something quite simple and easily treatable (I hope!).

Sounds like we are having some similar problems. Though, my sore throat went away last week. I still feel a tightness in my neck/throat area though. I just saw my ENT last Monday and am going to have a CT scan of my sinuses this week. I was tested for mono as well and it was negative. My concerns are that off and on I have pains under my arms and in my groin area where my lymph nodes are located. They are never swollen, just painful at times. So, that is scary. Also, like you said, the pain on one side of the throat can be scary. I had my tonisls out when I was 10, and my ENT mentioned that it looked like one of mine was growing back on the side of my throat that hurt. My ear on that side is also "muffled".

What I can say to you because I have been feeling like this for about 6 weeks is, stay positive and try not to self diagnose. Much easier said than done I know, trust me. I look in the back of my throat every chance I get. I have worried about cancer because I have smoked a little in the past. But from what I have read and been told by my doctor, that is so unlikely that it is crazy. I am hoping that my problems are caused by allergies or sinusitis and the CT scan will show that. Then maybe I can feel 100% again with some treatment.

How old are you? Do you have any other symptoms? Maybe we can find some more similarites and maybe its the same thing. I'll check back if you post a reply. Talking about it always makes me feel beter.

Oh yeah, I am 24 and I don't have a runny nose, fever or any symptoms like that. However, I am feeling extremely tired no matter how much sleep I get. I am now also having this slight soreness under my arm pits and the area right under my chin feels puffy. I think my lymph nodes are really swollen now because of whatever I have.

Brian Dk and Emily C,
As someone who has suffered from the same allergy and sinus problems as you guys, and as someone in the nursing field who works for a PCP, I sympathize with you and your frustrations. I see patients like you guys everyday. But, Brian has it right when he says not to self diagnose!! Unless you are familiar with certain conditions and medical terminology, don't research the internet cause that will only increase your anxiety. First, let me just give you the 411 on what I went through. It is expected for most people to get maybe one, two sinus infections a year. I was getting upwards of six, seven a year. I had an x-ray of my sinuses in 2003 which showed a possible retention cyst. This made a little bit of sense since I could feel a little lump on the roof of my mouth. I was referred to an ENT, whom I still see today. This particular ENT is in my opinion, the best MD out there. He is kind, listens, doesn't rush, and understands. These are extremely important characteristics for an MD to have because, as you know, not everyone has gone to medical school and understands big medical words. Sometimes people need a little patience and explanation which, unfortunetely, not all MD's understand. I have been lucky to find doctors like this, although I do understand the terminology so that makes it easier. So, my CT scan was a mess. Basically everything was blocked. I ended up having surgery during which he opened up everything that was blocked and removed some of my sinus cavity. So, in normal circumstances, I should of gone down to perhaps, one sinus infection a year. (That's another mistake people make after having surgery. It doesn't mean you'll never get an infection again.) I am not a normal case though, since my surgery in July 2004, I have had 12-13 sinus infections. He has looked in my nose and I have had a repeat CT scan, everything is nice and open. But, the problem I am having is allergies. My increasing allergies have been irritating my sinuses and causing inflammation. Like Red 34 said, post nasal drip can be causing your sore throat. Especially if you have cobblestoning in your throat, the mucous can linger in those ridges and make a sore throat worse. Allergens certainly cause shortness of breath. You probably have mild asthma, which I have too. Painful lymph nodes can accompany any kind of infection really. If you had some sort of cancer that was causing the pain, most likely your nodes would be huge. Since your MD did not feel anything abnormal, I wouldn't worry about those. You may be experiencing more symptoms on your left because that is the side that is occluded, or blocked. My left sinus cavity was blocked, but not my right. If your sinuses are dripping primarily from the left side, then of course the left side of the throat would be irritated more. Allergies don't necessarily have to be in your whole head. I have had just one eye get really itchy and watery. Allergies can cause more than just sneezing, coughing, etc. My allergies cause me upper respiratory issues but also stomach problems, itchy skin, itchy eyes, etc. Emily, you say you are tired all the time even when you sleep a lot? I was like that too. Infections can cause fatigue, mine just happened to be a Vitamin B-12 deficiency. Once I started injections, I have felt great. I don't need to nap all the time. If your mono and strep were negative, and there is no sign of bacterial infection as far as your doctor can see by listening to your symptoms and examining you, then, they assume that is has to be some sort of virus. Doctors are human too, they may have medical degrees but sometimes, they even can't decipher what is wrong. Unless you have a sinus x-ray at the time, doctors don't know that you have a sinus infection. They can't see it. But they listen to symptoms and if your sinus cavities are sensitive when they press, then they will most likely treat you. It's not like an ear infection or strep where they can actually see the infection or test for it. That is why there are specialists, experts on those particular issues. I see a lot of patients get mad when they feel the PCP is not helping, but, then get angry when we want to send them to a specialist. They complain that we are treating them like guinea pigs. Well, that is what specialists are there for. Primary care is generalized. Don't lose faith in the doctors or think that you'll never be 100%. Continue your Nasonex and wait until your CT scan comes back. Until you have that report in front of you, you won't know what you are dealing with. Also, get allergy testing. Did you know that milk allergies can cause congestion and upper respiratory problems. Just because you don't get diarrhea doesn't mean you're not allergic. I am allergic to milk, eggs, trees, molds, dusts, cats, dogs, and about 25 other kinds of foods. Get a RAST test, that will have the plants and trees that are common to your region. It will also see if cats, dogs, molds, weeds, and common bugs are bothering you. Let me know how you both are doing.

i have allergy related sinus problems an once had 4 lots of antibiotics in a year i have found using a steam inhaler that you place over your mouth and nose as a mask with 3 drops of olbus oil helps and also beconase can have an affect but beconase is not good for you in the long term.My ears are exactly the same if they are clogged behind your ear drum there is not much you can do.but if you have a lot of wax in your outer ear cannel then try pouring a few drops of warm(test temp on ur wrist first and war it in a jug of hot water like you would with a babys bottle)olive oil in the affected ear 3 times a day until it clears up.if your ear leaks put a small piece of cotton wool in the ear but not into the canal but DONT use ear plugs they will make it worse

p.s. hope that helps

I would like to share my story with chronic sinus problems & allergies.  My son had similar problems to all the above, for years-I think it started when he was about 7 or 8.  He had chronic sinus infections, allergies, colds, - he was on 5/6 antibotics a year, we tried Nasonex, claritin, other allergy medication, allergy shots - air cleaner in his room for allergy to dust mites, special mattress covers. 

about 2 years ago, I started to look at homeopathic options because I felt by time he's 20, he'll probably be immune to every antibiotic.  After trying alot of different things & nothing worked, I came across a product which is a combinations of omega 3's & shark liver oil.  He takes 1 tbs/day (it's a liquid) & he has not had 1 sinus infection in 18 months.  He's now 14.

When I explained this to my allergist - he couldn't believe it, except to say that there's alot to say about omega-3's & when he saw my son, he said it was the best he ever looked.  I believe the key here is the shark liver oil - it's an immune booster - when he doesn't take the oil for a while - he starts to get all nasally & congested.  I've done alot of research into shark oil & omega 3's & I think this may be the answer, at least for him & no antiobics.  Actually my whole family started taking it & we have not been sick w/colds or viruses in over a year.

Yes, had tonsils, adnoids, checked & been to the ENT several times.  They said there was nothing unusual - it was just allergies which would very often end up as sinutitus & then the infection.  I will stick w/my shark liver oil!!!  Thanks for responding!