So how would I recognize a sinus infection?

[Guest guest]

Hi --

I'm on Day 24, after a very smooth upper jaw surgery. So far all is

pretty much fine, but I think I've caught my son's cold. My stuffy

nose, which had started to go away in Week 2, is now back and I'm

noticing my swelling around my sinuses is starting up again. But

not other cold symptoms. It's worst in the evenings. It's not like

I'm in pain or anything, just that dull ache if I forget my tylenol

and ibuprofen, and if I leave my bands off too long. But really,

the whole area is numb, so how would I know I HAD a sinus infection

if I had one??

(As I see from websites on sinus infections, I'll note that my eyes

are dry and swollen in the mornings -- but I assume that's par for

the course.) Can anyone out there help? My doctor is out for the

weekend and I'd feel lame having him paged just for my own

paranoia. Anyone?

Thank you!

Connie

[Guest guest]

That dull ache sounds normal post-op.

I had a sinus infection a number of years ago, and I thought it was

a bad toothache, so I went to my dentist. He took xrays and showed

me that it was sinuses.

Your surgeon is there for you, if he doesn't think it urgent, he may

take his time calling you back, but I wouldn't hesitate to call him.

Is there a medical walk-in clinic near you? You could also pop in

there and have it checked out.

> Hi --

> I'm on Day 24, after a very smooth upper jaw surgery. So far all

is

> pretty much fine, but I think I've caught my son's cold. My

stuffy

> nose, which had started to go away in Week 2, is now back and I'm

> noticing my swelling around my sinuses is starting up again. But

> not other cold symptoms. It's worst in the evenings. It's not

like

> I'm in pain or anything, just that dull ache if I forget my

tylenol

> and ibuprofen, and if I leave my bands off too long. But really,

> the whole area is numb, so how would I know I HAD a sinus

infection

> if I had one??

>

> (As I see from websites on sinus infections, I'll note that my

eyes

> are dry and swollen in the mornings -- but I assume that's par for

> the course.) Can anyone out there help? My doctor is out for the

> weekend and I'd feel lame having him paged just for my own

> paranoia. Anyone?

> Thank you!

> Connie

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie! I'm a veteran of the allergy wars and am three weeks post-

op from upper/lower. We are in the midst of the worst allergy season

in 15 years here in Dallas, and I am having the same problem as you

are. I am completely congested again, and feel more swollen around

my nose. My GP always tells me that if you have a sinus infection,

you will always have postnasal drip and a cough. Do you have those?

Since I tend to have those with my allergies, I usually recognize a

sinus infection by my cheekbones hurting if I bend over--hard to do

that when your cheeks are still numb! I'd go see your GP if it

doesn't go away in a few days, but otherwise try decongestants,

Saline nose spray and steamy showers. Poor us! ---Amy

> Hi --

> I'm on Day 24, after a very smooth upper jaw surgery. So far all

is

> pretty much fine, but I think I've caught my son's cold. My stuffy

> nose, which had started to go away in Week 2, is now back and I'm

> noticing my swelling around my sinuses is starting up again. But

> not other cold symptoms. It's worst in the evenings. It's not

like

> I'm in pain or anything, just that dull ache if I forget my tylenol

> and ibuprofen, and if I leave my bands off too long. But really,

> the whole area is numb, so how would I know I HAD a sinus infection

> if I had one??

>

> (As I see from websites on sinus infections, I'll note that my eyes

> are dry and swollen in the mornings -- but I assume that's par for

> the course.) Can anyone out there help? My doctor is out for the

> weekend and I'd feel lame having him paged just for my own

> paranoia. Anyone?

> Thank you!

> Connie

[Guest guest]

Thanks Amy -- I have a slight postnasal drip (along with an

imaginary one as the nerves around my nose heal!) No cough. So

that's good. I know what you mean about the leaning over -- I

notice that pressure too, but yeah, it's kinda been there since the

surgery and it's all numb, so it's very hard to tell! Do you know

if yours is acutally a sinus infection? Or is it allergies?

Connie

> > Hi --

> > I'm on Day 24, after a very smooth upper jaw surgery. So far

all

> is

> > pretty much fine, but I think I've caught my son's cold. My

stuffy

> > nose, which had started to go away in Week 2, is now back and

I'm

> > noticing my swelling around my sinuses is starting up again.

But

> > not other cold symptoms. It's worst in the evenings. It's not

> like

> > I'm in pain or anything, just that dull ache if I forget my

tylenol

> > and ibuprofen, and if I leave my bands off too long. But

really,

> > the whole area is numb, so how would I know I HAD a sinus

infection

> > if I had one??

> >

> > (As I see from websites on sinus infections, I'll note that my

eyes

> > are dry and swollen in the mornings -- but I assume that's par

for

> > the course.) Can anyone out there help? My doctor is out for

the

> > weekend and I'd feel lame having him paged just for my own

> > paranoia. Anyone?

> > Thank you!

> > Connie

[Guest guest]

I've had one as well. No, actually, two. They are quickly knocked out

by an injection of antibiotics followed by a course of oral ones --

or at least mine were.

Mine actually felt like an abscessed tooth, but I couldn't tell which

one. All that pressure. One key, I think, for my docs was that i had

a nasty green mucousy discharge from the nose. (Sorry -- I know

that's gross.)

The relationship with the bands, though, suggests to me that it's

post op healing... I'm no doc, though, and you need one to help you.

C.

> > Hi --

> > I'm on Day 24, after a very smooth upper jaw surgery. So far all

> is

> > pretty much fine, but I think I've caught my son's cold. My

> stuffy

> > nose, which had started to go away in Week 2, is now back and I'm

> > noticing my swelling around my sinuses is starting up again. But

> > not other cold symptoms. It's worst in the evenings. It's not

> like

> > I'm in pain or anything, just that dull ache if I forget my

> tylenol

> > and ibuprofen, and if I leave my bands off too long. But really,

> > the whole area is numb, so how would I know I HAD a sinus

> infection

> > if I had one??

> >

> > (As I see from websites on sinus infections, I'll note that my

> eyes

> > are dry and swollen in the mornings -- but I assume that's par

for

> > the course.) Can anyone out there help? My doctor is out for

the

> > weekend and I'd feel lame having him paged just for my own

> > paranoia. Anyone?

> > Thank you!

> > Connie