Foods for Chronic sinus/sinustis sufferers

SoleilxStitch

I have been suffering from chronic sinus problems for years (fevers, blocked nose, headaches and constant cough and ear ache) and no medicine has helped and neither has an operation on my nose. I'm not sure food can help but its worth looking into. Does anybody have chronic sinus problems and found that diet has helped, or of any foods that can help?

LKArgh

Have you done tests for the most common allergens? It would give you a starting point. The alternative is to get on complete elimination diet (you will have to google for the full list) and if things improve then start reintroducing foods until you figure out what was the problem.

HippySkoppy

These conditions are horrible....fellow sufferer here and you have my sympathy.

I found cutting down/out a lot of milk was helpful for me. Yoghurt and cheese only in smallish quantities don't seem to have the same clogging effect. I also now drink herbal teas such as lemon/ginger, peppermint etc etc I also found that ones like camomile made me very snuffly....I think it has something to do with the fact that I have multiple allergies including daisies which camomile is.

I have also stopped eating gluten....I started out by cutting wheat due to another unrelated health issue and found that it really helped with my sinuses, this then got me to thinking that it may be worth a shot with other types of grains....this is pretty drastic and not undertaken lightly. I get away with small and infrequent servings of rice and maybe porridge now and again....but my reaction is hit and miss.....sometimes it affects me clogging wise others not.

Upping my zinc and magnesium levels too seemed to have helped....immune boosting maybe but I'll take the benefit.

I have also found a lot of benefit from steaming ie. towel covered head over a large bowl of steaming water it can help loosen the mucous up and give you a bit of relief from the pressure pain...I tried unsuccessfully to use those saline nose squirter things from the Pharmacy and didn't get anywhere. Also cold packs that you can put in the freezer have been a God-send when trying to lower the inflammation just be careful to wrap so you don't get too cold and start a brain freeze headache on top of your other pain.

Hope these ideas help. All the best.

SoleilxStitch

aggelikik wrote: »

Have you done tests for the most common allergens? It would give you a starting point. The alternative is to get on complete elimination diet (you will have to google for the full list) and if things improve then start reintroducing foods until you figure out what was the problem.

I haven't had tests done, what seems to have caused and aggravates the sinus problems, is air conditioning, I cant really cope in places with bad aircons, and I find after awhile of being at work and uni my body just literally breaks down from all the sinus problems.

All I can really do is take cough drops, nasal sprays (which dont really work at all) and ear drops, which is costing me a small fortune of around £50 a month. So I'm hoping diet can toughen my body up somehow.

jgnatca

I think tracking down possible allergens would be more helpful than trying to find magic food. You might also try stress busters like exercise or meditation. Do you sleep well?

SoleilxStitch

HippySkoppy wrote: »

These conditions are horrible....fellow sufferer here and you have my sympathy.

I found cutting down/out a lot of milk was helpful for me. Yoghurt and cheese only in smallish quantities don't seem to have the same clogging effect. I also now drink herbal teas such as lemon/ginger, peppermint etc etc I also found that ones like camomile made me very snuffly....I think it has something to do with the fact that I have multiple allergies including daisies which camomile is.

I have also stopped eating gluten....I started out by cutting wheat due to another unrelated health issue and found that it really helped with my sinuses, this then got me to thinking that it may be worth a shot with other types of grains....this is pretty drastic and not undertaken lightly. I get away with small and infrequent servings of rice and maybe porridge now and again....but my reaction is hit and miss.....sometimes it affects me clogging wise others not.

Upping my zinc and magnesium levels too seemed to have helped....immune boosting maybe but I'll take the benefit.

I have also found a lot of benefit from steaming ie. towel covered head over a large bowl of steaming water it can help loosen the mucous up and give you a bit of relief from the pressure pain...I tried unsuccessfully to use those saline nose squirter things from the Pharmacy and didn't get anywhere. Also cold packs that you can put in the freezer have been a God-send when trying to lower the inflammation just be careful to wrap so you don't get too cold and start a brain freeze headache on top of your other pain.

Hope these ideas help. All the best.

Thank you for all the advice, I have read in places that herbal teas can help relieve the symptoms.

I'm trying to stick to low carb for unrelated issues, so that part doesnt seem drastric to me.

I know what you mean on the saline spray, for me they actually made it worse and just burnt my nose at the same time.

I also use cold packs/migraine packs when everything is abit much it tends to take the foggy feeling away and helps with the fevers.

I think I will give herbal teas and upping magnesium/zince a shot =] I can't escape my environment, all I can do is protect myself from it as much as possible.

SoleilxStitch

jgnatca wrote: »

I think tracking down possible allergens would be more helpful than trying to find magic food. You might also try stress busters like exercise or meditation. Do you sleep well?

My allergen seems to be environmental, I've been going to the doctors for years.

I do exercise and go to the gym.

My sleep is bad when sinus problems get too much, but the operation stopped the nose being as bad
Before that I was getting a few hours sleep a night if any.

GoodLittleEater

There's some concoction of cider vinegar, cayenne, turmeric, etc that my husband researched and makes me and it keeps me from getting a real sinus infection. That in combination with the lymphatic drainage I saw on a old video that was circulating on social media. Hope you can find them!

zoeysasha37

I agree that seeing a specialist would be a better starting place.
Contact a doctor that specializes in nasal / allergy issues and have him run the appropriate tests.

zoeysasha37

If its the air conditioning that aggravated your sinuses, does this also happen with heating ? ( they come from the same place essentially. Is it all forced air or just air conditioning?)
And if your 100% sure its just Air conditioning, could you wear a respiratory mask ? I wear a mask when cleaning heavy dusk and it helps.

SoleilxStitch

catscats222 wrote: »

did you eat a lot of processed foods?
i see you have been logging for just 2 days
a good diet can go a long way towards boosting your immunity
water? are you getting enough? greens? beans? grains? fruits and veggies? sleeping enough?
you don't smoke do you? take antibiotics often?
drinking or partying often?

My profile is new, that is why only two days logging.
I dont smoke and or take antibiotics. A lot of vegetables I don't like but I do eat like spring greens, cabbage, spinach I love < vegtables like these I eat.

I do drink alot of alcohol at times, that I could reduce, it makes my throat more dry. but its always dry...

SoleilxStitch

thorsmom01 wrote: »

If its the air conditioning that aggravated your sinuses, does this also happen with heating ? ( they come from the same place essentially. Is it all forced air or just air conditioning?)
And if your 100% sure its just Air conditioning, could you wear a respiratory mask ? I wear a mask when cleaning heavy dusk and it helps.

Yes it does happen with the heating aswell nose completely blocks after a few hours, any smoke causes me to cough. It seems anywhere that air and dust or dirt is forcefully moving.

I did buy masks but I wear glasses so its quite annoying.

JustMissTracy

Sol_down_on_carbs wrote: »

jgnatca wrote: »

I think tracking down possible allergens would be more helpful than trying to find magic food. You might also try stress busters like exercise or meditation. Do you sleep well?

My allergen seems to be environmental, I've been going to the doctors for years.

I do exercise and go to the gym.

My sleep is bad when sinus problems get too much, but the operation stopped the nose being as bad
Before that I was getting a few hours sleep a night if any.

I feel for you, and have the same issues...As someone mentioned above, avoiding milk and almost all grains has gone a long way towards lowering the number of sinus attacks/sessions I have. (Grains were cut out for other health reasons, win win!) My worst sinus attacks seem to be during the night, when the furnace or AC is going. The only thing that really helps me is to take a Sinutab, OR a 24 hr Claritin for allergies....both help ALOT, and very quickly, which is important if you've been suffering. . I know we don't want to be dependant on pills, but sleeping is very important to both our physical and emotional health, as is having a work day that doesn't leave you literally in tears. Good luck!! xp

HippySkoppy

thorsmom01 wrote: »

I agree that seeing a specialist would be a better starting place.
Contact a doctor that specializes in nasal / allergy issues and have him run the appropriate tests.

@Sol_down_on_carbs I know that I have come up with a few suggestions and I'm glad you think that they might be of help.....but I should have prefaced my ideas with what has been said above too.

It sounds as though you have done the rounds of Doctors and having an Op. that didn't work must have been awful for you but have you don't mention whether you have had tests done that actually identify your triggers and then go through desensitizing.....

I did this a couple of decades ago.....came back I was allergic to everything they tested me for except one, I went through the shots and I 'think' that they did help....at least then I had an idea of what I could/could not avoid if possible. I would like to think surely the testing and help has progressed in recent years.

The only other bright light I can think to say at this point is that many people (Hubby included) find that as they get older their sensitivities lessen and the infections etc subside.....hopefully that will happen for you.

This problem can be such a battle, often one infection seems to knock your general health around so much that you end up having a spate of them in a row and that's bloody terrible to say the least.....also there is the joy of seasonal changes that exacerbate your snuffliness too.

If dodgey air con makes things worse for you have you thought of a personal vapouriser that you can add sinus clearing medications to so that can be run and compensate for the drying effects and germ recycling of the air con?? Just a thought

goldthistime

jgnatca wrote: »

I think tracking down possible allergens would be more helpful than trying to find magic food. You might also try stress busters like exercise or meditation. Do you sleep well?

I had chronic sinus problems some years ago arising after I had experienced prolonged and intense stress. It went away as time went by thankfully. Mine was worst at night so I suspected dust mite allergies were part of the problem. I washed my sheets and pillowcases daily.

DeserveVictory

I have been able to decrease my asthma and sinus problems through a yeast free diet. I have found a number of medical journals that link yeast/mold allergies to both asthma symptoms and inflammation (sinuses included). I'm on the wait list for an allergy test to confirm this. I've also read that dairy, sugar, gluten, red meat, and processed foods (particularily fried foods) can cause these symptoms too. It might be worth cutting out one group at a time for a week or so and monitoring for any symptom changes.

zoeysasha37

I know the mask can be annoying and embarrassing to wear , but it might be helpful for you. Since you said all forced air causes this reaction, I would definitely invest in a good respiration mask.

SoleilxStitch

HippySkoppy wrote: »

thorsmom01 wrote: »

I agree that seeing a specialist would be a better starting place.
Contact a doctor that specializes in nasal / allergy issues and have him run the appropriate tests.

@Sol_down_on_carbs I know that I have come up with a few suggestions and I'm glad you think that they might be of help.....but I should have prefaced my ideas with what has been said above too.

It sounds as though you have done the rounds of Doctors and having an Op. that didn't work must have been awful for you but have you don't mention whether you have had tests done that actually identify your triggers and then go through desensitizing.....

I did this a couple of decades ago.....came back I was allergic to everything they tested me for except one, I went through the shots and I 'think' that they did help....at least then I had an idea of what I could/could not avoid if possible. I would like to think surely the testing and help has progressed in recent years.

The only other bright light I can think to say at this point is that many people (Hubby included) find that as they get older their sensitivities lessen and the infections etc subside.....hopefully that will happen for you.

This problem can be such a battle, often one infection seems to knock your general health around so much that you end up having a spate of them in a row and that's bloody terrible to say the least.....also there is the joy of seasonal changes that exacerbate your snuffliness too.

If dodgey air con makes things worse for you have you thought of a personal vapouriser that you can add sinus clearing medications to so that can be run and compensate for the drying effects and germ recycling of the air con?? Just a thought

I havent had tests for allergy, maybe because the trigger is so obvious drs havent suggested it and I have been to an ENT... I have had xrays and other things and from that I know I do not asthma and my sinuses are not yet damaged. yet...

I haven't heard of a personal vapouriser, but I will look into that. I do have a vapouriser thing by vix at home and put medications in that sometimes.

SoleilxStitch

thorsmom01 wrote: »

I know the mask can be annoying and embarrassing to wear , but it might be helpful for you. Since you said all forced air causes this reaction, I would definitely invest in a good respiration mask.

Might have to wear one at uni, half the building is okay but then there is the workshop block where I just end up in coughing constantly.

SoleilxStitch

DeserveVictory wrote: »

I have been able to decrease my asthma and sinus problems through a yeast free diet. I have found a number of medical journals that link yeast/mold allergies to both asthma symptoms and inflammation (sinuses included). I'm on the wait list for an allergy test to confirm this. I've also read that dairy, sugar, gluten, red meat, and processed foods (particularily fried foods) can cause these symptoms too. It might be worth cutting out one group at a time for a week or so and monitoring for any symptom changes.

I have read that about the meat too and dairy. They are large source of my calories. I can switch red meat to white and fish but im not sure how to compensate for dairy. I eat yoghurt and cheese a lot.