What do you do to limit bouts of sinusitis?

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edan

Guest
Hi everybody.
on day 20of 21 daysof antibiotics for a sinus infection, DD caught a cold. Now 12 days later the "cold" part appears to be over, but there is some lingering stuffy nose and cough from what appears to be a PND.
Anyway,her sinsusdefinitely have trouble clearing colds all the way and this may be because she cultures staph and hflu.
Finally the question: Does anyone have any "remedies" that seem to help clear these, besides antibiotics? She does 2 saline nose rinses per day but is not on any meds other than pulm, HTS, and xopanex.
Thanks so much,
Edan
 
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edan

Guest
Thanks Incomudrox. I was hoping you'd answer. I will look into it.
Edan
 
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Incomudrox

New member
No problem, Havoc is using it too for his Sinus issues, he will see this and give his 2 cents as well. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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Beccamom

New member
My daughter CF limbo is still getting sinus infections even after sinus surgery. So I am also interested in sinus issue suggestions. Puracyn hydrogel is this an antibiotic? Our ENT recommended Mupirociun and wonder what the difference is between these two products other than Mupirociun is prescription. How do these two products compare?
 
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Havoc

New member
Yes, I'm actually having good results with the Puracyn hydrogel. I find it does a good job of moisturizing as well as having antimicrobial properties. I haven't seen my ENT in a while, so I can't comment on how my sinuses look on CT or with endoscopy yet. Nor can I comment on an endoscopy guided culture. If/when my sinuses get bad enough to see the ENT again, I will report on whether it seems to be having an effect or not.

ETA: Puracyn is not an antibiotic and is only approved by the FDA for topical use in humans. They have been doing studies in animals, particularly large animals such as horses, who are on ventilators and have acquired respiratory infections. They nebulize the liquid form of puracyn (AKA Vetericyn, same stuff) through the ET tube and have seen good results. According to the manufacturer, puracyn/microcyn/vetericyn (if has many names) has the safety profile of saline.
This stuff is not expensive and so human clinical trials might be difficult to persuade them to do. A few of us are trying it off-label to see how it goes with the hope that encouraging results might kickstart human trial.
 
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edan

Guest
Jonathan, janetbry. Thanks for the suggestions. I will look into these and also have made another appt with the ent.

Have a good night,
Edan.
 
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Kristen

New member
The following treatments have really, really, REALLY helped me. I went from constant postnasal drip and sinus headaches to hardly any symptoms:

- Mix 1/4 cup alkalol, 3/4 cup water, a Neilmed hypertonic saline packet, 3 drops baby shampoo, and one drop grapefruit seed extract. Use this to rinse sinuses in a Sinupulse irrigator. I do this twice a day. When I have a cold, I add a sinus rinse in the middle of the day, although I just do saline packet + water for the mid-day rinse. (Disclaimer, the Alkalol burns, but it was recommended by my ENT and it really, really helps. The other things I decided to try on my own).

-Nasal spray consisting of 4 singulair tablets dissolved in a 1.5 oz bottle of saline nasal spray. (My ENT prescribed this for me)

-Nasonex.

I've also try Xylitol nasal spray and Sinus Buster spray, but I didn't notice they helped. I will definitely be looking into Puracyn if I need more relief.
 
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saveferris2009

New member
Lots of CFers have untreated allergies.

Intranasal steroids can be especially helpful:

http://noexcusesnoexcuses.blogspot.com/2008/08/allergies.html

http://noexcusesnoexcuses.blogspot.com/2008/08/differences-between-nose-sprays-per-my.html
 
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Kristen

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>saveferris2009</b></i> Lots of CFers have untreated allergies. </end quote>
I was just coming back to post about this! I started allergy shots back in November and I think it's also helped my sinuses (and my lungs).
 
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edan

Guest
Thanks everyone. I am bringing a printout of this to my daughter's quarterly appointment on thursday to see what the doc says. Also have an appt scheduled for the ent (in july) and will discuss with him too. LOTS of great ideas.

Kristen (or anyone else who knows). I have heard of the baby shampoo before, but I have a question. Do you culture pseudomonas already? I am afraid the shampoo, not sterilized, will cause a bacterial infection of some sort. Is this not an issue?
 
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Kristen

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>edan</b></i> Kristen (or anyone else who knows). I have heard of the baby shampoo before, but I have a question. Do you culture pseudomonas already? I am afraid the shampoo, not sterilized, will cause a bacterial infection of some sort. Is this not an issue?</end quote>
The thought has crossed my mind, but my ENT said it's okay and I don't think the Alkalol is sterilized either. And I use DI water, which also isn't sterile. I also figured that the salt I add will probably kill most of the bugs in my solution. However, this is all my speculation and I'm not sure what the risks really are. I just figure the benefits outweigh the risks (as I know them now), especially because my doctors aren't concerned. But other people may disagree. I do already culture PA.
 
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