Chronic sinusitis or migraine or something else?
Has anyone experienced episodic severe “sinus” symptoms that seem to come and go rapidly, but without an apparent infection?
For years I’ve had episodes where I suddenly become congested or blocked, often more on one side than the other. When this happens, I don’t just feel stuffed up — I feel genuinely ill.
I get:
facial/sinus pressure
ear fullness/popping
headache
dizziness/off feeling
exhaustion/malaise
mild sore throat/postnasal drip at times
The strange part is how quickly it can change. I can go from breathing relatively normally to feeling severely blocked within a short period of time, and then sometimes it improves just as quickly, just to return again.
I can go weeks and sometimes months without an ‘episode’, but often it affects me daily, weekly, etc.
A few things that seem relevant:
Steam/hot showers help significantly
Pulling my cheek outward improves airflow noticeably
Nasal strips help somewhat
I already had a septoplasty and turbinate reduction years ago
CPAP has gotten difficult for me because I can’t breathe well thru my nose (I think that’s why)
Symptoms seem worse in perimenopause
I also have migraines/suspected migraine involvement
I’m starting to wonder whether this is more related to nasal valve collapse, autonomic dysfunction, migraine, vasomotor/nonallergic rhinitis, hormone changes, or some combination of all of them.
Has anyone experienced something similar? If so:
What diagnosis did you ultimately receive?
Did anything actually help?
Did hormone changes/perimenopause worsen it for you?
Did treating migraines or sleep issues improve the nasal symptoms?