r/Sinusitis

I have been struggling with the following symptoms for about 4 years now (atleast when I became aware that I was since I thought it was “normal”): Dry mouth (at its worst when I wake up), Constant post nasal drip at the top of the back of the roof of my mouth), bad smell in my nose if I don’t completely clear it out (usually in the morning), bad breath 30 minutes after brushing which I think is being caused by the dry mouth, thick saliva/mucus in the back of my throat/mouth.

I went to the doctor which said it might be allergies and was later tested. The test came back positive and I was prescribed antihistamines which didn’t help at all. I got prescribed stronger ones which still didn’t work. I have been inside mostly for about two weeks to try and solve this issue and I still have the same results despite how close I am to stuff that should be triggering my allergies.

I have tried mouth tape, xylitol (only works temporarily), chewing gum, nasal sprays, sinus rinses, tonsil stone clearing (no tonsil stones found), salt water gargles and more. Nothing has helped and i’m thinking it might be some form of chronic sinusitis even though my doctor didn’t find anything serious in my nose.

If you have any advice or know what I may be struggling with I would really appreciate it.

I’m sorry for begging. I just really want some advice. I’m lost.

I don’t want to make this long as I know nobody will read it then but I have to try and explain it.

No previous history of sinus issues or even headaches, I’m 30. I’m almost certain I have barosinusitis but nobody is listening to me. I feel like nobody is going to believe me.

I know true sinus headache are rare (barosinusitis even rarer) and most are migraines or whatever, I know about this statistic and I feel like this very statistic is what is preventing me from getting my life back.

I had a baby 20 months ago and I got postpartum thyroiditis after it (this is relevant because I now know that hypothyroidism is heavily linked to sinus issues by causing swelling and fluid build up)

At 6 months post partum (in May 2025) I tried to return to my hobby of bouldering and I noticed these bizarre localised headaches right in my left inner brow corner. Mild pain, pressure feeling. It would last around 7-10 days once triggered. This happens every single I went climbing, eventually I stopped going.

Then in November and January it triggered without climbing, at the time I had no idea what it was but now I’m aware it happened during two huge storms and the biggest barometric pressure drops in the last year in the UK.

Since that, unless I climb, it doesn’t happen. However, in January I got a bunch of viruses back to back and then got actual sinusitis for the first time in my life, after that my opposite right eyebrow starting hurting! This time it hurt to press too, like a bruise. And it followed a perfect timed cycle, like it would always hurt around 10am each day until 4pm and then totally go away until the next day. (I’ve since seen on medical journals this is a well documented ENT phenomenon called a frontal sinus office headache)

I’ve occasionally felt tapping and squelching in my inner brow corners too but unless I have an active sinus infection I never have any mucus.

No other symptoms at all except some ear fullness occasionally and sometimes jaw pressure. 0 typical migraine symptoms, no sensitivity, no throbbing, nausea, pain doesn’t really spread and isn’t severe.

I’m almost certain that my postpartum and thyroid shifts caused my frontal sinuses to swell or made the tissue somehow highly reactive and that my already narrow sinuses doors now swell shut under pressure/stress. The issue is that it’s highly dynamic and I can go months without any issue.

I saw an ENT a few days ago for the first time and told him this entire story , he did an endoscope said it was clear and then said he’d order a CT scan but it was unlikely to be sinus issues?!

I don’t understand what to do to get someone to listen to me. If my issue is dynamic and only occurs during these triggers will it even show on a scan?! Likely not right?! Then wtf do I do

How are you dealing with sinus pressure? I was given a prescription for a sinus infection and it hasn’t touched any of the sinus pressure issues.

I’m 19 years old, I’m a woman, I don’t think my height and weight are necessary for this specific situation.
For about 12 years my nose has been hurting, I developed migraines stemming from my nose pain when I was about 14-15 years old. Within the last year and a half it’s gotten incredibly worse and I am completely lost on what to do.
In this last year and a half the lump has formed on the left side of the bridge of my nose, it looks and feels like it’s the bone lifting. The pain has became unbearable at times, ending with me in bed all day because I feel physically sick to do anything else just from this pain.
When the pain is really bad my vision begins to black out and I cannot see anything for up to 20 seconds at a time. And then when I am able to see my eyes feel like someone is shoving their thumbs into them and I see black dots everywhere.
I have gotten an mri scan, a ct scan, seen neurologists and ents and they all tell me that they can do nothing to help me. I live in a poverty state and they want to send me states away to get any answers and that’s not something i’m able to do at the moment.I need this to be solved, it is severely affecting my way of life and is incredibly dangerous.
Please help or give me any kind of advice as to what i could possibly do in this situation, thank you.

Okay so 2 years ago I did a CT scan of my sinuses and the findings were suggestive of pansinusitis with sparing of the right frontal sinus. after that my ENT put me on a montelukast and fexo combination which had been helping with my symptoms for the past 2 years. I had constant headaches, facial pressure, year round cold-like symptoms, dizziness and sometimes I used to jerk awake while sleeping because I couldn't get enough air.

Now my parents said its been too long on this medicine and I should stop taking it and my ENT also told me to stop taking it. He said I should move to allegra and consider taking some immune boosting injections. But honestly I felt comfortable taking that medicine, it allowed me to live normal and not be afraid of simply drinking cold water and falling sick. I know staying on meds forever is not an option but it still sucks.

What I'm trying to ask here is if any of you have any success stories of curing chronic sinusitis without medication or any alternativea that can be taking long term without side effects.

Hi everyone,

I've been battling sinus issues for about a year now. My main symptom is that one side of my nose is completely blocked most of the time. It alternates sides constantly, sometimes the left is blocked, sometimes the right, and occasionally both are completely shut down. I get a sinus pain from time to time, mostly around my eyebrows, but sometimes it radiates into my cheeks too.

On top of that, I’ve been getting brain fog. It doesn't happen every day, it comes in waves so let's say I have 1 normal week with only sinus problems and then next week I also have brain fog. It hits me 2–3 times a day and lasts for about 1–2 hours each time. When the brain fog happens, I usually get a dull ache in my temples as well.

My GP prescribed me a mometasone furoate nasal spray 4 days ago. I was told to do 1 spray in each nostril, twice a day.

Since yesterday (day 3 of using it), I’ve started developing new symptoms in my right eye, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s a side effect of the spray or something else:

• My right eyelid has been twitching on and off.
• The eye feels dry, slightly stings, and waters occasionally.
• I’m getting occasional blurred vision in that eye. Blinking helps a little bit, but not completely.
• This morning, I woke up and the eye was a bit sticky/crusty.

It's not that I can't read text. The sharpness is fine. It feels like pressure or a weird blur focus on the inner side of my eye, right next to the sinuses.

Has anyone else experienced blurred vision or eye issues this quickly after starting mometasone? Did it go away, or did you have to stop the medication? I will definitely contact my doctor about the vision changes, but I'd love to hear your experiences in the meantime.

I finally have my sinus surgery scheduled for Thursday after waiting a long time, and now I think I’m getting sick.

Since yesterday I’ve had a runny nose, a headache and I’ve been feeling pretty tired. My wife wasn’t feeling great earlier this week and my kid has been coughing, so I’m worried I caught whatever they had.

I have my pre-op appointment on Tuesday and now I’m stressing about whether they’ll cancel or postpone the surgery.

Right now I don’t have a sore throat and I’m not coughing much, but it’s still early.
Has anyone here gotten a cold just a few days before sinus surgery? What happened in your case? Did they still go ahead with it or postpone it?

So now Im going a bit crazy. I did 2 sinus rinses already and used spring bottled water now I'm reading everywhere that this can be harmful and cause infections and even deadly brain eating amoebas. Has anybody else safely used bottled spring water and it not cause any issues? And yes I know to buy distilled water or boil from now on. Just worried about my risk since it already happened twice I did with the bowl and basket spring water bottles.

—50 yr old female
—Fairly fit
—Never drink-smoke
—Hardly ever sick-no fever-rarely any symptoms of (maybe 10-20% of the time) bloating, acid reflux or sinus drainage.
— I have been food allergy tested (supposedly allergic to sugar (high), dairy and various spices
—CT scan on neck at ER. —negative
— sonogram on neck—negative
— upper GI—dr stated I had thrush (I had a few spots on my throat) gave me nystatin. Didn’t really do anything or make it go away, but I haven’t gotten worse.
—I’ve had several blood tests, nothing alarming on those.
—I’ve seen 6 different doctors and they all suggested (except for the gastroenterologist that suggested I have thrush ) that it sounds like I have chronic sinusitis.
So I’m on and off an allergy pill and famotidine to cover my sinuses and gut.

—No pain relief helps.
— I think I have tried every supplement imaginable for inflammation.
— I’ve tried salt water gargle with warm honey
— herbal teas with honey
—Many different throat sprays

While I’m not a pain level 10 like 2 1/2 years ago when I went to the ER, it is still lingering and will not go away.
Pain level stays at about 1-3.
A sore throat going on three years is miserable.
Please Any suggestions?

i hope this is the correct place to post. i haven’t been diagnosed with sinusitis, but i have been dealing with sinus issues on and off for years now.

about two years ago now i had my top wisdom teeth removed and ever since then my sinus pain has gotten worse/i’ve developed new symptoms.

it starts in the back of my teeth, it feels like a dull pressure and i only get relief if i bite down on my back teeth (i know this isn’t good and try not to do it unless the pain is unbearable and i need some relief). the pain then travels to my nostrils, it feels like my nostrils are opening up really quickly like declogging after being clogged up all day. breathing hurts because the air feels so cold against my nostrils. that pain then travels into my cheeks and eyes, and feels like a sharp pain behind my eye and a pressure in my cheek. this all only ever occurs on one side of my face at a time, and i have no idea what triggers it. it can last for hours, sometimes 8+ hours.

the pain is so disorienting and distracting. it hurts enough to the point where i can’t concentrate on anything and can’t get meaningful work done, but not enough where i am completely debilitated.

i have insurance but it’s not great and i simply do not have money to go to an ENT rn. i am trying to figure out what this might be as i have tried looking online and haven’t been able to find anything exactly like what im describing. thank you.

My ENT is recommending sinus surgery, and I’m looking to hear from people who have actually gone through it because I’m pretty nervous.
Before I got pregnant about 2 years ago, I never really had sinus problems. Ever since my pregnancy, though, it’s been one thing after another. I’ve had constant congestion, headaches, sinus pressure, postnasal drip, trouble breathing through my nose, and it feels like my nose is almost always stuffed up. Some days are better than others, but it’s become a daily issue.
My ENT said I do have a deviated septum, but he explained that’s not what the surgery is for. He said the surgery would be to open and clear out my sinuses because they’re so inflamed and blocked. We’ve tried medications, including antibiotics and other treatments, but nothing has really solved the problem.
My mom has been trying to convince me not to have the surgery, so I’ve been second-guessing myself. But I’m honestly so tired of the constant headaches, pressure, and feeling like I can never breathe normally. It’s really affecting my daily life.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s had sinus surgery.
Was it worth it?
What was recovery like?
How painful was it?
How long did it take before you noticed you could breathe better?
Did it help your headaches, congestion, and sinus pressure?
Is there anything you wish you had known before having it done?
I’m looking for honest experiences, both positive and negative. I know everyone is different, but hearing from people who’ve been through it would really help me know what to expect. Thanks!

I’m genuinely in the most pain of my life. I think in need stronger pain medication. I feel like it shouldn’t hurt this bad

I had FESS and an inferior turbinate reduction almost six weeks ago. My recovery has been slow but overall has been going well, and over the last two weeks I was feeling about 80% back to normal.
Over the last three days though, I’ve developed a lot of dull, tight pain and pressure, mostly in my forehead and between my eyes. My breathing is great and I’m not congested at all. I’m still doing saline irrigations 2-3 times a day. The only other symptom I’m having is some post-nasal drip.
Has anyone else experienced something like this around the six week mark? I’m just wondering if this can be a normal part of the healing process.

[April 2, 2026] Email from the Patient to the Hospital

Dear Hospital,

I visited your hospital on February 10, 2026, because of discomfort in my right ear.

I had no nasal symptoms whatsoever that day. However, during the consultation, a nasal endoscopy was performed.

I do not feel that I received an adequate explanation of the procedure or gave informed consent beforehand. During the examination, I experienced severe pain and discomfort in my right nostril, and I felt that the procedure was not performed with sufficient care.

Three days later, on February 13, I suddenly developed severe right-sided nasal obstruction.

I also felt that the physician did not adequately address my concerns or answer my questions, which caused me to lose confidence in him.

Because my nasal obstruction did not improve, I later changed physicians. The new doctor listened carefully to my concerns and treated me sincerely, and I am very grateful for that.

However, my right-sided nasal obstruction, which began around February 13, had still not improved as of April 2. It has significantly affected my daily life and continues to worsen. My allergy tests were negative, and the medications I was prescribed were ineffective.

Although I cannot definitively prove that my symptoms were caused by the examination, based on the timing and clinical course, I have serious concerns and questions about whether the nasal endoscopy performed on February 10 may have been related.

Therefore, I respectfully request a satisfactory explanation regarding the medical necessity of the examination, the appropriateness of the informed consent process, and the details of the care I received that day.

I also request a sincere response regarding the overall handling of this matter.

I am documenting this issue by email to preserve an accurate record of the events.

If I am unable to receive a satisfactory explanation or response, I am considering consulting an independent medical safety organization.

Thank you for your time and attention.

[April 13, 2026] Hospital’s Response

The hospital director and the physician reviewed my medical records.

According to the hospital, the nurse’s intake questionnaire stated that I had:

•	A blocked sensation in my right ear

•	Crackling sounds in my right ear

•	Right-sided nasal blockage

For that reason, the physician performed a nasal endoscopy not only to examine the nasal cavity but also to evaluate possible Eustachian tube dysfunction, nasal tumors, or nasopharyngeal cancer.

The examination revealed a deviated nasal septum.

The hospital concluded that performing the nasal endoscopy was medically appropriate.

The hospital also stated that the examination was performed after providing an explanation, obtaining my consent, and administering topical anesthesia.

Although the physician regretted that I experienced pain during the examination, the hospital stated that the examination itself had been appropriate and therefore declined to apologize.

[April 13, 2026] Additional Response from the Hospital

The hospital informed me that the physician used an Olympus ENF-V3 flexible nasopharyngoscope.

Specifications:

•	Field of view: 90°

•	Observation depth: 3.5–50 mm

•	Distal tip diameter: 2.6 mm

•	Insertion tube diameter: 2.9 mm

•	Working length: 300 mm

•	Upward/downward angulation: 130°/130°

In addition to these emails, I had several telephone conversations with the hospital’s administrative representative.

During those conversations, I repeatedly explained that my severe nasal obstruction began suddenly three days after the endoscopy. I also emphasized that my allergy tests were completely negative and that, from my perspective, I could not think of any other possible cause besides the endoscopic examination.

However, the hospital repeatedly replied that they could not establish or prove a causal relationship between the examination and my symptoms. They also stated that although my allergy tests had been negative at that time, they could not say whether that was still true now.

I repeatedly asked to speak directly with the physician who performed the examination because I wanted to hear his explanation. However, I was told that the physician refused to see me, and that the hospital could not arrange a meeting because it would create a confrontation between us.

The overall attitude I received was essentially, “If you want to hire a lawyer or file a lawsuit, go ahead.”

I was extremely angry and frustrated by the way I was treated.

After reviewing all of these interactions, I would appreciate your opinion.

Do you think the physician may have committed medical negligence?

What do you think of the hospital’s overall response to this situation

(18 M) Since the start of the year I have been dealing with persistent blockage only in my left nostril during the night especially when I sleep. No matter in what position I sleep the turbinates in my left nostril always completely block my airflow which results. My sleep quality is bad and the fatigue from it makes it hard to do the things that I did before.At first, I taught that I had allergies. Allergy medicines and steroid sprays didn’t do anything (haven’t tried allergy shots tho).

My ENT now says that the problem is structural rather than an allergic reaction. Turns out my septum is also deviated. My doctor suggests that I need surgery (septo + turbinate reduction).

I am wondering if its the right move because the risk of ENT overwhelms me but I don’t think I have any other options left.

I’m sorry if I’m not posting in the right place but I’ve seen several similar posts here and figured id reach out as none really seen to be like mine. I have no congestión and I haven’t been diagnosed with a sinus infection. I had a mild cold without much congestión a few weeks ago. During the height of the cold, i noticed when i inhaled sharply through my nose, a distinct onion smell was present in my left nostril only. A week later, it turned into the smell of rotting vegetables or meat but only when i either inhaled or bent down. A post nasal drip started shortly there after. I can’t “taste” it, but it feels sour, and I have had a decreased appetite since. No one else can smell it and it apparently hasn’t impacted my breath.

It’s now been about two weeks. The smell/drip not constant, and in fact I thought it was gone yesterday until i laid down for bed and the drip and smell started again. When i woke up this morning, i felt a cold sensation in my left nose and have had intermittent sneezing and tingling today as well as some light popping with movement.

I have zero congestión and the smell is only in my left nostril. It feels very high up in my nose as my nose isn’t even running and the dripping is only in my throat. I used a saline flush once a few days ago when the smell was at its most intense but it didn’t seem to change anything as I could still smell it right afterward. I am worried i have an infection. My doctor was dismissive and said it I was side effect of cold that would go away. Waiting on appointment with ent in a few weeks, but in the meantime wondering if anyone knows why I would have this with no other symptoms.

The last sinus infection I had was 15 years ago, and it was bad and lasted for months with thick mucus coming out of my eyes and nose. But I haven’t had one since nor have I had major problems with congestión. I do wake up a few times a month for the past few years with a headache in my left temple going to the back of my head occasionally when I sleep too long, or when I’m dehydrated. I didn’t make any connection, but woke up with one of those this morning so thought it could be. Lastly, I did take a Covid test when I was sick. My husband insists it’s dangerous to use the cutip swabs for those tests at home and thinks that’s why i have this. I am a bit dismissive of that myself, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Any help is greatly appreciated this is so gross and I don’t want it to turn into anything else

I first felt what I thought was gum/upper teeth pain?then realised it was just pressure,my left cheek is kind of painful and there’s some pressure,it’s just honestly all uncomfortable,there’s no mucus but I just feel weaker like I have the flu.Ive taken Advil,Tylenol and done a saline rinse once,anything else I can do?