Anyone else been congested for like 2 months?
Posted by chickiepippen@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 59 comments
Been like every day bro. I wake up and have intense sinus pressure feeling that radiates to my ears, head/temples, cheeks/jaw, then throat hurts due to post nasal drip maybe. It feels like I have a balloon in my face.
Sudafed helps but not always fully, and I don’t want to take it too often to avoid rebound congestion. I do nasal rinses and Flonase 2x night and morning. I take a daily allergy pill. I’ve even started sleeping elevated despite the neck soreness this causes sometimes.
Is it the weather? Barometric pressure changes? Allergies? Idk. But please, if you experience this & have any tips for getting some relief, please, please let me know 🙏
EnvironmentalCrow893@reddit
No but my eyes are REALLY itching and burning.
ForeverOk7505@reddit
So I do eye drops but also wear an eye mask at night. Yes it falls off multiple times but it helps with my dry eyes in addition to eye drops
EnvironmentalCrow893@reddit
Never heard of wearing an eye mask! I have one that definitely won’t slip off.
thetower333@reddit
same! allergies have been so bad specially eyes
crestedgeckovivi@reddit
Lmao allergy eye drops 🤧 for the win. I have to use mine typically April & may and again in the late fall (dry hay/grasses), and occasionally in December and January.
EnvironmentalCrow893@reddit
Thx! I’m going to try Pataday.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
I too use pataday and recommend! My optometrist told me to use it. the Sudafed dries my eyes out so I go hard on the artificial tears all day too. Hope the drops work for you!
EnvironmentalCrow893@reddit
I can’t use OTC antihistamines because I have CKD. I’m hoping the Pataday does the trick!!
ForeverOk7505@reddit
Are you originally from TX? You likely have histamine intolerance. I’m going through one right now. It’s freaking awfully. Couple months ago I inhaled too much pollen and my face was bright read and hot. Had to out ice bags on/off for a while. This year is going to be BRUTAL
darthvark97@reddit
Been feeling the same in Denton.. try a mixture of distilled water and sinus rinse salts! It helps me a lot on the tough days
sheedsaves@reddit
A natural cure of sinus congestion is xylitol. I buy Xlear natural nasal spray off of Amazon
rdickert@reddit
I went through the same thing - literally a couple of months being consistently congested. Went to the doc, they said it was a sinus infection - put me on a round of Amoxil and Prednisone and within a couple of days I was already feeling better - definitely check with your doc
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the reply! How was your snot? Mine is clear and my nasal passages look okay when I shine a light in them. Not a doctor though.
My PCP said I had a bad sinus infection at the end of December and I did 10 days of amoxicillin. I wonder if it wasn’t enough, cuz symptoms did dissipate but not disappear.
My last doctor would prescribe prednisone w abx when I had sinus infections & that was great but my current doctor is reluctant. Should I just say that combo has worked best for me in past?
ForeverOk7505@reddit
Yes. Also request a couple steroid shots to help with inflammation. Within a couple hours you’ll have immediate relief. However make your appt as early as possible bc steroid shot won’t let you sleep that night if given too late in the day
grand305@reddit
This OP
Beautifulife1983@reddit
I was the same way. Finally saw a doc once the pain in my face reached a breaking point. Turns out my cold morphed into a sinus infection. On antibiotics now, feeling great by day 2. Get the meds.
prodigy_beard@reddit
Yeah bro I’ve been dying. Been hooked on nasal sprays and Zyrtec.
grand305@reddit
Don’t over use nasal spray. some have addictive agents and steroids and obese your nose gets use to it. The congregation can come back and be horrible. read the package. “1-3 days max” is in there for a reason.
Now Zyrtec -D is the one you want. Or the pharmacy version with D in the name.
theshallowdrowned@reddit
“obese your nose” means what?
genxnikki@reddit
I want it
grand305@reddit
Fixed it with an edit
grand305@reddit
Fixed it with an edit.
poeticsoul151@reddit
Yes but i added two air purifiers in my home, and that's seemed to help a lot. I don't wake up hacking anymore at least
xRoyalewithCheese@reddit
I just went to the doctor today for mucus thats been sitting in the back of my throat for months (closing my airways whenever my neck isnt perfectly straight) She said it’s not a sinus infection but maybe allergies and that everyone’s been getting bad allergies lately
4ofheartz@reddit
Maybe you have a sinus infection. Visit your doctor or an Urgent Care.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
My snot is clear so I figured it wasn’t a sinus infection. But it sure feels like one 😭
TressoftheEmeraldTea@reddit
It’s a myth that clear mucus means you don’t have a sinus infection and green means you do.
Gurlie_J_Girl@reddit
The color of your nasal discharge only describes how long its been sitting waiting to come out.
Crying_in_99Ranch@reddit
My PCP recommended vitamin D plus a multivitamin and it has helped. I also take Zyrtec daily with Flonase pretty much every day as well too. I still have congestion but it does help and make me feel more in control of how i manage it.
If that doesn't work, look into acupressure and try that throughout the day. Here's some that directly help with congestion
Elegant_Section_6861@reddit
Every night when I lay down. And then when I wake up in the morning I have shit in my throat and chest that is very difficult to cough up.
moop-ly@reddit
since december - i need out
grand305@reddit
Get your sinus checks for infection with urgent care or doctor. see if the pharmacy has a “sinus D” meds. they can help.
moop-ly@reddit
i have a GP - take the meds. i grew up here. got the allergy shots. i wasn’t meant to live here
Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaa@reddit
I never had allergies until I moved to Dallas. Started taking a daily pill to get them under control.
As soon as I moved, issues went away and I'm no longer taking daily meds. It's gotta be the grass/trees or something.
grand305@reddit
As of this month its tree and grass pollen season. Diffent seasons happened through out the year. in Dallas it’s bad.
Liberteabelle1@reddit
I’ve never had seasonal allergies before, but I have for the past couple of months too. I have horrible sinus headaches too.
But I discovered my cure.
I also recently was diagnosed with low blood pressure. Apparently there is not enough blood pressure to address drainage in my head. But there is IF I get up and move around. Took me weeks to figure this out.
Maybe that will help…?
M990MG4@reddit
Astepro - expensive but works
Try Costco online
Even-Boysenberry-127@reddit
I’ve had relief with acupuncture.
good-timing-407@reddit
My husband lives on otc nasal spray. But it’s better here than Midland.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
What kind is he taking? And man can’t even imagine midland. Godspeed!
Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaa@reddit
Probably Afrin. That shit is huggly addictive but it'll solve your problems. Just gotta do lil toot everyday for the rest of your life.
(Don't recommend)
No_Locksmith9690@reddit
I use a migraine mask to clear the sinuses and to get rid of the pain. I've even eliminated the bags I had under my eyes. A netti pot also helps rinse the pollens out of the nose.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
I use a neti pot too! And what migraine mask do you use? I wake up so puffy it’s like you can see the mucus congestion inflammation under my skin
No_Locksmith9690@reddit
I got mine from my insurance but I now see them at pharmacies. They have a gel in them for either cooling or warming.
trying_to_adult_here@reddit
If you think it could be allergies (and you’re taking a bunch of allergy meds, so I’m guessing you do) and you’re still miserable, it’s worth seeing an allergist.
I also used to live on Allegra and FloNase and daily Sudafed (the behind the counter real Sudafed) and was still pretty miserable. I went to an allergist and started allergy shots and they’re life-changing. I’m allergic to all the grasses and trees. I started noticing big results after about six months, I’m about three years in and getting shots once a month now, down from once a week at the beginning.
My allergist also prescribed meds that worked better than the OTC meds in the meantime, so I didn’t have to wait for the shots to kick in to feel better. I take no allergy meds at all most of the year now that the shots work.
My insurance covered everything, YMMV.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
That is so awesome shots fixed you!!!!! I have been reluctant to try due to time commitment and also reading that it really only works for 50% of people but I need to try. Can I ask what interim meds your allergist put you on too? And do you have an allergist recc? Thank you!!
trying_to_adult_here@reddit
I didn't find the time commitment too bad, but my job has unusual hours and weekdays off so that makes it easier for me. I had to go every week for the first few months and was allowed to go as often as every other day, so I usually went twice a week so the shots would take effect faster. My allergist's office (and I think most, but I've only been to one) doesn't make you schedule appointments for the allergy shots, you just have to show up any time the shot clinic is open, which is until 30 minutes prior to when the office closes since you have to sit and be observed for 30 minutes to make sure you don't have an anaphylactic reaction.
They had me on:
I go to Texas Regional Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Center, they've got a Southlake location and a north Fort Worth location. If they're not close to you, look for an allergist that's convenient to where you live because you'll be going there a lot.
irad1111@reddit
Worst place for allergies - get desensitized it’ll pay off . Also make sure you don’t have a sinus infection
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
Get desensitized via allergy shots or? Cuz lemme tell you, just living here for 6 years has sensitized me further if anything :’)
irad1111@reddit
Yes shots or drops . Takes awhile but worth it
SimpleVegetable5715@reddit
I’m on day 22 of walking pneumonia. I kept brushing it off as a cold, even allergies in the beginning.
I watch waste water scan, and we had a late respiratory virus season this year. They’ve really stuck around in the South.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
Oof feel better!!! ❤️🩹 no cough for me luckily. Just had a friend have a bad respiratory virus though. It’s too close to summer for that shit!
NowWeGetSerious@reddit
Yes!! My eyes have been blinded. I've resorted to wearing a mask again (it's been helpful on my nose and throat) but my eyes 😭
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
I think the bad air quality we’ve been having hasn’t helped matters :(
Final_Prune3903@reddit
Yep it’s so bad. And I have had asthma for the first time in years, constantly short of breath.
crestedgeckovivi@reddit
So if you are buying Sudafed make sure you are buying the right one for sinus pressure etc. (That you are describing)
Phenylephrine is the one that is available on the counter and Pseudoephedrine is the one you have to show your ID for at the pharmacy counter.
Phenylephrine doesn't do jack shit imo ( it does when applied topically aka intranasal* /mucosal (with hemorrhoid products etc. )
*haha the rebound/intant addiction to breathe gets real when your hooked on to the nasal sprays with this ingredient 😭....
Pseudoephedrine is a vasoconstricter and will relive the pressure much better. Typically I get it in 12 or 24 hour formats with thr combination of a allergy pill if not I buy the 30mg tabs to use as needed throughout the day.
Most of the major allergy med types Allegra, Claritin and Zrytec have a "D" formula. Select one. Take it consistently same time everyday.
Typically I take ClaritinD (if needed with the decongestant if not the regular one) at night and regular Zrytec in the morning. Flonase Am & Pm.
I did quit the Phenylephrine sprays a couple months ago....
If your sinus discharge is dark yellow or green etc go see a doctor etc.
chickiepippen@reddit (OP)
Yessss I’m getting the real stuff! Such a good PSA though cuz yeah the phenylephrine does not do jack shit. Thank you. Do you find that the combined Sudafed allergy meds like Allegra-D are better than taking xyzal and Sudafed separately? (Current routine). Also it’s been fine for you to take an allergy-D pill every day? Nervous for rebound congestion
LaurenJ36@reddit
I got really sick a few weeks ago….the breathe right strips can help so much with congestion.
Timely-Cry-8366@reddit
Yes my allergies have been horrendous.