FAQ/Sinusitis

• Antibiotic Application through Nasal Irrigation
• Severe nasal allergies and asthma for about 40 years.
• 9 yr old son: severe congestion, headaches, chronic stomachaches
• Disabled by a "sinus" infection that, with 2 rounds of antibiotics, 6 days of steroids, and rhinacortAQ, has not diminished.
• Chronic sinus drainage/postnasal drip. Tried Cephalaxin, Zithromax, Guifenesin, Nasocort, Claritin D, Sudafed.
• Fibromyalgia flared up after move, weight gain, fatigue, chronic sinusitis...
• Chronic sinusitis has made me so miserable that...
• How much pressure can be safely used during nasal irrigation?
• Sinus infection through kissing?
• Any thoughts on gammaglobulin shots? Asthma Symptoms, Cold.
• Chronic sinus infection, mild fever
• 26 Yr Old Female: Chronic Sinusitis and Rhinitis

Severe nasal allergies and asthma for about 40 years.
Sunday, October 27, 2002
Question:
I am a registered nurse and am writing to ask for some assistance/advice for my 82 year-old mother. She has had severe nasal allergies and asthma for about 40 years. She now takes Serevent and Ventolin for the asthma, a medication for BP, and prednisone and biaxin about 2x a year for colds that escalate to pneumonia. She is in good health, a "very young grandma". About 6 weeks ago, she started to experience severe pressure in both ears, the left in particular. Tinnitus as well, but it's the pressure that really gets to her. Her GP increased the BP meds as her BP was slightly elevated but the pressure continued. She has since been to another GP for a second opinion, to 2 ENT specialists, has had an ultrasound of her carotid (she was complaining that it felt "hard" and was painful at times - US was normal), a bone density test, and audiogram (she also purchased a new hearing aid for the Left ear, had already had one in the right ear, both are working well and helping her hearing tremendously),all bloodwork is normal.
No one seems to know what could be causing this "pressure" feeling. I just wondered if there are any other tests she should undergo, and if you have any ideas as to what could be causing this. She is not too bad in the morning, the pressure seems to increase as the day goes on and sometimes by dinner, she is exausted. She also was give flonase, no inflammation was seen in her nose but the md thought it may help (it hasn't). The audiogram also showed that she has some pressure in the left ear, but not enough to be considered severe. We also wondered if it could be allergy related since she normally has very severe allergic rhinitis, and this year has had no symptoms of this. It's just very sad to watch a once very vital and interesting lady become so house-bound by such a seemingly "small" thing. Any ideas or help you can give is much appreciated.
Dr. Roby Answers:
This type of pressure is common in the soft tissue surrounding the eustachean tubes. this causes the dizziness they can feel, the "pressure" she relates and since the area is swollen, it can back up pressure in the adjacent vasculature and she will feel the firm feeling around the carotids. Everything you relate can be caused by this allergic type of soft tissue swelling.
Try mucolytic enzymes, like quaifenesin, decongesttants if she tolerates them (pseudoephedrine). Cut any food that might cause swelling (dairy and carbohydrates). Lots of water or weak tea, keep her upright and moving as much as she can (walking). Anytime they get recumbent this increases the soft tissue swelling. So, the worst thing she can do is take to her bed. She must stay upright and moving
If she cannot tolerate decongestants you could double the prednisone for two or three days. That should do the trick. New pillows. Get a good air cleaner for her room.

9 yr old son: severe congestion, headaches, chronic stomachaches
Sat, 12 Oct 2002
Question:
My son is 9 years old and used to be a very good eater. Over the past 6-9 months his interest in food has changed - it is very difficult to find something he likes. He battles the typical allergy symptoms regularly - the most alarming, though, are chronic stomach aches and severe headaches. He also states that he "just flat doesn't feel good!", which of course affects his disposition as well. We visited an allergist in Kerrville last week, and will have some testing done next week. I begin to have some hope that his stomach and headaches are allergy related. The doctor has started him on a nose spray which he has been taking for 5 days which hasn't affected his stopped up nose, but interestingly enough, he is a bedwetter, and he hasn't wet the bed since he started the nose spray.
My mother was treated by you yesterday for the first time, and when I talked to her this morning, she is in disbelief at how good she feels!
My question is, Is this a familiar description of symptoms that you have treated? Is the bedwetting part of his allergy? In your opinion, is there possibly a simple solution for helping him feel better?
Dr Roby Answers:
Yes. Yes. and Maybe.
Yes, these are familiar symptoms. Yes, bedwetting is often part of the deal because when we are allergic we put out lots of adrenalin, our emergency hormone, and this hormone "scares the pee" out of us. This why you might awaken at 2 A.M. and feel an urgent need to pee and yet only void a small amount.
Maybe there is a simple solution to helping him feel better. You might want to bring him to Marble Falls (that is fairly close to you) as I treat the kids with sublingual drops and they like that a lot better than shots.
Read my section on airborne allergy for a more complete explanation as to why his stomache is upset (he is swallowing copious amounts of snot and this causes the stomache to put out enormous amounts of hydrochloric acid which makes him feel queasy). He gets headaches and doesn't feel well because the allergy makes his brain swell.

Disabled by a "sinus" infection that, with 2 rounds of antibiotics, 6 days of steroids, and rhinacortAQ, has not diminished.
Thursday, October 10, 2002
Question:
For the past 3 to 4 weeks, I have been disabled by a diagnosed "sinus" infection that, with 2 rounds of antibiotics, 6 day's of steroids, and rhinacortAQ, has not diminished, but lessened slightly in severity.
My symptoms have been as follows: Severe headache around eyes, nose and into neck, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, tingly tongue, nose feels full of cotton, continual postnasal drip that seems "stuck", diarrhea, constipation, irritability, tiredness but insomniatic, tingling and coldness in hands and feet, with muscle aches in right leg and feet as well, occasional feeling of not being able to breathe,feeling of that my ear drums are going to explode,anxiety/panic?, sensitivity to taste of silverware?, sudden onset of numbness and tingling to gums, plus this feeling of dust or something on my mouth and skin at different times of the day. This is not the first time I have presented with a portion of these symptoms, it usually onsets annually around late summer. I had a blood test for the most common allergens in the NW(dust mites, pollen, mold, cat, dog, and a few others) which came back negative- HELP!
Dr. Roby Answers:
There is an extensive article on sinusitis on my web site. However, you should understand why this happens and where all those other symptoms come from.. The whole thing is a result of "Hormone Imbalance". The insomnia with fatigue, anxiety, etc., are a result of using adrenalin as your primary hormone in these periods.
See my section on "Hormone Allergy" on the website. Many types of allergy have their basis in hormone reactions. This is particularly true of ladies who experience increasing symptoms as they undergo hormone changes, usually in their late twenties or after the babies are born. Sinusitis is what you are focusing upon, but ask yourself..."why me?..."why now?"....
Check out that section and let me know how those characteristics apply to you and then I can get more specific. You may find some useful areas to explore in your search for medical solutions. Areas such as dietary changes, low level exercise and alternative approaches to solving medical problems.

Chronic sinus drainage/postnasal drip. Tried Cephalaxin, Zithromax, Guifenesin, Nasocort, Claritin D, Sudafed.
Monday, October 07, 2002
Question:
I have had excessive milky mucous drainage for almost two months. It led to bronchial infection and a horrible cough. Cephalaxin didn't touch it. The 3-day Zithromax seemed to clear up the infection, but not the drainage nor the cough. I tried Guifenesin, take Nasocort, Claritin D, but nothing seems to dry me up. The pharmacist recommended Sudafed...which helps temporarily. I had blepharoplasty and ptosis repair done in May...my eyelids seem to be pulled too tight and constantly hurt...could this be related somehow and be irritating my sinuses?? Now, I feel I'm getting the sore throat again which is how the first infection started.
Dr. Roby Answers:
See my section on sinusitis. I don't think antibiotics do any good. Your eye surgery certainly is contributing to the soft-tissue swelling in the area that leads to the sinusitis problem. Most sinus infections are preceded by a viral event (e.g., "nose cold"). I have reduced recurrent sinusitis over 80% by using a flu vaccine nose spray (see "abstracts" on the website for the paper I presented to the European College of Allergy and Asthma in Sicily in 2001).
Hormones play a role in this as well. See my section on "Hormone Allergy" on the website. Many types of allergy have their basis in hormone reactions. This is particularly of ladies who experience increasing symptoms as they undergo hormone changes, usually in their late twenties or after the babies are born. Check out that section and let me know how those characteristics apply to you and then I can get more specific. You may find some useful areas to explore in your search for medical solutions. Areas such as dietary changes, low level exercise and alternative approaches to solving medical problems.

Fibromyalgia flared up after move, weight gain, fatigue, chronic sinusitis...
Saturday, August 24, 2002
Question:
I spoke with a lady in my church tonight that just got back from seeing you. She and I have the same symptoms. She is raving about your treatment. I am 32 yrs old and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia at 22 but the symptoms seemed to go away while I lived on the East Coast. When I moved to Idaho and got pregnant my health went down hill fast. I gained 50lbs and wasn't eating hardly anything. I was very ill and had a rough pregnancy. Nothing has changed since I had my baby. My symptoms are as follows: chronic fatigue, dry mouth, chronic sinus with sinutitus, confusion, problems with temperature, pain all over my body, stomach problems, irratable bowel, depression, ADD and a few more. I feel like I'm falling apart and I'm only 32! I feel like no one can understand what I'm going through. My daughter is 5 months old and I struggle to hold her because of my pain and lack of energy. I'm scared sometimes because of my absent mindedness. Can you help me?
Dr. Roby Answers:
Come and see me. You will be 80% better when you return home the next day. All of your problems are a result of "Hormone Allergy". Read this section on Hormone Imbalance carefully. You need to study the problem. Up until now you have been frustrated because all the doctors tell you that you are just fine. You know you are not "fine." What they should say is... "there is nothing medically wrong with you...you do not have any kind of illness or disease." And, you don't have a disease. You have an "imbalance" in your hormones. You periods probably started before you were sixteen (that is still the average age worldwide) and so Nature is treating you like a little old lady...you are suffering postmenopausal just like a 50 or 60 year old lady...all the fatigue, weight gain, loss of short-term memory and diminished sex drive that you would expect to see in a grandmother in her late fifties or sixties.
All this can be changed at once. Ultil you can get here you might start Dr. Atkin's Diet and begin walking at least 30 minutes every day.
For appointments: 1-800-767-0141 - Airline and hotel information is on the website.

Chronic sinusitis has made me so miserable that...
Friday, October 04, 2002
Question:
I was very much impressed to go through the portions of your web site. You are amazing in viewing complex patho-physiological abnormalities in terms of simple but convincing imbalances.
Having earned this faith, now you must please H...E...L...P me. This chronic sinusitis has made me so miserable that many times I have felt that life is not worth living. You are right, Surgeons want to cut the tissues and the physicians want to prescribe. I have tried Guaifenesin and Semprex D. They do help but I can not use them long term because of my CAD (ejection fraction of 30). I am asymptomatic post MI of 1987, I do exercise regularly, I am a vegetarian with my roots in India and yes I am highly into spirituality.
While I work on a "time out" to travel and see you in Austin, why don't we address soft-tissue swelling, perhaps for the past 64 years, recent hormone changes and yes perhaps the diminished levels of cortisol. Are you likely to be in the Washington DC area in the near future ? If not, I will definitely plan on coming. I have already seen the soft tissue swelling in my endoscopy done on 10/4/02. Would you please let me know which hormone levels you wish to see. I can have it done. Thereafter, perhaps you can suggest me a treatment plan. In the mean time, I will start sinus irrigation (with cold water & ingredients) as per your protocol.
Dr. Roby Answers:
As to the lab tests, I measure estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol (random, but AM), full thyroid panel, DHEA and Progesterone Antibodies (IgG and IgM). This available through all the labs here and comes from Immunogenics Labs in L.A.
See my section on publications. I prevented sinusitis in 78% of patients by using a virus nose spray. It seems sinusitis (like Otitis) is often preceded by a rapid-acting viral event. SInce you are a physician, we'll send you some of the flu vaccine (with Varicella v.added) nose spray along with instructions. This has proven to be very effective in reducing the attack rate of sinusitis. Now, as to other causes of soft-tissue swelling...carbohydrates, especially simple sugars, foods you react to, stress (results in adrenalin-acidosis-soft-tissue swelling) and lifestyle. You have read my views on this. Do the best you can. If you were walking slowly for five or six hours daily and at your ideal weight...you wouldn't have any of these problems.

How much pressure can be safely used during nasal irrigation?
Friday, October 04, 2002
Question:
How much pressure can be safely used during nasal irrigation? I have been trying nasal irrigation, using a solution of water, salt and baking soda. My problem is I can't seem to get the solution to come across my nasal passage from one side to the other. I don't want to use too much pressure, but am using a simple bulb syringe and get to a point where I have my nose plugged and cannot get past a certain point. I do have a deveated septum, but would expect to be able to move fluids across my nasal passage.
Dr. Roby Answers:
NEVER force it. If a gentle squeeze won't move it, forget it...you have an obstruction. See your ENT.

Sinus infection through kissing?
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Question:
Is there any way a sinus infection could be attributed to kissing somebody four or five months before onset? Do you think colloidal silver is a legitimate antibiotic or anything similar? Thank you.
Dr. Roby Answers:
There is a large section on sinusitis on the website. As to your question about getting the sinusitis from kissing someone, the answer is...maybe.
You had to get the first sinus infection somewhere. Kissing is as likely as any other vector. Once you get a sinus infection, you have it forever. It doesn't "go away" when the symptoms are gone. It just goes "back to sleep", lying dormant until the next time you get swelling in the sinus passages, then it "wakes up" and your old pal the sinus infection is back.
If this is your first sinus infection, then it is entirely possible you got it from kissing someone who had an active sinus infection.

Any thoughts on gammaglobulin shots? Asthma Symptoms, Cold.
Monday, September 02, 2002
Question:
Dr. Roby: Any thoughts on gammaglobulin shots? A Rast test I had indicated I was low in immunoglobulin A (just barely) and G (a little less than 200 points- 536 where minimum is 723) and in the IGG1 subclass (about a 1000 points - 3490 where minimum is 4559). My doctor is recommending gammaglobulin 2cc per month for a year. I am an asthma patient on Advair, Allegra and Singular (I also have some sinus and ear symptoms). My asthma symptoms are controlled with these medications unless I catch a cold or sometimes after flying if my ears become blocked. I seem to catch a cold every year or so, sometimes two in a year. (I live in Texas, previous cold climates were much worse.) Thanks for any information.
Dr. Roby Answers:
Seems a desparate measure. I would opt for more antihistamines. Also try my food allergy restrictions and see my research paper on preventing sinusitis using flu vaccine nose spray ( prevents colds you see).

Chronic sinus infection, mild fever
Sunday, September 15, 2002
Question:
I have been in the Dallas, Texas area for last 10 years. I have the symptoms of mild fever (less than 100 degrees) around the year on and off. I am also usually very tired. If I excerise regularly than my symptoms go away but as soon as I stop, those symptoms come back. Lately I have not been having sound sleep and also I get up in the middle of the night for urination. This is not common for me. I used to enjoy sound sleep and never get up in the middle of the night. Also my body temperature is generally higher and when I touch other people I feel that I am burning hot.
Is this due to chronic sinus infection? In the past I have visited my physician and she always tells me to eat well, excercize and sleep well and if I follow this routine the symptoms subside or go away. The blood test has not found anything wrong with me. I have started doing nasal irrigation using small ear pump. But my body temperature seems to be going higher. Also should I use cold water or hot water? Should this be normal cold or taken from the fridge? Do you have any detailed instruction on how to perform nasal irrigation? I have not been very successful in doing it. I appreciate your response.
Dr. Roby Answers:
Cool is fine. Not cold, but especially not warm. Warm increases the swelling. Cool diminishes it.
Many of your questions relating to allergy and other symptoms are addressed in my section on "Hormone Imbalance" on my website. Please read that section again. Let me know how much of that material applies to you. I can then address your specific questions much more efficiently.

26 Yr Old Female: Chronic Sinusitis and Rhinitis
Sunday, September 15, 2002 8:43 AM
Question:
I am a 26 yr old female who for the past three years has been suffering from chronic sinusitis and rhinitis. It gets worse each year particularly around the fall months. (I was up last night starting around 3am coughing horribly). Two years ago I went to an allergist at a very good hospital and had allergy testing. I basically stumped the doctors (that's what they told me) because my skin tests came back without a reaction to anything. I have also been dealing with 13 -18 day periods each month which is of course very frustrating. Last year after discussing this with my Gyn my bloodwork showed a progesterone level of something like 4??? All other hormonal levels were normal including those involved with my thyroid. I also have ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast disease, and infertility issuses. This is all very new to me. I'm not sure if I've had these problems all along and they were just undiagnosed? I have noticed an increase in hair growth around my nipples and under my navel. I began my menses at age 12. After I read your artical about hormones and allergies I was wondering if this was all related somehow? Thank you for any information you can share with me.
Dr. Roby Answers:
You describe the hormone allergy patient with precision. Your high progesterone is an imbalance. When it is blocked with homeopathic dilutions of progesterone all the symptoms you mention are much more easily managed. Read the section on "Hormone Allergy" or hormone imbalance again. It outlines the tests and treatment.
Many of your questions relating to allergy and other symptoms are addressed in my section on "Hormone Allergy" on my website. Please read that section carefully and let me know how much of that material applies to you. I can then address your specific questions much more efficiently.