Rhode Island Sinus Infections

Surfed Twice in the last week in Newport. I have no sinus issues, but did not have to do a lot of duck diving, mostly waist to shoulder high.

I really try to avoid the poundings in the Winter. This is when i notice i have sinus issues in the cold water and wind.

 

Sounds as if you have a "chronic sinusitis" situation. Have you been treated with antibiotics?? If not, seek treatment. Bacteria that cause sinusitis are not usually difficult to eradicate, but, getting proper levels of drug into the sinuses is challenging. Generally, erythromycin type antibiotic for a couple of weeks is prescribed.
Bottom line--it is not the waters in RI, it is the pathogens that have set up shop in your sinus. I would NOT surf until you are treated properly; getting cold gives the bacteria the advantage, not you.
Good luck. It is easily resolvable if you do it right. Otherwise, it can linger for months or longer.

 

So true. Drink a ridiculous amount of water too. Sleep is important. I bullshat it for a while. I felt the effects. Do what I did. Missed one great week long swell though. Fml.

Guess what I'm doing right now

 

Were you at that place with the long breakwater and all the seagulls poo?

 

Yea like seldom is alluding too- the runoff after a rain will get you...

Whenever I surf after it rains (even if it's within a few days) I always use the netti pot (can't believe no one else mentioned this) the thing works wonders- hardly ever get sinus infections anymore.

Get this one - with the squeeze bottle- the positive pressure works better...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A...ds=Neilmed&dpPl=1&dpID=61HBbTXZntL&ref=plSrch

 

Used to get 6-7 sinus infex each year. Then started allergy shots. Since then I get 1-2 each year. Allergies leave your sinuses inflamed and ripe for infection, if that's your problem.

My friends who got the surgery said it helped for a year and then they were back to getting infex again.

 

The pathogens are NOT necessarily coming from your surfing activity. The worst place from which to get infections are your hands, believe it or not. Microbiological studies have shown hands are colonized with more pathogens than your toilet bowl. So, does this point to a solution?? First thing I would do, revisit your ENT; have him prescribe an antibiotic (not the same one!!) that addresses a more resistant bacterial flora. How long did you take the antibiotics for?? Did you take them to completion?? Answer those questions for yourself (I need NOT know the answers).
As I mentioned before, some antibiotics are hard to get into sinus tissues and fluids. Every bacterial species requires a certain minimal level to kill it off. Sinusitis can take several attempts with antibacterial treatment; I would opt for that before any surgery (last resort).
Lastly,make sure you are continuously washing your hands. You may be "re-infecting" yourself with a bacteria to which you are susceptible, which then becomes self-defeating.
That would be my strategy.

By the way--your sinusitis can be viral as well, then antibiotics do not work. See if MD can do a culture to identify pathogen.

 

SI: Offering sound medical advice since 1990....

 

Gentlemen, I presume...Here is the information you require regarding sinuses and surfing, from someone that treats sinus infections. The discussion should include predisposition, antibiotic treatment, and home remedies plus a little science. Be prepared to be bored as sh*t.

Deviated septums, chronic allergies, and thin breathing airways predispose the sinus for infection. The drainage of the sinuses in your cheeks gets clogged with regularity. Then fluids stagnate in your sinus (produces 1 liter of mucus each day.). Introducing bacteria to the situation from surfing normal AND especially, dirty water causes an infection.
Antibiotic treatment is AUGMENTIN (875/125). Most antibiotics are neutralized as sinus bugs produce an antibiotic killer, beta-lactamase. Augmentin works because it uses a suicide molecule (clav acid) to kill the beta-lactamase, allowing the amoxicillin to kill the infection. Amoxicillin alone is useless. Be careful with z-packs as they are typically inept but increase heart attacks on people with slight heart deviances that are unknown to the patient, sometimes....
I prefer the homeopathic method to keep sinuses from infection in winter surfing. Netti pots and breathing in steam for several days, when increased sinus pressure begins. Towel over head, breathe steam for 5 minutes, 3 times a day especially before sleep. Steam kills the funk, and breaks up the mucus and opens the osmium, or sinus drain. Keeping the drain patent (open,) improves the health of the sinus. Saline nasal sprays work. Stay away from overusing affrin spray.

Long term, getting the deviated sinus corrected or finding the allergies you are unaware of, go a long way. Breathing correctly will improve sleep, athletic performance, hormone balance, reduce depression potential in some, etc., etc. it helps the body feel good. Hope this helps you mouth breathers out there!

 

SI: Offering welfare checks and Medicaid since 2015.

 

Medical profession?? No. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night.
You are best to follow what an MD says, of course. And yes, I agree, it can be very frustrating dealing with the "new and improved" health care system. You can thank that bunhole Obama for it. Feces always flows downhill....<grin>
Oh, and I do not live in a van. I prefer under a little wooden bridge keeping a few pigeons company. I only surf on Velzy 1960s pop outs with no stringer. Still waiting for that 50 year swell some dork called Bohdi promised me would be here. Hope I did not miss it, did I??

 

that explains the trolling.

 

I roll my eyes in the back of my head every time during that scene where they're standing on "Bells Beach" then cut away to Waimea Shorebreak. That is one of the stupidest "surf movies" ever made. About the only thing that might have even come close to real "surf culture" in that movie is the scene where that Utah dork almost gets his arse kicked by seedy locals after severely kooking out in the lineup on that buoy-looking kook stick.

There, I said it.

 

is it TRULY an infection or turbinate dysfunction?

 

theres' no trees at bells.
there, i said it.

 

classic....

anything you need- any questions you may have- just ask: Swellinfo.com