It has been almost a year since I corresponded with you and I really
appreciate your
response. Since that time I found an ENT who diagnosed me with chronic
sinusitis
because I continued to cough up the brown globs of junk for over a year. I
was on numerus antibiotics and quit for a few months, but still had the
flu-like symptoms and pain behind my nose and even burning in my arms and
legs. A pulmonologist diagnosed me with mild bronchiectasis with
sinopulmonary syndrome. The ENT had me get a CAT scan and was going to do
surgery until he got the results back. This is what they said:
"The hiatus similunaris of the left maxillary antrum shows moderate
narrowing and there is some mucosal thickening at the ostium of the left
maxillary antrum at the base of the hiatus semilunaris compounding the
narrowing. No evidence of sinusitis identified at this time."
A week later while using saline irrigation, the brown globs came out of my
head.
I can't keep taking antibiotics because they tear my digestive system up.
I have a couple of questions if you would be kind enough to answer them.
1. Do you think this CAT scan is significant enough to warrant surgery
since I
still have symptoms?
2. I have read, but can't find much information, that the actinomyces that
was in
my tonsils (it formed the sulfur granules) could be in my sinuses. If
so, would it
show up significantly on a CAT Scan? Would it cause some of the weird
symptoms that I have had? Where can I find more information about it?
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> From: Sanguansak Thanaviratananich <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: chronic sinusitis
> Date: Wednesday, November 05, 1997 11:58 AM
>
>
> Owing to your chronic rhinitis problem, I think the best way for you is
to
> consult with the rhinologist who will perform nasal endoscopy for
> you to examine any possible abnormalities in the nasal cavities and
> lateral nasal wall. Normal CT findings after adequate antibiotic therapy
> do not make you sure that there is no abnormalities in the nasal cavities
> ,that may be the predisposing anatomical factors for sinusitis, without
> confirm by nasal endoscopy.
>
> Regards
> Thanaviratananich S.
>
> On Mon, 3 Nov 1997, kathyw wrote:
>
> > I am just a patient who thinks maybe I have chronic sinusitis. I've
had
> > really weird symptoms after getting a URI 3 years ago. I was really
> > stopped up, lost equilibrium, and the back of my head hurt. It even
felt
> > like it was bobbing some times. I had a rusty sputum a few times, but
> > nothing major at that time, but I felt miserable; have been having
> > problems ever since; I have had 2 acute sinus infections with the
green
> > junk blowing out my nose; would take antibiotics and feel better for a
> > while; have had 2 CAT scans of my sinuses (both were during periods of
> > feeling better) which were pretty normal. An allergist at Mayo Clinic
said
> > that I had very narrow openings and some congestion. I also had a
purulent
> > postnasal discharge. He said I might have chronic sinusitis and maybe
need
> > a limited endoscopic surgery if I didn't improve on antibiotics. That
was
> > in Feburary of this year. When I came home I took two rounds of
Zithromax
> > and started coughing up rusty sputum for several days. I then took
> > Augmentin for 10 days without much relief. In late may I was treated 2
> > months with Ceclor for actinomycosis in my tonsils and coughed up
moderate
> > amounts of the rusty (occasionally green) sputum; this occurs for
several
> > days in the morning and then stops for 2-3 weeks. I've been on back
on
> > Zithromax, Augumentin, and now Levaquin for 6 days. I haven't coughed
up
> > anything in the last two days, feel some better, but not great. This
> > hasn't been coming from my nose, but I think postnasal drainage. My
lungs
> > are clear. My internist now thinks I have chronic sinusitis and said
that
> > CAT scans are not always diagnostic. He referred me to an ENT
specialist
> > who does the endoscopic surgery and he wants me to have another CAT
scan.
> > I didn't get the idea that he thought I needed the surgery. I really
don't
> > know where to turn now. I think that whatever is wrong with me is
related
> > to this yucky sputum and the infection has been somewhere for a long
time.
> > Any input would be appreciated.
> >
> >
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