Can Allergy/Sinus Cause Constant Head Pressure and Tinnitus?

[Glenville86]

Background: Retired from the Army in Nov and had a complete physical. Everything was fine except for lower back degenerative disk diease and mild hearing loss. All bloodwork was normal. Took a job in Iraq where I am currently. Arrived in Feb. In Jun, I was sick with extreme fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. Saw a doctor in Jul and was given OTC headache meds. They did bloodwork that came back normal. Since that time I have had daily head pressure and tinnitus. The tinnitus comes and goes and can be really loud and annoying. Visited another doctor in Sep who thought it might be an allergic reaction and was given zyrtec for a month. No change with the head pressure. Saw an ENT in Oct who feels that it just a left-over from whatever made me ill in Jun and thinks it will get better with time. Have had this for 5 months.

NOTE: I am 44 and had never had a headache prior to this. Have never had any TMJ problems. Tinnitus was never a problem. Never noticed any allergies before this. Never had sinus problems. Am in decent health and walk daily for 45 minutes. Thought it might be some sort of reaction to something here in Iraq but do not have typical allergy or sinus symptoms.

Questions: 1) Can allergies or sinus cause the daily head pressure and tinnitus? No pain, just a heavy and tight feeling from my eyebrows, temples to the back of my head. Wake up with it. Only goes away when outside exercising. Constant dust inside and outside this place with pollution.  Extreme heat going from AC into 120 degree.  Has cooled off now, but symptoms remain.

[robbyB]

Antibiotics often make sinus problems, allergies, (and tinnitus, etc) worse, because they only address bacteria, and in the process kill of the good bacteria as well as the bad, leaving the patient with a possible fungal infection.  (The Mayo Clinic several years ago published a study the suggested that most sinus infections were caused by fungal problems, and not bacteria or viruses.)  Anyway, the ABX also do not address the possible dust issues, which should be taken seriously, but probably won't until you get home.

Also, nasalcrom, rhinocort, and especially prednisone only suppress SYMPTOMS, they do nothing to address the cause(s).  Sometimes of course something like nasalcrom is necessary to open things up a little...for a short time...but then it's critical to have allergy and/or other testing done to find out the cause and treat that.  And finally a major key to staying well is to strengthen/balance the immune system so it can better handle things that for the most part don't bother a majority of the population.

By saying that I don't mean to belittle or dismiss anyone's problems, especially Glennville's.  I would just suggest that "allergies" or reactions manifest in many different ways besides sneezing or headaches -- especially chemical reactions.  The fact that your symptoms are better once you're outside in the "open air" tells a lot.

Hope this helps a little.

Rob

p.s. I'm not a doctor...just someone who's been chronically ill for years, so have researched and learned a lot and applied to my life.

[NKski80]

I stumbled on this forum in frustration. I have had 2 CT's done, been allergy tested and just saw an ENT specialist, who made my frustration worse by saying whatever is wrong with me is not sinuses. The allergist confirmed that I don't have allergies. I've been suffering for over a year and half now with facial pain (behind my eyes, in corners of my eyes, between eyebrows, behind nose), occasional ear and jaw pain and occasional pain at the bottom of my head. I don't know if this is related at all, but my eyes burn at times and I have some pain in my shoulder and neck area.

I've been living on any over the counter sinus pain medicine that will help and I've also been taking Allegra D, which was prescriped by my family doctor. Oddly enough, for whatever is wrong with me, these do help to ease the discomfort a little.

The ENT Dr. suggested I go to a Neurologist, a Rheumatologist and a Dentist?! Gee, how helpful is that!? I am NOT interested in seeing those doctors. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to go from here? I am kind of at my wits end!! I am sick of being bounced from one doctor to another.

[kentuckiana]

NKski80,
You should definitely go see your dentist. I have had the exact same symptoms and have been diagnosed with TMJ.  My plan of action is to have oral surgery on my jaw and realign my joints, which should improve my situation.

In the meanwhile, though, I wear a plastic support in my mouth at night (and sometimes during the day) and it has almost entirely alleviated my symptoms.  I've spent 20+ years with these symptoms and pain and one little piece of plastic fixed it all.

[LeAnneFr]

I have been diagnosed with TMJ as well, also have constant post nasal drain. I have horrible jaw and facial pain, grind my teeth at night and have sharp pains in my ears. I am also dizzy all the time. It never goes away. It's like I'm floating, it's hard for me to focus, I have a hard time with my balance and sometimes it makes me feel like I have motion sickness. I have been to the doctor, ENT, dentist, optometrist physiotherapist. The physiotherapist thought it might be an inner ear problem and gave me some vestibular excercises. The ENT didn't see any obvious inner ear problems and wants me to have further testing. I had my wisdom teeth extracted hoping that might help. Still dizzy. Just wondering if your TMJ caused you to have dizziness, or have you heard of anyone else having these symptoms. I am tired of going from one doctor to the next. If I just knew what was wrong with me I could take the proper steps to get better.

[NKski80]

Thank you for your input...I will definately ask my dentist about this. I am tired of being miserable and going from doctor to doctor, having them tell me to see someone else. It's making me feel like I am crazy! I forgot to mention in my original post that I do have the almost constant post nasal drip and sometimes runny nose. I will let everyone know how this works out. Thanks again!

[mrjoshers]

I am working on my second month of having sinus pressure and head pressure along with jaw tightness (possibly TMJ) and of course everyone's favorite the lovely tinnitus.  I haven't been able to sleep due to a what used to be a constant pounding in my head when I lay down; it has now lessened to just a slight thump, like feeling the blood pumping in my head.  Since I haven't been able to sleep, I of course developed some anxiety and was given Wellbutrin, which was the worst.  The Wellbutrin made me so anixous and paranoid, so I just stopped taking it.  The only thing that I have continued taking is Temazepam (30 mg) to help me sleep.  I really want to get back to normal and at least sleep without a sleep aid.  I saw an ENT about 3 weeks ago and had a hearing test - everything was good, and all that I got was some song and dance about it being allergies and to take Zyrtec and Rhinocort.  So now I'm taking that, but I have also delved into Colostrum as it is supposed to naturally support your immune system.  I have also been taking 5-HTP (50mg) for the insomina/anxiety, but don't go overboard with anything because I have read a few studies that it can backfire if you take too much.  If you have experienced a mood shift, check out a book called "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross.  And finally, I have also been trying out a sinus rinse by NeilMed (Walgreens), I want to believe that it is working.  I think that my next step will be the dentist and the allergist, as it looks like that is where this is heading.  I would pay whatever it takes to get rid of this pressure and get to sleep.