Sinus Infection / Bronchittis

[becks715]

After thinking I was fighting a wicked cold for a week (with no improvments in symptoms and feelings) I went to the doctors and low and behold it turns out to be a sinus infection.
He said he could see puss (sorry if that's gross) in my sinus area when he looked up my nose with those things docs use, like to look in your ears - anyway I have never had a sinus infection before in my entire life and I have no pain in the sinus area like everyone is telling me is supposed to happen. But my ears are clogged and go in and out of feeling clogged (like when you change altitudes and they clog and pop) I also have a dibilitating cough (although no signs of pnemonia) and he thought it might be bronchittis starting.  Have never had bronchittis either - probably why I waited  to see the doctor!

He prescribed azithromycin and gave me some nazonex spray I am on 250 mg of the azithromycin (double dose day 1 and then 4 more days 1 pill per day).  Is this enough to rid me of both the sinus and bronchittis?  It just seems like such a small amount of anti biotic, I haven't been on antibiotics in probably 5 years so maybe things have changed....

And when will I start to feel better as I've never been on this antibiotic before?  Any thoughts??

[Enoch Choi, MD]

I'm so glad you're doing better!  Follow your doctor's advice and take the nasonex for the full length of time...

[becks715]

Thanks you two.  I still have a tad of a cough but other than that I'm back to normal, my ear clogging is almost 100% gone.  I didn't realize these antibiotics worked another 5 days after - that's pretty cool!  
The doctor did prescribe the nasonex and said I should take it for 2-3 weeks so I will do that.  Thanks again, it was pretty ugly for awhile but feeling better and I guess I know now that a sinus infecton doesn't have to be painful like everyone told me (I'd never had one before this). Live and learn :)

[Enoch Choi, MD]

The zithromax works for another 5 days after finishing them.The antral wash bhups1 suggests is done with saline rinse (available over the counter).  The ear clogging is eustachian tube dysfunction and will get better after the infection clears.  If you continue to have the problem, continue the nasonex since it helps reduce post-nasal drip which causes the ends of the eustachian tube to clog up.

[bhups1]

hi,cold precipitated your problem.Ear clogging is usually not suggestive of sustained infection,it remains for a while even in absence of infection.

[becks715]

Thanks!  I am feeling much much better, I still get the cough in the morning after I wake up but it's nothing like it was, the pharmacist said that these antibiotics actually keep working for a few days after I finish taking them.  But all in all 100x better.  I guess I'm used to having to take antibiotics for 10 days 3x a day type deal as it's been so long since I have been sick and needed them.  My right ear is still a bit clogged but it comes and goes and is at least 70% better than it was before I started taking the anitbiotics.

Is it possible that a cold was the start of it all and it developed into these infections?  Or does a sinus infection etc start out that way from the beginning?

Oh and I still have two pills to take, if my ear doesn't become completely unclogged after I finish taking the anit biotics is that a sign that the infection is still there?  

[bhups1]

hi becks,azithromycin works for both sinusitis and broncitis(which i am not sure whether you are having it or not).Your cough might be due to post nasal drip.In case your condition does not improve in 3 days of starting azithromycin,i will suggest antral wash(drainage of sinuses) and a course of augmentin along with decongestants and antihistaminics.Get well soon!