Sinuses Epidemic or what?

I've been going back some pages and notice alot of topics about sinuses!

I have never had a problem with sinuses or headaches until recently. I moved to the UK without any breaks to the US, since February 2006. I started having severe headaches in late March, with my eyes in pain and with loads of face pressure. I've been having on and off pressure in my face, mostly pain around my eyes, like as if the pain is on my skull bones around my eyes.  I didn't have a blocked nose, so I went to the doctor finally at the end of April and he said he's going to refer me to a Neurologist. He said it's probably nothing, but you never know. He didn't give me any antibiotics most likely because I said that my nose wasn't blocked up or anything..... He did give me some pills that were suppose to help me sleep as the pain would wake me up.

I don't take the sleeping pills, as I've been ok. I have been taking paracetamol almost everyday for the past two months. Now, about three days ago, severe nose pain has occured and when I wake up, my nose isn't stuffy but there is stuff in there that I feel I must snuff out.

I think this must confirm that it's sinus related if my nose is hurting bad and my nose is lightly stuffy.....

I'm still waiting on something to come through the post to let me know that I have been referred or what, as I have no idea how referrals work.....

Well, it wasn't my intention to post about my problem! Because I wanted to ask, for those people that have moved to the UK, is there alot of you whom has never had a sinus problem, but since moving here, has gotten one? Or has gotten more colds then if you were back 'home'?

I have bad sinusitis and it has continued since moving here. 

I've tried everything and nothing really works.  I'll probably end up getting the surgery, but I have family members who have had it and it really didn't do much.

Good luck.

I've always had what I consider occasionally sinus infections like maybe once every other year or so until I moved to the UK.  Since I've gotten here (5 years ago) the infections have become increasingly worse and very frequent.  Since the beginning of the year I've been to the doctor's 4 different time and on 4 different sets of antibiotics.   The last time being by far the worst.  The infection somehow affected my jaw and the whole side of my face was swollen red and the pain I was in was unlike any other pain I've had.   The doctor has said if it continues on like this we need to start thinking of draining the sinuses 

I don't know if it has anything to do with it but my allergies have become increasingly worse since I've been as well.  So I'm not sure there's some corelation between the two.

I hope it works out for you.

Wow. I mean I just wonder what is in Britain that has made sinuses worse for people that have moved here from another country? I don't get it, something in the air?? That's what I want to know....

I'm not liking the sound of having to wait months for seeing different doctors if one set of antibiotics doesn't work for me The headaches and pain in my face sometimes get bad where I feel like I just can't do anything or even bend over to put laundry in the washer for fear that everything will get worse, and then having to wait for the pills to take affect 

I don't know if me staying indoors is making it worse or not. As I pretty much only leave the house maybe two to three times a month.....

You said it affected your jaw - with the face pain I have as well as headaches, if I don't take pills right away, the face pain spreads to my teeth where there's lots of pouning in my gums.... so I guess that must confirm that I've got something sinus-y going on.....

Mine are the same as they were in the US - migraine type headaches about once every few weeks throughout the spring associated with intense pain behind my eyes. My allergies haven't got any better or worse since moving. Some day I'll have one of those patch tests to find out exactly what is causing it. Until then I'll struggle on with Claritin D and breathe rights.

The damp, the mold, the weather, and the pollens all contribute to this. If you have a problem with damp or mold in your home, you will suffer. Check for it, do a thorough clean and get rid of your carpets. Make sure to air out your beds and open a window every day to let air circulate. Consider getting an air cleaner, they are fairly cheap on Amazon but the replacement filters are harder to come buy (although they are easy got at Target in the states). Ask your doctor about the effectiveness of things like Benadryl for your state.

Good luck.

I have been plagued by sinusitis and infections from the get go.  They were the worst ever in Houston.  I thought things would get better when I moved to Denver.  They didn't.  They stayed about the same.

And there was no change here.

Except with age.

I irrigate my sinues with a netti pot every other day and 3x/day during a bout of sinusitis and have managed to keep the infections down to two a year or so.

I'm considering purchasing a pulsating irrigation system.  My mother bought one and says it's the greatest purchase she's ever made.

Not recommened, but I have snorted tea tree oil neat and it's helped.  Again, NOT recommened - only for the truly desperate.

I also spray my nostils every night and morning with a saline solution, SteriMer.

I've been in the UK for many years, and only this year have i been suffering sinus problems.   I've been attributing it to the oilseed rape, and hope that once the rape is gone, i will feel better.  But i dont know why it hasnt bothered me previously.

I irrigate my sinues with a netti pot every other day and 3x/day during a bout of sinusitis and have managed to keep the infections down to two a year or so.

I'm considering purchasing a pulsating irrigation system.  My mother bought one and says it's the greatest purchase she's ever made.

Not recommened, but I have snorted tea tree oil neat and it's helped.  Again, NOT recommened - only for the truly desperate.

I also spray my nostils every night and morning with a saline solution, SteriMer.

I use a netti pot as well and have had success using a couple of drops of grapefruit seed extract in the water.  I've tried tea tree oil, but it wasn't pleasant.

I was looking into one of the pulsating irrigation systems, but was worried it was a gimmick.

One reason I love going home to California is that within a day my sinuses are cleared up and it feels great! And then when I come home here, I get about 3 months or so of lovely, clear noses before winter hits and the cycle starts again. But it's a bit of an expensive way to clear the sinsuses. But it works!!

I've been in the UK for many years, and only this year have i been suffering sinus problems.   I've been attributing it to the oilseed rape, and hope that once the rape is gone, i will feel better.  But i dont know why it hasnt bothered me previously.

Sadly, it's not uncommon to develop allergies later in life. DH has hayfever now and never did as a kid.

Sadly, it's not uncommon to develop allergies later in life. DH has hayfever now and never did as a kid.

I developed hayfever at 30.  Some sort of cosmic practical joke, I think, as that's also the year they told me I needed a hearing aid and that I'd developed arthritis in my hands.  (Guess I should have paid for the extended warranty...) 

Add me to the club.  I've had a sinus infection for the past week which has just turned into pinkeye   

I hear ya!

The first time that I visited over here in 2004, it was as though my body wasnt use to the air in the UK. Since then, I have had crappy sinus issues. I know that sinus is stress induced, which makes sense....all the traveling back and forth, sometimes not knowing what to expect next, trying to adjust to another culture, etc....but this year has been pretty bad.:-/

Right now is hayfever season(i guess its a bit earlier) according to my bf, since he suffers from that in a major way.:-S I dont think it helps either things(sinus/hayfever) with the pollution around here.

I have had a really bad cold and really bad sinus infection for 3 weeks! Ears are consantly clogged, eyes twitchy and just exhausted. Really doing my head in.

I have wondered, as Q-G stated, if it could be the rapeseed. I know that plays havoc on some people.