Sinus Issues caused by gluten - Help !

NorthernElf

One of my first (and most persistent) symptoms from gluten involves intense sinus headaches with eye pain - headaches tylenol barely touches. Does anyone else out there have similar symptoms ?!?!? I also get stomach aches and joint aches and fatigue, etc.

Anyway, if you have such symptoms, do you take anything to alleviate them ?? Crying or Very sad

I was wondering if antihistamines would be helpful or not. Ibuprofen helps the headaches, but affects my gut so I try to avoid that too.

The other issues that seems tied to this is that I get sinus infections - never had these ever before gluten became a problem. I'm thinking that gluten sinus inflammation leads me vulnerable to infection when a cold comes. The doctor mentioned allergies as a possibility too - anyone out there with allergies as well ??? I guess I"m a little freaked because the pencillin I took for 5 days did nothing, so now I'm on a more potent antibiotic - I've been sick for a month. Sad

And yeah, misery loves company....and helpful tips !

TIA.

WestWalker · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 305 Location: West Coast

Sorry to hear you have trouble with sinuses. I too have trouble because of the vast amount of inflammation I experience. My worst case was on a flight back to San Francisco and as the plane descended the pressure in my sinuses caused a massive pain that left me barely able to speak and unable to move my left side for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, I was being transported by ambulance to hospital after we landed. They found nothing wrong with me per se.

My allergies and sinuses are bad when I don't stick to an anti-inflammatory diet. For me almost anything with sugar causes inflammation. I have never found any meds over the counter or prescribed that have helped me. So I can only tell you that the anti-inflammatory diet is my only respite. Hope you find the right antidote for your problem.

nancw · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Denver, CO

Yep - I have sinus issues too. As soon as I ingest something bad/wrong, both sinuses flare up, and the post-nasal drip starts, along with blurred vision and inability to fully focus. I then have continuing pressure and headaches on my left side for several days, along with somewhat blurry vision in the left eye and a "lump" in the left side of my neck under my ear.

In general I can tell anytime the barometric pressure changes (which is a lot around these parts), and the left side of my face goes somewhat numb. I'm a walking barometer!

I don't take any medication for these symptoms. NSAIDs, including ibuprofen are out due to gut issues. I have a rice-filled sock that I heat in the microwave (along with a cup of water so it doesn't burn), and I rest with that on my neck and shoulder, and sometimes put it right on the side of my head. It seems to loosen up anything that is in my sinuses and help me relax out of the attack. I also suck some warm salt water into one sinus, and blow it out the other (don't have a neti pot, but that's what they are used for).

On the other hand, since I went GF I haven't had so much as a cold, or any sinus drip or pain other than when I get the wrong food in me. I used to get several bad ones each year, and constant post-nasal drip.
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Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, corn, yeast and 99% grain-free

ostrich · Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 3960 Location: Nebraska

I have sinus issues as well, but they're weather related, not gluten related. I take Advil Cold and Sinus. It has a decongestant and a pain killer. I don't even bother with Tylenol anymore.

Have you tried taking the meds with some food? I've found I can't take Advil on an empty stomach. Bad juju.

The key is to catch it as soon as you can feel the pressure build up or the first hint of pain. If you wait too long it's almost impossible to stop.

As far as non-med solutions go, I use a warm facecloth. If that doesn't help I try to take a nap. For some reason that usually helps.
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Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

NorthernElf · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies - I have some more "tools" to try. Wink

Boy, mornings sure are the worst....

Westwalker - can you tell me more about your anti inflammatory diet ???

WestWalker · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 305 Location: West Coast

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8140 Location: WI, USA

WestWalker · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 305 Location: West Coast

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 8140 Location: WI, USA

Hey thanks West!!

I'll PM you my email address Smile

We can tweak it, then we can post a link to it here somewhere - where ever it fits.

Have you & Long noticed a difference with the anti-inflam diet?
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa