Oh yes! Know your problem well, phoggie. There are all sorts of OTC drugs that might help such a Benadryl, etc. Tylenol has a new sinus OTC med - "Tylenol Sinus Severe"...that's very good I've tried them all...and they do work...but I can't use them for very long because they affect the pressure in my eyes. Considering that I have enough aggravation with this AMD...I've given up the sinus meds.

However...I have discovered that just relieving the inflammation with a time released regular Tylenol every morning seems to be curing the problem. It may just be my luck and my physical system to be experiencing this reaction but it's worth a try.

I have an all electric home...which includes electric heat. It's very clean BUT...it's also very drying. I find that it, too, annoys my sinus. I hate humidity in the warm months but in the winter...a little moisture helps rather than hurts my sinus issues. Maybe that will help you, too.

Good luck. I empathize.

As far as I know, I have never had a sinus infection and I don't have any allergies. My daughter didn't have any when she lived at home but she suffers with them very much now.

I have had every sinus problem you can imagine. Horrible sufferer. What I found out is, skip anything "drying" (antihistamines) if you want to get it all out of your head. Take decongestants. What I will do when I am feeling like you are, is take an entire 24 hours of medication every time I can take the dose. That is, I will take one pill every four hours, six times. That usually gets it moving. And relieves the pressure. Ice packs helps too. Good luck!

I too am a big fan of a neti pot. I was looking into sinus surgery when a friend suggested I try this. Use it whenever I feel my sinuses "acting up". There is also a product on the market called Ponaris. I get it from Amazon...It's a nasal emollient. Perhaps that could block some of what bothers you. Worth a try...I'm a big fan of natural healing.....Good Luck!

I love my NeilMed sinus rinse, so much easier. Use it twice a day. Just distilled water. Clears out my sinuses far better than just blowing my nose.

Ditto to the NeilMed sinus rinse. It is much easier to use than the old neti pot. I typically use it before I shower in the morning and again at night. I also keep a can of saline spray to use periodically (3-4 times) during the day, especially during the winter. My favorite is made by Arm & Hammer - Simply Saline but any are good.

I have used prescription and OTC sprays, Neti Pot, etc, for several years. I even looked into sinus surgery because I have a deviated septum that obstructs breathing. I need to be able to breathe through my nose well because I wear a CPAP at night for sleep apnea.

DH read somewhere that a swig of apple cider vinegar (like a teaspoon) every day works as an antibacterial for your sinuses. it is very tart, of course (I chase it immediately with soda) but it started to work for me right away. Head feels clearer and I can breathe through my nose much better. Has worked for DH as well. We now keep the bottle right next to the kitchen sink!

tackykat, are you drinking the apple cider vinegar or putting it in your nose? I'm assuming drinking it, but I was just looking it up and saw more references to the neti pot.

drink it, just a sip a day.

About 10 years ago I decided to try sinus rinse and stick with it. I used a picnic ketchup bottle ($1 at Walmart) with warm water and salt or baking soda. I used that every day in the shower for about 3 months, and I was a new person. I had apparently been living with a low grade sinus infection for decades. I stopped all my allergy medicine.

Something else I learned recently is that Flonase, a topical steroid nasal spray, is now available over the counter. The generic version is cheaper. One characteristic of this class of sprays is once you get used to it, you need it less and less often. If you start at 2 puffs a day, later you will go to 1 puff a day and then 1 puff every couple of days. But again, this is the stuff I got off of by using the saline rinse.

I have suffered for years with horrific sinus infections and viruses. Keflex works best for me as an rx and a Scottish dr. told me to first try Mucinex as it thins the mucus so it can drain easily. Most times it resolves with the musinex. Right now I have sinus plus an earache as I was out in the wind and I have otosclerosis which is an ear problem which causes loss of hearing. I thought I had my ear plugs with me but had changed bags so here I am with my heating pad on my ear.

Mucinex is my go to decongestant. It's awesome.

When I am really congested and I take something, Mucinex works best for me. But I am pretty happy with this apple cider vinegar treatment for now. We will see what happens when things start blooming ...

Thanks for your responses. I have taken 4 boxes of Mucinex, Flonase spray, drink vinegar (with the Mother) and honey every day.... I have tried the sinus rinses, but it just comes back down the same nostril instead of washing out through the other. i will try some of your other suggestions. I am not running any fever, so assume it is viral so don't need an antibiotic.

I have a humidifier on my furnace and that keeps moisture at a normal level.

I would make an appointment with an ENT doctor since you've tried home remedies and OTC meds to no avail.

My 32 year old son had sinus surgery a month ago. The surgery was not a big deal, some discomfort for a few days.

I had a bad cough recently and deeply congested lungs. I asked two pharmacists about Mucinex. They both said the active ingredients in Mucinex don't work as well as water. That was the result from recent double blind, placebo controlled tests. The placebos worked as well because they were both taken with a full glass of water as directed on the Mucinex. Check with your pharmacist.

I don't understand drinking vinegar. Vinegar, orange juice, and Coke all have about the same amount of acid. One is acetic acid, one is citric acid and the other is phosphoric acid. I drink a lot of diet cola and orange juice. That doesn't seem to make a difference.

I took a bunch of antibiotics for other reasons in college and that never cleared my sinuses.

When I need an antihistamine to dry up my sinuses and watery eyes, I take chlor-trimetron - the cheap generic (Chlortabs) from Walmart. They happen to knock me out so I only take them at night, but many people do not have the same sleep reaction to them.

I agree with Joanne, ENT time.

I had surgery too. Best thing I ever did. Of course my sinuses were a mess. Thickened bones, polyps, etc. Mild discomfort, then three months later, I could smell everything and sleep without waking up congested.

I have extreme allergies and asthma. Right now am on prednisone and broad spectrum antibiotic. I totally agree Abt the sinus rinse, it's awesome. use the salt packets that come with it and distilled water. I also use a microwaveable neck wrap when my face head neck and temples are just pounding. amazing how well it works

I take mucinex when needed. if really bad I'll take a 10mg generic Sudafed. have to be careful with that, makes my BP go up. I also have 2 prescription nasal sprays an Advair inhaler and take an Allegra everyday. I dread spring like the plague :(