I have had success with Breathe Right nasal strips.

And I use Flonase when my allergies kick in. But it may have caused me to lose my sense of smell.

Best to use Mucinex as it loosens up the clogged sinuses plus I use a steamer and inhale often. Some use a Neti cup. It doesn't work for me. Mucinex always works.

Have you tried Saline Nasal sprays? My daughter used Afrin for years and when she went to the doctor, he thought she was sniffing cocaine! Afrin may be okay on a once every year or two, but not on a nightly basis. A spray with saline solution may not be as immediately effective, but it does work to moisturize the passages without causing damage.

I use Vick’s Nasal Inhaler stick

Thanks, all!

I've used this for two nights. I don't want to get to the 'rebound' part of this.

Mucinex contains Tylenol.

A neti-pot type rinse flows back into my operated sinus cavity and down my throat. Maybe that's the only aid though. I'll get some saline spray and try that!

phoggie -- You don't mean a stick with Vick's in it, do you? DH used one of those when we were first married. He had recurring sinus infections. The doctor told him the stick was continually re-infecting him, and to trash it.

Spicy food from southern India will clear your sinuses right out. I sit next to an Indian from the south and I have to leave my office when he is eating lunch because my sinuses start burning.

Sorry I can't really help you.

I used a nasal rinse daily for 6 months before I noticed an improvement. "Suddenly" what I thought were allergies were gone. Apparently I had a chronic nasal infection for 40 years. The saline solution finally took care of it and I've been much better for the past 10 years.

Chisue, you really ought to check with your doctor before you take something systemic. Mucinex is a pill and therefore systemic. I have no idea what it does. My favorite decongestant that I only use when I have a cold is Benedictine but I would never suggest it to someone with MM. It is amazing stuff but too much of it and I feel like I have been swallowing squirrels.

It is just a little stick that I inhale once in each nostril when needed...I don’t insert it completely up into my nose and it has never been a problem. A pharmacist recommended it to me.

I take corricidon or allegra, both are antihistamines. I like a neti pot too but sometimes I need more than that.

Have you tried triamcinolone/Nasacort, fluticasine/Flonase, or budesonide/Rhinocort to decrease inflammation? They take several days to build up effectiveness, but topical application helps decrease systemic side effects.

I agree with LoneJack about spicy food - it will clear my sinuses very quickly, but then I love spicy food.

I have used Flonase, but after a few days, it causes nose bleed. Budesonide does not cause this for me. I use these only in extreme cases, and I take Allegra every night instead. It is somewhat expensive, but it works the best for me.

I apparently get a lot of tissue swelling that causes my sinuses to feel clogged sometimes, when they are really more swollen :( I've had some luck using a neti pot with cool water- as reasonably cool as you can stand it, and your teeth hurt a little while you do it. It's like putting an ice pack in your sinuses, though any discomfort very temporary. I've had more luck getting rid of sinus headaches this way than just about any other. Not sure if it would work for you, but thought I'd mention it on the off-chance.

Phoggie do you mean the vicks vapo inhaler?

I have one of these systems. I am prone to sinus infections. Using this steadily for a while has just about eliminated them.

Sinupulse elite.

I had sinus surgery in June. Most days I am completely clear, but my surgeon told me to continue using Simply Saline twice a day. I typically use prior to my morning shower and then again prior to bedtime. Seems to keep me very clear, and yes, some does run into the throat. I was also directed to use Flonase (2 squirts in each nostril once a day) if I become congested. I can only tolerate the Flonase for a few weeks and then have to back off for a while. I can also use a squirt of Afrin now and then if allergies kick up when I have been working outside.

I take xyzal and singular every night before bed, nasacort in the morning.

Raven.:.,yes, that is what the pharmacist suggested and works for me.

According to my DH's doctor, that Vick's 'stick' picks up any infection in your nose and re-infects you the next time you use it. My DH never had another sinus infection since he dumped his forty years ago. (Possibly *different* today?)

I've tried Flonase and Nasacort in the past. Maybe time to re-try. Years ago I was prescribed Rhinocort. I've had success with Azelastine spray, but it's not helping me now.

The radical sinus surgery is not something I'd recommend to anyone today. It leaves you with almost no 'passages' to filter the air you breathe. I'm not sure they even do this anymore. A surgeon at Maywood (Loyola) was famous for it.

I appreciate all the help offered!

I think before you can determine the right product to use, you need to figure out what the source of the problem is, especially since nothing on a more natural level is working. Is it a sinus Infection or even a cold up starting up?

If you’re going to try something from behind the counter at the Pharmacy, you might want to give Advil Cold & Sinus a try. I have severe sinus issues and that has always helped, another is the Sudifed 12 hour. Most of the stuff off the shelf that everyone can access doesn’t help me at all.

If you do find that it starts to drop to your chest, I highly recommend that you try the Robitussin DM w/expectorant. Both DH and I recently had a cough chest congestion bug that’s going around and the Expectorant worked wonders. We got the capsule form but it comes in syrup too.

I was going to ask if you know what the problem is, do you have a cold or is this something that's chronic.

Maybe talk to your doctor or local pharmacist.

I use one of two things when I am stuffed up. (I use a c-pap, can't sleep if you can't breathe.) Either a dab of Vicks Vaporub under my nose, or VERY cold air. In MN, just ststep out into a cold garage or front porch. In a pinch, I put my head on the freezer! Starts my nose running and I can sleep!

Is it an infection? DH was plagued with sinus infections, tired of the antibiotics, and started taking apple cider vinegar for several weeks. He hasn’t had a sinus infection since, in over 15 years.

Original Mucinex does not contain acetaminophen (Tylenol). It is supposed to thin secretions (phlegm) to make them easier to move out. I really am not sure how effective it is. They do make versions with multiple ingredients for multiple symptoms.

Once I had a heavily congested sinus - just on one side - and finally took some Dimetapp. It was like a miracle - one dose, it kicked in, suddenly all this goop came out of my nostril and the problem was solved. Dimetapp also comes in versions labeled for various other symptoms - one always needs to watch out for multiple, unneeded ingredients with OTC cold & allergy meds.

Chisue, in your case I would consult with your MD or a trusted pharmacist before taking any medication we have mentioned.

Nettie pot!!

I myself take mucinex from the first sign of cold until it's long gone...but my daughter who has more issues was told about this Nettie pot thing. I hear more and more about it being fabulous....especially if you prefer to avoid meds.

I have had great success with Friars Balsam in hot water as a steam inhalant (place in a large bowl, lean over bowl and breathe the steam, enhance the effect by draping a large towel over your head and enclosing the bowl), Tiger Balm and White Flower Oil. Use the latter two sparingly.

I use eucalyptus drops in the method described by Colleen.

Oh, I remember Dimetapp from when DS was a child. Ingredients seem pretty simple.

I agree that VERY cold air helps, but only temporarily.

So many aids will dry up the secretions -- exactly what I do NOT want now. I've used Actifed for 'runny nose' in the past -- better for me than Sudafed.

I managed OK last night with just the Azelastine spray. Maybe the worst is over, after 10 days of 'clog'. There's almost no 'color' to this stuff, so any infection has to be way back behind what I can expel. I can feel congestion as far up as my hairline.

You've been great to help me cope. If I thought this was truly *serious*, I would have called my doctor. But I can guarantee I would be prescribed antibiotics! No. Just no at this stage anyway.

I grew up using Vicks on my lips and under my nose when I went to bed. Used it on our chest when we had upper respiratory issues and on our throats for sore throats. I still do use it on the lips, I've never experienced chapped lips. My husband wont use it so we have turned to the essential oils. I use them for many things but he recently had the beginnings of an upper respiratory infection/sinus issues. We went to the oils. In the diffuser I use Eucalyptus and peppermint. We both sleep well and he feels much better. I also use a steam treatment where I boil a cup of water and add 3 drops of Eucalyptus and peppermint. Breathe it in under a towel and that opens you up right away. We are trying to get away from the chemicals when possible.

I can’t use Afrin full strength as it makes me hyper so the doctor suggested just putting a few drops of it into a new bottle of saline spray. Afrin is so strong, even diluted that much, it worked and I don’t remember any rebound symptoms.

Reporting: Dimetapp seems to be working. I had to buy it in the Children's Section at CVS because it was out of stock in the adult section. (Does this mean something?) I spoke to the pharmacist, who first recommended all the $30 stuff like Flonase, but she agreed that Dimetapp should work to thin the mucus.

I also bought the children's version of generic Rhinocort -- something they don't even carry for adults. Haven't tried that.

I'm still 'blowing', but at least it's *productive*! I slept. I didn't wake my DH.

Dimetapp is 2 mg Brompheniramine Maleate + 5 mg Phenylephrine HCI $6.59

Nasacort is 55 mcg Triamcinolone acetonide (glucocorticoid) $12.99

Glad it is helping. FYI, Brompheniramine (Dimetapp) is available in a single ingredient formula - without the phenylephrine. It can be hard to find sometimes; I have bought the store brand at Walgreens for that reason. Phenylephrine is the same thing as Neo-synephrine (as in the nasal spray) and should not be taken for more than a very few days.

I use the Vicks inhaler sticks or their generics.

While it is true you can re-infect yourself using an inhaler stick or any thing that touches your sinus cavity for that matter you cannot "re-germ" yourself with your own bacteria or virus. Cold virus is not going to come back from reusing an inhaler or a toothbrush. We are immune to our own "germs." An infection very well could be re=introduced.

However if you have an infection or suspect one you should see your doctor and get proper antibiotics not self treat at home. A misdiagnosed sinus infection can be deadly or lead to pneumonia etc.

Nasal saline rinse with a medication my physician prescribed. Here, after sinus surgery, they prescribe a medication used in children with asthma that would typically be administered in a nebulizer (budesonide respules). This gets added to the saline rinse (Neil Med is mine. I don't do netipot), et voila! I can breathe. I think you and I need more than typical decongestants. Best wishes for a wonderful recovery