Re question/sinusitis

[Guest guest]

Dear Bettie,

My wife has had a sinus infection last year and during her Stem Cell transplant.

In India we used a neti pot and steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil to alleviate the symptoms.

When she got inflammation in the sinuses and fever due to that after the transplant, the doctors were wary of the neti pot said it may introduce infection and had her get an ENT consult.

The ENT specialist she was referred to asked her to use something similar to the neti pot, said it had better results as the nasal rinse done with it was with greater pressure and cleared the sinuses from deeper inside, whereas the neti pot only cleared them a little..

It is something called Neil Med Sinus Rinse manufactured by Neil Med pharmaceuticals, California.Available in chemist shops here in London. I suppose elsewhere also.

It consists of a plastic bottle which is used with a proprietory powder they sell which contains salt and sodium bicarbonate.

One sachet is added to the bottle which is filled with lukewarm water and then it is pushed into one nostril and the water comes out of the other. It is repeated for the other nostril. The action is similar to the neti pot, but I suppose there is some logic to the fact that it is with greater pressure so clears the deeper sinuses also.

This is done twice a day - morning and night.

I suppose later she can go back to the neti pot which we always carry with us.

It has helped my wife a lot and her consult with the ENT last week showed her sinuses were clearing up.

Main thing is her fever went when he got her to start this nasal rinse, He also advised betamethasone nasal drops once a day. and initially advised otrivin nasal drops for 5 days.

In addition ofcourse she was given oral antibiotics to carry on, which is primarily for her bronchiectis and has various other medicines for her low immunity after the transplant.

The ENT consult last week showed her right ear that was blocked by the sinus infection was also clearing.

The hearing in that ear has also improved - so now she can no longer take recourse to turning her right ear towards me when she doesnt want to hear what I say!

He has advised she carry on the nasal rinse for another month and then come and see him. Does not advise any antibiotics, as far as the sinusitis is concerned- says the transplant team has to work out what they want to give for their purpose.

Once the ear blockage clears, perhqps we can go back to the neti pot.

He says if the blockage in the ear does not clear in another 3 weeks, then maybe they will insert something called a grommet or something like that to drain the ear.

What we have found in terms of food to help clear sinuses, is lots of garlic - raw if you can stand it , and hot chillies in the food- the latter at the moment my wife cant have as she still has slight nausea after the transplant, but it is getting better so once she is over that, can have the chillies in the food. Green chillies are better than the red ones - have more vitamin A also.

A herbal tea we use is with ginger, aniseed, cloves, cinnamon, green cardamom - we make a pot of it and have it frequently during the day with honey - good for colds also and helps clear the chest. Lemon juice added with the honey is good for colds.

Also steam inhalation with eucalyptus oil is very good. But havent been able to get a proper steamer in London, will have to wai till we go back to Delhi for that.

Best wishes, Be well,from DelhiWife diagnosed with CLL in 1997 at age 44,Fish del 13q, unmutated, Zap 70 positive2001 : Chlorambucil partial remmission2002 : RF 6 cycle . Acheived CR. Relapsed 2004.Feb 2008 - Oct 2008 : RFCcycle 1,2 FC, cycle 4 to 6 RFC cycle 7 Rituximab , cycle 8 RituximabRelapsed March 2009 - lymph nodes in abdomen, axilla and neck .Diagnosed now as Non Hodgekins Lymphoma - CLL / SLLAIHA in May 2009, resolved with prednisolone .Remission after Ofatumumab 8 cycles 2000 mg given 13th August to 8th October5th Nov 2009 Mini SCT at Royal Free in London under Prof Mackinnon, donor is sister - matched in 2002Post transplant day +60 :doing well.