HELP! My Sinuses Are Trying to Kill Me :(

This post is EXACTLY how I feel. I hate that others deal with this too, but there's some comfort knowing I'm not alone or going crazy. I live in NC. It's very hot and humid in the summer and I'm absolutely miserable. Doctor's tend to look at me like I'm crazy when I mention the humid weather making it worse. They say the humidity is good for the sinuses. I find that I feel the best and have the least amount of mucous in the dry winter seasons here.  

For what I have read from many sources dryness and humidity can reek havoc on ur sinuses anything that can cause inflammation to the lining of the sinsus can cause a problem. It is the chronic inflammation that causes the back of the mucous. Then throw in allergies which I suffer from. This is why the problem continues year round. At least my ENT has given my condition a name: chronic rhinitis/sinusitis, although I am on my fourth ENT. Lol

I'm not entirely sure of "humidity" on its own wreaking havoc on sinuses - like I mentioned, I just got back from a trip to Florida where it's possibly the most humid part of the country right now... and my symptoms cleared up after a week.

I even smoked and ate dairy without much consequence. But sitting in my apartment in NYC next to my ridiculous air filter is killing me.

U can read up on chronic sinsusitis/rhinitis and U will see that humidity can be a trigger for some. What Florida has to offer that New York does is the constant the sea water in the air .Salt water is the main ingredient used in a Neti pot which gives many some relief. Also there r salt cavesin the NY area where u can go and breath in fresh himalayan salt for some temporary relief. I had a friend who suffers u went to the DR and felt totally revived and returned to the states and bam back to the usually.

But like a said read up on it

My friend went to the DR. The U was suppose to be And lol

I had the same diagnoses of chronic rhinitis. It's also worth mentioning I had a balloon sinuplasty (outpatient) surgery in the August 2015. It gave me a lot of relief for a couples months, but by late November I was struck right back down with it (I too was actually living in NYC at that time. I spent a lot of time in central park and doc told me it was likely fall allergies. I'm sure that added to things, but like you mentioned secondhand smoke, pollen, etc are basically unavoidable so it's frustrating) 

That's a great point about Florida salt air. I've also had that experience of getting relief when I travel to other states. I'd read online that some of that can be attributed to different allergens. Your body doesn't react to them right away so even going somewhere for a number of months you can be fine, but often eventually things will return. This is why they often say that relocating due to allergies isn't a great idea. Although, I'm convinced I'd feel incredible in southern cal. lol 

Do you think it's something like the pollution in the air?

The latter part of my trip brought me to (even worse) inland Florida, with no sea breeze to moderate the drenching heat and humidity. But still, I improved.

The first few days were just as bad as they were here, but, I did slowly get better by the end.

That's the problem with this ailment it could be anything. So thats why there is such a problem finding a consistent relief for so many. My ENT is chalking mine up to the environment which includes my allergies. Not that the diagnosis's has help with symptoms. Some have said the reason for the increase of people suffering with sinus issues is due to climate change Honestly yours could be from a number of things. So to answer ur question I really don't Know

Ditto. It's so difficult because it truly can be anything (likely combination of many things.) Do either of you find added problems with barometric pressure? I've been keeping an eye on my symptoms and they are far worse when the pressure dips rapidly with a storm front. 

Yes my time line is similar I started with this around 2013, I had no idea what was going on. I was allergy tested 2013 which revealed I had dust mite, cockroach and grass allergies. I had the ballon sinuplasty in 2014 which gave me no long term help although I was told that this can be done several times. So I may inquire about trying it again. I have two CT scans between 2013 and now, tried accupuncture and r currently taking allergy shots. I feel u when u say it is frustrating especially when I am doing every thing I can but getting completely away from all allergens especially the ones that I have is almost impossible.It is the day to day not knowing how I will feel.

Absolutely as u said there r so many things that can cause a flare up and in NY this year the weather was changing drastically from day to day some weeks which caused the barometric pressure to constantly be unstable.I forgot to mention that I also went to a neurologist because of the head aches over my right eye i some times suffer from during some of my flare ups.after he ran me through a number of test and reading my CT scan he placed the pain at this time back to the sinus disease.

The thing about this ailment is unless u r going through it you will have no idea. Trying to get people who do not suffer to understand is some times fruitless

Welp, I just talked to my ENT to relate the details of my recent trip and "how much better I felt after a week away".

He said that my issue is most likely environmental, meaning that it probably *is* New York.

Keeping up with rent is hard enough, I really have no idea how to fix this issue outside of moving to a nowhere place outside of the Tri-State Area.

I too live in NYC. But I've lived here for 20 years, and my post nasal drip problem only started about a year ago. It's progressively gotten worse - it's so frustrating. It affects my ability to talk (I always sound like I have a cold because of the buildup of post nasal drip in my throat), my ability to exercise at the gym (because I constantly have to clear my throat) and my ability to sleep. (I wake up every two hours). ... When I went to an ENT last December, he wanted to put some kind of stent in my nose. When I went to another ENT this week, he wanted to treat me for acid reflex even though I have no signs whatsoever of acid reflex. The drip is coming from nasal passage - I can feel it - not my stomach. .. I've tried all the standards sprays - rhinocort, Flosnase and zyrtec - and they don't work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

I feel ur frustration because I have been suffering for about four years with this ailment. the though part is not knowing from day to day how I am going to feel. I would say go to a allergist and she what u r allergic too. They can do some allergy testing. Then from there u will know what u have to avoid although the things I am allergic too r every where. Then go back to the ENT and let him use a scope and go up into ur nose to see if there r any obstructions far up in ur nasal passage. U can start there as far as any relief I have no answers.