Graves' Disease Support Group

I get then all the time except from the xrays they are not sinus infections. Do your ears hurt, face pain, ears are plugged up, bad headaches? Well, its the Graves.... I take IBU 600, steam, nasal spray, sinus rinse, saline spray and plenty of fluid to break it all up.

I figured it was the Graves. My ears don't usually hurt but my eyes get dry & bother, my face, teeth & gums hurt & I get bad migranes. I take Ibuprofen 800 & I have prescription strength meds for the congestion & cough. But to get rid of the sore throat is always the worst. I have problems using nasal sprays or anything that has to go up my nose, so I don't anything like you suggested which might help. It just takes forever for me to get over colds anymore. Thankfully, I'm better today though.

I don't have advice, but *totally* sympathize!! I have had chronic sinus infections (last more than a month per infection, sometimes several per winter!) for much longer than I've had Graves Disease. I'm at a loss as to what to do, as I used to survive on Sudafed!! I tried the saline spray, steam, ibuprofen, mucinex and a steroidal nasal spray, but it's not cutting it. I'm pretty depressed -- this was my only real medical problem until my Graves diagnosis and now it just made my sinus stuff harder to handle!

I understand what you are saying sb06. I didn't have too much of a problem with sinus infections before GD, heck I hardly ever got sick. Now, it seems like I always have one. Like I had mentioned earlier - nothing OTC works at all. I had tried everything! Even the RX takes forever to work. Thankfully this one was so far the easiest to get rid of. I'm still a little congested, but I can handle that. The GD makes it so hard to get rid of any illness.
One thing that has helped some for me was to sleep with my head raised. It allowed for all the gunk to drain & did help me to breathe better at night. I also agree with mia408 - drink plenty of fluids.
I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks for the encouragement! Do you guys know if I can take a decongestant now that I'm euthyroid (PTU-induced)? Or does GD mean that I'm permanently off decongestants?

I was told by my Dr. that I could take Robitusin DM. However, I went back to another post - titled "Graves and Colds". Here is some of the things that was posted there.
1. Avoid any meds that contain the ingredient - psuedoephedrine or any that behaves like adrenaline because they can make your heart race. This is especially dangerous if your thyroid is still hyper.
2. You can take Regular Mucinex, Tylenol, Advil, or Aspirin. Just make sure that they do not say cold.

I hope this helps.

Thanks!

Thanks for your post on sinus infections. This is how I found this Graves support group which has been an amazing eye opener. It's nice to get information from others who have the same issue. I have never experienced a sinus infection until this past year. Now, I get them all the time. It comes and lasts about 3 weeks then I have a few days before it returns. Living in Alaska doesn't help as it seems to get worse during the winter. Anyhow, it's just nice to understand it better and for some reason makes it easier to endure.

Thanks!
Dennis

I am so glad that I found this site. I have been thinking of starting one of my own. I had my thyroid ablated in 1993. I presently am taking synthroid. The sinus infections are a constant battle.

I understand about the sinus infections and I am so sorry that you all are and have suffered with this. Before I got my proper diagnosis for graves I kept getting sinus infections and they would not go away. My doc even sent me to an ENT and did a CT scan of my sinus. But I canceled my apt with the ENT b/c I got the graves diagnosis and it was my main priority to get it under control. During the end of the summer the infections went away but I fear that with cold and flu season they will come back and I will be angry with my self for canceling my apt.

I hope everyone gets their sinus problems figured out and feel better soon. They are miserable!

Take care everyone.