Ugh, I am so miserable. I have woken up the past several days with a sinus headache. I hate to put my glasses on because it hurts the bridge of my nose. I just ordered some nasal spray and a heat/cold mask from Amazon; they are "supposed" to be delivered today. Anyone have any home remedies for me to try? I'm whiney.
Rubbing a wet Qtip around in my nostils helps to clean out my sinuses, using a different Qtip in each of them. At first the tenderness can make me sneeze, which shows that it's helping. Repeating this again 30 minutes later helps a lot, and then twice a day until everything's clear. Eventually there's no more tenderness and no more sneezing.
I hate sinus headaches. It makes you feel miserable. I don’t know if any one particular thing works, but I do several things to try and make it go away, or ease up. I take sinus decongested, Tylenol or Excedrin, lay a hot wash cloth on my face, sip hot drinks; sometimes coffee helps. Sometimes sniffing some Vicks Vapor Rub or putting a little of it in my nose helps too. I also have a microwave moist neck heating pad and wrap it around my neck; it feels so good. It gets the blood circulating. I don’t think they make the one I have anymore. I have had it for 10 plus years. I’ve done the Netti pot thing for many years also. And--I lie down and try to wish it away. Hope you feel better soon!
Right now it's 83% (outside) and the air conditioner is on. We have high humidity all year, and keep it around 50% in the house.
Well, I can tell you what I do that helps me, @Beth Gallagher , but I do not know if you want to do this or not. I use hydrogen peroxide in my nose when I have sinus problems, or any kind of breathing problems. I have one of those little spray bottles that comes with nose spray in it, which I emptied out and then refilled the spray bottle with peroxide. I spray some in one nostril, and then in the other nostril and breathe through my mouth while the peroxide is working. When you can’t stand it anymore, blow your nose, and the junk inside will be expelled. You will think that your brain is on fire (why i say you might not want to do this, or at least dilute the peroxide), however, you will not die from doing this. At least I have never died from doing it, although it might have been debatable a few times. Anyway, a couple times a day of doing this, and your sinuses will be cleaned out all the way down to your toes.
Have you tried sinus irrigation? Neti Pot is the old way, but there are squeeze bottles that are easier to use , and of course the Navage device that costs about $100 and uses cartridges you have to buy as well.
I use this periodically. If I feel a head cold coming, I use it twice a day. The packet contains salt and baking soda. So instead of buying refills, I use about 1/8 teaspoon of each in the bottle of water. The packets are a rip-off when they are nothing but salt and baking soda with a fancy name. If you use it when you have cold, you'll be surprised at the crud that comes out.
So just between us, do you really buy a new bottle every 3 months, or do you clean it (alcohol, boiling, etc)?
I don't believe I have ever had such a headache... my face hurts, my teeth hurt, my hair hurts. My glasses are torture on my nose.
Only blow your nose gently, not hard, as any pressure can push the junk back in your head, also affecting your eyes and ears. Blending Common Mallow with water, straining it, drinking and gargling with the juice can help to break up the mucus and get rid of it.
I feel for you @Beth Gallagher. I've tried a lot of different ways and OTC sinus medicines and only found one the truly gets rid of the sinus pressure relieving me of everything.
I wake up with a sinus related headache just about every morning. I use a washcloth folded up into a long rectangle and soak it with hot water, wring it out gently, then keep on my eyes until it starts to cool. I usually do that 3 times. Then using the warm rag, I push gently in the corner of each eye by the nose. I hold each press for 30 seconds. This helps relieve the discomfort noticed when wearing glasses. I never blow my nose, but "suck it up like a country girl," then spit. I use saltine nasal spray, 2 squirts in each nostril several times a day. I use a flaxseed heat pad where it hurts most. I drink an extra cup of black coffee. I gargle with unflavored brandy before bed. I use deep breathing and hypnosis relaxation. I start my morning with my patio Fae She (my version of Tai Chi) if outside temp is above 25F. I also take 2 Acetaminophen if all else fails. One of my Great Aunts claimed that soaking her feet in ice water, was the best relief for a sinus headache.
Maybe the AC is the problem and it's making the air you're breathing too dry. It may have been OK in the past but our bodies change. Go out and suck up some warm humid air. Nasal sprays always gave me a headache.