Fun with sinuses

[bluebanded goby]

Hi all,

I had an interesting consultation last Friday with a dive-oriented ear-nose-throat doctor. Recently I signed up for a freediving clinic, and it was suggested that I have my sinuses checked before taking their workshop. (I've had occasional sinus blocks, sometimes severe, when freediving, although not during scuba.) My regular family doctor and ENT are with an HMO and are not dive specialists, but DAN recommended an interesting fellow in Los Angeles named Murray Grossan, M.D. While admiring his open water certificate dated 1971 hanging in his consultation room, I figured I'd come to the right place. ;-)

I was happy to hear him pronounce my sinuses basically sound and express the opinion that a septoplasty isn't necessary and wouldn't help (my septum is fairly deviated). He did ask me to discontinue Flonase as it appeared that there is a spot that could develop into bleeding.

He did recommend a couple of products, and I'm wondering if others here have experience with him. One (which I believe is made by a company connected to this doctor) is over-the-counter tablets called Clear-ease that consist of bromelain and papain (pineapple and papaya enzymes). This is absorbed through the membrances in the mouth and is thought to be a relatively gentle way of keeping down swelling in membranes such as the sinuses.

The other item he suggested is a prescription medication. Instead of a steroidal nasal spray like Flonase, he suggested I try an antihistamine nasal spray called Astelin. I'm currently trying to see if I can get this through my HMO (it's quite expensive otherwise).

I've tried Clear-ease, but the effect is so subtle that I can't tell for sure if it's helping. Does anyone have any experience with it? Also, if I can't get Astelin through my HMO, are there similar antihistamine nasal sprays I might try?

 

[seaangel]

Astelin has been Rx for me by my allergist for a rescue medication when I have a severe sinus blockage that my routine medication is not handling. So, far I have not used it. Since, he started me on Singulair and Rhinocort spray I have been clear and had no further problems. I do keep it with me when I go diving just in case though.

 

[bluebanded goby]

Thanks for the reply from Sea Angel.

After posting my original message, I see a recent thread on Clear-ease. That probably contains anything that anyone would be inclined to say in response to my question, so never mind on that one!

I'd still be interested, however, in any comment by anyone who has used Astelin or other antihistamine nasal sprays. Is this a relatively new group of medication?

 

[ColdH20diving]

I suffered from sinus problems when diving and eventually ended up going the surgery route. Surgery isn't for everyone but it really helped me both in and out of the water. You might try consulting with a naturopathic doctor. He advised that I take bromelain and quercetin which seemed to help out. You need to take it on a regular basis, it's not something you can take a couple hours before your dive and expect it to work. The other thing he recommended to me was to avoid mucous producing foods such as milk. Good luck.