[Closed] Sinus problems - hive mind help please - pain/pressure/headache after the turbo

[quote=reluctantlondoner ]
Did 3 hours on the turbo last night at 80% FTP

I think I see the problem 😉

If not dehydration, could it be a electrolyte imbalance (too little/too much)? That wouldn't show up immediately after your session but would take a little time to manifest itself.

You've tried decongestants and anti-inflammatories? I went through hell with sinusitis between about 15 and 25 and Ibuprofen hadn't been invented at that time but I'm pretty sure that it would have an effect on the general congestion, pain and inflammation that goes with blocked and infected sinuses.

Yeah, been hammering the decongestants, anti-histamine and anti-inflammatories for ages now - can only assume they are really not good for me, so trying to tackle it through gentler means.

Food, sinus rinsing and so forth. Bloody pain in the face and head.

never done 3hrs at 80% FTP but have suffered with sinus pain after some what lighter exercise and even had the dentist comment it shows on x-rays- think its part of the recurring infection thing - only useful advice I've ever had (and from a GP) is "steam" - use one of those facial steamers - helps open up the tubes which apparently help clear away the infection - couple of times a day
I am not a Doctor if Argos is closed and you go into terminal decline you should have asked on pinkbike

Ah, meant to say, that I brought my down to 80% of its max and then did Sufferfests, so the intensity was up and down. But I wasn't destroyed, as I backed off a bit.

Decongestants actually make things worse if used for more than about a week at a time. I sometimes get sinus problems when I have a cold and I've found recently that nasal irrigation really helps. You can buy a specific bottle for rinsing your nasal passages using a saline solution. The one I buy is Neil Med which you can get in Boots: a pack of sachets for making the saline and a bottle. It's supposed to reduce sinus congestion.

I found diet makes more difference than any meds I've tried - although yet to (and will) try steam and/or irrigation.

Say it quietly, but I've never been so symptom-free as I was when doing the iDave diet, a low-GI weight loss regime that was once popular on here...

Didn't the iDave version of the low-carb diet prohibit dairy too? That is known to have an effect for some folk.

Yeah, I think dairy and sugar are key culprits. Bugger.

I’ve suffered for years, nothing to do with diet nor pollution.. sadly it’s inherited. So, coping mechanisms..

The only thing I’ve found to work are the medicated nasal anti inflammatory sprays, and the saline ones for clearing out the small passageways. No drugs, those sinutab and sudafed are vicious and do more for killing your kidneys than clearing any pressure in the nasal passages.
It’s a proper pita if I get a cold, sadly working where I do there are constant rotations of other people’s germs. When I start to feel a bit blocked I use medicated nasal sprays and do a 15k run... snorting and snotting clears it all up then once finished running I use the saline washes every couple of hours or so until I feel ok again.

I feel your pain.

If you are constantly catching colds you need to stop rubbing your eyes and picking your nose and get into the habit of washing your hands after coming in from outside before touching anything inside your house or at your workplace, like your keyboard and mouse. That small lifestyle change will keep you healthier. Then stop blowing your nose hard and frequently, which only forces mucus up into your sinuses. Blow gently into a loosely held tissue or handkerchief.

Cold air normally give me a sinus pains, sometimes a few hours later sometimes the day after.
Are you inhaling air bourne dust in the house or room you are training in?

When you/people get sinus pains, are you feeling congested with blocked nose also?

Still trying to decipher my dental/face pains and sinus stuff is one option ( http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/dentalface-ache-medical-thingy). Thing is sometimes I'm very stuffy and blocked up and get pressure feeling and aches around my dodgy aching tooth and that side of the face. Other times though I feel quite clear and sometimes it's better but sometimes it still aches. In particular though is one nostril can be clear and the other not and on taking in a breath through the nose in cold air it sets it off.

But in my case it could be an underlying dental issue which gets set off by sinus issues.

Well my teeth are in a pretty poor state (busted jaw from years ago) can’t say teeth problems a symptom no, but for the pain..
Well I’ll try and describe my feelings:

Just above the rear roof palette in my mouth (where the nose meets the throat) I can feel when I breath through my nose it sort of “grates” likenthe air has to run over a very rough surface, yes this could be what it’s supoossed to do to catch germs and such, but it’s defienty restricted. Most days I’m fine, tonight though I’m a bit blocked.. however I did do a 20k trail run around QECP today and it was cold early on. When running or indeed riding I breath through my mouth a lot, mostly to compensate for the lack of air through my nose. This is much worse riding than running, when running I can breath very well through my nose for some strange reason I’ve yet to figure out then when I need more umph just breath through my mouth as normal. Once finished I’m clear for about 3/4’s of an hour before my nose/thoat become blocked again and I’m then resorting to breathing through my mouth for about 20mins before my nose clears. Sounds odd, difficult to explain.
Colds, bloody colds and I’m in bed with horrid head colds and want to just be alone.. I’m normally out for about two days, stay in bed because my head is so blocked and I can barely open my eyes for the pain..
Proper horrid.

Help? Doubtful be cause we’re all different, Docs said they could “widen” the passages but it’s long winded and complicated so I turned that operation down.. and because I cope.

I was blighted by similar for years and eventually had a maxillary antrostomy done - a bit like having a bigger hole drilled in your sinus to release pressure. It made a world of difference and I'm barely troubled by sinus issues 20-odd years later. Brief operation, c. 1 week recovery with negligible exercise then fine.

The one I buy is Neil Med which you can get in Boots: a pack of sachets for making the saline and a bottle. It's supposed to reduce sinus congestion.

I tried this after years of bleedin sinusitis or whatever it is leaves me with one permanently blocked nostril, runny nositis and generally feeling shititis at the topitis of my nose. My GP recommended trying it - I got the kit from Amazon - bottle and sachets. I don't know if it's quackery or not, but every so often when i feel it coming on, I do a bit of nasal rinsing for a few days and it clears right up. Didn't cost too much either so might be worth a try.

Feels a bit weird the first few times you do it but you get used to it. 🙂

reluctantlondoner - Member
Yeah, been hammering the decongestants, anti-histamine and anti-inflammatories for ages now - can only assume they are really not good for me, so trying to tackle it through gentler means.

Food, sinus rinsing and so forth. Bloody pain in the face and head.

I have been suffering from sinus block for more than 20 years now. Rather common in the far east. However, the last five years was particularly bad to the point of needing to breath through my mouth for few days. The feeling is a bit like being suffocated slowly, worst during the time you are very tired. I don't get phlegm but still get sinus block.

I have tried almost everything but they all only work for short term. The only thing I haven't tried is nasal irrigation with saline solution but I did use salt water. It was alright with slight improvement but nothing much. One of me mate is also telling me to try the saline solution which I shall try next month.

I shall also give traditional herbal medication (no animal ingredients nor any illegal substances involved) a try next month. 😛

Oh ya all those medication they make things worst if you take them for a period of time.

oldbloke - Member
I was blighted by similar for years and eventually had a maxillary antrostomy done - a bit like having a bigger hole drilled in your sinus to release pressure.

It is possible to have exercise-induced rhinitis, as well as cold-air induced. It may be that your body is generating lots of mucus when you are riding and you are (consciously or not) sniffing or blowing it into your sinuses, causing them to block. Do you notice your nose start to run as you start exercising? If so, gently blow your nose as you are exercising to try and clear it, and use the anti-inflammatory nasal sprays. The saline wash also sounds like a good idea, repeated every few hours. It is well correlated with asthma and other auto-immune problems.