Posted by Jim in Dallas on September 13, 2001 at 08:55:24:

In Reply to: Re: Jim in Dallas /update posted by stillsotired on September 13, 2001 at 05:57:36:

I'm really glad to hear this might be helping. My first thought is to say to keep on using just the heating pad. I think you will gradually see improvement and the problem will go away. If so, I urge you to get a heated humidifier. It is so much better than a passover with a heating pad.

Regarding the use of antihistamines (as with everything else on the forum), this has to be a personal choice. I personnally refuse to use any,I repeat ANY antihistamine be it in a tablet, capsule, or spray. Even the mildest levels of antihistamine dry me out sooooooo much that I immediately get sinus headaches and bloody noses. Within a few days I will also have a sinus infection. I don't know what has made me so sensitive to them. I used to use them years ago for severe allergies, but initially quit because of the rebound effect I had to deal with each time my symptoms improved and I stopped taking them.

Others on the forums have had good results with some of the newer antihistamines. You might try them if you want and see what happens. It might work for you or you might find that it causes the lump to be worse. Either way you will find out quickly and can try something else.

What I do every night is take a decongestant. Just the off the shelf stuff (Drixoral decongestant only-nothing with antihistamines. It comes in a blue box only). I use it come rain or shine. Whether my symptoms indicate I need it or not. Sick or well. I find that my sinuses stay open better (not perfect) and I can sleep better. Be aware that decongestants also contain ingredients that may be disruptive to your sleep. There is one in rx form that isn't supposed too interfere with sleep. I tried it and didn't see much difference. Also, after you are on decongestants for a while, your body gets conditioned to them and they are not as effective. Periodically I stop using mine for a week and let my body readjust (I really hate it when I do this).

So, you may have to try and see on this. I would like to mention one other thing I have against antihistamines. It is my pesonal opinion that antihistamines are really bad for the body (not saying that decongestants are necessarily better). Antihistamines stop one of the body's cleansing and defensive mechanisms. When using antihistamines we are only treating symptoms not causes. When someone uses antihistamines, they are not able to clean out of their airways the very agents that are causing the reaction. Antihistamines just stop the reaction. The agents continue to build up and then when their use is stopped, the body is suddenly able react. For me that reaction is worse than dealing with it without using antihistamines. For me personnally, while I may have to go through some discomfort, I prefer to use decongestants to continue to flush out the contaminates instead of holding them in for a later time. Some people can't do this because of the discomfort and drainage.

Please understand, I do feel that antihistamines do have a place in medicine for short term use. They can be good for helping get through a difficult period until other therapies can begin to work. I get concerned that people are becoming addicted to them by continually having to use them to avoid going through the rebound effect when they stop. Also, over time the body adjusts to them also and it takes more and more antihistamine to do the same as before.

To each his own. I hope this helps. Sorry it got so long.

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