Sinus Infections can be extremely frustrating and at times difficult to resolve. In 2012, I published a post titled “When a “Sinus Infection” is a Neck Problem.” To date that post has been viewed 70 thousand times and has 300 comments. Clearly, there are a lot of people suffering from and not getting their sinus infections resolved.
I created a document that helps figure out the possible cause of sinus problems. You can download the PDF HERE.
One reason sinus problems can be so difficult to fix is that there are many different causes. Today I’m going to write about another very common, but often overlooked, cause of sinus problems. For fun I will share with you a story of a patient who was suffering from sinus problems that turned out to be caused by trouble in her intestines.
As you can see by the video this article could have been called “When a Migraine is an Intestinal Problem” or “When Acne is an Intestinal Problem” or “When Fatigue is an Intestinal Problem” or “When PMS is an Intestinal Problem.” So many conditions can be caused by an unhealthy gut!
Everything in the body is interconnected. Often the mistake doctors make is not looking at the big picture. Sometimes the symptoms a patient has is not obviously connected to the cause of the symptom. A Functional Medicine Approach looks beyond the initial assumptions often connected to a symptom to find the root source for the problem.
Sinus problems can be difficult to resolve because the reason for the problem may not be in the sinus. If the patient in the video had had a CAT scan it would have been normal. I often hear from my patients that their doctor did “all the tests” and they came back normal. I hope this story helps you understand not only how a “Sinus Infection” can be caused by an intestinal problem, but how a symptom is often caused by something not directly connected to the symptom.
Like always I have the comment section open. I enjoy hearing from and interacting with you. So please leave your questions and comments!
It really help me I want to get better am so uncomfortable with this minus some time I have stif neck I have to clair my throat so often I being to so much doctor and I can feel better I may feel good for a week and next I get back sick my ears hurt my throat my sinus drain down the back of my throat I can’t take thin feeling
Thank you iv been taking pro biotic and vitamin d I have chronic sinus since taking the above my sinus prob is much better and nearly gone it seems to be moving to my throat but much better thank you I’m in Scotland so can’t visit you I had this problem for years without any relief doctor prescribed sprays but never helped Bye and thank you
I have been suffering from runny, dripping nose specially in the morning since childhood. I am around 49 now and my present condition is ..nose becomes dry and again sneezing and dripping. Atleast two times a year i experience pain inside and outside round the nose small blisters (acne like). Regarding the stomach activity…i must say my digestive system becomes poor, all of a sudden i experience acidity , bowel movement is also slow. when i start washing my anus i find bowel coming in small amount. so this is my story sir.Hope you’ll help me proving your valuable information.Will you suggest any test etc?
Before I can determine what kind of testing you need I need your full history and any medical records. Please fill out the functional medicine form: https://form.jotform.com/62988256034161 and attach the lab work that has been done. Once I go over everything we can meet over the phone/internet and talk about what you need. http://darrellkilcupdc.com/work-with-me/
Hello thank you for your e mail all you have said above is true I had a scan and it cane back normal I have started on viaman A and D this morning and up to now I haven used my nasal spray .I had phlegm running down back of throat and nose was allways seemed blocked on one nostrel but I can’t believe it I feel as if it’s working my nose seems fine and only a small amount of phlegm I ll continue taking the vitamins . I had this for years been on all kinds of sprays and antihestamines didn’t seem to help thank you ps I haven’t coughed at all to night bye helen from scotland
Hi Darrell – another very informative blog. Interestingly, I am four weeks into a bad sinus attack and have had to succum to antibiotics only because I am going on holiday in two weeks and I have a bad time with my ears. Interesting that again Vit d comes into play as I was told last year my levels were low. There seems to be a link going on here that most allopathic doctors don’t investigate. Thanks again for the info. Just wish I lived near your practice. Sue
Hi Again Darrell – just wondering if you have come across anyone that has a one-sided sinus congestion problem? My ENT doctor says you could get a bus up my sinuses but I am still congested 24/7 on the right side. I have even thought it was a tooth abscess problem, but having that tooth out has not resolved the ongoing problem. Hope you can help? thanks Sue
I wish I lived near your practice. I’ve been going back and forth to ENT and chiropractors but still no resolution . I love your articles and blogs .
I would like to say that you are absolutely right I broke my neck in 01 and ever since nothing but problems with my sinus it’s terrible.
This confirms my suspicions about my having this problem. I’ve told doctors I thought that might be the problem and they ignore it. I’ve been dealing with it about 3 years. Thanks
Hello Dr. I have been having dizzy spells and feeling like swaying in boat since many days and was told by the dr to take antibiotics because it could be vertigo or migraine from sinus. However I have stiff neck and back from two days along with the dizziness and pain in my temples. Also have little tingling in my left palm and discomfort in the arm. Could this all be connected. This is 4th sinus infection in last one year. I also had blurry vision which subsided after I started antibiotics
Hi Nidhz,
It could be connected or it could be 2 or 3 problems.
This made for very interesting reading as I am suffering quite bad sinusitis.am generally feeling nauseated. And in the last two years or so whilst having this problem have also developed migraines which i dont normally suffer from.my GP just gave me a nasal spray and told me to use a bowl ofa almost boiling water and inhale the steam to relieve symptoms. It only gives relief for a short time. After reading this article I am convinced there is absolute truth in what the dr is saying. But I know have to convince my gp and this won’t be easy or why havnt anyone investigated this theory instead of prescribing useless medication
I have been recently diagnosed as suffering from migraine syndrome after presenting with numbness in face and head on left side. First I was told it was MS after a lesion was shown on my MRI, but later told it was migraine causing the numbness. Head is still partly numb and now headaches have taken over. I thought my long time sinus issues caused my headaches (still feels like them to me), but apparently it’s a combo. I also have tingling in left thumb and sometimes forearm, a very sore neck and suffer from acid reflux . Your video above has intrigued me as I’m into week 6 with sore head and headaches.
I believe I have SIBO. I have Hashimoto, IBS, Fibro, Psoriatic arthritis, very low Vit D, Psorasis and LPR. The LPR can make my sinuses inflammed. But it is ongoing for a few months now. It gets better, comes back. Sinus is clear drainage. The pressure is on and off in my sinus tract. My ear blocks on the right and gets sore. My eyes itch so bad and burn, my nose burns inside sometimes. I am going to an allergist. But I still think this is coming from my gut . I don’t know where to turn to anymore. I also have anxiety and mild depression from all this. I do have panic attacks but seem to have them under control.
I think I have an undetected sinus problem yet doctor refuses to send me to an ENT as I have acid reflux which can cause symptoms.
I have had yucky phlegm from waking up in the morning, blocked nose, eye pain, teeth pain (a root canal filling is to be done shortly). I haven’t had a bowel movement in 6 days, I take senna tablets and laxido but no luck. I don’t FEEL constipated but worry that I haven’t been for a number two in a week, my IBS tends to build up from my ongoing anxiety. I feel I am sick to death of worrying of new symptoms like this post nasal drip/sinus problem. I have a lump feeling in my throat had for the last few weeks. I have tried inhaling steam, nose sprays but nothing works. I just want to feel better. I want to wake up and ‘feel well’ not have any phlegm or acid reflux!! I am trying to loose weight by eating healthier but that is easier said than done. Sigh.