TexasFlyer
Living the Dream (well at least trying to)
Have you tried nasal/sinus irrigation (saline solution)? It might help, but don't do it if you're going to continue to keep attempting to fly. It could make things significantly worse with pressure changes.
I am on unpaid medical leave right now. Sick time depleted, so now pay at the moment. Plus it is clear since even though infection is cleared up in my head, I still have congestion which is bad for flying with my condition(s). Flying at this time is dangerous to my health along with crew and passengers. So I know better. I will not touch and airplane since that would be dumb. I won't even fly passenger since it can hurt me. FMLA and Short Term Disability were applied for late last week and my PCP already sent in the FMLA stuff and he is awaiting the STD admin to contact them so they can review the case.
As far as meds. Taking no meds and then taking OTC meds that did not work under my AME guidance is what got me in this position as over the last few years this got worse and worse. So I will have to trust the doctors and see what we can do that is FAA approved. I won't follow any online advice here of course since I will stick to the doctors advice, but I appreciate every comment here because it gives me concerns to talk to the docs about when I tell them, "I heard this can cause....." or "I heard that drug can...". So all stories are helpful.
As far as Nasal Rinse. Prior to this I was doing Neil Med Nasal rinse daily for the last 6 month (the standard 8oz with salt packet) along with taking Clartin and using Flonase as needed. That did not work and was my AME's last advise before saying I need to seek serious help and now is time to start documenting and reporting this (for over 2 years I had an AME trying to help me as this got worse and worse).
That said, I am now doing the Neil Med nasal rinse still because even though it did not work over the last 6 months with the OTC stuff. The docs said to keep doing it along with taking the prescribed allergy med Montelukast and Sudafed daily since that combo is the best out there and is FAA approved. The Nasal rinse is also modified with 8oz of distlled water and the salt packet and I also add the following to the water before shooting up each nostril:
50mg of Mupirocin
50mg of Amphotericin B
2ml of Budesonide
10ml of Levofloxacin
All those also FAA approved. This mix is to fight off any possible developing infections from congestion. It leaves an after smell in my nose and slight after taste. Lucky I like Curry since that is what it smells and tastes like afterward for like an hour.
I also been prescribed today Sumatriptan. This is evil and is only to be used if I have a severe migraine attack. I am to only do one squirt up the nostril on the side of head that hurts most and can do it one more time in 2 hours and then no more for 24 hours. I am told this stuff should help me recover from a sudden migraine quicker since my last migraine lasted for 11 plus days (stopped counting at 11 days!). Also after a squirt, per the FAA I am no fly for 24 hours. I have not used it yet since just got it today and no migraine at the moment.