Humira and long term sinus issues

redmazzy

I've been taking Humira for about ten years now. It made my allergic rhinitis ten times worse, giving me constant sinus infections. Although I don't get the constant taste of infection and sneezing now, I can get these prolonged episodes, sometimes after a sinusitis attack, where I feel completely normal, except for a terrible headache and fatigue. I had a sinusitis attack a month ago or more and now I have a headache every day and nothing makes me feel better except sleep. The pain is in the right side of my head, not around the sinuses, and sometimes moves to the left. Sometimes it's so bad if I move or go out in the cold it can get so bad it makes me feel sick or vomit. I've seen an ENT years ago but they said there is nothing there, at that point i had a mild headache every day, but the CT scan showed no mucous build up or blockage. I've just read that sinus infections can cause a stroke, I'm worried that because i've pretty much given up investigating it I'm might be missing something here. My GP prescribes me steroid nasal spray which is the only thing that helps when I have a terrible headache, especially after a cold. I'm not sure antibiotics have every had any effect. I try to avoid taking them.

theresak

I've been on Humira now for almost 10 years, but have no problems such as you describe. Years ago when I was teaching - pre RA days - I used to get a lot of sinus trouble, but only got antibiotics if the sinuses were infected. Have you ever been offered a sinus wash-out? I've never had one myself, but one of my friends did & she said it helped.

Maybe this warrants further investigation?

redmazzy

theresak wrote:

I've been on Humira now for almost 10 years, but have no problems such as you describe. Years ago when I was teaching - pre RA days - I used to get a lot of sinus trouble, but only got antibiotics if the sinuses were infected. Have you ever been offered a sinus wash-out? I've never had one myself, but one of my friends did & she said it helped.

Maybe this warrants further investigation?

I tried a netti pot yes, I find it can make the headache worse, especially at this stage where it really is the headache I'm battling and I don't feel blocked up or infected. This is what worries me, that the infection is deeper. I also found the ENT specialists don't know anything about anti TNF, so they don't understand the link.

I think Humira probably made my existing sinus problems worse. There was one time the headache was so bad my boyfriend was about the call an ambulance. They can go as quick as they come, sometimes the only thing to make it pass is if I sleep. I have asked my GP if she thinks it's a migraine but she always looks at my sinuses and says, they are very red, and thinks it's sinus related.

dreamdaisy

I've been injecting humira for around the same length of time as you but have not had any trouble like yours, if anything it's reduced my allergic reactions. Are you taking anything else apart from humira? I take injected meth and was on tablet sulph but no longer. DD

redmazzy

No I don't take anything except Humira, it manages my AS very well. I came off Humira last year, to see if I could manage without it. It took 8 months to wear off and gradually my sinuses came back to life, but I had to go back onto Humira because my AS was so bad I couldn't manage it.

dreamdaisy

Ah, I don't have AS but I empathise with the 'taste' etc. I had allergic rhinitis for many years but once I was classed as being an inflammatory arthritic (and began the meds) this disappeared. One of the troubles we auto-immuners face is that we might know we have RA, PsA, AS etc. but that doesn't mean that other health troubles won't occur. DD

redmazzy

Yes so true. I have read that lots of people have these sinus problems when they start anti TNF. You are lucky yours disappeared, that would be amazing!

dreamdaisy

You are right, I am lucky on that front. As I understand things humira suppresses my immune system (as does my injected meth) this controlling my PsA and hence the lack of sinus issues. I have never been granted the luxury of taking just one med to control matters but I don't have AS. DD