2025-04-15 18:54:44

Severe sinusitis causing extreme odor... It's making me depressed. What can I do?

I’m a 28-year-old woman.
After getting my wisdom tooth extracted, I suddenly developed acute sinusitis. My dentist said it's probably just because I've always had allergic rhinitis and likely unrelated to the tooth extraction. I've suffered from rhinitis since childhood, but I've never had sinusitis until now... I'm really struggling.

Since last week, I've experienced severe pain around my cheekbones, to the point where I couldn't even sleep. My teeth hurt terribly too, and the pain was unbearable. The dentist prescribed some medication and antibiotics. A day or two later, I noticed an extremely foul smell—like rotten or fecal odor—coming from inside my nose, so I went to an ENT specialist. They told me I had severe sinusitis, but instead of draining the pus right away as I expected, they just prescribed more medications.

I've been on antibiotics and medication for a week now. The pain has definitely lessened, but I seriously can't handle the disgusting rotten smell coming from my nose. It's so bad it's driving me suicidal. I've been doing nasal rinses, but even when I rinse my nose, nothing properly clears out. The mucus has stopped running, but I still constantly feel the pus in the back of my throat and have to spit it out repeatedly like phlegm.

I've tried everything I can think of, but the odor is driving me insane. Is immediate surgery or any quick procedure possible? The doctor says to finish the medication first, but this smell is making me nauseous. I can't eat, I'm gagging all the time, and it's disrupting my daily life completely.

Please—is there any way, even temporarily, to stop or relieve this odor? I'm desperate.

Dr.s Diagnosis

The odor you're experiencing is likely due to a bacterial infection within your sinuses, producing volatile sulfur compounds and other byproducts. Here’s what you can do while awaiting further medical intervention: 1. Aggressive Nasal Rinses: Continue nasal rinses with saline solution. Consider adding a small amount of baking soda to the saline (1/4 teaspoon per cup) to help neutralize the pH and break down mucus. 2. Humidification: Use a humidifier to keep the air moist, as dry air can worsen sinusitis. 3. Topical Nasal Sprays: * Over-the-counter decongestant sprays (e.g., oxymetazoline) can temporarily relieve congestion, but use them sparingly (no more than 3 days) to avoid rebound congestion. * Consider a nasal steroid spray (e.g., fluticasone) to reduce inflammation. 4. Oral Hygiene: Brush your teeth and use mouthwash frequently to prevent bacteria from the sinuses from further affecting your sense of smell and taste. 5. Dietary Considerations: Avoid dairy products, as they can sometimes thicken mucus. While surgery is an option, it's usually reserved for chronic sinusitis cases that don't respond to medical management. If the odor persists or worsens, you may need a different antibiotic or further evaluation (e.g., a CT scan) to rule out complications. If the smell is unbearable, strongly request the ENT specialist to drain the pus immediately.