Your healthcare provider will ask you questions about your symptoms and examine your throat and ears. Be sure to tell them:

• If you have had sinusitis before, how often, and what treatments have helped you feel better.
• If you have any allergies or are around things that could make sinusitis worse, such as dust, pollen, or extreme cold.

PODS

Your healthcare provider may use PODS to assess your symptoms and decide if you have sinusitis:

P – Pressure or Pain in the face

O – Obstructed nose (blocked)

D – Discharge of mucus (mucus draining down your throat)

S – Smell loss

Symptoms to watch for

Tell your healthcare provider if:

• You have clear fluid coming from your nose that turns to yellow or green and gets thicker. This could be a sign of infection.
• Treatments are not starting to work after more than 3 days.

If you have any of the following, do not wait to get medical help. Contact your healthcare team, call Health Link at 811, or go to your nearest emergency department or urgent care centre if:

• You have swelling and redness around your eyes.
• Your vision is affected.
• You are confused or very low energy.
• Your face looks like it is drooping or sagging.

Other things to tell your healthcare provider

You are the most important part of your healthcare team. Tell your healthcare provider about the impact sinusitis is having on the things that are important to you, like your job, hobbies and interests, and relationships. Tell them what has worked for you in the past to manage sinusitis.

Making the most of your appointment

If you don’t understand what your healthcare team is telling you, let them know right away. Be open and honest. You might say:

• “It sounded like you said that I should… Did I understand that correctly?”
• “Can you show me a picture or model to help me understand?”

Learn more about working with your healthcare team and making the most of your appointment.