Sinusitis FAQ

HELP

Question:

My question is this.. I have had sinus problems for years off and on.. THe only problem is is that I have Non allergic rhinitus.. There is no antigens to the things they had hoped I reaacted to too.. I react to anything and everything.. I have had a whopper of a sinus infection.. I have been on antibiotics for 6 weeks .. 3 different kinds, oral sterioids, and nasacort.  My doctor says he is now sending me to an ENT because even after the steroids, my right sinus passage is still severely swollen and I am in alot of pain.. The problem is, is that if an ENT does some form of surgery and I have a problem with so many things triggering the sinus problems.. Wont that be a procedure that wont really help the problem..??? I am vvvvvveeeerrrrryyyy nervous about surgery.. I have read and heard so many horror stories that I am freaked out to the max.. Is there anyone that can tell me anything good that has come out of it?? My sinuses dont seem to drain properly . always down my throat.. I am also a singer, and I heard that Endo.. surgery can do something to the resonance of your voice.. Please write me with any information.. Thanks and bless all of you.. who suffer with this stuff.. Donna

Response:

My experience with sinus surgery has been less than satisfactory. After 3 mo.s i still have essentialy the same problem. Some people it clears up the problem right away. I think these are patients that have anatomical defects or polyps, etc. that are causing blockage. For people like me ( and I would bet you) unless they solve the problem of chronic sinus inflammation, it will come right back. i’m going to my 4th ENT in a year to try and get to the cause. Good luck and do be very cautious. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Zeke007 wrote in message <20000125183029.03567.00000…@ng-cl1.aol.com>…

Response:

On 25 Jan 2000 23:30:29 GMT, zeke…@aol.com (Zeke007) wrote: >The problem is, is that if an ENT does some form of surgery and I have a >problem with so many things triggering the sinus problems.. Wont that be a >procedure that wont really help the problem..??? I am vvvvvveeeerrrrryyyy >nervous about surgery.. I have read and heard so many horror stories that I am >freaked out to the max.. Is there anyone that can tell me anything good that >has come out of it?? My sinuses dont seem to drain properly . always down my >throat.

Endoscopic sinus surgery is designed explicitly to cure the kind of problem you have. Your sinus openings (ostia) have permanently swelled shut through repeated allergic reactions and infections. You need a surgeon to go in there and restore the openings to their original size. Endoscopic surgery is considered minor outpatient surgery. The complication rate is very, very low. Don’t discount the horror stories you’ve heard — just put them in proper perspective. Don’t worry.

Response:

> Endoscopic sinus surgery is designed explicitly to cure the kind of > problem you have. Your sinus openings (ostia) have permanently swelled > shut through repeated allergic reactions and infections. You need a > surgeon to go in there and restore the openings to their original > size. Endoscopic surgery is considered minor outpatient surgery. The > complication rate is very, very low. Don’t discount the horror stories > you’ve heard — just put them in proper perspective. Don’t worry

 Every case is different and surgery is NOT the only way to  approach sinus problems. Sinus problems are almost never "cured" and most people with chronic sinusitis do NOT get "cured" not even by surgery -they must learn to MANAGE their disease. using nasal irrigation,stress management, proper diet, adequate rest and other things to name a few.  I have had 3 sinus surgeries. After the first one, I was ok  for about 10 months – then SCAR TISSUE caused more  repeated infections. My second surgery was 11 months after  the first one & it was to remove scar tissue. Then I  was okay for about 6 months & more of the same. So I had  a 3rd surgery. THEN I began to irrigate regularly and  make some lifestyle changes. So sometimes, surgery  causes even more problems than it solves. NO ENT will ever tell you that FESS will "cure" your sinus problems.  There are NO guarantees with ANY type of surgery.  Sinus problems are a bitch and it takes work to stay well not quick fixes!! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

On Mon, 31 Jan 2000 03:46:54 GMT, nestora3…@my-deja.com wrote: >Every case is different and surgery is NOT the only way to > approach sinus problems. Sinus problems are almost never "cured" >and most people with chronic sinusitis do NOT get >"cured" not even by surgery -they must learn to MANAGE their disease. >using nasal irrigation,stress management, proper diet, adequate rest >and other things to name a few.

If you read carefully you’ll see I never said sinus surgery cures sinusitis. What I did say is that it cures the kinds of problems that Donna was having. Granted, "cure" isn’t the best word I could have selected here, but sinus surgery does help restore the sinuses to healthy functioning. If your sinuses are continually inflamed from infection and allergy flair-ups, over time your ostia will swell shut, permanently. For many people the most effective way, sometimes the only way, to restore the ostia to their original size is through surgery. You should also note that I’ve repeatedly said in other messages here that surgery is not a panacea, that you still have to manage your sinusitis afterward by doing the very things you mention above, though I should point out that you’ve neglected to mention the single most important factor for many and perhaps most people — reducing exposure to allergens. At any rate the point of my message was to assure Donna that she doesn’t have to freak out (her words) over the prospect of sinus surgery, that it’s very safe and usually very effective.

Response:

Filed under: Chronic sinusitis

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