Sinusitis FAQ

Postnasal drip returns after septoplasty – any suggestions?

Question:

A month ago, I had septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction surgery. For the first few weeks after, I was pretty congested, which I expected, since my nose was healing. By the third week, I was breathing better than ever, using hardly any decongestants, and I had almost none of the postnasal drip I’d had for the previous five months (I could live with the stuffiness — it was the postnasal drip and constant throat clearing that drove me to get the surgery.) After that one wonderful week, my postnasal drip returned. I’ve now had it for the last week and naturally I’m a little upset. I’ve been irrigating with Dr. Grossan’s tip twice a day with isotonic saline (500 ml per nostril each time), I’ve been drinking lots of tea, I’ve hydrated myself to the point that my urine is almost entirely clear, I’ve tried Sudafed, I’ve given antacids a shot (I though maybe reflux might be a problem), and for the last three days, I’ve been trying allegra, on the advice of my doctor, who seems to think postnasal drip is hardly worth mentioning. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d *really* love to hear them. Thanks much. Mike

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Sun, 01 Apr 2001 23:02:59 GMT, witne…@bigfoot.com (Mike) wrote: >A month ago, I had septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction >surgery. For the first few weeks after, I was pretty congested, which >I expected, since my nose was healing. By the third week, I was >breathing better than ever, using hardly any decongestants, and I had >almost none of the postnasal drip I’d had for the previous five months >(I could live with the stuffiness — it was the postnasal drip and >constant throat clearing that drove me to get the surgery.) >After that one wonderful week, my postnasal drip returned. I’ve now >had it for the last week and naturally I’m a little upset. I’ve been >irrigating with Dr. Grossan’s tip twice a day with isotonic saline >(500 ml per nostril each time), I’ve been drinking lots of tea, I’ve >hydrated myself to the point that my urine is almost entirely clear, >I’ve tried Sudafed, I’ve given antacids a shot (I though maybe reflux >might be a problem), and for the last three days, I’ve been trying >allegra, on the advice of my doctor, who seems to think postnasal drip >is hardly worth mentioning. >If anyone has any suggestions, I’d *really* love to hear them. Thanks >much.

I think sinus surgery does not cure sinisusitis as such.  It just opens up the nasal or osteo-metal passages that lead to the sinuses, so that they have a better chance of healing over time.   The surgery does not touch the linings of the sinuses as such. In chronic sinusitis, the linings of the sinuses become inflamed.  This inflammation will take at least a year to heal, even once optimal air flow to the sinuses is restored.  You also need to eliminate allergen exposure.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Don Brady wrote: > On Sun, 01 Apr 2001 23:02:59 GMT, witne…@bigfoot.com (Mike) wrote: > >A month ago, I had septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction > >surgery. For the first few weeks after, I was pretty congested, which > >I expected, since my nose was healing. By the third week, I was > >breathing better than ever, using hardly any decongestants, and I had > >almost none of the postnasal drip I’d had for the previous five months > >(I could live with the stuffiness — it was the postnasal drip and > >constant throat clearing that drove me to get the surgery.) > >After that one wonderful week, my postnasal drip returned. I’ve now > >had it for the last week and naturally I’m a little upset. I’ve been > >irrigating with Dr. Grossan’s tip twice a day with isotonic saline > >(500 ml per nostril each time), I’ve been drinking lots of tea, I’ve > >hydrated myself to the point that my urine is almost entirely clear, > >I’ve tried Sudafed, I’ve given antacids a shot (I though maybe reflux > >might be a problem), and for the last three days, I’ve been trying > >allegra, on the advice of my doctor, who seems to think postnasal drip > >is hardly worth mentioning. > >If anyone has any suggestions, I’d *really* love to hear them. Thanks > >much. > I think sinus surgery does not cure sinisusitis as such.  It just opens up the > nasal or osteo-metal passages that lead to the sinuses, so that they have a > better chance of healing over time.   The surgery does not touch the linings of > the sinuses as such.

According to Mike’s post, he didn’t even have that much.  All he had was the septoplasty and turbinate reduction, not actual surgery on the sinus ostia or sinus cavities.   Mike, if you’re reading this, what did your ENT say?  Is your postnasal drip clear or discolored? — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Email:  s…@mitre.org                 Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

My ENT says "try some of the Allegra you have around, or try some of the Extendryl you have around". My postnasal drip is fairly clear and not terribly thick. On Mon, 02 Apr 2001 00:48:45 -0400, "Steven D. Litvintchouk" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<s…@mitre.org> wrote: >Don Brady wrote: >> On Sun, 01 Apr 2001 23:02:59 GMT, witne…@bigfoot.com (Mike) wrote: >> >A month ago, I had septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction >> >surgery. For the first few weeks after, I was pretty congested, which >> >I expected, since my nose was healing. By the third week, I was >> >breathing better than ever, using hardly any decongestants, and I had >> >almost none of the postnasal drip I’d had for the previous five months >> >(I could live with the stuffiness — it was the postnasal drip and >> >constant throat clearing that drove me to get the surgery.) >> >After that one wonderful week, my postnasal drip returned. I’ve now >> >had it for the last week and naturally I’m a little upset. I’ve been >> >irrigating with Dr. Grossan’s tip twice a day with isotonic saline >> >(500 ml per nostril each time), I’ve been drinking lots of tea, I’ve >> >hydrated myself to the point that my urine is almost entirely clear, >> >I’ve tried Sudafed, I’ve given antacids a shot (I though maybe reflux >> >might be a problem), and for the last three days, I’ve been trying >> >allegra, on the advice of my doctor, who seems to think postnasal drip >> >is hardly worth mentioning. >> >If anyone has any suggestions, I’d *really* love to hear them. Thanks >> >much. >> I think sinus surgery does not cure sinisusitis as such.  It just opens up the >> nasal or osteo-metal passages that lead to the sinuses, so that they have a >> better chance of healing over time.   The surgery does not touch the linings of >> the sinuses as such. >According to Mike’s post, he didn’t even have that much.  All he had was >the septoplasty and turbinate reduction, not actual surgery on the sinus >ostia or sinus cavities.   >Mike, if you’re reading this, what did your ENT say?  Is your postnasal >drip clear or discolored? >– >Steven D. Litvintchouk                   >Email:  s…@mitre.org                 >Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed >herein             >are not those of my employer.

Response:

Hi Mike I had bilateral ethmoidectomies and anthrostomies as well as septoplasty about 2 1/2 years ago. After the first horrendous month there seemed to be an initial improvement…it was such a relief to be able to breathe through my nose again after it had been totally blocked for the previous month.Six months later it was pretty well heading back from whence it came. My sleep was terribly disturbed with snoring and I was developing sleep apnoeas. I was sent to an allergy specialist. Identified some 20 or so things to eliminate from my life.If I followed his advice things were marginally better but oh so restrictive and my nose still blocked up whenever I lay down. Miserable.Living on Sudafeds, antihistamines, Panadol, Rhinocort, saline spray. A year later I attended a Buteyko course to retrain my breathing and I can honestly say that my nose has never blocked up over night since, I dont snore or suffer apnoeas. I am much more resistant to those things that used to trigger my symptoms……..I dont have to eliminate them from life anymore. I dont take any medication now. Worth checking out. www.bibh.org Alison "Mike" <witne…@bigfoot.com> wrote in message

news:3ac7b19c.17202582@news.dynasty.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> A month ago, I had septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction > surgery. For the first few weeks after, I was pretty congested, which > I expected, since my nose was healing. By the third week, I was > breathing better than ever, using hardly any decongestants, and I had > almost none of the postnasal drip I’d had for the previous five months > (I could live with the stuffiness — it was the postnasal drip and > constant throat clearing that drove me to get the surgery.) > After that one wonderful week, my postnasal drip returned. I’ve now > had it for the last week and naturally I’m a little upset. I’ve been > irrigating with Dr. Grossan’s tip twice a day with isotonic saline > (500 ml per nostril each time), I’ve been drinking lots of tea, I’ve > hydrated myself to the point that my urine is almost entirely clear, > I’ve tried Sudafed, I’ve given antacids a shot (I though maybe reflux > might be a problem), and for the last three days, I’ve been trying > allegra, on the advice of my doctor, who seems to think postnasal drip > is hardly worth mentioning. > If anyone has any suggestions, I’d *really* love to hear them. Thanks > much. > Mike

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -ALISON BROOKER wrote: > Hi Mike > I had bilateral ethmoidectomies and anthrostomies as well as septoplasty > about 2 1/2 years ago. After the first horrendous month there seemed to be > an initial improvement…it was such a relief to be able to breathe through > my nose again after it had been totally blocked for the previous month.Six > months later it was pretty well heading back from whence it came. My sleep > was terribly disturbed with snoring and I was developing sleep apnoeas. I > was sent to an allergy specialist. Identified some 20 or so things to > eliminate from my life.If I followed his advice things were marginally > better but oh so restrictive and my nose still blocked up whenever I lay > down. Miserable.Living on Sudafeds, antihistamines, Panadol, Rhinocort, > saline spray. > A year later I attended a Buteyko course to retrain my breathing and I can > honestly say that my nose has never blocked up over night since, I dont > snore or suffer apnoeas. I am much more resistant to those things that used > to trigger my symptoms……..I dont have to eliminate them from life > anymore. I dont take any medication now. Worth checking out. > www.bibh.org

I disagree. The only controlled scientific studies done of Buteyko failed to show significant benefit from the technique.  And Buteyko’s theory (based on hyperventilation) is not accepted by mainstream physicians. I was desperate enough to try alternative remedies at one point in my life.  The only result was that my bank account got slimmer. Don’t try any alternative remedies without seeking OBJECTIVE scientific assessment first. — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Email:  s…@mitre.org                 Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

Mike wrote: > My ENT says "try some of the Allegra you have around, or try some of > the Extendryl you have around". My postnasal drip is fairly clear and > not terribly thick.

There is also a condition called "chronic non-allergic rhinitis," which is inflammation caused by SENSITIVITY (not a true allergy) to various irritants in the environment. For that, steroid nasal sprays may be helpful.  My ENT swears by Nasonex. — Steven D. Litvintchouk                   Email:  s…@mitre.org                 Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein             are not those of my employer.

Response:

Sounds like your cilia haven’t returned to normal cilia speed. You doctor can measure this with the saccharin test. Ask him / her about using pulsatlle irrigator to restore cila speed. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.TinnitusRelief.net

Response:

Filed under: Chronic sinusitis

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