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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Major Problem
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
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Major Problem
by chickenhauler, Feb 03, 2004 12:00AM
I've had surgury done to my right sinuses for drainage, and a number of small pollyps were removed during surgury. Since then I've had an ear nose and throat specialist tell me (after a cat scan) that I had a polyp the size of a quarter grow inside my sinus and that I can leave it alone or have it removed if I have problems with it. Lately I've had some blood discharge but before the blood discharge I'll occasionally blow out huge chunks of mucus (dry and smelly). What can I have done to get rid of this? Can I possibly have surgury to remove the infected part of my sinuses? Please help.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Feb 09, 2004 12:00AM
, Feb 09, 2004 12:00AM
Postnasal drip is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat. There could be several reasons for this drainage. One reason is an allergy. A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold. A third reason is chronic sinusitis. Postnasal drip can cause irritation of the throat and lungs. The bloody discharge could also be from the irritation. You may experience the postnasal drip as a feeling of mucus at the back of your throat. The mucus may "sit" there, especially when it is thick, and become dry and smelly.
Nasal polyps are fleshy growths of the lining of the nose and sinuses. Their roots are found in the upper part of the nose and in the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. On a sinus x-ray they may look like clouding of the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. A developing polyp is teardrop-shaped. A mature polyp looks like a peeled seedless grape. They can get large enough to block the opening of the sinuses and the nasal passage. Some people have problems with a stuffy nose, sinus pressure, sinus infections, or loss of their senses of taste and smell. Surgery to remove the nasal polyp may be suggested. However, the chance of nasal polyps growing back is extremely high.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily.
An antihistamine can dry up the mucus. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the mucus and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see what would be most helpful for you.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily lessen your mucus problem. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases the mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent your mucus problem and shrink nasal polyps. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If the nasal polyps are small this may be all the treatment that is needed to relieve your symptoms. If they are large, this treatment may shrink them enough that surgery is more likely to remove the entire root of the polyp so that it doesn’t grow back. Following surgery, indefinite routine use of a nasal steroid spray may keep nasal polyps from growing back.
Nasal polyps are fleshy growths of the lining of the nose and sinuses. Their roots are found in the upper part of the nose and in the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. On a sinus x-ray they may look like clouding of the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. A developing polyp is teardrop-shaped. A mature polyp looks like a peeled seedless grape. They can get large enough to block the opening of the sinuses and the nasal passage. Some people have problems with a stuffy nose, sinus pressure, sinus infections, or loss of their senses of taste and smell. Surgery to remove the nasal polyp may be suggested. However, the chance of nasal polyps growing back is extremely high.
The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus. Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful. Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily. As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily.
An antihistamine can dry up the mucus. However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move. A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the mucus and decrease the swelling so it drains easier. A combination antihistamine-decongestant will do both. Check with your doctor to see what would be most helpful for you.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily lessen your mucus problem. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases the mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent your mucus problem and shrink nasal polyps. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If the nasal polyps are small this may be all the treatment that is needed to relieve your symptoms. If they are large, this treatment may shrink them enough that surgery is more likely to remove the entire root of the polyp so that it doesn’t grow back. Following surgery, indefinite routine use of a nasal steroid spray may keep nasal polyps from growing back.
