Aa
Sinus surgery?
Hi all.
Im a 29 year old female and I have been recommended to undergo FESS and septoplasty. I am wondering if this seems reasonable based on the information below? Or should I get a second opinion? I would like my symptoms gone and am relieved to have finally had an ENT take me seriously but the surgery seems like a big deal. Thanks!
Frances.
My symptoms are frequent frontal headaches (between my eyebrows, and when they get bad involve pressure behind my eyes, probably at least once a fortnight im knocked out for at least a day if not more by one, and theres a constant 'awareness' of that region even when im not in heaps of pain) and get frequent sinus infections, at least 4 a year. My nose always feels blocked, I am constantly sniffing but if I blow my nose there isnt really much to blow out, and it kinda feels like the lining of my nose is dry and irritated. ANd i have postnasal drip and always get really bad coughs when ive been sick that can last for months. This is been for years, I had a CT and saw an ENT in 2008/9 who just said to use sinus rinses and saline spray and then a sterioidal spray if that doesnt work. I've tried the saline sprays and rinses. Ive tried rhinocort aqeuous but stopped after 2 weeks as made my nose so dry there was blood when I blew my nose. Maybe i haven't tried them all long enough but it hasnt really gotten better. Ibuprofen and paracetamol dont do much for the headaches.
An in-office endoscopy showed a deviated septum to the right (its usually my right eye where I feel the pressure during the headaches).
Recent CT report is as follows:
Nasal bony septum deviated to the right. Ostiomeatal complex is patent on both sides. Minor mucosal thickening involves floor of left maxillary sinus due to chronic sinus disease. There is no air fluid level. Remaining sinuses are clear. No evidence of acute sinusitis. Bones are intact. No soft tissue mass. Nasal passage is clear. Conclusion: Mild left maxillary chronic sinus disease.
Im a 29 year old female and I have been recommended to undergo FESS and septoplasty. I am wondering if this seems reasonable based on the information below? Or should I get a second opinion? I would like my symptoms gone and am relieved to have finally had an ENT take me seriously but the surgery seems like a big deal. Thanks!
Frances.
My symptoms are frequent frontal headaches (between my eyebrows, and when they get bad involve pressure behind my eyes, probably at least once a fortnight im knocked out for at least a day if not more by one, and theres a constant 'awareness' of that region even when im not in heaps of pain) and get frequent sinus infections, at least 4 a year. My nose always feels blocked, I am constantly sniffing but if I blow my nose there isnt really much to blow out, and it kinda feels like the lining of my nose is dry and irritated. ANd i have postnasal drip and always get really bad coughs when ive been sick that can last for months. This is been for years, I had a CT and saw an ENT in 2008/9 who just said to use sinus rinses and saline spray and then a sterioidal spray if that doesnt work. I've tried the saline sprays and rinses. Ive tried rhinocort aqeuous but stopped after 2 weeks as made my nose so dry there was blood when I blew my nose. Maybe i haven't tried them all long enough but it hasnt really gotten better. Ibuprofen and paracetamol dont do much for the headaches.
An in-office endoscopy showed a deviated septum to the right (its usually my right eye where I feel the pressure during the headaches).
Recent CT report is as follows:
Nasal bony septum deviated to the right. Ostiomeatal complex is patent on both sides. Minor mucosal thickening involves floor of left maxillary sinus due to chronic sinus disease. There is no air fluid level. Remaining sinuses are clear. No evidence of acute sinusitis. Bones are intact. No soft tissue mass. Nasal passage is clear. Conclusion: Mild left maxillary chronic sinus disease.
First of all, if you are unsure about what your doctor is recommended they you should look into a second opinion. You should be able to trust and agree with your doctor about everything that needs to be done. Having that said you do have sinus disease in one sinus cavity, but not a massive amount. You had stated you have a deviated septum and those are things to just ignore and wish it away. With the Sinuse Surgery the doctor would be able to correct this problem along with a good clean out of all sinus cavities. I believe you would a great amount of releif after a sinus surgery. I know I was amazed at how well I could breath and that I didn't have chronic sinus pain all day.
Your ENT gave you correct advice about the nasal irrigation--that is the most effective treatment against chronic bacterial sinus infection, but the shortcoming is gravity. You cannot squirt saline hard enough to get into your upper sinuses. Plus, the passages to the upper sinuses get swollen shut.
I had the same problem as you, until I developed the Sinus Flush, which uses gravity to get saline into the upper sinuses. However, it often takes several days of treatments to open up the passages to the upper sinuses. The hypertonic saline draws moisture from swollen mucus membranes, shrinking them.
Your ENT wisely didn't prescribe antibiotics, because they travel through the bloodstream, and there is no bloodstream to an infected mass of mucus in your sinuses. Read more here:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322
The Flip-Turn Sinus Flush is mildly risky, because you have to bend over to do it, preferably in a shower, but you can also do it outside on soft ground, or you can kneel down and lean over a bathtub, or perhaps a plastic basin or tub, with the shower running for steam.
However, if your sinus problems continue, then they are likely caused by the deviated septum, and a septoplasmy is the only way to correct it.
I did have a chronic sinus infection for 5 years, and I've had some acute ones since, but my sinuses are still clear.
I had the same problem as you, until I developed the Sinus Flush, which uses gravity to get saline into the upper sinuses. However, it often takes several days of treatments to open up the passages to the upper sinuses. The hypertonic saline draws moisture from swollen mucus membranes, shrinking them.
Your ENT wisely didn't prescribe antibiotics, because they travel through the bloodstream, and there is no bloodstream to an infected mass of mucus in your sinuses. Read more here:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322
The Flip-Turn Sinus Flush is mildly risky, because you have to bend over to do it, preferably in a shower, but you can also do it outside on soft ground, or you can kneel down and lean over a bathtub, or perhaps a plastic basin or tub, with the shower running for steam.
However, if your sinus problems continue, then they are likely caused by the deviated septum, and a septoplasmy is the only way to correct it.
I did have a chronic sinus infection for 5 years, and I've had some acute ones since, but my sinuses are still clear.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Ear, Nose & Throat Community
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
Discover the common causes of and treatments for a sore throat.
Learn about what actually causes your temperature to spike.
Find out which foods you should watch out for.
Family medicine doctor Enoch Choi, MD helps differentiate between the common cold and more threatening (bacterial) infections
Dr. Steven Park reveals 5 reasons why breathing through your nose could change your life
