Major Problem

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.

[National Jewish]

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