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Mystery Rhinitis / Swollen Turbinates
1 year ago yesterday, my turbinates became swollen for no apparent reason, resulting in severe congestion, and they have continued to give me trouble ever since. Every single day, 24/7, my airflow through both nostrils is restricted, fluctuating constantly, but never allowing me more than 50% of my normal airflow and almost always swelling to near-shut at least once if not many times a day. My quality of life is at an all-time low because of this, and the grab bag of additional symptoms that it brings with it, the most significant of which are nasal congestion, screwy equilibrium/lightheadedness, fatigue, headaches, sore/popping ears, and heart palpitations (not from anxiety, seemingly from strain on system).
I don't experience any rhinorrhea, no coughing, sore throat or itchy eyes. I've taken Clindamycin (I'm allergic to Amoxicillin) for 10 days for a long-present gum infection, and thought it might do the trick. It did not. I've been to 2 different ENT's, had two endoscopies and both showed no immediate signs of infection, or polyps. I've had a mildly deviated septum my whole life, and although both ENT's jumped right to that as their first conclusion, it's never given me a single nasal problem prior. I've also been to one of the top allergists in my area, had a 60-pt scratch test which showed no allergic reactions and taken all the popular nasal sprays to very little or no effect.
I've avoided all of the obvious things to no avail and tried all of the obvious OTC remedies, but the only thing that works is Afrin, and that isn't a daily nor long-term solution.
The only remaining option seems to be surgery, but I'm reluctant. This follows me around, all day, every day, no matter what the weather's like, whose house I'm at, what I eat or drink... I can't seem to tie anything to it, but something's causing it.
What?
I don't experience any rhinorrhea, no coughing, sore throat or itchy eyes. I've taken Clindamycin (I'm allergic to Amoxicillin) for 10 days for a long-present gum infection, and thought it might do the trick. It did not. I've been to 2 different ENT's, had two endoscopies and both showed no immediate signs of infection, or polyps. I've had a mildly deviated septum my whole life, and although both ENT's jumped right to that as their first conclusion, it's never given me a single nasal problem prior. I've also been to one of the top allergists in my area, had a 60-pt scratch test which showed no allergic reactions and taken all the popular nasal sprays to very little or no effect.
I've avoided all of the obvious things to no avail and tried all of the obvious OTC remedies, but the only thing that works is Afrin, and that isn't a daily nor long-term solution.
The only remaining option seems to be surgery, but I'm reluctant. This follows me around, all day, every day, no matter what the weather's like, whose house I'm at, what I eat or drink... I can't seem to tie anything to it, but something's causing it.
What?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The cause of this swelling, since you ruled out an allergic cause, is usually due to 2 possible different mechanisms:
1. An infection. People develop a chronic sinusitis that can cause continued swelling and many of the other symptoms you have described. A CT scan of the sinuses helps with this diagnosis and the most likely treatment is a longer course of antibiotic or anti-fungal therapy. Some of these chronic infections are due to a fungal infection which is not responsive to the usual antibiotics.
2. Non allergic inflammation of the nasal and sinus areas called vasomotor rhinitis (VMR). This can start at different times of your life and can also follow a sinus infection. It does not respond to antibiotics and is not related to allergy. It gets worse with anything that causes increased blood flow to the area, such as cold weather, some spicy foods, emotions, high blood pressure etc. One way to test for this is a short course of oral steroids. If this is VMR, the swelling will go down in a few days on this therapy. If this is the case, using inhaled nasal steroids, perhaps at a higher dose, might be of benefit.
I would suggest discussing these options with your physician.
1. An infection. People develop a chronic sinusitis that can cause continued swelling and many of the other symptoms you have described. A CT scan of the sinuses helps with this diagnosis and the most likely treatment is a longer course of antibiotic or anti-fungal therapy. Some of these chronic infections are due to a fungal infection which is not responsive to the usual antibiotics.
2. Non allergic inflammation of the nasal and sinus areas called vasomotor rhinitis (VMR). This can start at different times of your life and can also follow a sinus infection. It does not respond to antibiotics and is not related to allergy. It gets worse with anything that causes increased blood flow to the area, such as cold weather, some spicy foods, emotions, high blood pressure etc. One way to test for this is a short course of oral steroids. If this is VMR, the swelling will go down in a few days on this therapy. If this is the case, using inhaled nasal steroids, perhaps at a higher dose, might be of benefit.
I would suggest discussing these options with your physician.
A related discussion, turbinate infection was started.
A related discussion, swollen turbinates was started.
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