Sinus Surgery: Your thoughts

granddi · ‎03-16-2010

Do you have experiences to share about sinus surgery.

Was the proceedure successful?

Did your sinus issues reoccur?

General anesthesia?

Pain and recovery?

Pittfanatic · ‎02-17-2024

@granddi I had sinus surgery several years ago. I had terrible sinus pain that kept reocurring in the same area. I am one of those people who tends to have sinus issues with every cold, but this time no over-the-counter or prescription medication seemed to help. I finally went to see an ENT specialist and he found that one of my sinus cavities was severely blocked. Surgery was the only thing that would clear it. The procedure was successful. I did have general anesthesia. I had a little pain afterward but I don't remember it being anything I couldn't handle. It does take a little time for it to heal. I still get sinus headaches once in a while but I do have allergies and there are several sinus cavities. In my case, the surgery was successful.

shoekitty · ‎03-10-2010

@granddi I had it it in 1991I think..?

I do remember it was the first day of of the Iran or Persian Gulf war. war, as it was on TV when I woke up ! I had a well known ENT do it, and he did what he called traditional method. He went in and and cleared sinus, deviated septum, and all the other bad areas, then packed my sinuses with gauze , then taped nose shut. I was quite scared about not being able to breath thru nose, but after a few hours I adjusted, and didn't notice. After 4 days I went in, he pulled gauze out and let it drop intro this huge, and I mean HUGEstain,ess bowl, lol! There had to be a long continuous piece a block long! When he was done , and I took my first real breath through nose...it was like a religious experience, lol! Omg, the clear air, like nothing I had experienced in years. Here I m 35 years later, and haven't had a sinus infection since. Breathing excellent.

my issues were chronic sinus infections. I about wore out the antibiotics I could take. I also developed serious allergies to many of of them. At the time I had a gift shop thy sold a lot of potpourri items. And I made it as well, working with essential oils that didn't help. Plus working with imported craft supplies. I was always sick, the sinus infections effected ears and such. I was always a mess doctor said I was the worst sinus case he had in his career. The last one I had was awful, I had mucusceles all over in there. All I could smell was rotted chicken smell. I know it's graphic, but that how bad I was. I would do it over again. With the right ENT surgeon , and the right method it can change your life. Most people I knkw have said that. Pretty much after the 4 days taped up, and after dr pulleys gauze out, recovery is quick. Only hurts a few days after surgery. My experience. Let me know what you decide, and I cn give more of the healing process I experienced

“sometimes you have to bite your upper lip and put sunglasses on”….Bob Dylan

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

Haven't had sinus surgery but have sinus issues.

Hope you can find some relief for you sinus issues.

I think mine are/were clogged up. I try to blow my nose but nothing coming out.

A while back my doctor told me to use Sovereign Silver. I couldn't find my bottle after bathroom reno so I finally bought another bottle.

I have been using it for several days. I was finally able to clear my sinus this morning. What a relief. My left sinus is clogged more than the right so my left ear is also blocked. After this morning I can now hear better.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@granddi wrote:
Do you have experiences to share about sinus surgery.
Was the proceedure successful?
Did your sinus issues reoccur?
General anesthesia?
Pain and recovery?

@granddi - I had turbinate reduction and polyp removal at the end of 2020, done under general anesthesia, as an outpatient procedure. I think it took less than an hour and I was home within a few hours. I don't remember much pain. The home care follow up required lots of nasal rinsing with a saline packet at first and then adding a steroid from a compounding pharmacy to the bottle. The nasal rinsing takes a little getting used to at first but quickly becomes second nature. Practice in advance. The amount of nasal rinsing eventually tapered off to AM & PM, but then ultimately stopping altogether. I also had a schedule of appointments with the ENT for him to monitor my recovery. Before surgery, I had difficulty breathing on one side, but especially at night and would often wake myself up with a snort. I believe I might have been having some apnea then. Since my recovery and release, I still see my ENT annually for a checkup. So far, no regrowth but I know that is always a possibility. I'm glad I had the surgery and grateful for being able to breathe freely all the time. If I ever have regrowth and the surgery is recommended again, I'd do it.

MoonieBaby · ‎07-19-2013

@granddi

Godspeed if this is something you will have to have done. I hope if you do, the recovery is quick and your problems are all gone.

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

Bad sinuses run (literally) on both sides of my family. Everyone's pockets are stuffed with Kleenex®, inhalers, nasal spray, decongestants, antihistimines and aspirin...

♥Surface of the Sun♥

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

A coworker has sinus infections that did not go away and she had surgery. She came back to work right away and it solved the problem. She was happy with the results.

PilatesLover · ‎08-20-2014

I had a turbinate reduction, and while he was in there, the ENT discovered the odd "shadow" on my CT scan was in fact a huge mycotoxin, a/k/a fungal infection, blocking my right sinus cavities. It probably started when I suffered through an awful case of Valley Fever during our time in Phoenix. That's a respiratory illness caused by desert fungal spores.

I wasn't packed with gauze or my nose blocked. He did laser outpatient surgery and I left the surgical center with a little "Kotex" under my nose held in place by loops around the ears. It look just like those old belts those of us from a certain generation had to deal with.

I recall waking up and saying "I can breathe!" followed by "I feel like I have a hangover." It wasn't fun, but the pain was manageable with Tylenol. After a day I didn't need the baby Kotex. I did the Neal Med sinus rinses and within two weeks felt wonderful.

Prior to the surgery I would get sinus infections repeatedly. I took massive amounts of antibiotics, and the pain was so bad doctors would sometimes write a percocet script. Every morning I woke up feeling like I'd been out all night drinking. I also snored.

My life is so much better now, it was worth those two weeks of recovery. My only regret is not doing it sooner.