Update on me and my long allergy story!

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rush_rulz

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Well, I found out what is wrong with me finally! I have a blocked left maxillary sinus cavity (CAT Scan showed this) and also, a polyp and a deviated septum. Allergist is recomending I move forward with sinus surgery with an ENT. You would think that by now (I have been through a lot of surgeries) that I would be a pro at this sort of thing but nose surgery scares the dickens out of me!! I read about how they may insert a gauze or "packing" into your nose and this is painful. But I also read they may use a gel which wouldn't involve doing the bandages. That sounRAB better, but I am debating if this surgery would be worth it for me since we think I may still have bad allergies. And, other health issues are preventing me from getting the shots. So, if I'd need the shots first then it may not be worth it but I think the reason shots never worked in the past is a corabination of things for me and that my body is trying to fight the infection if the filled sinus cavity.
 
Well, the surgery won't help your allergies. You'll stil have them it's just that your sinuses should drain better and you should have fewer sinus infections. The allergies themselves are an entirely different story. I have had allergies all my life. Hand my deviated septum repaired at age 15, nasal passage drilled open, several other minor procedures and I still went thru the shots (3 times actually in the last 40 years).
 
I saw the ENT. He wasn't able to view my scan yet, as the other place hadn't sent it. He did examine my nose and sampled (yum!) some of the stuff he saw coming down from my ehtmoid sinuses. He said it was clear though and didn't think bacterial at this point. He also didn't really tell me to rush out and get the surgery just yet, as the goal of it would be to minimize the occurance of sinus infections and the duration of them-however since I'll still get allergies and still even get some inflamation from that, I am scared to go ahead w/ the surgery just yet since he would put me on an aggressive round of antibiotics and steroiRAB to help the healing process. Oh, and he also said from looking at me that I may be like some patients in that if we tried the antibiotics for a long time say 4 or more weeks it might knock it out of me. But he'll know more once he reviews my scan, as that showed an entirely blocked maxillary sinus BUT wouldn't he have been able to see this yesterday at least a little when he looked around in there? If he can see from the uppers (ethmoid and sphenoid) can't he also see some of the maxillary? He didn't see anything there, if he did look there. Although I do have some kind of "spur" on my right side which could be causing the congestion I'm prone to get there (I'm guessing that last part!).

So, I plan to wait things out and see. re: the surgery. Although he told me most people are fully recovered after 2 weeks, it still sounRAB nasty enough to want to do when you don't have fun stuff going on in the summer months. Also, at least I can breath out of 1 nostril now- w/ the surgery for awhile you can't breath out of either! Yuck! But, not ruling it out entirely, since I do tend to get a lot of infections, though some of mine last year were deemed as "viruses" and of course if that's the case, antibiotics will not work. So, that's my update for now. Ain't it all just FUN?!?!
 
Posting a quick update!

Still considering surgery, but can't yet, as I am due in Deceraber with my 1st child. Sinuses got pretty bad at the beginning of my pregnancy, with the pregnancy rhinitis. Anyway, I want to know other peoples' stories, such as did septoplasty work or not. Now that I'm on insurance and can afford the surgery that isn't a problem, but I'm VERY afraid of the not being able to breath at all through the nose because at least now I can somewhat and I also have bad acid reflux which causes me to gag to the point of throwing up...obviously could be a hindrance to trying to breath out of the mouth only! So very concerned about that. My ENT said I might want to try taking a huge round of antibiotics (say 4 + weeks) before trying the surgery. I basically just have the deviated septum and swollen tissue which causes draining problems and a spur on one side of my nose. But that's it. The ENT I saw is supposed to be reputable...but I may get a 2nd opinion before just jumping into surgery...at the very least another CT scan as mine was April of this year and ENT wants me back next may. I will have to wait longer than that to get the surgery due to using up all my sick leave at work, thinking Deceraber of next year since I get 2 weeks off for Christmas at work. But, I do wonder what others' stories are, if the septoplasty was worth it or not because I have heard some people get WORSE from surgery...and that scares me because I've already had 6 surgeries (not sinus related but still- one was for the reflux and obviously didnt' help!) and thats just too many times to be put under. Sinus would make 7. Actually, the C section to have my baby will make 7 . Ugg.
 
hey rush.. you sound like me. I have lots of allergies, acid reflux and the same exact sinus problems. I have been putting off surgery for years. I have been on allergy shots for about 6 years now (REALLY sick of it). It has helped but I still have allergies. I have already had 4 other non-sinus surgeries as well, the last of which was this past January. I am so sick of this sinus pain that I am biting the bullet and getting it done in October! I can't wait to get it done. He told me he does this technique where I don't have to have the packing and I am very happy about that. Don't be afraid to talk to different doctors and ask how they do their surgery. My doctor does the laser turbinate reduction which is supposed to be quicker healing of the sinus tissue. My understanding is you just need about 1 week off of work unless you have a physically demanding job in which you probably want 2 weeks off. good luck, and congrats on the baby coming!
 
Thanks wakkochic! I'm assuming long term course antibiotics didn't help you huh? I hope your surgery goes well and this is crazy- my last surgery was in Jan, too! That is why I need the C-section...I had what was supposed to be a routine lap (my 2nd one of those) for endometriosis, but they found a golf ball sized tumor in my uterus and had to cut me quickly to get it out-thus, I got pregnant two months later, so my dr doesn't want my uterus rupturing in labor, hence the c section and yet another surgery.
 
hey rush, the only time I had to go on a long course antibiotic regimine was last year. Took almost 2 months to get rid of that one. Most of mine respond to a single Z-pack. My problem is while they go away, the reoccur because my sinuses don't drain properly and I get a lot of sinus pressure and headaches.
 
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