Sinus Problems

[IrishEddie85]

Im just after my second sinus surgery where my doctor had to remove polups (not sure bout spelling) from inside my nose and a whole lot of infected mucus. He told me I would have to go back for surgery about every 2 years to keep my sinuses clear. I was wondering if anyone had a more permanent solution as all my chest infectons seem to be directly connected to my nose and with out my sinus problems I Think I would go much longer without need for IV treatment. In case anyone was wondering I dont have bad allergies which effect my sinuses they just seem to get blocked over time with no reason

 

[Mockingbird]

The doctor says you'll have to go in every two years, but you can definetely control that. My doctor said the same thing to me ten years ago, and I've only had two since then. Just be sure to take care of your health, and your nose should follow. =-)

Jarod
22 w/cf

 

[Mockingbird]

oh, and I think the chest infects the nose, not the other way around, but I'm not sure about that. =-)

 

[mezzanine]

Hey, I'm sitting at home recovering from the same thing....

I had sinus surgery about 5 years ago in New Zealand, and was told I'd need it done several times again in my life, every few years probably.

Then I moved to Vancover (canada) and got operated on just last week. I've been told that if I take care of myself, do all the aftercare, it will be permanent. The only downfall to this is I have to go see my doctor every month or so, so for, anyway, I'm trapped in Vancouver.

The options I was told about for this permanent surgery were being put on a 7 year wait list, going privately in canada (where I have residency but not citizenship - not sure if that makes any difference) for 10 grand CA$ or going to the stated for about 50$.
I got put on some emergency short list and got a surgery date 3 weeks after being scanned... this was because of cf, the mess my sinuses were in, the fact that I have (had, at least..) plans to leave here in a few months, and because there just happened to be an unfilled emergency slot at that time.

Within Canada there's a place in Vancouver and and place in Toronto. My doctor said they're the only places, I'm not sure if he meant locally (w/in north america) or the world.

Depending on where you're based, and what your money situation is like, it could be worth coming to vancouver to get it done once and for all....

let me know if you want to know anything else about this that I might know.

 

[Mockingbird]

What did the surgery involove? I mean, how was it different from regular Polyp surgery?

 

[IrishEddie85]

thanks for the info I tried my best with the aftercare the last time but it didnt seem to help that much. maybe it will go better this time. Im in Ireland and my doc didnt mention a diffrent op at all but now at least I know it exists even if it is way out of my price range

 

[mezzanine]

mockingbird- I don't know. It's yuck. It was all done with computers..... www.drjaver.com will tell you all.

IrishEddie- maybe one day this magical new medical technology will spread. I'm not a citizen here and I didn't pay. Maybe you could move here for a little while? I' don't know much about how these things work.

 

[shamrock]

Eddie, I dont think the money thing would be a problem with us cas everything is covered for us.

 

[Mockingbird]

oh, man that is high tech! I think it'll take about ten or so years before it's cheap enough to really get around. Like the laser eye surgery, remember that? At first it was way expensive, and not all that available, but now it's everywhere, and a lot cheaper. if you don't have the money now, just wait for a bit. =-)

 

[Mockingbird]

Sham, it's still covered even if you have to leave Ireland?

 

[IrishEddie85]

Shamrock, Ya everything is covered if they do the op here sounds a bit hiteck for most of the doctors Ive been treated by here

 

[anonymous]

I don't really have a permanent solution but my boyfriend (23, W/CF and 13 sinus surgeries) shoots salty medicated water up his nose twice a day everyday. I don't know the name of the medication but I know it's salty water, I don't know if this was offered to you as a possible treatment so I just wanted to mention it.

My boyfriend was operated on a few weeks ago and the doctor told us that it was important to 'clear out' the sinuses so that it would not go down to the lungs and infect everything. I wish I could say the operation went well but it didn't (he's fine now though, just gave us quite a scare! (even if I do know it is not his fault)).

Good luck!

Amélie <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/heart.gif" border="0">

 

[AngieM]

My 10 yr old stepdaughter w/ CF does nasal washes once a day. The solutions we make is 8 oz luke warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt, and a pinch of baking soda. (Dont know if amount of ingredients would be different for an adult) She fills a bulb syringe, which can be purchased at a local pharmacy, and sucks it up one nostril and then the other. The goal is to have the solution come out of the other nostril. Her doc said this would help in preventing infections and the instruction sheet we have says it benefits those with sinusitis. Hope this helped.

Angie

 

[anonymous]

We do the same only use more - 1 quart of warm, sterile water mixed with 2 tsps of pickling or canning salt (no iodine) and 1 tsp of baking soda. Use 1/2 in the am, 1/2 in the pm. I've also heard of some people adding xylitol to the mixture and some people using GSH. Anyone on here using the xylitol or GSH intranasally? Just wondering what your experience with these were. Thanks!