Sinus Surgery, what can I expect?

C

catalinaohara

New member
Hi,

I am 24 having sinus surgery next wednesday (19th) to 'clear' out my sinuses. Now, I have never had it before, and its not a imminent need, just something I've been encouraged to get done at some point. I do not have sinus "problems"...no pain, polyps, headaches, etc. However, my CT scan shows pretty much complete sinus blockage. I am told this is common even in CF-ers with no symptoms, and that perhaps over the years I have gotten used to my symptoms and therefore dont feel them anymore but that there "is a good chance I will feel better afterwards" even though I dont feel bad now.

So, what can I expect? I am starting a cleanout this thursday so that I can have about a week under my belt once i have the surgery, and a week or so after the surgery. Of course they are telling me that this is routine, simple surgery, and for non-CF-ers is day surgery (for me of course I'll stay in a couple nights). I do not necessarily take what they say as truth of course, I've been around this block enough! I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago and it really knocked me down (anesthesia, the procedure in general).

I want to know if I am making the right decision doing this when its not necessarily IMPERATIVE (who knows if it ever will be, and maybe I WILL feel better???)

experiences, advice, greatly appreciated

thanks

Caitlin
24 w/ CF and B. Cepacia.
 
C

catalinaohara

New member
Hi,

I am 24 having sinus surgery next wednesday (19th) to 'clear' out my sinuses. Now, I have never had it before, and its not a imminent need, just something I've been encouraged to get done at some point. I do not have sinus "problems"...no pain, polyps, headaches, etc. However, my CT scan shows pretty much complete sinus blockage. I am told this is common even in CF-ers with no symptoms, and that perhaps over the years I have gotten used to my symptoms and therefore dont feel them anymore but that there "is a good chance I will feel better afterwards" even though I dont feel bad now.

So, what can I expect? I am starting a cleanout this thursday so that I can have about a week under my belt once i have the surgery, and a week or so after the surgery. Of course they are telling me that this is routine, simple surgery, and for non-CF-ers is day surgery (for me of course I'll stay in a couple nights). I do not necessarily take what they say as truth of course, I've been around this block enough! I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago and it really knocked me down (anesthesia, the procedure in general).

I want to know if I am making the right decision doing this when its not necessarily IMPERATIVE (who knows if it ever will be, and maybe I WILL feel better???)

experiences, advice, greatly appreciated

thanks

Caitlin
24 w/ CF and B. Cepacia.
 
C

catalinaohara

New member
Hi,

I am 24 having sinus surgery next wednesday (19th) to 'clear' out my sinuses. Now, I have never had it before, and its not a imminent need, just something I've been encouraged to get done at some point. I do not have sinus "problems"...no pain, polyps, headaches, etc. However, my CT scan shows pretty much complete sinus blockage. I am told this is common even in CF-ers with no symptoms, and that perhaps over the years I have gotten used to my symptoms and therefore dont feel them anymore but that there "is a good chance I will feel better afterwards" even though I dont feel bad now.

So, what can I expect? I am starting a cleanout this thursday so that I can have about a week under my belt once i have the surgery, and a week or so after the surgery. Of course they are telling me that this is routine, simple surgery, and for non-CF-ers is day surgery (for me of course I'll stay in a couple nights). I do not necessarily take what they say as truth of course, I've been around this block enough! I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago and it really knocked me down (anesthesia, the procedure in general).

I want to know if I am making the right decision doing this when its not necessarily IMPERATIVE (who knows if it ever will be, and maybe I WILL feel better???)

experiences, advice, greatly appreciated

thanks

Caitlin
24 w/ CF and B. Cepacia.
 
C

catalinaohara

New member
Hi,

I am 24 having sinus surgery next wednesday (19th) to 'clear' out my sinuses. Now, I have never had it before, and its not a imminent need, just something I've been encouraged to get done at some point. I do not have sinus "problems"...no pain, polyps, headaches, etc. However, my CT scan shows pretty much complete sinus blockage. I am told this is common even in CF-ers with no symptoms, and that perhaps over the years I have gotten used to my symptoms and therefore dont feel them anymore but that there "is a good chance I will feel better afterwards" even though I dont feel bad now.

So, what can I expect? I am starting a cleanout this thursday so that I can have about a week under my belt once i have the surgery, and a week or so after the surgery. Of course they are telling me that this is routine, simple surgery, and for non-CF-ers is day surgery (for me of course I'll stay in a couple nights). I do not necessarily take what they say as truth of course, I've been around this block enough! I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago and it really knocked me down (anesthesia, the procedure in general).

I want to know if I am making the right decision doing this when its not necessarily IMPERATIVE (who knows if it ever will be, and maybe I WILL feel better???)

experiences, advice, greatly appreciated

thanks

Caitlin
24 w/ CF and B. Cepacia.
 
C

catalinaohara

New member
Hi,

I am 24 having sinus surgery next wednesday (19th) to 'clear' out my sinuses. Now, I have never had it before, and its not a imminent need, just something I've been encouraged to get done at some point. I do not have sinus "problems"...no pain, polyps, headaches, etc. However, my CT scan shows pretty much complete sinus blockage. I am told this is common even in CF-ers with no symptoms, and that perhaps over the years I have gotten used to my symptoms and therefore dont feel them anymore but that there "is a good chance I will feel better afterwards" even though I dont feel bad now.

So, what can I expect? I am starting a cleanout this thursday so that I can have about a week under my belt once i have the surgery, and a week or so after the surgery. Of course they are telling me that this is routine, simple surgery, and for non-CF-ers is day surgery (for me of course I'll stay in a couple nights). I do not necessarily take what they say as truth of course, I've been around this block enough! I had a bronchoscopy a few years ago and it really knocked me down (anesthesia, the procedure in general).

I want to know if I am making the right decision doing this when its not necessarily IMPERATIVE (who knows if it ever will be, and maybe I WILL feel better???)

experiences, advice, greatly appreciated

thanks

Caitlin
24 w/ CF and B. Cepacia.
 
L

lightNlife

New member
I've had this done twice now, and it has made a wonderful difference. Even though I wasn't feeling too lousy, I was amazed at how much better I felt once I had my sinuses cleaned out. I was finally able to breathe through my nose, I had fewer headaches, and the best part was, I had fewer lung infections. I did not have polyps or anything like that. I was just having frequent sinus infections that would eventually start causing problems in my lungs.

The procedure itself can vary depending on how your surgeon wants to do it. For my first surgery, the doc tunneled through a spot just above my gums to get into my sinus cavity. They chipped away at some bone or something in there to create a slightly larger sinus cavity for me. That was supposed to help off-set the inflammation that occurred with sinusitis. Recovery time for me on that one was about a week. I wasn't really in much pain at all, I just had to be careful about blowing my nose and stuff like that.

In my second surgery the doc went in through my nostril and scraped out all the junk that had accumulated in there. I wasn't as pleased with how that one turned out. The surgeon wasn't as careful to remember that I had a long prothrombin time (i.e. I bleed a lot) and he was a little rough. I had a dripping bloody nose for more than a day, and eventually I had to go to the ER and have a blood vessel cauterized to stop the bleeding. Once that was taken care of things were much better. I noticed a difference in the number of headaches I had, etc.

I think the worst part of the procedure is the anesthesia. I was quite nauseated both times, and it took awhile for me to be able to get my appetite back.

All in all, it was a benefit to me. The temporary discomfort of recovering from the procedure was nothing compared to the difference it made in my quality of life. I used to have constant sinus infections, and now I don't. Like you, I had started to just ignore the fact that I was having symptoms. The difference I felt after the surgery was awesome. I think you'll find great benefit from it too.

Hope it goes well for you! A word of advice...bring along a book or something to read while you're in pre-op. It can take awhile from the time you check in until the time they actually wheel you down to surgery. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
L

lightNlife

New member
I've had this done twice now, and it has made a wonderful difference. Even though I wasn't feeling too lousy, I was amazed at how much better I felt once I had my sinuses cleaned out. I was finally able to breathe through my nose, I had fewer headaches, and the best part was, I had fewer lung infections. I did not have polyps or anything like that. I was just having frequent sinus infections that would eventually start causing problems in my lungs.

The procedure itself can vary depending on how your surgeon wants to do it. For my first surgery, the doc tunneled through a spot just above my gums to get into my sinus cavity. They chipped away at some bone or something in there to create a slightly larger sinus cavity for me. That was supposed to help off-set the inflammation that occurred with sinusitis. Recovery time for me on that one was about a week. I wasn't really in much pain at all, I just had to be careful about blowing my nose and stuff like that.

In my second surgery the doc went in through my nostril and scraped out all the junk that had accumulated in there. I wasn't as pleased with how that one turned out. The surgeon wasn't as careful to remember that I had a long prothrombin time (i.e. I bleed a lot) and he was a little rough. I had a dripping bloody nose for more than a day, and eventually I had to go to the ER and have a blood vessel cauterized to stop the bleeding. Once that was taken care of things were much better. I noticed a difference in the number of headaches I had, etc.

I think the worst part of the procedure is the anesthesia. I was quite nauseated both times, and it took awhile for me to be able to get my appetite back.

All in all, it was a benefit to me. The temporary discomfort of recovering from the procedure was nothing compared to the difference it made in my quality of life. I used to have constant sinus infections, and now I don't. Like you, I had started to just ignore the fact that I was having symptoms. The difference I felt after the surgery was awesome. I think you'll find great benefit from it too.

Hope it goes well for you! A word of advice...bring along a book or something to read while you're in pre-op. It can take awhile from the time you check in until the time they actually wheel you down to surgery. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
L

lightNlife

New member
I've had this done twice now, and it has made a wonderful difference. Even though I wasn't feeling too lousy, I was amazed at how much better I felt once I had my sinuses cleaned out. I was finally able to breathe through my nose, I had fewer headaches, and the best part was, I had fewer lung infections. I did not have polyps or anything like that. I was just having frequent sinus infections that would eventually start causing problems in my lungs.

The procedure itself can vary depending on how your surgeon wants to do it. For my first surgery, the doc tunneled through a spot just above my gums to get into my sinus cavity. They chipped away at some bone or something in there to create a slightly larger sinus cavity for me. That was supposed to help off-set the inflammation that occurred with sinusitis. Recovery time for me on that one was about a week. I wasn't really in much pain at all, I just had to be careful about blowing my nose and stuff like that.

In my second surgery the doc went in through my nostril and scraped out all the junk that had accumulated in there. I wasn't as pleased with how that one turned out. The surgeon wasn't as careful to remember that I had a long prothrombin time (i.e. I bleed a lot) and he was a little rough. I had a dripping bloody nose for more than a day, and eventually I had to go to the ER and have a blood vessel cauterized to stop the bleeding. Once that was taken care of things were much better. I noticed a difference in the number of headaches I had, etc.

I think the worst part of the procedure is the anesthesia. I was quite nauseated both times, and it took awhile for me to be able to get my appetite back.

All in all, it was a benefit to me. The temporary discomfort of recovering from the procedure was nothing compared to the difference it made in my quality of life. I used to have constant sinus infections, and now I don't. Like you, I had started to just ignore the fact that I was having symptoms. The difference I felt after the surgery was awesome. I think you'll find great benefit from it too.

Hope it goes well for you! A word of advice...bring along a book or something to read while you're in pre-op. It can take awhile from the time you check in until the time they actually wheel you down to surgery. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
L

lightNlife

New member
I've had this done twice now, and it has made a wonderful difference. Even though I wasn't feeling too lousy, I was amazed at how much better I felt once I had my sinuses cleaned out. I was finally able to breathe through my nose, I had fewer headaches, and the best part was, I had fewer lung infections. I did not have polyps or anything like that. I was just having frequent sinus infections that would eventually start causing problems in my lungs.

The procedure itself can vary depending on how your surgeon wants to do it. For my first surgery, the doc tunneled through a spot just above my gums to get into my sinus cavity. They chipped away at some bone or something in there to create a slightly larger sinus cavity for me. That was supposed to help off-set the inflammation that occurred with sinusitis. Recovery time for me on that one was about a week. I wasn't really in much pain at all, I just had to be careful about blowing my nose and stuff like that.

In my second surgery the doc went in through my nostril and scraped out all the junk that had accumulated in there. I wasn't as pleased with how that one turned out. The surgeon wasn't as careful to remember that I had a long prothrombin time (i.e. I bleed a lot) and he was a little rough. I had a dripping bloody nose for more than a day, and eventually I had to go to the ER and have a blood vessel cauterized to stop the bleeding. Once that was taken care of things were much better. I noticed a difference in the number of headaches I had, etc.

I think the worst part of the procedure is the anesthesia. I was quite nauseated both times, and it took awhile for me to be able to get my appetite back.

All in all, it was a benefit to me. The temporary discomfort of recovering from the procedure was nothing compared to the difference it made in my quality of life. I used to have constant sinus infections, and now I don't. Like you, I had started to just ignore the fact that I was having symptoms. The difference I felt after the surgery was awesome. I think you'll find great benefit from it too.

Hope it goes well for you! A word of advice...bring along a book or something to read while you're in pre-op. It can take awhile from the time you check in until the time they actually wheel you down to surgery. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
L

lightNlife

New member
I've had this done twice now, and it has made a wonderful difference. Even though I wasn't feeling too lousy, I was amazed at how much better I felt once I had my sinuses cleaned out. I was finally able to breathe through my nose, I had fewer headaches, and the best part was, I had fewer lung infections. I did not have polyps or anything like that. I was just having frequent sinus infections that would eventually start causing problems in my lungs.

The procedure itself can vary depending on how your surgeon wants to do it. For my first surgery, the doc tunneled through a spot just above my gums to get into my sinus cavity. They chipped away at some bone or something in there to create a slightly larger sinus cavity for me. That was supposed to help off-set the inflammation that occurred with sinusitis. Recovery time for me on that one was about a week. I wasn't really in much pain at all, I just had to be careful about blowing my nose and stuff like that.

In my second surgery the doc went in through my nostril and scraped out all the junk that had accumulated in there. I wasn't as pleased with how that one turned out. The surgeon wasn't as careful to remember that I had a long prothrombin time (i.e. I bleed a lot) and he was a little rough. I had a dripping bloody nose for more than a day, and eventually I had to go to the ER and have a blood vessel cauterized to stop the bleeding. Once that was taken care of things were much better. I noticed a difference in the number of headaches I had, etc.

I think the worst part of the procedure is the anesthesia. I was quite nauseated both times, and it took awhile for me to be able to get my appetite back.

All in all, it was a benefit to me. The temporary discomfort of recovering from the procedure was nothing compared to the difference it made in my quality of life. I used to have constant sinus infections, and now I don't. Like you, I had started to just ignore the fact that I was having symptoms. The difference I felt after the surgery was awesome. I think you'll find great benefit from it too.

Hope it goes well for you! A word of advice...bring along a book or something to read while you're in pre-op. It can take awhile from the time you check in until the time they actually wheel you down to surgery. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
Hey there. I have had three sinus surgeries before. It really isnt a big deal, I didnt have any problems with it at all. In fact for my it was only a day surgery, I was in and out the same day, woke up starving and I had no problems with the anesthesia. I was about 14 when I had my first surgery. I'm 20 now, I havent had as many sinus problems as alot of CFers, the sinus flushes seem to maintain my sinus' really well. They also usually give you some good pain meds if you have any problems with that after the surgery. I only had to use em for a couple of days. It really isnt bad at all.

So you know a little more about me, I was diagnosed when I was three and my CF was not very bad for most of my life until I got to be a freshman in H.S. I usually had about 4-5 hospital stays a year after that and have now gotten a lung transplant. Im not sure how bad your CF is, but just so you can get an idea of how I am with CF procedures.
I do sometimes have problems with pain after my surgeries (its from one of the paralitics thats the anesthiologists use). Sometimes they dont have to use it though, it all depends on your breathing. Its a little confusing to me so Im not even sure if Im explaining it correctly.
Anyways, the sinus surgeries do help and then if you continue with sinus flushes and even you can flush them with an antibiotics, it helps alot so you dont have to have as many sinus surgeries.
I hope this helped.
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
Hey there. I have had three sinus surgeries before. It really isnt a big deal, I didnt have any problems with it at all. In fact for my it was only a day surgery, I was in and out the same day, woke up starving and I had no problems with the anesthesia. I was about 14 when I had my first surgery. I'm 20 now, I havent had as many sinus problems as alot of CFers, the sinus flushes seem to maintain my sinus' really well. They also usually give you some good pain meds if you have any problems with that after the surgery. I only had to use em for a couple of days. It really isnt bad at all.

So you know a little more about me, I was diagnosed when I was three and my CF was not very bad for most of my life until I got to be a freshman in H.S. I usually had about 4-5 hospital stays a year after that and have now gotten a lung transplant. Im not sure how bad your CF is, but just so you can get an idea of how I am with CF procedures.
I do sometimes have problems with pain after my surgeries (its from one of the paralitics thats the anesthiologists use). Sometimes they dont have to use it though, it all depends on your breathing. Its a little confusing to me so Im not even sure if Im explaining it correctly.
Anyways, the sinus surgeries do help and then if you continue with sinus flushes and even you can flush them with an antibiotics, it helps alot so you dont have to have as many sinus surgeries.
I hope this helped.
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
Hey there. I have had three sinus surgeries before. It really isnt a big deal, I didnt have any problems with it at all. In fact for my it was only a day surgery, I was in and out the same day, woke up starving and I had no problems with the anesthesia. I was about 14 when I had my first surgery. I'm 20 now, I havent had as many sinus problems as alot of CFers, the sinus flushes seem to maintain my sinus' really well. They also usually give you some good pain meds if you have any problems with that after the surgery. I only had to use em for a couple of days. It really isnt bad at all.

So you know a little more about me, I was diagnosed when I was three and my CF was not very bad for most of my life until I got to be a freshman in H.S. I usually had about 4-5 hospital stays a year after that and have now gotten a lung transplant. Im not sure how bad your CF is, but just so you can get an idea of how I am with CF procedures.
I do sometimes have problems with pain after my surgeries (its from one of the paralitics thats the anesthiologists use). Sometimes they dont have to use it though, it all depends on your breathing. Its a little confusing to me so Im not even sure if Im explaining it correctly.
Anyways, the sinus surgeries do help and then if you continue with sinus flushes and even you can flush them with an antibiotics, it helps alot so you dont have to have as many sinus surgeries.
I hope this helped.
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
Hey there. I have had three sinus surgeries before. It really isnt a big deal, I didnt have any problems with it at all. In fact for my it was only a day surgery, I was in and out the same day, woke up starving and I had no problems with the anesthesia. I was about 14 when I had my first surgery. I'm 20 now, I havent had as many sinus problems as alot of CFers, the sinus flushes seem to maintain my sinus' really well. They also usually give you some good pain meds if you have any problems with that after the surgery. I only had to use em for a couple of days. It really isnt bad at all.

So you know a little more about me, I was diagnosed when I was three and my CF was not very bad for most of my life until I got to be a freshman in H.S. I usually had about 4-5 hospital stays a year after that and have now gotten a lung transplant. Im not sure how bad your CF is, but just so you can get an idea of how I am with CF procedures.
I do sometimes have problems with pain after my surgeries (its from one of the paralitics thats the anesthiologists use). Sometimes they dont have to use it though, it all depends on your breathing. Its a little confusing to me so Im not even sure if Im explaining it correctly.
Anyways, the sinus surgeries do help and then if you continue with sinus flushes and even you can flush them with an antibiotics, it helps alot so you dont have to have as many sinus surgeries.
I hope this helped.
 
C

CountryGirl

New member
Hey there. I have had three sinus surgeries before. It really isnt a big deal, I didnt have any problems with it at all. In fact for my it was only a day surgery, I was in and out the same day, woke up starving and I had no problems with the anesthesia. I was about 14 when I had my first surgery. I'm 20 now, I havent had as many sinus problems as alot of CFers, the sinus flushes seem to maintain my sinus' really well. They also usually give you some good pain meds if you have any problems with that after the surgery. I only had to use em for a couple of days. It really isnt bad at all.

So you know a little more about me, I was diagnosed when I was three and my CF was not very bad for most of my life until I got to be a freshman in H.S. I usually had about 4-5 hospital stays a year after that and have now gotten a lung transplant. Im not sure how bad your CF is, but just so you can get an idea of how I am with CF procedures.
I do sometimes have problems with pain after my surgeries (its from one of the paralitics thats the anesthiologists use). Sometimes they dont have to use it though, it all depends on your breathing. Its a little confusing to me so Im not even sure if Im explaining it correctly.
Anyways, the sinus surgeries do help and then if you continue with sinus flushes and even you can flush them with an antibiotics, it helps alot so you dont have to have as many sinus surgeries.
I hope this helped.
 
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