Since I turned 24 years old I've had bad sinus problems, i.e, mucus drainage, bloody noses and headaches. I received a cat scan and the doctor prescribed 6 weeks of antibiotics that haven't seemed to be work (I'm on my 5th week). He has diagnosed me with chronic sinusitis blah blah blah and suggests I get surgery. I guess I'm wondering what anyone might tell me about this route. Is surgery a solution? My insurance won't cover it, but I'm willing to pay out of pocket if it will work because I constantly feel sick.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Sinus Surgery
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
Emily65Roses
New member
What exactly is the surgery going to entail?
Well, the doctor said the operation would be going in and making the mucus drain better? I guess he hasn't quite answered my questions yet... I have an appointemt once my 6 weeks of antibiotics are up, but I can't screw around very much because every appointment costs me a couple hundred. I'm really looking for success or failure stories on surgery or even a better route?
LindseyRose
Member
I have had sinus surgery 3 times since 1999. I get a bronch at the same time, since I'm already under the anesthesia. For me, the sinus surgery did help, but from what I understand once you've had one you need to have them every couple years. I could be wrong on this, you may want to look into it more. That may be a lot more than you want to dive into, especially if you are paying out of pocket. Good luck!
My sister who has CF also has had numerous sinus surgeries. She has polyps from CF and usually once a year she has to get them "scraped" as she says. She gets terrible headaches and pressure from them. SHe had a lung transplant 4 years a ago but she still has the sinus problems. One surgery didnt do it . If your insurance doesnt cover it than it could get costly if you have to keep getting it done. Just a thought, have you tried looking into alternative therapies. I know some people dont believe in them but if you are going to be paying for it anyway maybe invest in something less invasive like accupuncture or homeopathic medicine. It might be worth it to see a naturapath just to see if they think they can help you. I know i wouldnt want surgery if I can avoid it. Surgery probably wont "cure" your problem but alternative medicine treats the problem not just the symptoms like drugs and procedures often due. Even try doing some research on the net about it. Im sure something out there could help you, there is no harm in trying. Good luck
Kris
22/CFRD, CFR liver disease, pre transplant lung/liver
"im still not done living yet"
Kris
22/CFRD, CFR liver disease, pre transplant lung/liver
"im still not done living yet"
I have had 5 polyps surgery's . I would't say surgery is the answer. I thought it would be the answer. But it isn't .The surgery does help you to smell and taste food you are eating for a while then the polyps come back. And then you are back to not being able to smell or taste food and feeling like your nose is always stuffed up. Do you take sinus sprays at all? Has your doctor said anything about taking that? Good luck!
Surgery can be a temporary solution. I had my nasal polyps removed in 1999, and am not yet at the stage where they need to get removed again. They are there and do cause some problems, but not enough to have me back for another operation. For some people, the surgery doesn't have to be repeated for many years, but for some the polyps grow straight back. The operation usually only involves a one-night stay in hospital. It can be rather painful for around a week [headaches etc] but it makes a HUGE difference after that. You never realise how bad your smell/taste is until you get the polyps removed. It's just an amazing feeling once they're removed <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Make sure you ask the doctor exactly what is going to happen in the operation and you meet the surgeon beforehand. Common side effects are things like black eyes, and there are some nastier, less common ones. It's ultimately up to you if you want to go through with it, because the outcome can't really be predicted. But at least it provides relief for a little while! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Hope that helped a little,
Emma
Make sure you ask the doctor exactly what is going to happen in the operation and you meet the surgeon beforehand. Common side effects are things like black eyes, and there are some nastier, less common ones. It's ultimately up to you if you want to go through with it, because the outcome can't really be predicted. But at least it provides relief for a little while! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Hope that helped a little,
Emma
I have had <b>14</b> sinus sergeries for polyps and sinusitis. My ORL doc always told me that the older I get, the more the sinus problems will slow down. For example when I was 5 I was having 1 - 2 surgeries every year, stopping at 16. Didn't need another until I was 18. And after that, I went 6 yrs without major sinus problems and just had another surgery a few months ago. Physically, the surgery was a piece of cake! I was only in the hospital for 1 night. The only thing to keep in mind is that I had to be on IV antibiotcs for 7 days before surgery and had to stay out of work for 2 weeks. I absolutely say go for it! I know how bad those headaches can get and all of the infections that get trapped in your sinuses will always find their way down to your lungs. Who knows what your situation may be in 2 yrs if you do need another surgery, maybe you'll have a better health insurance by then? Good luck!
Melanie 24f w/cf
Melanie 24f w/cf
I had polyps removed 7 years ago. They came back about 6 months after the surgery (and are still there) but haven't caused too much trouble *knock on wood.* When I got them out, my doctor put me on Flonase which is supposed to shrink them. It works pretty well (although it smells like beer). He also told me to wash out my sinuses with saline a few times a day or whenever needed...and that helps a lot! I have sinus pain all the time and if I irrigate my sinuses in the morning my sinus headaches aren't that bad during the day. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
erin
19/f/cf
erin
19/f/cf
Hey everyone I just had sinus surgery on Mon and also had a g-tube put in. The sinus surgery went so great I didn't have any discmofort or brusing at all it looked like I didn't even have i done. So far it has helped a lot. I don't wake up anymore coughin and gagging from pos nasal drip and my head feels a lot less pressured. My ORL doc says I have to start comin in once a month to have Tobi squirted up my nose. He says that it helps with keeping the nose clear and bacteria free. All in all I am glad I did it because I feel so much better and I know that in a couple of weeks I will probably feel great since I just had the surgery done Mon. I hope everyone else's noses are doing wel <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Nicole 22 CF
Nicole 22 CF
My son had his tonsils, adenoids and nasal polyps removed (he was three at the time). The nurses wouldn't schedule his follow up until til two weeks after the surgery, surgeon was going on vacation. He had ton of packing in his nose with a string attached to and hanging out of nose. we were told not to mess with and if it did fall out we should dispose of ther packing. A week after the surgery he was playing in his room and he came out and the packing was not hanging from his nose. He said he threw it in the toilet and that was that. The other one fell out a few days later and I disposed of it. When he went in for his follow-up, I told the Dr. that I never even saw the first packing and that I threw away the other. He was examing my sons nose and was shocked to find the packing shoved so far into his sinuses that he had to get a scope and remove it!!! It was one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen, the Dr. has performed of 3000 sinus surgeries and has never seen that before! I guess the moral of this surgery is dont mess with your nose after surgery. My son had that done 1 year ago and has been doing great, no snoring or mouth breathing.
I do not mean to scare you, but this is more of a warning to be careful if you do consider having the surgery. I had sinus surgery 8 years ago, and went in the hospital very healthy and left with b.cepacia. I didnt know i had contracted the cepacia till about a year later when i had a sputum test because of all the lung infections i was getting, one right on top of the other. I hadnt been in the hospital before and always had very high pft's. I had no contact with any other cf patients, and never even heard of b.cepacia till i found out i had it. Looking back on things ,i was totally careless when i was in the hospital for the surgery, not knowing there was something like b.cepacia out there waiting for an opportunity. My advice is...... if you have to be hospitalized ask the nurse for a box of alcohol wipes and wipe off EVERYTHING you touch. Bedrails, phone, door knobs, table ,sink faucets, toilet handle, you name it ! anytime you leave the room and return, wash your hands immediately.... Had i done this, i may have avoided getting b.cepacia. The surgery wasnt too bad, i didnt want any pain medication afterwards, and the pain wasnt bad at all. I just wasnt allowed to lay flat , sneeze, blow my nose , lean over , or put any type of pressure on my nose for 2 weeks.
~Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia
~Diane 39 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia
i have had quite a few sinus surgeries: 1 overnight (with packing and all), 2 or 3 outpatient surgeries (w/ anesthesia), and 3 or 4 "procedures" in the office (numbing medicine, and some pain killers - but you are awake).
You might ask about the outpatient/office procedures (less money).. depends how far up they go to get the polyps / or what they are after.
Any anestesia should be avoided for CF, since that just increases risk of infections.. hospitals are nasty, germ filled places.. along with Dr offices.
It does make a difference afterward - you can smell, and taste again .. and gets rid of migraine headaches/pressure (for a while).
Once i started the nasal rinse (twice daily) i have been doing better (fewer polyps, etc)... also Flonase and Prednisone steriod packs work (but weaken your immune system)... for short periods of time.
i'd try other alternatives/meds (flonase,pred, dexamethazone, etc.) before the surgery though.. it should be last resort..i.e. when the polyps are so huge/blocking and the flonase/steroids don't help anymore (they shrink soft tissue, and polyps are hardened tissue).
Maybe this helps/gives some questions to ask the Docs..
Funny, one reply said their sinus problems got better with age.. i started having mine around 30yrs old. and have been getting worse.
You might ask about the outpatient/office procedures (less money).. depends how far up they go to get the polyps / or what they are after.
Any anestesia should be avoided for CF, since that just increases risk of infections.. hospitals are nasty, germ filled places.. along with Dr offices.
It does make a difference afterward - you can smell, and taste again .. and gets rid of migraine headaches/pressure (for a while).
Once i started the nasal rinse (twice daily) i have been doing better (fewer polyps, etc)... also Flonase and Prednisone steriod packs work (but weaken your immune system)... for short periods of time.
i'd try other alternatives/meds (flonase,pred, dexamethazone, etc.) before the surgery though.. it should be last resort..i.e. when the polyps are so huge/blocking and the flonase/steroids don't help anymore (they shrink soft tissue, and polyps are hardened tissue).
Maybe this helps/gives some questions to ask the Docs..
Funny, one reply said their sinus problems got better with age.. i started having mine around 30yrs old. and have been getting worse.