James Skinner

Does anyone know how James made out with his surgery, or if he even had it.
Ed

I believe James opted not to have the surgery and is now working with an oral appliance. I saw a post by him a day or two ago, so he is still around. He'll probably tell you himself!

jen

wasn't he having a Vasectomy?

As usual, I'm clueless?!

Sometimes I can't tell if you are joking, Snoredog!

Jen

Snoredog wrote:wasn't he having a Vasectomy?

That would easily explain the decision not to have the surgery

the doctor would not get confused between the two different areas



wolf

Hi everyone, sorry that I have not been giving updates very often lately. I really just haven't been feeling that great.

Yes after being off CPAP for two months the nose improved enough that both the ENT and myself didn't think it was the right thing to do. I was relieved with this because it always seemed like it was treating the symptom rather than the problem.

About a month ago I got a Mantibular Advancement device. This helped control my apnea quite a bit. Its not as good as CPAP but a heck of a lot better than nothing. Most morning headaches are now gone.

Whatever started the nasal problem way back in Nov is still there. Infact if anything it has gotten worse (no surprise since nothing has really been done to correct it) Being off CPAP at least the turbinates are no longer being really irritated.

Whatever the problem is it seems to have invaded my entire airway now. I get lots of clear thick goo a couple times a day but its like nothing I have ever had come out of my nose before. Its watery clear.

Three weeks ago my GP prescribed an Amphotericin B nasal spray. this produced a lot of white gunk when doing my nasal rinse for a couple of weeks so it seems to me it was doing something good. It has helped the entry of my nose some but of course can't really address the rest of the airway. I feel like I have to clear my throat a lot trying to clear it up. My lungs seem to hurt now to so it whatever it is it may have spread into there too.

I have moved back to NS now and am besides myself on how to try and get help next. I just can't seem to get a doctor to take it seriously. I've lost all faith in Doctors. I'm seeing an ENT here in NS tomorrow so I have all my hopes pinned on that for now. If that doesn't work out I'm not sure what I will do. The last ENT that I saw here in NS questioned that I even have sleep apnea (saying that I don't look like an apnea patient and she could see no reason for obstructions in my airway) and then she refused to continue with me as her patient! Based on that my new GP here in NS is now unsure what to think and wants to retest everything.

I have to sleep on a recliner now as not being elevated causes breathing difficulties after I lie down for a while. I have to try to stay on my back or my down facing nostril blocks up which is not good when the nostirls are already constricted.

I'm having a pretty hard time dealing with it all.

Darn, James!!! I was hoping against hope that no news was good news! So you even had to leave your friend's place and move back home??? That has to be rough no matter how much we love and are grateful to our parents. I've been keeping you in my prayers and will continue to do so. By the way, as far as I am concerned "I" still owe "you".

james

i'm so sorry to read that you are still struggling so much

i had really hoped that the surgery was going to make a big difference to you, but i totally respect the decision not to go ahead with it

i hope the new ENT is able to help you, along with being in beautiful Nova Scotia (i have family there and as kids we all called it 'Notie Scotie' ) with family

please let us all know how the new dr. works out

we're pulling for you, james, and wishing you well, as you have done for so many of us

take good care
sharon

James, I'm so sorry to hear that things aren't going well for you now. I hope the new ENT will have some great ideas for things to try.

Be sure to take a long list of symptoms and thoughts about all of this. With all of the mucous, it sure sounds like allergy.

Let us know how it goes!

Jen

socknitster wrote:Be sure to take a long list of symptoms and thoughts about all of this. With all of the mucous, it sure sounds like allergy.

Actually I don't think its an allergy or at least not in the normal sence. I have cat and dog allergies and am quite familiar with allergic symptoms. This has been nothing like that. The Predinsone, steroids, or antihistamines tried would have helped if it here normal allergies I think.

-james

I remember back when I was 25, I used to get Bronchitis all the time, any little cold I'd be all clogged up and after a while my lungs would get all heavy, I'd have all that mucous at the back of my throat to the point where I couldn't breathe.

Went to one GP doctor, he looked down my throat, in my ears and nose and said I had a deviated septum with one side more than 90% blocked. I also sounded real nasal all the time talking. This was a GP not a ENT, he said if my sinuses didn't work properly they wouldn't drain, when they did drain they'd drain into the lungs faster than the lungs could get rid of it.

He sent me to a ENT surgeon and scheduled me for surgery, I just went along with it, didn't know or care back then if it was a good idea or not, my ex back then used to always tell me to breath through my nose, I always breathed through my mouth, she made the appointment.

I had the surgery and it was like they drained my brains afterward or like walking out of a warm room into -21F in Jackson Hole, I could finally breathe. I used to run a delivery route with 75 stops a day for Mission Industries, I missed 3-days of work with surgery happening on Wednesday (Wed, Thurs, & Fri) and went back to work the following Monday. I had a small cast over the bridge of my nose to wear for 7-10 days, so I had to explain to every one of my stops what happened, made for a long day.

But I never regretted having that surgery, if you have any congestion problems at all I'd have the surgery, just ASK for referrals from patients, you want to talk to someone who's used your doctor.

It could be that the ENT you have been going to is very conservative and those surgeries can go wrong, but if the Surgeon does them all the timer the risk is lower, just don't get a Micheal Jackson removable type, if you do get a tether for it so if it comes off on the dance floor you can find it

Can you find a way to go to a major medical center for help? Something like the Mayo Clinic in the US. They would likely find the right doctor for you and you would probably stay near there until they figured something out.
GeneS

Snoredog is probably on to something. I've never regretted my deviated septum surgery and would highly recommend it to anyone that is having breathing problems. My ENT told me they can make everyone breath better and I believe him.

I will never regrett having my turbinates reduced and minor deviated septum repaired. However, I think James says his nose looks normal to the docs when he is sitting up during the day, but swells up and blocks off breathing when he sleeps.

jen