I went for somnoplasty today to reduce the size of nasal turbinates. After two or three hours of sleep they always become enlarged closing off my nose making me unable to continue using my nasal mask. So far I can't get used to a full face mask.
This is a procedure where radio waves are used to reduce the size of the turbinates which are inside your nose. It's done with a local anesthetic.
I had slight discomfort. My doctor was surprised that I felt anything at all, but then it always takes an extra shot to kill the pain when I go to the dentist, so this was no surprise.
One nostril seems better, but the other doesn't. People usually see some effect immediately and then more over the next six weeks, so it's hard to say what will happen.
The doctor did comment that my turbinates had unusually heavy scarring. He asked if I had allergies. I told him that a few years ago I was diagnosed with severe dust mite allergies. When I addressed those I noticed an immediate improvement in my sinuses. All my life until then I'd had a constant low grade runny nose.
It looks like the dust mite allergies caused some permanent damage. I believe my nasal problems are a big part of my sleep apnea.
Tonight I will see how long I can use my CPAP. Wish me luck.
Somnoplasty a partial success.
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Why not aggresively go after the dust mite allergy problem until
it makes a difference?? Use mattress and pillow covers designed to
block mites. Rip carpet out of your house and replace with tile or
wood floors. Get humidity under 50% and put chemicals on the floor
to kill those suckers. Put you sheet in boiling water. Stick you blankets in
the freezer for a couple of days. That really, really worked for me with
my electric blanket!! Run a HEPA filter 24 hours/day and do allergy shots
to build up tolerance. Get nasal irrigator and flush out your sinuses twice/day.
Clean the heck out of everything, especially your bedroom. Then get
on steroid nose spray in conjunction with a decongestant and antihistamine.
Use breathrite nose strips and the best kept secret --- go get a herb
like echinacea or butterbur and take two 3 hours before bedtime.
it makes a difference?? Use mattress and pillow covers designed to
block mites. Rip carpet out of your house and replace with tile or
wood floors. Get humidity under 50% and put chemicals on the floor
to kill those suckers. Put you sheet in boiling water. Stick you blankets in
the freezer for a couple of days. That really, really worked for me with
my electric blanket!! Run a HEPA filter 24 hours/day and do allergy shots
to build up tolerance. Get nasal irrigator and flush out your sinuses twice/day.
Clean the heck out of everything, especially your bedroom. Then get
on steroid nose spray in conjunction with a decongestant and antihistamine.
Use breathrite nose strips and the best kept secret --- go get a herb
like echinacea or butterbur and take two 3 hours before bedtime.
I do have pillow and mattress encasements. I did not go so far as to remove carpet. I do steam clean it periodically and vacuum regularly. Those steps made a big difference almost immediately.
I tend to think the scarring is left over from the days before I addressed this, but I'll think about doing more.
The swelling of the turbinates is something that happens to everyone when they sleep. It is not necessarily an allergic reaction from what I'm told. My nasal passages are unusually small to begin with and I have a deviated septum.
I tend to think the scarring is left over from the days before I addressed this, but I'll think about doing more.
The swelling of the turbinates is something that happens to everyone when they sleep. It is not necessarily an allergic reaction from what I'm told. My nasal passages are unusually small to begin with and I have a deviated septum.
3 posts
• Page 1 of 1