Sinus surgery question

What is the LEAST invasive sinus surgery known to man that is effective for nasal congestion of the INFERIOR TURBS?

Gary

I would first try nasal or sinus irrigation, details of what you can buy on the net

I had that radio frequency procedure that shrinks them. Seemed to work pretty well. I also had my septum fixed which makes a major difference and is worth doing at the same time. I doesn't really hurt like you would think. The whole procedure is a blink of an eye, but go for general anaesthesia, don't let anyone tell you that is no problem, locals suck. Especially with the pain management these days. I got my tonsils out too, now that hurt.

Gary -

To be honest - I can't remember what all my ENT did last August. I know he fixed the deviated septum (he said one of the worst he had even seen - actually touched the side of my nostril), did somethign to the turbinates (don't remember what), and some major cleaning (read scraping) if frontal sinus cavities to clear out gunk from previous infections.

SUrgery was out-patient on a Thursday morning, I was home around lunch time... took one pain pill (lortab 7.5) that evening and another the next morning when I went to have the packing removed. There was one brief owie moment when the last of the packing came out, and after that.... I could actually breathe. I was at work as usual on Monday - well, not as usual, I could breathe through my nose.

I had suffered congestion/stuffy/runny nose and major sinus infections every 2-3 months ALL my life and just thought that was how it was.... Since the surgery, don't think I have had much if any nasal congestion and only occassional sinus pressure - zero sinus infections. I can breathe! Its wonderful!

I would recommend the surgery to anyone that has had major sinus issues.

nate fry wrote:I had that radio frequency procedure that shrinks them.

Are you talking about nasal congestion or sinus problems?

I have had two types of turbinate reduction:

1) Radio frequency (Jan 2009)
2) Submucus resection (May 2009)

Radio frequency is the least invasive. It takes about 4-6 weeks to work. I would recommend it as the first thing to try if you have decided on surgery. Its pretty quick and painless. I think some doctors do it right in their office although I had it done along with a septoplasty.

Did your nose use to work properly (suggesting its not structural)

Also you might want to read over this site before getting the procedure done to make sure you understand the correct questions to ask http://emptynosesyndrome.org/nose.html

Been there, done that.

gary

harry33 wrote:I would first try nasal or sinus irrigation, details of what you can buy on the net

I was talking to my sister on the phone today and we were discussing nasal congestion. She has it too. The difference between her and me is that she does not use a cpap. So in the middle of the night, she opens her mouth to breathe if necessary as nature intended. I suppose that is what I did prior to CPAP. Now with the CPAP, I can't open my mouth or air will come out. If I sleep without the cpap, I have learned subconsciously to hold the back of my tongue against my soft palate with the cpap, SO when I can't breathe, I wake up instead of opening my mouth when not on the cpap ( did that make sense?) I assume if I ever stop the cpap EVENTUALLY I will again learn to open my mouth while sleeping.

As I have said before, frequently during the day and night, I can breathe just fine. Typically, I get about 1.5 to 3 hours sleep in the beginning before waking up stuffy. I go down stairs in the middle of the night, walk around, sit, lie on my right side and wait for my nose to clear naturally and with SIMPLY SALINE which takes anywhere from 15 min to 2 hours. Usually it is 1.5 hours. I then go back to bed and get another 3 hours of sleep until I get stuffy again. NEVER ANY MUCUS, AND NEVER A RUNNY NOSE. NO ALLERGIES.

Gary

jskinner wrote:

nate fry wrote:I had that radio frequency procedure that shrinks them.

Are you talking about nasal congestion or sinus problems?

I have had two types of turbinate reduction:

1) Radio frequency (Jan 2009)
2) Submucus resection (May 2009)

Radio frequency is the least invasive. It takes about 4-6 weeks to work. I would recommend it as the first thing to try if you have decided on surgery. Its pretty much quick and painless.

What part of your nose swells up? Did your nose use to work properly (suggesting its not structural)

Also you might want to read over this site before getting the procedure done to make sure you understand the correct questions to ask http://emptynosesyndrome.org/nose.html/

I've too have nasal congestion that causes the occasional dry mouth upon awakening. And, like Garyland, I block air from leaking out my open mouth by tongue position; rarely air hisses out & if so the sound wakes me immediately so I close my mouth..never breathe in that I can determine. The 'getting up & walking around' helps but it also fully wakes me up and makes it hard to get back to sleep. These are the joys of the chronic allergy sufferer on CPAP. My doc won't recommend a FFM or a nasal CPAP as I have claustrophobia and freak out with anything large/heavy on my face. I have to be careful of cleaners as scents & residues cause congestion; using 7th Generation dish soap and then a 1/4 teaspoon of bromelin powder (from pineapples I think) in warm water as a 15-60 min soak to dissolve the protein gunk that gets in the nasal pillows following a night of congestion.

I used to spray each nostril with 1 squirt (or half if I could manage that) of Afrin or generic (12-hr no-drip moisturizing version) but now I get cardio side effects and can't spray; so I'm stuck with these occasional nights of horrible congestion. I'm pretty sure when this happens I'm having low oxygen episodes as I wake up suddenly with pulse rate increased, sometimes pounding, sometimes disoriented, sometimes breathless -- thank goodness these are few and far between. Gotta call doc as nasal irrigation (Grossan gadget & his solution) aren't helping much & neither is the steroid spray or nightly generic Claritin. Might need to get an oximeter to verify low O2 levels *sigh* -- anyone have recommendations for oximeters?

Or suggestions for dealing with episodes of congestion/allergies (like colds) that make CPAP difficult?

Radio ablation of turbinates is a new one...been yrs since I've been to an ENT (he started me on the nightly Afrin). Gotta ck it out.

I am sorry that you have to suffer with the congestion like I do. Here it is 2:30am. Tonight broke a record so far. This is the third time tonight so far I had to get out of bed and the night is far from over. THank god I am retired and can take as many daytime naps as I desire or need. At least I know that I am not totally alone with this. There are others across the globe sitting with a laptop on their laps trying to clear up.

With having OCD, I have tried fairly successfully to not let myself get as upset as I normally would over this situation. Hopefully the new ENT will give me some advise that will help...who knows.

Gary

Muse-Inc wrote:I've too have nasal congestion that causes the occasional dry mouth upon awakening. And, like Garyland, I block air from leaking out my open mouth by tongue position; rarely air hisses out & if so the sound wakes me immediately so I close my mouth..never breathe in that I can determine. The 'getting up & walking around' helps but it also fully wakes me up and makes it hard to get back to sleep. These are the joys of the chronic allergy sufferer on CPAP. My doc won't recommend a FFM or a nasal CPAP as I have claustrophobia and freak out with anything large/heavy on my face. I have to be careful of cleaners as scents & residues cause congestion; using 7th Generation dish soap and then a 1/4 teaspoon of bromelin powder (from pineapples I think) in warm water as a 15-60 min soak to dissolve the protein gunk that gets in the nasal pillows following a night of congestion.

I used to spray each nostril with 1 squirt (or half if I could manage that) of Afrin or generic (12-hr no-drip moisturizing version) but now I get cardio side effects and can't spray; so I'm stuck with these occasional nights of horrible congestion. I'm pretty sure when this happens I'm having low oxygen episodes as I wake up suddenly with pulse rate increased, sometimes pounding, sometimes disoriented, sometimes breathless -- thank goodness these are few and far between. Gotta call doc as nasal irrigation (Grossan gadget & his solution) aren't helping much & neither is the steroid spray or nightly generic Claritin. Might need to get an oximeter to verify low O2 levels *sigh* -- anyone have recommendations for oximeters?

Or suggestions for dealing with episodes of congestion/allergies (like colds) that make CPAP difficult?

Radio ablation of turbinates is a new one...been yrs since I've been to an ENT (he started me on the nightly Afrin). Gotta ck it out.

I'm up because it's grass pollinating time here in Atlanta & I'm having allergy probs -- I dread going to sleep. Of course, getting laidoff last March hasn't helped my stress level at all .