JJ5

Saline rinses stop infection, they have helped me tremendously.

When you have sinus surgery the sinus cavities are packed densely with gauze etc., not just as wound care from surgery but to keep the spacial clearances "open" and shaped so they can fufill their function (air filled when they are normal)eventually after healing. I'm not sure if they have any surgery for sinuses that does not get followed up by packing for the spacial reason.

If that happens, I would do that surgery in a minute.

FainaAgain

I suffered, and went through all kinds of tests. CT scan excluded infection, though.

Allergist couldn't find what is it I'm allergic to, but prescribed some sprays.

The nose/throat specialist said the surgery may help if the sprays help, but was not enthusiastic about it.

I use OTC spray NasalCrom 1-2 times a day, depends on how I feel.

And I do understand why you don't want that schnapps. I don't like mint. Chocolate liquor is so much better!

enzian

When I was a teenager my parents and I all went to an ENT doctor who used the sinus irrigation. I haven't had an infection (or any "sinus trouble") since.

When my son developed chronic sinus infections at age 10, our doctor suggested orthodonture over surgery (which I would not have considered for him anyway). The orthodonture lowered a narrow palate and made more room for the sinuses. He's been fine ever since too.

JJ5

Wow, enzian, that sounds like an excellent idea and outcome. But I'm pretty sure that it must be done before a certain age. Maybe not- but it would depend upon the bone condition re new growth/healing. Did they have to take donor bone from another area, or did they just lower and excise (nothing to add) with what he had? At 10 you can grow new bone pretty quickly.

In my case the jaw WAS related to a sinus and they used phoney biologic bone substitute on the upper jaw and hinge and in my chin (came in a tube) and also some tissue donated from the palate (roof of my mouth). That's one of the reasons it ended up in repeats, not enough tissue etc. If I was a car, I would be bondo.

You sound like you had a great orthodontist. That's good to know if my one Granddaughter does not improve- she's 7.

enzian

JJ5---no, it was nothing drastic or traumatic at all. The orthodontist put a bar inside the roof of his mouth that could be lengthened, a wee bit at a time---it had a little thing my son turned 1/4 turn each day with a tiny
Allen wrench. It caused an odd sensation, but no pain, and there was no bone gained or lost; just the shape of the palate was changed. After several weeks of this he ended up with a gap between his front teeth, but that was easily remedied with the braces, which was the second step. Now he's a handsome young man with a great smile and no more sinus trouble.

I think this is a fairly common procedure, and I'm so glad our doctor suggested this route. I would guess it does have to be done at an early age, for the same reason most orthodonture is done when kids are around 11 or 12.

karens

I've had sinus infections, 3 or 4 a year since I was in my late teens. A few years ago, I was getting infections that were not responding to the strongest antibiotics (first Levagquan, then the A antibiotic whose name escapes me right now -Avelox?). A cat scan revealed a very deviated septum. As much as I dreaded it, I clearly needed surgery.

As my ENT described it, it wasn't "pleasant". By far, the worst for me was recovering from the general anesethesia. I was miserable and ended up staying in the hospital about 5 hours past when they originally said I could expect to leave. The nurses kept asking me, don't you want to go home? I was so weak I couldn't even talk, and was really dizzy. As soon as the anesethia wore off, I felt so much better.

I did have packing overnight. I can't imagine living with that for a week.

The ENT said my septum looked like a boxer's - it was so crooked. He said he cleared out a lot of infection from the sinuses in my cheeks b/c it just could not drain on its own.

The surgery was a success - I didn't have a sinus infection for at least 18 mos. following the surgery, and now I get 1 or maybe 2 a year.

I think it's also related that I seem to sleep much sounder at night - maybe b/c I can breathe easier.

trippinkpj

So several years ago (7 or 8) my primary care physician referred me to an ENT because of a deviated septum. the ENT confirmed that I had one, but said in my case the surgery may not resolve the problem so advised against it. After many years of prescriptions for pills, nasal sprays, herbal steams, various over the counter pills, I'm ready to have my current PC dr. refer me to another ENT. At the moment Flonase is working okay for me. But I'm still not "clear".

jetset1

karens.. I made an app't with the dr. who specializes in sinus here. I really think I have a terrible infection which your post speaks to.
My face is hot, I feel like the white blood cells are all fighting to the death in there. Will be wonderful when this gets fixed. take care, J.