Sinus Issues + Allergies
July 20, 2024 6:38 AM Subscribe
I know I'm not alone in this boat- I just saw an ENT and am assuming he will suggest surgery for deviated septum etc (as surgeons do!). I've been avoiding this for a long time. But I am worried that I will still have irritated sinuses from allergies (maybe even increased with increased breathing capabilities!). How to best coordinate care with ENT and allergist? (And does the surgery "work"?)
My repeated sinus infections and constant illnesses 2001-2019 (then intense mask break) just returned from not wearing a mask for a few days at work (a month ago!). I do NOT want to repeat this cycle again. (It ends with harsh antibiotics, and I've already taken wayyy too many).
My sinus infections seem to be deep inside (after random viral illnesses)- ie not really visible to regular doctors (via nasal passages, mucous) but manifesting in extreme tiredness and face pain. Because of this- and I've tried it all before- the regular sinus rinses etc don't seem to work. I think they are chronically inflamed deep inside probably due to allergies (dust), and I get sick easily (stress, exposure, genetically terrible immune system), and then my twisted deviated nasal passages misdirect things.
(I work in a High School so cannot control dust levels or exposure levels except with masking...but would like to address all of these issues so I can "move on with my life" and be healthier and less tired!!
Anyway, do most people with these sorts of issues address allergies and potential surgeries separately? (Also- anyone who had the deviated septum surgery- did the viral illness to sinus infection to antibiotic use reduce as a result??)
My repeated sinus infections and constant illnesses 2001-2019 (then intense mask break) just returned from not wearing a mask for a few days at work (a month ago!). I do NOT want to repeat this cycle again. (It ends with harsh antibiotics, and I've already taken wayyy too many).
My sinus infections seem to be deep inside (after random viral illnesses)- ie not really visible to regular doctors (via nasal passages, mucous) but manifesting in extreme tiredness and face pain. Because of this- and I've tried it all before- the regular sinus rinses etc don't seem to work. I think they are chronically inflamed deep inside probably due to allergies (dust), and I get sick easily (stress, exposure, genetically terrible immune system), and then my twisted deviated nasal passages misdirect things.
(I work in a High School so cannot control dust levels or exposure levels except with masking...but would like to address all of these issues so I can "move on with my life" and be healthier and less tired!!
Anyway, do most people with these sorts of issues address allergies and potential surgeries separately? (Also- anyone who had the deviated septum surgery- did the viral illness to sinus infection to antibiotic use reduce as a result??)
Best answer: I had a similar problem - allergies would cause my sinuses to become inflamed, and then I would get infections. It started in my 20s and got worse over time.
In my 50s I finally saw an ENT. They said I had a deviated septum and something else made my nasal passages smaller. They recommended I see an allergist before going for surgery. It helped some as it mostly decreased the frequency and severity of infections because of the steroid and antihistamine nasal sprays the ENT and allergist prescribed. But in the end I had the surgery.
I do not regret anything about it except waiting so long to get it. It has been a few years, and since then I have gone from 3 major and many minor infections in a year to maybe 1 minor one per year. I have been getting the allergy shots and now only need to use the antihistamine spray at peak allergy season.
I did underestimate the recovery time though. I was wiped for about a week or 10 days, and then it took about 2-3 more weeks before I was back to normal.
posted by procrastination at 8:13 AM on July 20, 2024 [2 favorites]
In my 50s I finally saw an ENT. They said I had a deviated septum and something else made my nasal passages smaller. They recommended I see an allergist before going for surgery. It helped some as it mostly decreased the frequency and severity of infections because of the steroid and antihistamine nasal sprays the ENT and allergist prescribed. But in the end I had the surgery.
I do not regret anything about it except waiting so long to get it. It has been a few years, and since then I have gone from 3 major and many minor infections in a year to maybe 1 minor one per year. I have been getting the allergy shots and now only need to use the antihistamine spray at peak allergy season.
I did underestimate the recovery time though. I was wiped for about a week or 10 days, and then it took about 2-3 more weeks before I was back to normal.
posted by procrastination at 8:13 AM on July 20, 2024 [2 favorites]
I have a deviated septum. Years ago, I kept getting sinus infections. My doctor sent me to an allergist for testing. Based on the results, I began avoiding the things I was allergic to (soy, wheat, etc.). This stopped my sinus infections and I haven't had one since. Of course, your case might be entirely different than mine, but it might be worth considering a discussion with your doctor(s) whether to start out by just addressing the allergy aspect and if that doesn't work, move on to the surgery option?
posted by SageTrail at 9:35 AM on July 20, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by SageTrail at 9:35 AM on July 20, 2024 [1 favorite]
My husband has had both nasal polyps and a deviated septum. He’s had the polyps surgically removed twice, and the last time the doc fixed his deviated septum as well. All has been well since. The septum work really seems to have helped him in terms of allergic reaction.
posted by dbmcd at 11:05 AM on July 20, 2024
posted by dbmcd at 11:05 AM on July 20, 2024
I also had this surgery for so, so many sinus infections that my doctor put me on continuous antibiotics for several years! Every time I stopped I got another infection. I finally developed an allergy to that antibiotic and had to consider surgery. I had the surgery about 20 years ago, and while it was a bitch to recover from for a few weeks, I haven't had a sinus infection since.
As a teacher you should have a good sick-leave policy, and I would suggest you plan for several weeks off, at least. You will have packing inside your nose, and typically it's not pulled out by the surgeon for at least a week, so you need ample time to recover. It was worth it for me!
posted by citygirl at 11:22 AM on July 20, 2024
As a teacher you should have a good sick-leave policy, and I would suggest you plan for several weeks off, at least. You will have packing inside your nose, and typically it's not pulled out by the surgeon for at least a week, so you need ample time to recover. It was worth it for me!
posted by citygirl at 11:22 AM on July 20, 2024
I had septum surgery (and removal of extra turbinate tissue) last November. For me it’s been a great success, but I had already been getting allergy shots for several years by then. Best part is blowing my nose actually works now; it used to be my nose would be stuffy and runny so I’d blow it but it would still feel just as stuffy. Now I blow it, and for a little while, it is clear. Also for the first time in life the advice to “breathe through your nose” is actionable instead of comical. I also had to stop taking Sudafed due to a heart condition, and none of the nasal sprays really helped very much— so I’ve been thrilled that the surgery means I am very rarely fully stuffed up now.
I’ve actually come off one of my daily allergy drugs now (I only take Zyrtec otc at this point). And my sleep apnea is greatly improved too. So for me all round A+ would do again.
Mr Nat had a very similar surgery in December. He reports it has been helpful, but not nearly as much as me. He plans on starting allergy shots soon, since his seasonal allergies were actually a little worse this year (although other things improved post surgery). FWIW when he was checking out allergists at least one was a joint ENT/allergy office, so those certainly exist.
As far as recovery, it’s mostly gross, and the splint you wear for a week sucks (do your best to avoid sneezing fits while wearing it, I had one the morning before I got it removed and ugh/ow). You also have to sleep propped up; since we were both going through it we got a nice Avana Pillow System and it really helped (especially for me; I can’t sleep on my back, so lots of the “just stack some pillows up” advice really wasn’t going to work for me). I think I was fully out for three or four days, and then gradually back to full functionality within another week.
posted by nat at 1:54 PM on July 20, 2024 [2 favorites]
I’ve actually come off one of my daily allergy drugs now (I only take Zyrtec otc at this point). And my sleep apnea is greatly improved too. So for me all round A+ would do again.
Mr Nat had a very similar surgery in December. He reports it has been helpful, but not nearly as much as me. He plans on starting allergy shots soon, since his seasonal allergies were actually a little worse this year (although other things improved post surgery). FWIW when he was checking out allergists at least one was a joint ENT/allergy office, so those certainly exist.
As far as recovery, it’s mostly gross, and the splint you wear for a week sucks (do your best to avoid sneezing fits while wearing it, I had one the morning before I got it removed and ugh/ow). You also have to sleep propped up; since we were both going through it we got a nice Avana Pillow System and it really helped (especially for me; I can’t sleep on my back, so lots of the “just stack some pillows up” advice really wasn’t going to work for me). I think I was fully out for three or four days, and then gradually back to full functionality within another week.
posted by nat at 1:54 PM on July 20, 2024 [2 favorites]
Oh god, get the deviated septum surgery!
After surgery I learned that most people regularly breathe through both nostrils- I was shocked as this had never happened before! Apparently other people don't spend 15m daily in showers, hot water blasting, violently massaging their sinuses to "encourage" them to drain. I had no idea.
I also have allergies and while they improved for the 10y or so after surgery, they haven't ever gone away completely, but wow are they less annoying! I don't take any otc for allergies now, though did for years and years until deviated septum surgery.
posted by esoteric things at 2:15 PM on July 20, 2024 [1 favorite]
After surgery I learned that most people regularly breathe through both nostrils- I was shocked as this had never happened before! Apparently other people don't spend 15m daily in showers, hot water blasting, violently massaging their sinuses to "encourage" them to drain. I had no idea.
I also have allergies and while they improved for the 10y or so after surgery, they haven't ever gone away completely, but wow are they less annoying! I don't take any otc for allergies now, though did for years and years until deviated septum surgery.
posted by esoteric things at 2:15 PM on July 20, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I had a deviated septum repaired, along with turbinate reduction, last year. Prior to that I got regular sinus infections and I worked out I spent the equivalent of a year off sick in the last five years. It's all entirely gone away after the surgery. Hayfever has also disappeared, despite it previously being severe.
Just do it, if it makes half the difference it made to me it'll be life changing.
posted by deadwax at 3:33 PM on July 20, 2024
Just do it, if it makes half the difference it made to me it'll be life changing.
posted by deadwax at 3:33 PM on July 20, 2024
Had the surgery in high school to clean out turbinates and straighten septum, and I haven't had a sinus infection since (after having them almost continuously before that.) Allergy shots made an enormous difference with my allergies, and it's also worth the investment.
posted by canine epigram at 5:33 PM on July 20, 2024
posted by canine epigram at 5:33 PM on July 20, 2024
Response by poster: Thank you so much everyone- this is exactly what I needed to hear.
Now I am wondering why I didn't follow through in 2014- the ENT said, "if this continues you may need to consider surgery" and I just thought "NO THANK YOU". But I can also do some serious calculations of enormous amounts of time (and opportunities/experiences/money) lost due to suffering through sinus infections (and the triggering illnesses, the sinus infection itself, antibiotic side effects and so on. AND the DEPRESSING TIREDNESS associated with all of it).
The ENT and allergist (once I see her) will finally be under the same umbrella/affiliation/patient portal info so hopefully that will also help coordinate care.
I honestly think my friends and family think I'm making it up- how can someone get sick so often or be so prone to illness? (And consequently, so worried about getting sick!!). Covid helped me ignore it for a bit longer with isolation and intense masking but it's time to face reality!!! (and potentially "the knife"!!!)
Thank you again. I couldn't have asked for better/more appropriate/comprehensive answers.
posted by bquarters at 6:17 PM on July 20, 2024
Now I am wondering why I didn't follow through in 2014- the ENT said, "if this continues you may need to consider surgery" and I just thought "NO THANK YOU". But I can also do some serious calculations of enormous amounts of time (and opportunities/experiences/money) lost due to suffering through sinus infections (and the triggering illnesses, the sinus infection itself, antibiotic side effects and so on. AND the DEPRESSING TIREDNESS associated with all of it).
The ENT and allergist (once I see her) will finally be under the same umbrella/affiliation/patient portal info so hopefully that will also help coordinate care.
I honestly think my friends and family think I'm making it up- how can someone get sick so often or be so prone to illness? (And consequently, so worried about getting sick!!). Covid helped me ignore it for a bit longer with isolation and intense masking but it's time to face reality!!! (and potentially "the knife"!!!)
Thank you again. I couldn't have asked for better/more appropriate/comprehensive answers.
posted by bquarters at 6:17 PM on July 20, 2024
Chronic sinus infections from birth to age 17. Septum surgery and polyp removal fixed it— no recurrences for 20 years! Gamechanger.
Still have allergies which I treat with diet modifications, sublingual immunotherapy, nasal rinses, and daily doses of loratadine, astepro (incredible stuff!) and eyedrops.
posted by lloquat at 1:13 AM on July 21, 2024 [1 favorite]
Still have allergies which I treat with diet modifications, sublingual immunotherapy, nasal rinses, and daily doses of loratadine, astepro (incredible stuff!) and eyedrops.
posted by lloquat at 1:13 AM on July 21, 2024 [1 favorite]
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I know this doesn’t directly answer your question - I didn’t have a deviated septum - but it’s potentially something worth asking your ENT about.
posted by okayokayigive at 7:25 AM on July 20, 2024 [2 favorites]