Hi all. It's been a bit... My 91 year old mother recently passed peacefully. I am exhausted, but for once I don't think I can blame Lyme and co (well maybe a bit)
I have put off thinking about medical stuff. I have quite a few and quite large nasal polyps, one has eaten away at the bone. ENT is suggesting surgery.
I don't feel clogged up, but my smell has greatly diminished in the last year. Recently, I seem to always smell what smells like exhaust or bacon or skunk when none is there. I can still smell but not from distances.
ENT feels surgery would greatly help with migraines and possibly sleep apnea.
I've heard recovery of this is miserable. And of course the usual surgery concerns... Including the slight possibility of damage to eyes and brain cause of the proximity...
Thoughts? If it were you?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
What does he want to cut out besides the polyp? I don't see how removing a polyp would help migraines and sleep apnea??
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
My understanding is sinus drainage for migraines (they do seem sinus related as they are weather related) and better breathing. . Catscan showed chronic sinusitis up through my forehead sinuses... But this is why I'm asking before I see him again... Know you guys can help me with what to ask.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I've had two sinus surgeries that were a breeze, but all they did was cut open the maxillary sinus. With the most recent one, I had Dilaudid right after surgery and then NOTHING for pain from then on. NOTHING.
If they are truly polyps, be sure to research salicylate sensitivity.
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
I did look at your link and then did a tiny bit of research... Omg... All the good veggies are gone... (On top of all the other stuff I can't eat)
I'm allergic to so much wouldn't surprise me...
Thanks for the info tutu. Glad ur surgeries weren't bad.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I know. It's a mess. I hate it, but I do feel so much better when I avoid the salicylates and tons of other foods.
The most important "link" for me was eliminating the sals from skin care, shampoos, lotions, soaps, etc.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
quote:Originally posted by Kudzuslipper:
Catscan showed chronic sinusitis up through my forehead sinuses...
Look into systemic enzymes like Serrapeptase or Wobenzym. This reduces fibrin in the bloodstream, which will thin mucous and improve bloodflow.
Chronic infection (Lyme) causes excess fibrin, and is likely the reason people get sinusitis. If the mucous is thinned, it will drain from the sinuses, relieving chronic sinusitis.
Let me know if you want more info.
[ 09-15-2015, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: Carol in PA ]
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
I just decided to do a similar surgery (to fix a deviated septum) assuming I can stay healthy enough to do it. I get chronic sinus infections after every single cold and I've had enough.
LLMD said if I can knock down one problem, do it. Good luck to you as you make your decision.
Posted by Overwhelmed (Member # 38499) on :
Sounds like your plyops are pretty big and that surgery may be beneficial. And, smelling unpleasant things that are not even present sounds like a quality of life problem.
I had sinus surgery to correct deviated septum, & remove plyops due to NASTY headaches and chronic sinusitis. I had gotten 3 opinions from ENT's- all recommending surgery. What caught my attention was when my ENT told me that chronic sinus infections can get closer to the brain/eyes with risks of course- but that his surgical abilities would be much less of a risk when working close to brain/ eyes. Glad I had it done- and the recovery was unpleasant but very manageable. Don't let post-op pain medication concern prevent u from surgery- express that to ENT prior to surgery. Good luck!!
Posted by Overwhelmed (Member # 38499) on :
...by the way, doesn't the ENT want to biopsy the polyps?
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
Thanks for the ideas and opinions.... WP, overwhelmed, your decisions are comforting. I see him on Thursday and will ask about biopsies. Sure he would if I let him go in.
Carol, I would love more info on systemic enzymes. Tried woebuzyme when I was doing my intense Lyme treatment and it seemed to make me achier... But really who knows what was what... I was on so many abx and supplements... Maybe I would have better luck now that I am more stable.
Overwhelmed, glad you have no regrets! Are your headaches better?
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Kudzuslipper, get started on Wobenzym, and work up to ten tablets daily, in one dose on empty stomach.
Sip water or iced tea for 30 to 45 minutes, until your stomach is empty again and growling, then you can eat. This gives the coated tablets time to pass through the valve into the small intestine, where they dissolve.
About 25% of the enzymes are absorbed through the intestinal lining into the blood stream. The rest help digest your food.
According to what I read, doctors in Europe prescribe 10 to 20 tablets twice daily "to force the therapeutic response." They have found no side effects, other than the stool smelling like cat pee.
If you start this now, you should know within a week if it's helping.
In my case, the severe ongoing migraine improved dramatically. I no longer woke every day with a splitting headache. It reduced my joint and body pain, too.
Of course your doc wants to schedule surgery, as it's the only thing he knows that might make you feel better. Once you're committed to that, I don't want to dissuade you.
However, if you don't want surgery, you could use the SOTA Magnetic Pulser on the area of the nasal polyps. This would reduce inflammation and help them to heal.
I have not had a single sinus infection since I began using Wobenzym.
Posted by Overwhelmed (Member # 38499) on :
My nasty headaches have improved drastically. Recently I was referred to an allergist for (very) infrequent headaches and concluded that somehow in my adult years I developed seasonal allergies- which is now managed by a daily med.
Posted by dbpei (Member # 33574) on :
Kudzoslipper, just be careful about taking these enzymes if you are going to have the surgery. I think they thin the blood and could cause some problems during and following the surgery with your blood not clotting properly.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
dbpei, That's right, the enzymes make the blood more free flowing, like it was before it got gunked up with fibrin.
However, by using systemic enzymes and PEMF, Kudzoslipper may be able to avoid surgery.
Btw, when I was reading about it before, I found arguments for continuing systemic enzymes even during surgery. So there are two sides to that story.
Systemic enzymes do not "thin" the blood like the "blood thinners" do. Enzymes reduce fibrin, "blood thinners" affect something different.
Posted by Kylie (Member # 52158) on :
If you find qualified and responsible surgeons, you have nothing to fear. Believe me, you aren't the first person who performs nose surgery, this is already a normal process, it's like going for a manicure. My mom had a nose job. We have taken a very responsible approach to this issue. First, we found out in which clinic it's best to perform the operation. Then we chose the surgeons that we liked best. In general terms here seattleplasticsurgery.com my mom had everything done at the highest level. The recovery period after my mom's surgery passed quickly.
[ 09-24-2020, 07:56 AM: Message edited by: Kylie ]
Posted by Bartenderbonnie (Member # 49177) on :
Thought I would update this as there's a new less invasive procedure performed for chronic Sinutistis.
I had the Cadwell Luc procedure which is done through a small insion through the upper gum area. So worth it. Instant relief and lasted almost 5 years of no sinus symptoms what so ever.
Now ENT doctors are performing the Functional Endoscopic Sinus surgery (FESS) which is less invasive.
My chronic sinusitis has come back every September since my Lyme diagnosis. Don't know if it's related.
Also of note is that MANY polyps are caused by a sensitivity to salicylates. If you adjust your diet, you can usually avoid further polyps and more surgeries.
Posted by mjo (Member # 7876) on :
I had deviated septum sinus surgery in 1975.
They broke off a part of my nose, changing its shape forever. I was livid about that and still am.
Not to mention I opened my eyes and looked at the doctor and nurse who had uttered an OHHH! when it happened.
I could still see even though they had put some oil in my eyes and they had doped me up hugely. It was Dilaudid I think.
And injections of liquid cocaine all around my nose. That numbness lasted for months.
I wouldn't go through that surgery again for anything.