anyone had sinus surgery?

I just came back from the ENT specialist and he wants to straighten my deviated septum and fix a bunch of stuff that is wrong with my sinuses that I have been living with my whole life. Apparently I have some extra growths in there that should not be. My mother was a heavy smoker throughout her pregnancy with me and an older mom... the doc says it is likely that this birth defect could have been caused by that or that it could have contributed, but there is no way to tell.

Now, I have been having chronic sinus infections and catch every cold that DH brings me from his workplace (an urgent care center where he is a doctor)... and these usually turn into sinus infections really fast... and it is important that I get rid of the lurking infection in my body so that I can eventually get my knee(s) replaced... they are rapidly deteriorating and I need to go bionic soon, LOL.

and I get conjunctivitis really easily in the left side (where the cat scan shows that the pocket of infection is) ...

but ... I just need to know - will this take away my ability to have a summer? I lost the entire winter, spring and summer of 2003 to the recovery from the last "quick and easy" surgery I had. Will it mean no more playing in the garden or swimming? Have I tasted my last hot dog till next year?

I know what the doctor said, now I'm looking for people's experiences. Is it as "simple and easy" with such a "quick recovery" as they say or should I be thinking about how many meals I can freeze ahead of time so I won't have to worry about trying to drag myself out of a sick bed to cook while I'm really down and out for two or three weeks and the weeks after that trying to recover?

I guess I'm a little gun shy since the last "quick and easy" surgery on my knee almost killed me and I ended up losing almost a year learning how to walk again...

So let's hear your happy stories (and your not-so-happy ones, too, I want the truth) about how much better you feel after the ENT guy roto-rooted your schnozola. How great it is to have a cleaned out beak. That sort of thing.

Thanks! GIve it to me straight...

Love to all,
Janie Joy

I cannot speak from personal experience but can tell you that a friend had this type of surgery done and after a week or so when the packing came out and the swelling went down she said she never felt better in her life. No more sinus headaches, pressure, slept better and had more pep and energy than she had in years. But the first two weeks she was miserable. Ask if she would do it again though and the answer is a resounding YES!

Our former pastor had sinus surgery about 7-8 yrs. ago. Last summer when they visited us I asked him how it was going now. He still has headaches and some other problems (can't remember exactly what) but all in all, he's glad he had the surgery b/c he no longer feels like his head is foggy and in a cloud all day. Not a resounding yes but still a yes is what he would say, I think.

Janie I too had this done in my late teens, early twenties. There were already several polpys in place plus I had fallen and hit my nose twice breaking it both times while I was a child. After 2 weeks of considerable discomfort, bruises and whatever once the bandages were off it was amazing. I would highly recommend it - while in there the surgeon was able to straighten out my sinus cavities and whatever needed to be straightened and that had affected my breathing forever,I no longer am a mouth breather nor am I susceptible to every sinus/cold germ around.
Given your track record with surgery and infection Janie I'd check it out carefully but for me the surgery was a great success.
Dianne
P.S. Good to see you join us at NightOwls

Oh, no fun. I haven't had sinus infections in the last few years, but I have a lot of pain and pressure. There is scar tissues and whatnot up in my sinuses. Surgery's my next option if the headaches are too much...Personally, I would rather deal with the headaches unless I do start having actual infections again. I am such a chicken.

My friend Joanie had surgery. Put your rose-colored glasses on and join me at her blog. She's a sweetheart, but she definitely tells things like they are!

http://dagoddess.com/archives/001970.php ,
http://dagoddess.com/archives/001975.php and
http://dagoddess.com/archives/001980.php
(read in that order).

This message was edited Jun 15, 2004 3:56 PM

Excuse me while I wipe off the coffee coming out of my probiscus! My, the gal has a way with words!! Certainly makes 'second opinion' sound like a good idea!!!!!!

I love Joanie to pieces. She's a nurse with such a sense of humor, and you're right about her having a way with words!

I had cancer of the maxillary sinus about 12 years ago.
I received chemo and radition therapy. I also had surgery to remove some bone destroyed by the radition.

The surgery wasn't too bad, the radition fried alot of the tissue, I have no sense of smell anymore. It didn't affect my sense of taste whatsoever. I still see my ENT Dr every 6 months for a checkup so far so good.

Paul

She is a hoot!! I'm seriously considering getting it over and done with but I don't want to lose another summer, ya know?
But I'll "lose" whatever time I choose to do it, so I guess I better just decide. It's just going to inconvenience everyone else so much. DH is talking about going to Cedar Point and that means I'd have to skip that... and there is so much other stuff...

But better sooner than later - the longer I wait the more likely it will be that I won't be able to swim while on vacation at Lake Erie this year in the end of August.

And wow, Paul - your troubles make mine seem minor by comparison! Thanks for sharing your experience. :)
Keep the info coming, folks, I appreciate your input very, very much!

Love
Janie

This message was edited Jun 15, 2004 7:36 PM