david1@aluxe.UUCP (nelson) (03/09/84)
I've had sinus problems ever since I was a kid. I was treated with X-Rays back then (since then this has been found to be a cause for thyroid cancer). Now my "only" problem has been recurring sinus infections. If I get a cold I get a sinus infection. Sometimes I just get the s.i. Up until a year ago I was getting them only 1-2 times a year. For the past 15 months it has been ever other month. The ear, nose and throat dr. I go to gave me a prescription for an antibiotic with 5 refills, so at least I don't have to go see a dr. each time. The ear and nose dr. said my problem will continue to get worse and he has recommended surgery - to fix my deviated septum and drill some kind of drainage holes (somewhere). He said this would alleviate the problem though not "cure" it entirely. I'v read of some people taking antibiotics everyday as a treatment and a preventive action against recurring infections. This sounds expensive and not a real good idea from the viewpoint of the antibiotic not being effective after a while. Has anyone had a similar problem or suggestions? I'm not too keen on the idea of surgery. He said I would be out of work for about 2 weeks due to the post-operative discomfort.
carey@seismo.UUCP (Marie Carey) (03/12/84)
I also had problems with sinuses when I was a child. I could hardly breathe from my nose most of the time because of blockage. I had my deviated septum operated on at age 16 and it was undoubtedly the best thing I could have ever done for the problem. I would strongly advise against taking antibiotics for the problem for an extended amount of time. I have heard that taking large doses of antibiotics over a long period of time may damage one's hearing. I am surprised that an ear, nose, and throat doctor would prescribe them for such a long time. In my opinion, having the infections recur every month is *much* too frequent. Having the surgery may cause one to miss work for two weeks due to recovery, but if the surgery is performed by an excellent doctor (as mine was, I could not be happier with the results) then it is most definitely worth it. It sounds like in your case, it could only be an improvement, which is about how mine was. Hope that I was of some help. Marie Carey ...!seismo!carey
ejk47@ihuxn.UUCP (Ed Kufeldt, ihuxn ejk47) (03/13/84)
I too, was plagued with bad sinuses. I had my problem corrected
via the surgery after I had a severe enough problem that totally
incapacitated me. The pain in my right sinus was so unbearable
that the initial diagnosis I was thought to have a tumor. I agree
with the doctor in that you would be laid up for about 2 weeks. I
was in the hospital for a week after the surgery. Both my eyes
were swollen shut for three days after surgery, and the pain was
just as bad as when I went in. (They had me on Demeril(sp.) every
four hours.) The surgical procedure was simple, they went into
my sinus via my nose and opened the sinus which was closed. The
surgeon said he drained about a cup of fluid that was trapped
behind the blockage. After opening the sinus, he put in a plastic
tube to drain the sinus into the back of my throat. The tube stays
in for the rest of your life, unless there are problems. It has been
11 years since I had the surgery. I have had less colds and/or
sinus infections since that time. I can't recommend the surgery unless
your problems were as bad as mine. The post-operative pain is not worth
the effort unless you are plagued by extremely bad headaches or
infections.
Ed Kufeldt
ihuxn!ejk47
:~}colonel@sunybcs.UUCP (George Sicherman) (03/15/84)
If it's any help, I have read that sinus problems may be aggravated by suppressing tears when you're sad. Col. G. L. Sicherman ...seismo!rochester!rocksvax!sunybcs!colonel
cnj@bambi.UUCP (Charlie Judice) (03/18/84)
I have also had sinus problems and a deviated septum with the cronic sinus infection problem. I've found in the last few years two things work: as soon as I begin to show the symptoms of a cold --- I drink lots of fluids (this thins the mucus and allows it to flow more easily out of the sinuses) and take massive doese (1 gram per day) of vitamin C. Since I have been doing this I haven't had a sinus infection in three years.