Respiratory problems..

[number15]

For about a year now I have been dealing with some respiratory problems that I haven't been able to resolve. Basically, I have constant nasal congestion with post-nasal drip, which causes a lot of sneezing, coughing/ wheezing (as a result of so much phlegm), sinus headaches, and occasional sore throat. I have been to an allergist and tested low to very low an all allergins. I have seen an ENT and had a CAT scan. The result was that I had a slightly deviated septum and could have surgery, but he said there's no way of knowing whether or not it would help. Also, he said that though an allergist will test for common allergins, it's impossible to test for all allergins, so that could be a cause as well. I do not have the money to pay for surgery, especially if there is no guarentee it will even help at all. I have tried saline solution spray, a prescription spray (flonase maybe?), over the counter remedies, and no results. I am on the verge of just accepting that modern medecine has let me down and just living with the symptoms, as disruptive as they can be. Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions? Much appreciated..

[number15]

Thank you very much for your detailed response.

I have actually seen 2 ENT's and the last one used a camera that he stuck up my nostrils to look at my sinuses (not sure whether it was fiber optic or the latest technology or what have you).

This is an extremely frustrating process, as I'm sure you know. As a kid growing up I would take the word of any doctor as gospel, but now I get the sense that many, if not most doctors are mostly interested in collecting your copay and shuffling you out.

I guess I could see a new ENT but it's difficult to know whether or not I'll get a helpful and productive diagnosis, ya know?

[Victoireh]

Hi, I will try to offer what I know, as I"ve had 3 sinus surgeries in the past along with many infections. I had CT scans done too and they showed nothing. I had many acute sinus infections that were on top of the chronic infection that stayed permanently. Antibiotics only helped reduce the acute infection back down to it's chronic state. I was tested for allergies too and because I"m one of those odd people who don't show a bump with the control histamine, I showed very little on the rest of the allergens, so I was initially given a non-allergic Rhinitis problem. Interesting medical label wouldn't you say?

It didn't change till, my pulmonary specialist pushed for surgery, as my asthma was highly out of control due to the sinuses. During the first surgery, the specialist noted that I have a very deviated septum and that the sinus tissue was quite infected. However, I had to go back in for a second surgery to correct the deviated septum, which created problems with the healing process after the first surgery. I saw later on yet another specialist, who is the guru of sinus specialists and he uses fibre optic technology for his endoscope equipment. This apparently makes a huge difference as to how well the surgeon can see inside the sinuses. He touched up some spots inside that were still giving me problems. This specialist said that he sees many of the botch up cases from other ENT specialists, because they use old technology. I would suggest you find the best ENT specialist, who uses more up to date technology, because the road can be a really bumpy one.

My sinuses function much better now and don't aggravate my asthma anymore. And I do have a number of allergies, which were diagnosed by another allergist. You will just have to persist if upper airways are giving you such grief. Like you I used steroid nasal sprays, antibiotics and got no relief. Now whenever, I get an infection (about once per year), I irrigate my sinuses with salt water right away and get antibiotics. The irrigations do really help get rid of the junk in your sinuses and do cut some of the mucous out of them.

[number15]

Just bumping this to the top hoping someone will answer. Thanks