DCR and risks

[Superdork]

I had the DCR endoscopically under general anesthesia in May 2005 after a horrid bout of dacryocystitis.  It was one of the most unpleasant experiences (physically) I have gone through.  
Now, I have not had an eye infection since then, but after my recovery and over the past 2 1/2 years, I have had chronic, painful, nasty sinus infections--only on the side where the DCR was performed.  It only affects the side where my nose was entered, as well as that side of my face between the nose and upper cheekbone.  

I always have something bad in there, and I have lost count of how many infections I have had.  I don't even take antibiotics for them anymore, because if I did every time, I would probably be immune to them all by now!  But I blow huge globs of thick dark green junk out of that side of my nose, and it smells awful.  It also hurts inside my face after blowing it out.  I have it again right now--it is a chronic problem, and literally upwards of 25+ instances of this over the past 2 1/2 years.

I feel strongly that it is the result of something in there being affected by the DCR.  But I don't know how that could even be proven, and my doctor is not taking me seriously about it.  I haven't even heard of this being an issue with other patients who have had the same procedure.  

What can you tell me about this??

Thanks,

--full-of-mucus


This discussion is related to Risks for DCR.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Superdork]

Thanks!  

The guy that did my DCR is an oculoplastics surgeon, but he is not a very nice one.  He got mad at me at the visit when he was trying to remove the silicone tube from the inside corner of my eye by going up my nostril with long metal tweezers.  The nerve of me resisting and acting like I was being tortured!
He threw the tweezers in the metal sink with a loud clank, and said, "forget it." and left the room.  Needless to say, I have not returned to him again.

I did see an ENT on 10/27, and gave him my whole history.  He used the long scope thing with the camera on it to look in the sinuses, which I tolerated on the right side, but just could not handle the pain and pressure on the left (where all the problems are).  Just like the other doctor, he got frustrated with me and quit.  He then was very rude and condescending to me.

I asked him for an antibiotic, as right now I am on my 6th day straight of 101+ fever, severe pain in face and head, and thick green foul-smelling mucus in my face.  He told me I do not have a sinus infection and left.  He had ordered a CT of my sinuses, which I had yesterday.  After he got the report back, his nurse called me and informed me that he was calling me in an antibiotic because my CT showed a sinus infection.  What an ***.

So I am starting the antibiotic this morning, and when the course is finished I have to go back to *** doctor on the 10th and he will go over the CT more with me and discuss what to do next.  

I live in Texas, but I would much rather live in Baltimore.

Thanks!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Giveypup]

Your doctor isn't taking you seriously?!

I don't know where you are, geographically, but Nicholas Iliff, M.D. is a superlative, fabulous, wonderful oculoplastics surgeon who is expert at DCRs.  He is located in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins Eye Institute--Wilmer Eye Institute.

You can google his contact information on-line.

Good luck to you!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. See a different Eye MD one that specializes in oculoplastic surgery. Find one at www.aao.org
2. See a different ENT surgeon for a complete sinus evaluation.

JCH MD