Sinusitis: has anyone had FESS op?

[SydneyB]

ENT suggesting it if this bout doesn't clear up, just wondering what others experience of the op was and whether it worked?

[ChestyNut]

I'd be interested too as am booked for one in June

[SydneyB]

OR has anyone had 2 months of sinusitis that has just gone away on its own...? It's in my ethmoid and sphenoid apparently and is giving me awful headaches and tiredness.

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Hi

I had a fess and septoplasty just over 3 weeks ago. 2 years ago I had a really nasty sinus infection and this started my troubles. Ent tried to manage it medically with drops and sprays but the symptoms just got worse and worse til they did a ct which revealed how bad my maxillary sinuses were.

Surgery not traumatic at all - even having the packing out was alright but I was in quite a lot of pain before the surgery. The results have been amazing - changed my life completely. Happy to answer any specific ques.

[SydneyB]

That's really reassuring! How long were you recovering for after the op, how long off work? I'm still hoping this goes in the next few weeks... On other hand have had enough and want op done now. Have been on drops, now on spray.

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

It was day case surgery and I was signed off for two weeks to avoid infection. For the first couple of days I felt wooozy but ok after that. Moderate bleeding which mainly has gone now - just if I blow my nose. Good luck.

[SydneyB]

The infection thing worries me a bit as I've 2 primary aged LOs who are obv a constant mass of germs.. Not sure how I'm supposed to avoid them!

[nooka]

I had my sinuses drained in my early teens (so almost 30 years ago) not sure what the operation was but it sounds like it might well have been FESS. I was in overnight, the surgery was through my nose and they packed it with gauze. My only compliant was that waking up when I couldn't use my nose was a bit horrible and having the gauze pulled out was really quite nasty. I'm sure that's all done much better now.

On the plus side I haven't had another sinus infection since. I did have a couple of years with recurrent ear infections in my late teens, but that might well have had nothing to do with the sinus op.

[SydneyB]

Thanks Nooka. At this point I think I'd accept a lobotomy to get rid of this pain :(

[barleysugar]

My DH had one last spring, and he is now cured of hay fever! He used to struggle all summer, even showering would set him off. Now nothing!

He said the worst bit was when they removed the tampons from his nose as he wasn't expecting it, a nurse just came along and whoosh!

[blackteaplease]

I had one in 2006, temporarily lost my sense of smell afterwards for a couple of months.

I was kept in overnight, the wound bled for about 5 hours despite packing and I was quite rough for a couple of weeks after. I think I was signed off for 3 weeks to recover.

I was sinusitis free for 6 years until pg with dc2 and then picked up a massive infection and am back to getting sinusitis every time i get a cold.

[SydneyB]

MrsPatrickDempsey - did you have any bruising afterwards? And was the relief from the actual sinus pain kind of instant?

[CentreYourCheese]

I had FESS in 1999, relieved the sinusitis until around 5 years ago, so had a good 10 years without constant infections. No bruising, no real post-op pain, worse thing was told not to blow nose or "sneeze vigorously" - when the clots came out around 10 days post-op, they were the size of bloody golf balls!

[SydneyB]

This is all reassuring. Now, I wonder why I've got to wait with this spray that is doing NOTHING and not just go straight to the op. I'm wondering, sinusitis experts, if it can go away on its own? This is my first bout and I've never known anything like it for the headaches. I just can't see why it would go now on its own after 2 months of trying everything. But ENT guy wants to wait - I expect it needs to be labelled as chronic, 3 months, before they're allowed to do op.

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Sydney - yes the relief from the pain was instant. I has persistent cheek bone and eye socket pain. I had a tiny bit of bruising under my eyes - looked like dark circles til they went yellow!! From my experience my symptoms just got worse and worse especially in the 6 months leading up to the surgery.

[ChestyNut]

Have they tried antibiotics yet sydney?

I had 2 lots of 6 week course and nasal sprays before ENT considered FESS......they didn't work.

mrs mine is maxillary too, did your teeth hurt on that side?

[SydneyB]

The GP tried a week's course of pencillin, then a week's course of doxycycline and then a week's course of erythromycin and none of them did anything. ENT said no point bothering. It doesn't seem like they ever do anything for it once it becomes chronic and I'm pleased I don't have to take a load more to be honest. I've had 3 weeks of steroid drops but he said he couldn't leave me on them although I think they did help a bit. I'm now on fluticasone which I don't is doing anything. Thing is that the sphenoid is so far back I don't think any of these things reach it. Feel like I'm just waiting it out for the inevitable op now. My pain is in the top of my head mainly. Ow.

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Sometimes, Chesty and the pain radiated to my ear too.

[SydneyB]

5 months! Oh lord, poor you... Feel silly moaning about my 2. But at the same time, knowing it can last much longer makes me even surer about having the op. I want my life back.

[SydneyB]

It's useful to know. I might just ask the ENT if he has ever ever seen anyone get better on sprays and drops! It sounds like you're in a difficult situation - I've young children too but they're at school and I think I can cope with the recovery, must be much harder if they're smaller. Can you call on family and friends for a week or so? Sounds from what MrsPatrickDempsey said that you can get over it fairly quickly.

[SydneyB]

Have you felt generally unwell as well as the headaches and congestion? I felt really tired and nauseous too on occasion but ENT doesn't think this is related to the sinuses...

[ChestyNut]

It makes me feel out of sorts and I can fall asleep at drop of a hat but not sure if its sinus related or just me

[HauntedNoddyCar]

Can I ask what symptoms you all have had?

My dad has been ill for a couple of months. He has better and worse spells but has a feeling of pressure behind his eyes and forehead. Generally tired and weak. Has has 2 lots of abs. He thinks it's sinus related as he feels dizzy and congested. He's waiting on results of a ct scan. Bloods test ok. Huge change in him from fit and healthy oap to tired old man in the space of a few weeks. Also this year is the first in decades without hayfever.