Sinus Surgery

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Doc, I've got an appointment coming up with an ENT after suffering through many years of sinus and ear infections. Since I've tried all sorts of medications, allergy shots, nasal rinsing, etc., and have actually developed a virtual immunity to amoxicillin, I suspect that surgery may be coming my way. How does sinus surgery affect my medical and how long are people usually out afterwards? I looked around and couldn't find any info with a google search. Thanks.

 

[SeanD]

Are you getting a deviated septum procedure? If so, it took me about a week to fully recover. Not a very fun experience but it helped tremendously.

 

[My Flight Surgeon]

You can go back to work after the ENT has released you. Be sure to tell him you are a pilot and to what altitude you are exposed during flight. It may be 2-3 weeks to recover to the point where you can fly again.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Thanks, Doc.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Are you getting a deviated septum procedure? If so, it took me about a week to fully recover. Not a very fun experience but it helped tremendously.

Well, I had my appointment this afternoon, and it turns out that I do have a slightly deviated septum. I was surprised, because no doctor has ever mentioned it to me before in many years of sinus problems. I guess you need to go to the specialist to learn those things. They aren't sure yet if it's bad enough that it will need to be corrected, though. They put me on several different medications to get all of the inflammation down and kill any lingering infection that may be lurking, and then I'm supposed to get a CT scan done to get a definitive answer on what will need to be done. If the septum doesn't need to be corrected, then they said they can do the balloon sinuplasty surgery, which is apparently a much shorter and easier recovery. We'll see what happens.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Well, I had my appointment this afternoon, and it turns out that I do have a slightly deviated septum. I was surprised, because no doctor has ever mentioned it to me before in many years of sinus problems. I guess you need to go to the specialist to learn those things. They aren't sure yet if it's bad enough that it will need to be corrected, though. They put me on several different medications to get all of the inflammation down and kill any lingering infection that may be lurking, and then I'm supposed to get a CT scan done to get a definitive answer on what will need to be done. If the septum doesn't need to be corrected, then they said they can do the balloon sinuplasty surgery, which is apparently a much shorter and easier recovery. We'll see what happens.

I had a cyst in my right frontal sinus, along with gigantic turbinate bones and a deviated septum. Some years go I had all of this corrected in one go (balloon sinuplasty and subcutaneous resection of the turbinates). They'll be able to tell you, for sure, what's going on up in there with the CT scan. Recovery is about a week to be functional at a desk and the first 24-36 hours are absolutely miserable (many yards of packing will be involved). I don't get sinus infections anymore and my breathing is a LOT easier now that all the tubes are open.

 

[Dexter]

Good luck with this! I've always had sinus issues (frequent headaches after long flying days) and infections since i was a teenager. An ENT is on my to-do list. Trying to combat stuff now with medications and visits to my allergist to see if there are things i can do in the mean time. Let us know what you find out.

 

[Hacker15e]

I had a septoplasty 7 or 8 years ago as part of a couple of other surgeries as a result of being diagnosed with OSA -- it was painful procedure, but life-changing in a very good way.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Good luck with this! I've always had sinus issues (frequent headaches after long flying days) and infections since i was a teenager. An ENT is on my to-do list. Trying to combat stuff now with medications and visits to my allergist to see if there are things i can do in the mean time. Let us know what you find out.

If you haven't tried Mucinex DM (expectorant), I would try it. It really loosens everything up.

 

[worm19]

someone told me that even if you do the procedure it will eventually need to be done again. Is this still true?

 

[Dexter]

Thanks, I'll look into it. I have a prescription for Flonase currently, but I haven't been flying enough to see if it has made much of a difference.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

someone told me that even if you do the procedure it will eventually need to be done again. Is this still true?

My doctor told me that the balloon sinuplasty is generally still effective 5 years after the fact, but you may need to do it again later on. That's not such a big deal, since that procedure is basically an outpatient procedure, though. Fixing a deviated septum, which is a much bigger procedure, is supposedly permanent, though.

 

[Dugie8]

Todd

I don't want to introduce a "fantasy" cure into the conversation here. If this is inappropriate I apologize.

Have you tried "heavy amounts" of fish oil to get the inflamation down? I take fish oil just because of all the weight lifting, keeps the joints less creaky but I noticed a nice side effect was my allergies were almost non existent this summer. When I stopped taking it, they came back, took it again and gone within a week.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Thanks. My doctor actually does recommend fish oil, and I should probably take it. He's recommending it for the purpose of improving my good cholesterol, but I'm sure it has other benefits as well.

I doubt it would solve my problems, though. The best drugs on the market haven't really helped, so I think I've hit a brick wall and will just have to deal with the surgery.

 

[Dugie8]

Thanks. My doctor actually does recommend fish oil, and I should probably take it. He's recommending it for the purpose of improving my good cholesterol, but I'm sure it has other benefits as well.

I doubt it would solve my problems, though. The best drugs on the market haven't really helped, so I think I've hit a brick wall and will just have to deal with the surgery.

Very good.

May I suggest SFH. It's spendy, a bottle will last about 2 months. Best price for the bang in terms of the amount of Omega3 you get per serving (EPA/DHA).

If you try it, don't get chocolate......

 

[Autothrust Blue]

My doctor told me that the balloon sinuplasty is generally still effective 5 years after the fact, but you may need to do it again later on. That's not such a big deal, since that procedure is basically an outpatient procedure, though. Fixing a deviated septum, which is a much bigger procedure, is supposedly permanent, though.

I'm probably going to have to go back one of these days.