My doctor told me I have chronic sinusitis. I have had problems with my sinuses for years. Major sinus headaches, constant problems with breathing, always congested especially at night, etc. At some points when It is worse I see my doctor and he prescribes antibiotics and Flonase etc. He did this twice and it did not help at all (the Flonase made me sick) After that I did not go back again. I'd gotten a cat scan of my brain and in the results it said there was opacification if my left sphenoid sinus, BUT when I went to an ENT and he ordered another test done he said it cleared up and all I need to use is Flonase. (even though I told him the meds don't work) How can it just clear up like that? I am still having problems. The same symptoms. I have lived with this for years and I want to do something about it. I have a chronic illness and disability, if I can resolve one medical problem I wish to do so. What can I do? I am very frustrated by all this. Thank you for your time.
Reply: ---------------------------
Based upon the information you have provided you are experiencing chronic nasal symptoms but have little in the way of radiographic evidence of chronic sinus disease. Allergy is a possibility - if you have not already had one, I would suggest an allergy evaluation. Another possibility is that you have an anatomic nasal airway obstruction such as a septal deviation or turbinate dysfunction. If you don't have allergic disease, there is no radiographic evidence of obstruction to the sinus passages, and nasal airflow obstruction is your primary complaint, if an adequate trial of topical nasal steroids such as Flonase has failed to provide benefit, there may be a surgical option available such as septoplasty or laser reduction of the turbinates. I would discuss this further with an otolaryngologist.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
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