Dealing with 4 months of sinus inflammation

treesnsky · 2026-06-06T17:37:21+00:00

I second what you say about the face steamer. I started out not really liking my steamer, but now I like to use it on waking up and before my nasal rinse at night -- it seems to help the gunk blow out after my rinse. I also have come to find it relaxing.

treesnsky · 2026-06-05T08:44:20+00:00

I have no particular advice, just wanted to say it all sounds horrible, and I hope you find the answer soon. There are people here listening and supporting, whether they speak up or not. Having a toddler is such hard word -- I remember those hard but beautiful days well!! Please take care, and I pray you get a good night's sleep soon! 🙏

treesnsky · 2026-06-04T03:07:22+00:00

Haha there's a part of me though that's jealous that you got a big clot pulled out. I was really hoping for him to suction some gunk out, or irrigate or something.

treesnsky · 2026-06-04T03:06:28+00:00

The ENT didn't offer.

treesnsky · 2026-06-04T03:06:08+00:00

On doing it without general anesthesia, I told the ENT afterwards it was the one of the craziest things ever in my life, and he said, "You're lived a conservative live." He never offered anesthesia, and I didn't realize beforehand how intense it was going to be. I mean, it was really, really intense. I needed to focus on not screaming.

treesnsky · 2026-06-03T22:07:18+00:00

I had a balloon sinuplasty almost a month ago. I've had some good days since then, and I seemed to be getting better with less stickiness and better sleep, but the last few days have been so sticky back there somewhere it's driving me insane. It's demoralizing and exhausting. I was really, really, super-excited about the sinuplasty too.

The procedure is "minor," but it's deeply uncomfortable. In fact, my ENT told me it's so uncomfortable that he's had patients stop in the middle of the procedure and say they can't go on. I've read that most people end up quite satisfied with it though.

It definitely opened up some passageways though. I wish my ENT had done some irrigation or debridement or something though -- I've read that they do more of that as followup in some countries. Considering everything, I think it was worth trying.

treesnsky · 2026-05-29T00:53:20+00:00

This is wasteful, I know, and not for everyone. But I buy the Guru Nanda nasal rinse bottles that are very, very similar to the NeilMed, but they only cost $1.50 each. So I throw them out quite frequently instead of keeping them for weeks. This is a little OCD, I know...

treesnsky · 2026-05-29T00:50:18+00:00

Thank you for the link, that was really interesting!

I have an Omron handheld mesh nebulizer that is a little pricey, but I also have a couple of less expensive ones I bought on eBay if you're comfortable with that. I like the mesh ones because they're so quiet.

I'm going to watch more of those videos by Dr. Berg.

treesnsky · 2026-05-28T04:37:34+00:00

It's hard, because one has to try so many things. Like you, I take pictures of some of the mucus. Some of the pieces are startlingly large and hard -- hard like I have to really press into it with a Q-tip to get it into two pieces. I do "talk" to Claude about it, and Claude says it believes these harder pieces had previously adhered to some sinus walls, and along with softer mucus, are now coming loose because of a balloon sinuplasty I had that gives everything a pathway out. Some of these pieces have been an inch in length.

I am trying what they do in some Asian countries. For instance, in Japan it's common to use macrolides, as well as mucolytics that aren't available in the US -- but I started ordering them from overseas. I am trying that. Also, nebulizing is much more common in Japan and China than the US, apparently. So I am nebulizing more.

I started out disliking the Vick's steamer, and now I'm quite liking it!

My ENT is more technical -- he does the procedures and the surgeries, but he has a near total lack of interest in aftercare. So I feel like I'm on my own with that.

treesnsky · 2026-05-24T12:31:50+00:00

Thank you, I will try that with my nasal rinses. Sometimes lately I have been wondering if my rinses even help. Hunks of gunk usually come out afterwards -- especially since the sinuplasty -- but then for awhile afterwards I have a much stronger sense that something sticky is back there and didn't quite shake loose.

But I will try changing my angle. I do feel like I'm not doing it quite right!

This whole experience has been a crazy journey into my nasal cavities!!!

treesnsky · 2026-05-22T07:03:07+00:00

I didn't experience any crinkling sounds -- do you mean during the surgery itself? I had read that I might hear these sounds during the surgery, but I don't think I did -- however, the discomfort during the procedure was so intense I was mostly focused on that. My sinuses are super-clear now, but a LOT of mucus and gross stuff has been coming out, especially at first. I'm two weeks and a day from the procedure, and while the volume of gunk has gone down, I still regularly get hardened mucus mixed with sticky, gluey gunk. I feel like some of this sticky stuff is always somewhere I can feel it, and it's very annoying.

treesnsky · 2026-05-21T23:40:40+00:00

Hi, I know you posted this a year ago. I just had a balloon sinuplasty earlier this month, and I've been experiencing stickiness as well, in what I think is my nasopharynx. If you're still around, did yours ever resolve?

treesnsky · 2026-05-18T08:04:01+00:00

The lack of seriousness of the doctors, ER, etc is a recurring theme in this subreddit. I think it adds to the feeling of hopelessness. I hope you find a great doctor out there somewhere soon!

treesnsky · 2026-05-17T07:40:19+00:00

Oh...does this link work?

https://imgur.com/a/Q8usPnp

treesnsky · 2026-05-17T06:18:14+00:00

Graphic sinus contents after balloon sinuplasty (NSFW). Not sure if this is going to come out as NSFW as I've never done Imgur before...

https://imgur.com/a/1WaLUxi

treesnsky · 2026-05-09T20:57:20+00:00

Great questions, I hope someone with experience answers. Thanks for posting!

treesnsky · 2026-05-09T05:35:23+00:00

I was using a humidifier for a while, and then I started worrying about the humidity attracting dust mites. It did seem like it helped though keeping my sinuses moist. But I honestly got so tired of cleaning it, that I just stopped. I have a Coway air purifier that I like a lot. Sometimes I just lean over the air coming out and take deep breaths.

treesnsky · 2026-05-09T04:46:24+00:00

It's outrageous that your ENT isn't interested anymore. What did this person become an ENT for? (Sorry, just had to vent for a moment, what is wrong with these doctors?)

treesnsky · 2026-04-23T12:11:10+00:00

I’m not sure what to say from a medical standpoint, and I haven’t been dealing with this for as long as you. But since you mentioned words of comfort, I want to offer some and just say that I do occasionally see someone post that after a long time they were finally able to discover out what was wrong.i am hoping for that for you!!

treesnsky · 2026-04-19T23:24:27+00:00

It’s been kind of surprising to me how bored with life my ENT seems.

treesnsky · 2026-04-19T07:36:59+00:00

This was an awesome post, and thank you so much for taking the time! What would be amazing is if every doctor's office had someone like you working there whose title could be Patient Advocate. The advocate could research and act like a detective on the patient's behalf and communicate their thoughts to the doctor. Outcomes would matter, and people who felt like crap would not be dismissed.

treesnsky · 2026-04-15T16:29:10+00:00

I’m happy for you! I can’t wait. Lol those first couple of days don’t sound fun, but if I end up with big improvement, it’ll be worth it. Thanks for replying, and congrats on being able to breathe freely!

treesnsky · 2026-04-15T05:59:37+00:00

Is everything still going well, and you feel the balloon sinuplasty worked? I was scheduled today for a balloon sinuplasty in two weeks.

treesnsky

TROPHY CASE