Going to see an ENT specialist on monday. What should I expect? - Allergies Message Board

JSM01 · 04-27-2007, 11:17 PM

I have rhinitis in both of my nostrils. Basically its been red and blocked off for several years now, its only quite recently i noticed this and its been also really screwing up my sleep and breathing. I also been regularly blowing my nose (the mucus is clear) now and then.
I went to two physicians. One gave me penicillin but that worked only temporary. the other subscribed me flonase and that barely worked as well.
I've gone to take a X-ray to check for sinusitis but I was told nothing was wrong even though my entire sinus feels congested and I could feel the pressure on my eyes. I also have baggy eyes, all of it are symptoms of sinusitus strangely.

Once I goto the ENT specialist will I need to surgery to remove my nasal congestion?
Also slightly offtopic but I have tongue-tie (a tissue underneath my tongue restricting my tongue movement) and I'm wondering If its possible if the doctor can remove it for me. usually a dentist would do it but I heard ENT specialist can do it as well.

Alagaesia · 04-27-2007, 11:35 PM

The ENT is gonna look inside your nose, ears, and throat. He'll probably just put you on allergy medication to see if that helps. I went to an ENT and it was a waste of time. He did find that I had a deviated septum though which was the only thing he could diagnose. He couldn't spot the fact that I had horrible allergies. I was tired of going to the ENT and having them do nothing so I went to an allergist. I was finally diagnosed with allergies and not only that he spotted the fact that I had acid reflux which was causing way more problems than the allergies. Right now I'm on Zyrtec for the allergies but I'm trying to find a natural way to fix my allergies. I've found two things that are working so far. I tried a product called NSC-100 immunition beta glucan and that stuff cleared me out sooooo good. I only had a 10 day sample though. It worked so well I bought it but in the lower dosage since its cheaper. The lower dosage is NSC-24 beta glucan. Another thing that works well is flushing out your sinuses. The proper way to do this is with something called a neti pot. It kinda looks like a mini tea pot. Anyways you mix warm water and salt together then you use the pot to rinse your nose out. It comes with instructions on how to do it. I don't have a neti pot so I did it with a cup which was really messy but I did manage to do it. It did take a few tries though. It works though. I tried it yesterday and today and my sinuses have felt really clear.

CheerAngel · 04-28-2007, 12:59 PM

Firstly, the ENT specialist will ask about your symptoms and related medical information. Then he might do a scope to look at the turbinates in your nose. If he suspects or want to rule out sinus infection, he might order a CT scan for you. A CT scan can show if there's any infection in the sinuses and it shows as white patch on the film.

Antibiotics is good only if you indeed have sinusitis but if you have allergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis, it will not be of much help. The common treatment for rhinitis is nasal steroid sprays. It has very much less side effects compare to those oral steroids. If your rhinitis is caused by allergies, anti-histamines will help you too and avoid your allergens. Do not be on long term decongestants sprays as it can have a rebound effect.

I had surgery done to remove part of my turbinates and bone. Medications didn't work for me. I even bought dust mite protectors and I still got symptoms and they were just getting worse even I was on medications, both oral meds and nasal sprays.

You mentioned that your mucus is clear which is more like allergic or vasomotor rhinitis. If your sinus has infection, the mucus should be something like yellow or green. That's what I think it should be.

Good luck!

mkgbrook · 04-30-2007, 11:17 AM

I have had two ENT based surgeries.. the first was an attempt to avoid the second.

1) bilaterial turboplasty cauterizing 30% of my nasal membranes.. gave me some relief but not enough
2) tonsillectomy, adnoidectomy and full endoscopic sinus surgery involving another 30% membrane reduction in maxillary and inferior sinus cavities.. window insertion in all sinus cavities.. complete membrane removal from my ethnoid and back sinus.. and sinus passage widening.

Now I breathe.. I drain and my anti-histamines do their job.. No more need for Nasonex or singular.. only need decongesstants when allergies are really bad or I am fighting a virus. Sinus infection free since Oct.17th, 2006 (Surgery date).. and feel on top of the world.

I would do the surgery again if my symptoms mystically reapeared.

Sincerely,
MG

thfc2006 · 05-01-2007, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheerAngel

Firstly, the ENT specialist will ask about your symptoms and related medical information. Then he might do a scope to look at the turbinates in your nose. If he suspects or want to rule out sinus infection, he might order a CT scan for you. A CT scan can show if there's any infection in the sinuses and it shows as white patch on the film.

Yes, what CheerAngel says is sound advice.

A CAT scan is crucial because this can reveal sinus problems that aren't visible to the doctors using X-rays, a scope or other techniques.

I had much needed surgery on my sinuses a few weeks ago but it was only after having a CAT scan from a surgeon I trust (who operated on me 11 years ago). Before that I'd seen other (less experienced) doctors who told me nothing looked wrong, so always be prepared to take a second opinion if you don't get anywhere.