Back from 2nd visit to ENT concerning nasal congestion, pnd, very irritated throat. Put this long probe up my nose, could feel it coming back down back of throat. Prescribed more nasal spray, which I already been using for months now with little/no effectiveness. Some days, pnd is so bad it is impossible to sleep. Hoping this diff. spray will work but I'm not so optomistic about it.
Next step? Surgery? No way. My friend had surgery twice, his nose is still blocked and he says he feels much more miserable than before surgery.
But I think there is cauterization, or other methods to shrink the turbinates.

I've been having sinus problems since 4/4/06. Sound like a country singer with a twang. Have tried all the sprays, been on a course of prednisone, oral, on about 10 antibiotics, am on my 3rd ENT. Had 2 CT's showing swollen sinus and a deviated septum which the radiologist said was not significant, ENT says it's a problem, not allowing drainage. So....I have had one round of chemical cautery which is 3 different chemicals (herbal) sprayed up the nostrils to "burn off" lining of the notrils. I go for my 2nd treatment Tues next. There is no pain involved, takes approx 15 min. & your done. I drove to and from 50 miles, did not feel anything. I am not any better as yet, but he said it usually takes 3 treatments before a noticable difference. I am hoping. Also I have been sneezing a lot, so I think I have underlying allergies issues. At any rate, wanted to let you know of this chemical cautery process as it has between 65-85% cure for a lot of sinus issues. Beats surgery. Not too many Dr's are educated in this process, so you may have to look around for one. I know Rush Hospital in CHGO, IL does it, not sure of Mayo. You can check it out on yur search with chemical cautery. Good luck. Perhaps this is what you are looking for and hopefully you can find an ENT that will perfom it. J

So its only a chemical spray. I would think you should have felt even a smal improvement. Do you have insurance. I'm in Canada, on your 2nd treatment can you inquire how much all 3 treatments would cost pluc CT scan costs, if needed. I don't know any ent here that performs it and probably wll have to head south of the border. I wouldn't mind to hear the result after your 2nd treatment also.

Thank you.

I'll follow-up after my visit tomorrow. However, a CT here in the States is around $350.00 to $450.00, depends on where, etc. This chemical treatment is around 400.00 to 500.00. Insurance picks up some but not all. Yes I do have insurance for which I pay a hefty premium. Let you know after my visit tomorrow what I find out and etc........ J

An up-date on my 2nd chemical cautery yesterday 6/20/06. The procedure went quite well. ENT looked up my nose with the endoscope after numbing. He said it looked better, not so inflammed and was opening up. I thought that to be good news. I still cannot smell a THING and cannot taste only salty or sweet. He said this may never go away. Great. Then he proceeded with the chemical "stuff". I go back in August for the final of the 3 sessions. Then it's every 3 months, then it goes to 2X a year. What a racket huh? If it works, it is definitely worth it. The cost of the cautery is 230.00 of which my Insurance Co is paying 179.00. I probably will have to pay 51.00. Did not inquire of the CT cost, however, as I stated before it's around 300 to 400.00. They can really see everything possible. I actually had a regular X-Ray of my sinuses in 10/05, Dr. said the x-ray looked good. Then when I had the CT it showed blocked sinuses!!!! All parts of my sinuses. I would encourage you to get the CT Scan as so much is revealed from it. Dr. can tell if you have sinusitis, polyps, inflamation, etc....Hope this helped a bit. Good Luck J