Blocked nose

FrJackHackett · 05-06-2003, 08:07 PM

I cannot find an appropriate section for this so I shall post it here.

I have experienced an intermittent blocked nose for the past eighteen years. I have never been able to correlate it to anything in particular. When it comes on, usually about two or three times a year, I use Beconase, gradually reducing the dose over a couple of weeks until it clears. If it disturbs my sleep I sometimes use a short term nasal spray during the night for a day or two until the long term spray takes effect.

This procedure has the approval of my doctor and I would use only two or three sprayers of Beconase in the course of a year, some years much less. I often think it would be nice to get rid of the problem once and for all, and years ago a specialist wanted to operate to supposedly clear my nasal passages. I declined at the time because I felt the problem was not sufficiently serious to warrant an operation and because people had told me the operation itself was very unpleasant and hadn't made much difference.

The problem has not become worse over the years but now I am getting older I wonder if I really could get rid of it permanently through surgery. Has anyone actually had an operation for this problem ? Was it very unpleasant ? Did it do any good ?

zuzu8 · 05-07-2003, 09:33 PM

Hi- it sounds like you have low grade rhinitis, which, as you say waxes and wanes and seems to resolve with the use of Beconase.
Must be some kind of allergy to something. But as long as you aren't getting chronic infection and true sinusitis, and you haven't developed any nasal polyps, I'd stay away from any surgery.
I'm a bit baffled. What surgery could the doctor be recommending if there are no polyps or obstruction other than swollen mucous membranes?
I have allergies and eventually developed polyps which caused major intractable infections. Surgery to remove the polyps was a success, but I still get a blocked nostril once in a while when the turbinates swell, and I use Nasocort to great effect, as you use the Beconase.
Best,
zuzu xx

FrJackHackett · 05-08-2003, 12:56 AM

Zuzu:

Thanks for your comments. I do have one small polyp but I've had it since my teens and I seriously doubt that it is involved in the blockages, which began occurring in my thirties after moving house - a reason in itself to suggest allergy. No, I've never had chronic sinus infection, or any sinus problems at all for that matter.

I thought at the time that the proposed inessential surgery was of the easy, income generating variety, if you know what I mean. Your comments appear to endorse this view. There's a lot of that goes on once they know you have medical insurance. I think I'll just carry on with the status quo for a while; it's only a few days out of 365 that it causes any real bother.

zuzu8 · 05-08-2003, 05:08 AM

FrJack-
Sounds reasonable to me! There's an old adage I read about the way a good doctor should approach some of their patients who are not critically ill:

"Don't just do something, stand there!"

Best of luck,

zuzu xxx

#1Texan · 05-08-2003, 08:32 AM

FrJack

My husband had the same problem that you are experiencing. 4 years ago we went to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, the whole right side of the nasal passage was blocked.
My husband had been using Sudafed daily for many years as this is what brought temporary relief.

The ENT did the surgery and my husband has been able to breath freely for 4 years now.

He wished he would have done the surgery sooner.

Hope this helps.
Take care

#1Texan