Sinus surgery
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sinus surgery
Just been told that I need FESS surgery, which I believe is an acronym for Facial Endoscope Sinus Surgery (well that's what the missus said and she's a nurse!); my understanding of the process is that the doc will put an endoscope up into the sinus cavity with a rotating cutter to remove lots of polyp growth (sounds nasty). Has anybody had this done and is there any risk to my medical cat, realistically? I am advised that the benefits will be great and er indoors was particularly impressed when they mentioned that it would help what she claims are some very strange noises emanating from me when I sleep (I don't know what she means cos try as I might, I never get to hear them)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Does it matter
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just noticed your post and thought Id share with you my experience.
I also suffered terribly from sinus problems. Constant sniffing, excessive mucous production, loss of smell, periodic sinus pressure pain during flight, blocked nose, etc etc etc.
Anyway, I finally had enough and went to a specialist about it. X Rays proved i
had polyps and i was booked in for surgery.
I was informed I would be having "keyhole surgery" that would be painless and non invasive. The operation took about 2 hours and I was released from hospital that evening after a few hours spent in a recovery ward.
Apart from the fact I was not allowed to blow my nose for a week, the whole experience was basically pain free, No bruising at all but there was some very minor swelling that went away quickly.
It was the best thing I have done without a doubt. The surgeon told me after the operation that he was very surprised by the size of the polyps so i am glad they are out!!
I couldnt fly for a month so i had to take a fair bit of leave.
After my time off, flying has never been better and I can categorically say it has definately improved my quality of life, so in a word, go for it!!
If u have any other questions, let me know
Cheers
I also suffered terribly from sinus problems. Constant sniffing, excessive mucous production, loss of smell, periodic sinus pressure pain during flight, blocked nose, etc etc etc.
Anyway, I finally had enough and went to a specialist about it. X Rays proved i
had polyps and i was booked in for surgery.
I was informed I would be having "keyhole surgery" that would be painless and non invasive. The operation took about 2 hours and I was released from hospital that evening after a few hours spent in a recovery ward.
Apart from the fact I was not allowed to blow my nose for a week, the whole experience was basically pain free, No bruising at all but there was some very minor swelling that went away quickly.
It was the best thing I have done without a doubt. The surgeon told me after the operation that he was very surprised by the size of the polyps so i am glad they are out!!
I couldnt fly for a month so i had to take a fair bit of leave.
After my time off, flying has never been better and I can categorically say it has definately improved my quality of life, so in a word, go for it!!
If u have any other questions, let me know
Cheers
Sorry CaptSmify, not apt to your situation, but for pilots with stuffy noses...... http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=309196
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Weston Super Mare/UAE
Age: 60
Posts: 406
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks
Thanks, whatever6719, am encouraged to go for it following your experience. Am booked in on July 5th and will post how it has gone in case others are wondering for themselves.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I found that the benefits depend on your symptoms. It helped massively with the sinus headaches and pressure behind my eyes. It has significantly reduced the number of infections from one every six weeks to once every year or so. Any sinus headaches i get now can be managed with ibuprofen rather than me being tempted to take a drill to my head. The thing it hasn't helped with is the post nasal drip , which is still pretty constant and yucky.
the op itself was fine, try not to sneeze for a while after as that was painful!! Don't be suprised if it takes a few months for you to feel the full effects , and don't be suprised if you get a post op infection , given the nature of the area they are opertaing on.
the op itself was fine, try not to sneeze for a while after as that was painful!! Don't be suprised if it takes a few months for you to feel the full effects , and don't be suprised if you get a post op infection , given the nature of the area they are opertaing on.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Asia
Age: 39
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Noses
I've had polyp surgery three times. They come back, although I've been clear for a while now. Make sure they give you a general. Last op I had was done with local and extremely painful. Flixonase very helpful.
FESS stands for functional endoscopic sinus surgery and consists of any operation on the sinuses done through an endoscope ('telescope'). The sinuses are holes in the facial bones which exist to stop your head weighing a ton and putting you in a permanent nose down attitude. They also give you the tone of your voice!
All but the most minor FESS is done under general anaesthesia and we usually use deliberate hypotensive anaesthesia to stop any bleeding.
Removing polyps is only one of the things we can do - we can also drain pus, remove chronically infected linings and operate on tumours.
This is NOT minor surgery and should only be done by a surgeon and anaesthetist who does hundreds. There are risks including blindness, but the risk is very small and the benefit significant.
Chronic infection and polyps can and do recur so the word 'cure' is not always appropriate. However the procedure can be repeated.
There is nothing specific to flying and so no reason IMHO why you cant fly after the proscribed time or a general anaesthetic.
Happy to answer general questions
All but the most minor FESS is done under general anaesthesia and we usually use deliberate hypotensive anaesthesia to stop any bleeding.
Removing polyps is only one of the things we can do - we can also drain pus, remove chronically infected linings and operate on tumours.
This is NOT minor surgery and should only be done by a surgeon and anaesthetist who does hundreds. There are risks including blindness, but the risk is very small and the benefit significant.
Chronic infection and polyps can and do recur so the word 'cure' is not always appropriate. However the procedure can be repeated.
There is nothing specific to flying and so no reason IMHO why you cant fly after the proscribed time or a general anaesthetic.
Happy to answer general questions
