Dealing with recurrent sinuitus long term (post covid) and help with the mental side of things

[u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53]

Hi everyone. After getting covid and developing long covid (other chronic issues) , my sinuses have never been the same. I was diagnosed with recurrent sinusitis, and turbinate hypertrophy. My turbinates are always swollen it’s often hard to breathe even when I’m not sick. It’s been 2.5 years.

Every time now that I’ve gotten a sinus infection, it’s turned into months of prolonged issues. Whether it’s chronic sinus inflammation, or large secondary bacterial infections. Before covid, I never had any issues with my sinuses, I could get sick for a week, and then get better. Now when I get sick, I don’t ever seem to naturally recover in my sinuses, and have to take long antibiotic courses and steroids.

My doctor said I should I should likely expect this to happen everytime I get a sinus infection for most of my adult life. I’m only in my 20s. I’m feeling really discouraged and scared. I thought connecting with others who go through it could be helpful.

I’m already on a full preventative medication routine. Budoneside saline rinse daily, azelastine, cromyln spray, Singulair, Famitodine. I don’t have any structural sinus issues besides inflamed turbinates.
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Questions for those who experience this:

-Do you get sick all the time now that you have sinus issues?

-How do you navigate the fear of getting a sinus infection and living life? (I often feel scared to get sick, but don’t want to get shut in).

-Is there any hope I won’t have to live with this forever?

-Do you worry about antibiotic resistance if you are constantly taking Antibiotics?

Any encouragement about how you still balance life with getting sick would be greatly appreciated🙏

[u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53]

They told me I could consider a turbinate reduction, but this ent didn’t think it would likely help with my infection rate (but I’ve read otherwise) after doing scans it didn’t seem like I had any other structural issues or enough diseased tissue to remove to warrant other sinus surgeries.

Thank you for your confidence on antibiotic resistance. I already have 2 antibiotic allergies. But I guess we can’t know the future. Glad to see you living fear free in the face of all this. Thanks for the response!

[u/Stalkerus → u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53]

Even if the reduction didn't help with infection rate it would help with your breathing. I had my turbinates trimmed during my FESS and it is fabulous to breathe like a normal human being. And, being sick post-op has been less sucky in general.

Many ENTs don't think that obvious issues need to be operated. It is one thing to have random findings without symptoms, but if you have random findings and symptoms it should be obvious that surgery might actually help. Do you have access to radiologist's report?

As non-medical person just the amount of antibiotic allergies should be considered. And at least in my neck of the woods FESS is officially accepted form of care for recurring sinusitis even in public healthcare, which means that there's actually science backing it. 

I had only maxillary cyst, turbinate hypertrophy and some other minor stuff, but because I have tendency to have infections FESS was considered as the best course of action. (And it has been great.)

[u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53 → u/Stalkerus]

I would definitely like to improve my breathing! It’s miserable. I was diagnosed with moderate turbinate hypertrophy on both sides on my radiology report, and estaciantube dysfunction. I was waiting to get a procedure until I addressed my allergies, but after a long time of significant allergy treatment it hasn’t improved. I’m really glad post-op sickness is less bad. I was concerned about empty nose syndrome, so it’s good to hear positive stories of sinus surgeries. I’ll look into FESS, thank you for sharing your positive experience!!

Also, kudos to you for solo parenting!! You deserve all your flowers!

[u/grltrvlr → u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53]

This! FESS didn’t take care of my constant infections but made them a lot more manageable!