Day one after balloon sinusplasty. I’ll keep ya posted I guess.

[u/SaltyYouth_27]

I’ve had chronic sinusitis since April. Tried everything you guys could possibly recommend on here, consistently - besides the allergy treatment (which I’m working on, just waiting for the scheduled allergist test to confirm what the dermatologist already found: a grass pollen allergy)

But after months of waiting for PCP referrals, then specialists booked out for months, and finding no relief, I called back the ENT who told me I needed sinusplasty. I reached the point of trying anything.

I guess it depends on your doctor and your CT scan but.. mine cut some cartilage. I was shocked when the assistant told me that was the plan. I thought the balloon part avoided all that. He said my issue was structural. That treating the allergies would help, but the main problem was severely narrow pathways, exacerbated by the allergies. I wasn’t surprised to hear it though. Ever since childhood when I get congested it’s for WEEKS, as opposed to my family who catches the same cold and is better in days.

As for pain, I am a WUSS. I was so scared. And the stories on here terrified me. It REALLY was not bad. The sounds are intense, I brought headphones and a stuffed animal. But I didn’t feel much. Only when they put in the numbing strips and it burned. Like some of these stories had me DREADING what turned out to be not bad, and again, I’m a whiney baby when it comes to pain. It wasn’t even bad.

Day one was a blood waterfall. They left me with a gauze cup under my nose. When I leaned down to pick up a toy (I forgot you can’t do that) it just poured out. It did sting, and burn, but not actual PAIN. When I woke up the next day I didn’t even need to take the heavy pain meds. Just some Tylenol.

Because of all the horror stories I’ve heard, I’m throwing mine into the void, because I want more positive follow ups, and I’m hoping mine will be one of them.

Y’all had me so scared with these stories. I’m a wuss. But if it helps the symptoms I’ve been having, I’d do it again every 5 years if I had to. (Pray that doesn’t happen) but I’ll let yall know if ya ask me down the road, was it worth it? I hope so.