Hey guys.

I don't really know where to turn to. I know there are medical forums out there, but I would like some feedback from all types of people.

For 2 years, I have had what feels like sinus/pressure on the left side of m face/nose, just below the eye. I feel it a bit in the morning, and it gets worse throughout the day. I haven't found anything that will stop the pressure, and it causes me to get headaches. I've been to doctors in the past, and they never noticed any swelling of my sinuses, although I haven't been to a doctor specifically for this problem.

Anyway, 2 years ago, I literally woke up one morning and felt this pressure in my nose and it NEVER left. It's gotten less noticeable. But it still bothers me.

I don't really want to go to a doctor. My parents, specifically my mother, will all but shame me for going to the doctor. She comes from the school of thought that if you don't have a fever or aren't throwing up, you don't need to go to a doctor.

But it's beginning to really keep me from going to sleep (once I'm asleep, it doesn't wake me up). And it's been frustrating me for the past 2 years.

Has anyone ever had something like this? Is there any easy cure? I've been on powerful anti-biotics once for a ingrown toenail that looked pretty damn awful. During this time, the problem never got better, not even a little bit.

It's important to note, it doesn't hurt at all. It's just REALLY REALLY annoying.

8/23/2010 11:30:16 PM

it's a tumor

8/23/2010 11:36:41 PM

Hey there,

Is it possible you have a polyp or something of that nature? With a regular nasal exam, there's only so much you can see without special equipment physical. I recommend going to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. If it's bothering/worrying you, you should get it investigated. Your health is important. Take care of yourself and good luck!

A

8/23/2010 11:38:05 PM

Quote :

"I don't really want to go to a doctor. My parents, specifically my mother, will all but shame me for going to the doctor. She comes from the school of thought that if you don't have a fever or aren't throwing up, you don't need to go to a doctor."

That's retarded.

Go to an ENT.

8/23/2010 11:58:57 PM

holy fuck. screw your mom and go to the damn doctor. what kind of parent is she? /chitchat

seriously, go to a doctor. she doesn't have to know if you don't tell her. it could be a polyp or some permanently swollen turbinates. Fumbler just had his surgically reduced to open up his nose a couple months ago.

8/24/2010 12:06:55 AM

^ more info on the surgery please? Im also a candidate for the surgery to open my sinuses but Ive heard it has to be done on a regular (but infrequent) basis. Its not bad enough to where I have a hard time breathing but I do get alot of sinus infections.

8/24/2010 12:10:07 AM

^^ I'm still a student. I don't really have that type of money laying around for me to go to the doctor. I mean, I graduate this December, but I really am tired of waiting.

And if I go to an ENT, are there any good ones in Raleigh that I can see easily, or should I first go to the student health center and have them look at it and refer me to some place?

8/24/2010 12:16:07 AM

dr mann is a good ENT here in raleigh

a sinus CT scan will tell the doc whats going on in there

8/24/2010 6:14:19 AM

I went to WakeENT a few weeks back for sinus issues. Thankfully I have health insurance so it didn't cost too much.

They scoped my nose during the exam -- the doc sprayed some lidocaine and afrin in my nostrils, then sent the endoscope up in there (all the way....it came out my throat ).

It is a bit uncomfortable but not awful. This will allow the doctor to have a quick view of what's going on. A CT on your head will give the doctor lots of valuable information as well.


Screw the idea of "if you're not dying don't go to a doctor", that's some total BS. There are plenty of diseases or issues that are much easier to deal with if they are caught early. Ignoring them now could make them worse later....kind of a Catch-22. At the very least, preventative maintenance is a good thing.

Losing sleep over sinus issues is serious business that has long-term consequences (ex: over time, sleep apnea deprives your body of oxygen and takes year off your life...it isn't just about snoring and losing sleep). Sleep deprivation sucks. Go get it checked out ASAP.


My vote would be nasal polyps, bone spur, or fungus ball, but I'm not a doctor...

[Edited on August 24, 2010 at 7:29 AM. Reason : ]

8/24/2010 7:26:02 AM

for Fumbler's surgery, they cauterized the turbinates in his nostrils which makes them shrink down and visibly opened up his nose. they also straightened his septum. it was an outpatient procedure at our local day hospital. i took him in in the morning and he was home by 3 or something. he was sore for several days but not in an extreme amount of pain or anything. he's very happy with the results.

8/24/2010 4:40:28 PM

^ good to know.......i will be scheduling the same surgery in a few weeks i think

8/24/2010 6:31:50 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. I will definitely talk to my mother. I have health insurance (I have to as a student), so hopefully it won't be too much money to have it checked out (I don't know how much a CT scan costs with insurance). I read for nasal polyps they can treat it with steroids sometimes, and if they have to remove it, I believe it is an outpatient procedure.

And I don't think I have sleep apnea (yet). I'm able to get a good nights rest and feel awake and energized after 7-8 hours of sleep. But I certainly don't want to develop a sleep apnea, although I have been told I snore loudly.

8/24/2010 7:19:43 PM

they prescribe nasonex for polyps sometimes.

8/24/2010 8:31:31 PM

Quote :

"I read for nasal polyps they can treat it with steroids sometimes, and if they have to remove it, I believe it is an outpatient procedure."

Yes to both. I've had surgery to remove polyps 3 times -- it's outpatient surgery. For me, there wasn't a ton of pain, the most annoying part is that your nose bleeds nonstop for around a week and you have to constantly flush it with saline. They given you a nice little slingshot to go around the bottom of your nose that holds gauze against it though.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

OP: Go to an ENT. I go to Dr. Jones at Mann ENT and have nothing but positive things to say.

[Edited on August 24, 2010 at 9:30 PM. Reason : .]

8/24/2010 9:28:46 PM

Mann ENT is a good place.

Just keep in mind they're going to run you through a series of expensive scans before they will attempt to/will be able to tell you anything, so if you don't have pretty decent insurance you're going to go broke. On the plus side, they are very efficient with all the checks, have everything in house, and can solve pretty much any problem in house (not sure if they still have that allergist I went to or not). I was pleased with the service I got, but a bit wary of how willing they were to run any expensive tests for what didn't seem to be such a severe issue (and how let down my doctor was that he couldn't offer me a surgical fix because my nasal/sinus scan came up perfect, lol).

8/24/2010 10:33:21 PM