Deviated Septum

[dreamBIG]

Has anyone on here had surgery to fix this and/or turbanites(?).  I keep getting recurrent sinus infections, and my ENT thinks thinks  this is the only way to prevent this.  My parents are dead set against me getting this, because they only know of people who have had it done, and it left them with a disconfigured nose.  I say technology and education have come a long way since then, so the chances for that are very slim.  Any suggestions?

[Jellyb]

Hi there, my neighbor just had sinus surgery last year to have polyps removed. Pretty extensive surgery and quite uncomfortable but he looks just fine and said it was worth it because now he can finally breathe and taste food  again.

[anita]

I had both a deviated septum and turbinates removed/reduced.  I wish I hadn't.  There was NO disfigurement post surgery.  However, I didn't know I had Sjogren's until years later...although the surgeon did comment he thought I had SjS right after the second surgery (yes there was two).  He said things were VERY damaged from the dryness.

I have since had several ENT's say that the surgery was a mistake.  Removing turbinates further disrupts the ability to filter and drain the mucus...more so than Sjogren's already does by itself.  And I still got infections.  It was one of the most uncomfortable surgeries I've had...and I've had many.  

I would get another opinion, just to see what they say...AND have your IgG levels (subclasses) check to see if there is another reason for the infections, like mild immune deficiency.  I had this and got more relief from IVIG then the surgeries ever gave me.  I can't have the IVIG anymore and had huge infections when I stopped, but they have settled down over the years.

It never hurts to ask for a second opinion.  If you are questioning it enough to ask here, then you might as well ask another doctor.

Good luck.

[amk922]

I've been to one ENT in my life who said I should have a septoplasty. I never went back. The story is that my allergist referred me after I developed an ulcer on my septum that wouldn't heal (still hasn't). The ENT completely disregarded my SS diagnosis and need for the allergy meds I am on (indoor, unavoidable allergies). My nasal passage swells shut without them. He said I should stop taking all the allergy meds for good and get the surgery - I guess the deviated septum was the only obvious thing he saw and jumped to want to fix that instead of evaluating all the possible causes. I later consulted my rheumy who said that the dryness from SS will be there with or without the deviated septum and the surgery may not have done anything at all to help. Your situation is a bit different with the sinus infections. It's your call, but the surgery sounds like an awful one. I would avoid it if possible.

[hootyhu1]

I have a different take on all of this. I had a septorhinoplasty with a turbanate reduction and this was before my SjS DX. The surgery itself was painful....my septum is still deviated but it is way better! I can breathe thru my nose!!!!!!! My sinus infections have reduced significantly! (I only had one this winter!). However, now that I know I have SjS, I probably wouldn't have done it due to the dryness issue. (I don't really have dryness now in general. some mild nasal dryness but I thought it was due to the surgery, if it bother's me I use a saline nasal spray and I use a nettie pot a lot just for better sinuses). I would def. get a second and third opinion on wheather or not to do it.....good luck and keep us updated!-hootyhu

[Carolina]

Dear Dream;

I'm going to see my ENT tomorrow about my deviated septum and whether he thinks straightening it will help my constant headache in the front of my head.

Perhaps others post here about the topic.

The second part (turbinate reduction) is unfamiliar to me, and he hasn't talked about that, either.

I "think" the septum surgery is pretty straightforward.   But i guess no surgery is 'easy' and I need to know a LOT more about it before considering it.

keep us posted on what you decided to do.

I do have terrible post nasal drip and 'stuff' always draining.  I'm not sero positive for Sjogren's, so I guess it's just part of the dryness syndrome called
Sicca, too.

I have to use Nasonex and a saline spray twice a day to keep things moving, or my nose blocks completely.

When that happens I breathe through my mouth and the result is terrifying mouth dryness.

My mouth isn't even a mouth anymore, it's a wasteland of sandpaper.  Hard to describe.  I can't even move my tongue or remember how to close my mouth.

Hugs

Elaine

[Aquarius]

Dreambig,  Will the ENT financially benefit from your decision to have surgery?  If yes, that could be a red flag.   

It would be worth your time to visit the website:  emptynosesyndrome.org

and read the stories of people that have undergone turbinate reduction surgery.