Is surgery the only way to get your persistent sinus problems under control?
While sinus problems will happen to most people, what happens when your symptoms don’t go away or keep coming back? If you are someone who is living with chronic sinusitis you may have tried everything from lifestyle changes and medications but find that nothing is helping you breathe better. These signs might be telling you that it’s time to turn to our Saint Thomas, VI, surgeons for sinus surgery.
You Have Chronic Sinusitis
Dealing with a sinus infection that doesn’t go away can be brutal. If you’ve been dealing with symptoms of a sinus infection for more than 12 weeks then this officially means that you have chronic sinusitis. How we treat chronic infections is different from acute infections, and oftentimes chronic infections don’t respond as effectively to medications and other nonsurgical treatments. If you find that you have been dealing with chronic sinusitis for months on end without relief, our Saint Thomas, VI, team may recommend sinus surgery.
You Have Trouble Breathing Through Your Nose
If you have a nasal obstruction you won’t be able to breathe normally through your nose. Unfortunately, mouth breathing causes a whole host of health issues, so it’s important that you are breathing properly; however, if nasal obstruction is making it challenging to breathe, taste food, or even sleep, then it’s time to consult our team to see if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.
You Have a Deviated Septum
A deviated septum is when the cartilage that separates the two nasal cavities is crooked. This can lead to a partially obstructed or obstructed nostril. It may even cause facial pain or frequent nosebleeds. Allergies or colds may also make symptoms worse. Only if you’re having trouble breathing through your nose and medications aren’t relieving your symptoms will a surgeon often recommend surgery to correct the deviated septum.
You Have Severe Nasal Polyps
Another condition that can cause breathing problems and blocked nasal passages is nasal polyps. While nasal sprays can be used to reduce swelling and temporarily shrink the polyps, if the polyps grow so large that you have trouble breathing through your nose or experience a blocked nasal passage, then surgery is often advised to remove the polyps.
If you are dealing with chronic sinusitis and want to find out if sinus surgery is right for you, call our Saint Thomas, VI, surgical team at Paragon Surgical Center at (340) 715-7874 to schedule a consultation.