Frequently Asked Questions
Based on my symptoms and the length of time I’ve suffered, do I have chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis is defined as more than 3 months of symptoms including: nasal congestion, purulent nasal discharge, facial pressure/pain and decreased sense of smell. You may also experience headaches, fatigue, dental pain and ear pressure. If this sounds like you ... then you have Chronic Sinusitis.
What medication do you prescribe for chronic sinusitis, and how long will I need to take medication
Chronic sinusitis is commonly treated with a combination of oral antibiotics, nasal steroid sprays, oral steroids, nasal/oral decongestants and nasal saline irrigations. Most individuals will respond to 7-10 days of medications. In severe cases, combinations of medications will be required for up to 30 days to completely treat an infection.
A culture of the sinus purulence may be taken to help guide the choice of antibiotics.
When would a CAT Scan of my sinuses be appropriate?
If you are not responding to combinations of medications after 30 days (or the infection keep coming back), then a CAT Scan of the sinuses is appropriate to determine if their is a structural abnormality or complication of the infection that needs to be addressed. The CAT Scan can be performed in our office or at a local facility (depending on your insurance contract)
At what point does it make sense for me to consider treatment options beyond medicine?
After an adequate course of medical therapy it may be appropriate to consider surgical options to assist in treating your sinus condition. This may range from minimally invasive in-office procedure performed under a local anesthesia to a more aggressive sinus surgery performed under general anesthesia in a local operating room. The specifics of your sinus disease and overall medical condition will help guide this decision.
What is the recovery period following a sinus procedure?
In-office sinus procedure - 12 hours of mild discomfort and blood tinged discharge. Most individuals are back to work in 24 hrs. Most people are taking only Tylenol or Motrin for the initial 24 hr.
Sinus Surgery in the Operating Room - Three to five days of recovery. Most patients take a mild pain reliever for the initial 24 hr. You should be back to work within 72 hours post operatively.
What will I need to do to keep my sinuses healthy after a procedure?
The goal of the procedure is to make your sinuses more accessible to topical nasal medications and nasal saline. These medications may include allergy nasal sprays, homeopathic nasal sprays or nasal irrigations. Continued use of these medications on a daily basis is the best way to keep your sinuses from becoming symptomatic again.