Personal stories about choosing surgery for sinusitis

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Personal stories about choosing surgery for sinusitis

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.

Pete, age 43: I have had one sinus infection after another for the better part of a year. I've been taking antibiotics and using steroids and decongestant nasal sprays for a month now with no results. My doctor just did a CT scan and found out that one of my sinuses is blocked. He says he can fix it with surgery.

Misti, age 32: I've had a couple of bouts of sinusitis this year, so I asked my doctor about sinus surgery. She said there are some stronger antibiotics and other treatments I should try. I agree that it's better to try the medicines.

Marona, age 54: My doctor fired all the medicines at this infection that she could, and I took them just the way she told me to, but nothing seemed to work. After she looked at my CT scan, my doctor thinks what I've got may be a fungal infection. That would explain why the antibiotics I've tried haven't helped. I hate the idea of having the surgery, but I have tried everything else.

Jonathan, age 29: I have pretty bad sinusitis, and I've had it a few times over the years. The last time I got it, my doctor prescribed antibiotics and showed me how to wash out my sinuses with salt water, and that worked. I'm going to try that again, and my doctor says there are some other things we can try, too, like nasal sprays and allergy medicines.

Credits

Last updated:	August 15, 2008
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Donald R. Mintz, MD - Otolaryngology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC