My Experience with a Turbinate Reduction Procedure

I went to the Nose doctor today and had a Turbinate Reduction procedure done. Success! But right now it feels like I have super-congestion in my head. Plus, my nose is bleeding. Blaaaah. Probably won’t get much sleep tonight. Here’s an exciting video on Turbinate Reduction:

My troubles began in the summer of 2013 when I experienced what I thought was allergies or perhaps even a ‘summer cold’. I figured it would run it’s course in a few days or even a week, but the stuffy head and congestion just stayed. And stayed. And stayed. It went on for several months until I absolutely couldn’t stand it anymore. I knew something was not right and needed to be addressed. But after a 2 trips to the family doctor and no relief, I finally looked up a sinus specialist and gave that a try. It took him 3 visits to finally figure out that I had a staph infection in my nose! A simple prescription of steroid medicine cleared it up in a matter of days!

In the process, the sinus specialists told me that I had narrow passageways in my nose that was also contributing to my breathing problems. A previous doctor had said the same thing years ago (as a teen) so I figured that was probably true. He offered to do a procedure called ‘Turbinate Reducation’ where they literally hollow out your nasal passages. I said yes, and let him do his thing.

Was it unconfortable? Yes! But, in my opinion, it wasn’t terrible. He would stick a device up my nose and turn it on for about 10 seconds. It would burn the nasal passageways out a tiny bit each time. Then he would pause for a moment or two, and then do it again. He would even count down from 10 each time to give me an idea of when the paid would be over.

As for the pain itself, it felt like an electric shock and wasn’t unbearable. It made my eyes water a few times, and I clinched the arm-rests of the chair I was sitting very tightly a time or two, but overall it was just about the same level of discomfort as going to a dentist.

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Update: Years later, I’m adding a note to this post (2016) to let you know the Turbinate Reduction Procedure was well worth the time and money. It has reduced snoring quite a bit, and it has noticeably made it easier to breath through my nose. It has even made it easier to blow my nose when I have congestion. There are many drawbacks except for maybe now my nose dries out a little faster and easier than before. I use a ‘neti pot’ or nasal irrigation bottle once or twice a week to flush out the dry feeling in my nose, as well as wash out some ‘crusty boogers’ as my daughter might say. I use the neti pot while I’m taking a shower. It is quick and easy.

Definition: Turbinate reduction (also known as turbinoplasty or turbinectomy) is a surgical procedure that reduces the overall size of the turbinates allowing for airflow which results in symptommatic relief of nasal obstruction and congestion.