Balloon Sinuplasty and Turbinate Reduction (again)

I thought I’d just write my experience down here for anyone who was considering getting these procedures done themselves. I imagine you googled some questions and landed here, right? I did the same when I was first considering fixing my nose problems. Well, I got both procedures done yesterday afternoon in about 1 hour, and now I sit here suffering somewhat with sinus pain. That was predicted. Pain pills supplied. So not a surprise.

Was it worth it? Yes, I think so. Although, right now all that I feel is discomfort and sinus pressure. I’ll let you know in a week or so after I heal. (Updates below)

This isn’t the first time I’ve had this procedure. I actually had the Turbinite Reduction done in 2013.

I’ve suffered with chronic sinus and respiratory problems my entire life (born with asthma). Cats and mold and grass are my biggest enemies. But, in 2013, after a severe bout with sinusitis, I sought out professional help and discovered one of problems was ‘redacted sinus cavity’ as well as a ‘deviated septum’, which simply means the bone in my nose is crooked and causing one side of my sinus passages to be smaller and thinner than normal. So I paid for a procedure called ‘Turbinite Reducation’ which basically hollows out some of the passageways inside your nose a little bit.

It wasn’t a cure-all, but it was certainly an improvement! The good affects lasted for many years. I could breath a little better. I could blow my nose a little easier. However, in 2019, some of those same sinus problems returned. So I revisited the same doctor and discovered my sinuses had reverted back to narrow once again. I don’t really know why, but I learned that, indeed, nasal passages could (and did) regrow.

This time I decided to get the Turbinite Reducation surgery PLUS a procedure called Balloon Sinuplasty. They literally put a balloon inside your nose, blow it up, breaking some bones in the process, and widening the passageways.

To cut to the chase, I’ll tell you this… it is the AFTER EFFECTS of the procedure are far (far far) worse than the the pain during the procedure itself. For at least 2-3 days AFTER the procedure, you’ll be suffering with the most intense sinus pain you’ve ever experienced in your entire life. It does get a little easier each day, but that first day will be just pure torment. It feels like the WORST sinus and migraine headache ever.

Day 1 (Friday)- Same day as procedure. So much sinus pain and discomfort I can’t even think. Can’t eat or drink because it puts painful pressure on my nose when I swallow. Can’t sleep at all. Stayin’ up all night. Gonna do a Netflix binge, I suppose.

Day 2 (Saturday) – still pretty miserable with sinus pain. Can’t breath through my nose at all. Constant sinus drainage. By the end of the day I was just exhausted from dealing with this, but I can’t sleep… so another night of Netflix.

Day 3 (Sunday) – Stayed awake almost all night again! Finally fell asleep about 4 a.m. When I awoke at 6 a.m., I felt a little bit of relief. A hot shower and pain pills took the edge off. But, I can tell this is healing and improving, and the pressure and pain are less than the day before.

Day 4 (Monday) – Feeling quite a bit better. There are moments where I can breath through my nose, although there is still a tremendous amount of drainage rattling around in there. I’m able to function and go about my day. Pain is almost gone now. I took the last of the pain pills they’d given me even though I didn’t particularly need it.

Day 5 (Tuesday morning) – I was able to sleep for awhile last night. I woke up often with a stuffy nose and drainage and dry mouth (from breathing through my mouth), but for the most part I got more sleep than I had in days. Then BREAKTHROUGH! I got up about 6 a.m. and took a hot shower. While blowing my nose, HUGE glops of mucus came out (sorry, that’s gross, I know) and I felt instant relief… and could breath through my nose for the first time in days! Ahhh!!! I’m finally recovering and feeling normal (almost).

So, all in all, it took about 3 days recover enough to return to a functional life. After 5 days, the pain and discomfort was gone.

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How did the procedure itself feel? Actually, it wasn’t that bad. The doctor gave me a sedative about 9 a.m. which, I suppose, took the edge off. He also covered my eyes with a warm cloth. Then as he began the procedure, an assistant would audibly count down each painful probe. 5 4 3 2 1… and done. The doctor poked objects up my nose, and … I suppose the most disconcerting part… was hearing popping and cracking as he inflated the balloons. Later, when I asked what was that popping sound I kept hearing, he confessed it was the sound of bones breaking.

Then, on to the Turbinate Reduction which I had experienced before. I knew what to expect. It’s a feeling of pressure and electrical burning for about 5 to 10 seconds. Again, the assistant would count down each ‘session’ of burning. Painful? Yes, but not unbearable. Just unpleasant, really.

All in all, both procedures took about 1 hour to complete. It was out of the office by noon.

But, as I said, it is the healing afterward that is the difficult part. I strongly suggest you block off the day or two after your procedure to just stay home and do nothing. Because you’ll probably be miserable.

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Update: Day 7 – How do I feel now? Oh wow, I can breath through my nose better than I ever have in my entire life! It’s wonderful! It feels like a rush of fresh air each time I take a breath. All pain and discomfort is gone, and only easy unrestricted breathing remains. Well, I do still have some congestion going on, but it is minimal. The doctor said (in a follow up appointment) that my nose was still healing and producing mucus. Hopefully, that will clear up in a week or so as well. I’d say it was totally worth the cost and discomfort.

Was it worth the cost and temporary suffering? YES! Totally yes. I’m very happy with the results.

Update Update: Okay, it is now November 3rd and there is literally so much air passing through my nostrils that I am now experiences dry sinuses. Wow, I’ve never experienced this much air through my nose before! Is this normal? Is that what you normal breathers do? There is so much air is passing through my sinuses that my nose is drying up. I’ve been doing the neti-pot thing maybe 2 or 3 times a day. Plus, it is soooooo easy to blow my nose now. Wow, this is amazing.