Sinus infections are common, so much so that most people simply complete a course of medication and get back to their lives. For Kristin (not her real name), however, sinus infections became a chronic condition disrupting her life – from her work, to weekends with her children, to a long-awaited family vacation: her first in two years.

In the middle of the first night in Langkawi, she woke with a fever. The next morning, her husband had to find a clinic to pick up steroids, antibiotics and a nasal rinse.

Even though these helped and the second half of their holiday was better than the first, she was disappointed not to have been able to fully enjoy the beach and swim in the sea.

For a full-time lawyer and mother of two active children, Kristin’s chronic sinusitis could not have been more inconvenient. If she was exposed to any kind of virus, it would go right to her sinuses. It would feel like a normal cold at first, then quickly become an infection.

It can be akin to a plumbing problem. If the sinus doesn’t drain properly it becomes inflamed and blocked, which leads to infection, which in turn leads to increased inflammation. It’s a vicious cycle, her ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist explained.

Patients suffering from these symptoms experience ongoing sinus pressure and discomfort, coupled with bouts of full-blown infection that disrupt their lives.

Kristin was regularly taking antibiotics to treat the problem, but after consulting the specialist and discussing with her husband, she decided to go through with Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), a minimally invasive procedure that would open her narrow sinus passages.

Many sinus problems are associated with an anatomic obstruction due to a narrow structure. To work normally, mucus produced by the sinuses needs to be able to drain.

Her doctor compared the sinuses to a funnel. When the narrow part is blocked, it is prone to clogging and infection. Surgery allows the doctor to open up the narrow part of the funnel and let the sinuses drain properly.

The surgery is relatively quick – around an hour to 90 minutes – and patients generally experience little discomfort thereafter. They are often able to return to work in a few days.

Breathing easy again

Post-surgery, Kristin has returned to cheering on her kids at sports events on weekends. Just waking up and not feeling sick or sinus pressure is encouraging and a great relief, she shares.

While Kristin’s case required surgical intervention, she says many who live with sinus issues can help themselves by taking measures to avoid irritating the condition further.

She suggests the following:

• Quit smoking. Smoke can cause nasal and sinus inflammation, and also affects how the nose and sinuses clean themselves.
• Check your air-conditioners. Regularly change the duct filters and have units cleaned frequently to minimise allergens.
• If there is dust and old carpeting in the house, consider changing to wooden floors to minimise the accumulation of dust and other irritants. Vacuum your carpets and mop your floors regularly to eliminate dust and allergens.
• Consult an ENT specialist for a proper diagnosis instead of self-medicating or suffering in silence.

TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life after that. Feel free to email [email protected] to share your story.

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