Due to my severe, debilitating headaches in the last couple of months, my CF doctors went down the road of investigating sleep apnea as the cause, as that’s a very common symptom of “older” CFers. Strange to say that at a day short of 32 years old, but it’s quite historically true. After the sleep study, I am mildly apneatic, but after they received my results from another CT scan that I requested, they saw a shocking report that said my sinuses showed worse sinus disease than my October pre-surgery CT scan!
Within the course of 7 weeks, my sinuses were worse off than before my surgery number 9. Unbelievable! Like any good doctors would, they suggested I get a second opinion, this time from a doctor on the TGH campus across the road from them so they would be able to visit me in recovery or if I spend the night for observation. Dr. Tabor had a cancellation that next week, so I saw him in a Tuesday. He just so happens to be about my height and quite tech-savvy by the array of equipment I saw in the room.
I asked him if that tower of equipment happened to have a record button or if I could just aim my iPhone at the screen as he went in since I’d never seen the inside of my nose for a sinus cleaning. He said he had some time, so let’s have some fun. He put on his HD scope, calibrated for true white, and we were suddenly recording in living color! The cleaning took him a good 7 minutes with a lot of in and out getting a different suction tip or set of forceps, so that video is going to take a lot of editing that I don’t have time for until my holiday vacation time… or maybe let my dad have a good time editing it with my iMovie ’11 after he arrives tonight.
He made a second video using an endoscope – a flexible, controllable fiber-optic tube – to take a final look after his cleaning to see what was up where he couldn’t get to using a straight scope due to the massive scarring and my deviated septum that my last surgeon didn’t correct. The only grossness in this video is what looks like green scabs in a couple of places, but you can see how tight things are when they really should be much more spacious. I can’t wait to have a side-by-side after he operates and the swelling goes down.
So, you’ve been warned that there is a video below here and it contains images up my nose, yet no cleaning of any gunk – just taking a quick look-see.
That is awesome! Not awesome that you are the one dealing with all of these sinus issues…but what a great view of the inside of the sinuses!! Thanks for sharing…and I sure hope you get some relief soon!
Thanks. If you like that one, you’ll love the cleaning video. I’d label it
as “fascinating” to anyone who’s had it done.
My son is 6 and has major sinus issues as well. He just had his 7th sinus surgery and his 8th is scheduled for February. How do I get the video? Does the cleaning out hurt? My son won’t tolerate it in the office…
It usually doesn’t hurt, but some things are uncomfortable and sometimes
things hurt. He REALLY needs to have visits and get attention or he’ll break
all sorts of surgery records. Wow, pulling for you with that many already.
I watched the video…Ugh. Aidan sees the ENT all the time but nothing helps his sinuses from filling up just weeks after IVs and surgery. It’s horrible. Now his frontal sinuses are affected so he gets horrible headaches and pressure. His ENT has cleaned him in the office before but now Aidan knows and freaks. It never cleaned him enough from needing another surgery though. Are you getting another one?
Jan. 6th.
Ohhh, just sending my compassion with the sinus issues – it is debilitating and i am so sorry you’re going through this – and so soon after your most recent surgery. Discouraging but keep positive. I’ve had about 8 surgeries over the years, they have actually gotten better as I’ve gotten older…but then again I’ve been on steroids for 3 years straight + more IV antibiotics than ever so maybe that is why. The videos explain why they feel the way the do!! OOOO.
My apnea test was a frustrating waste of time – I didn’t sleep! As a diabetic, I had to get up and use the ladies’ literally almost every hour and the tech was NOT AMUSED at having to unattach and rewire me. I warned him but I don’t think he had any idea I was telling the truth!!
AHHH… Life with CF… ๐
Indeed! I slept through without getting up, but I awoke ~20 times and was
right – the report said 17. Beautiful said I have stopped humming in my
sleep, kicking her, and all but stopped coughing now.
My docs don’t prescribe steroids unless you’re having an episode because of
the bone density issues and how that makes healing so much more difficult IF
transplant ever comes down as necessary, not to mention the dangers of
exercising with worsening osteoporosis, but they do give me prednisone if
I’m having tight airways due to environment.
Very interesting video!
Happy Birthday, Jesse!! I remember the day of your birth very well!