ENT meeting
I am not a live blogger but I wanted to share a few thoughts as I am at a meeting: COSM including the Am Rhinologic Society I looked through the books in the vendors area: 2 recent books on nasal surgery that were just published do not mention ENS at all. A panel discussing MT preservation never mentioned potentially causing ENS as a reason to maintain the MT. An expert panel was discussing the reasons for poor patient outcomes after sinus/nasal surgery. A slide contained thoughts such as persistent infection, immune dysfunction, nasal valve collapse, persistent deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy. No mention of ENS. I share a patient in common with the doc that spoke - I implanted the patient that we share for ENS. A panelist mentioned that 'Oh yes, I see patients that complain of nasal blockage after prior surgery and they still have a deviation of their upper septum - I do a revision septoplasty.' No mention as to outcomes then. I have visions of the "Eras-o-rama" article playing out. I would argue that ENS should be highlighted at such a venue. There is no vehicle to pose such a question; I fear speaking up leading to academic ostracism. The omission of ENS from such a discussion speaks to the lack of belief in the condition. We need a major change in thinking - from the turbinates being obstacles to breathing, to the turbinates being guides/conduits to breathing. Too large at times and need reduction? Yes (conservatively). Breathing disrupted after turbinate surgery at times? Yes, ENS. Research possibilities? Yes. Thinking out of the mainstream teaching required? Yes. Am I discouraged? Yes.

Hi Dr H. Well put. However thanks to ENTs such as yourself, the issue will not disappear and there is hope and understanding for so many people in an unpleasant situation. The only positive out of others suffering is that it provides the encouragement and determination for remarkable individuals such as yourself and many others on this forum. To summise the problem, I suspect acadamia, conferences, journals etc are good vehicles for progress and quality improvement providing the subject does not discourage something that contributes financial benefit. Thanks once again for your dedication.

Please don't give up what you are doing on this issue. There is no way you could feel anything but discouraged. You are a patron saint to all of us, who know this is a very legitimate issue. I know I will do everything I can to help. I am meeting with my friend who works for a Senator about how to address Congress. I just made a contact at the New Yorker. I have written to everyone I know in journalism to ask for contacts at the NY Times, but I will still try to get to them to put something in the Health Section. Or on Dr Oz. Even if I have to go to his office here in NY myself and fake an appointment. I want to help you, to help all of us and potential sufferers, and honestly mostly myself because I cannot fall asleep because of my nose to save my life, even after five years experimenting with treatments. Thank you for keeping us up to date on the medical community status on this issue. Sad, frustrating, ridiculous, begging for change.

I won't do anything kooky that could get me ostracized, don't worry - like a fake appt with Dr Oz! Rather a real appt, and figuring out the best way to send info to every media outlet in NY. Using You Tube, Chris' book, your article, this site as references.

I doubt this subject is ever to going to receive acclaim. It is one of those stigmatised areas that no-one really wants to admit to or even acknowledge. The doctors that don't get involved simply never gain experience to ENS and never properly understand ENS or the problems it causes. The doctors that do get involved offer those that suffer the golden ray of hope which is worth more than anything. Thank you Dr Houser.

Dr. Houser, Please don't give up. The field of medicine is in desperate need of a moral conscience at this point in time. Most doctors--it seems--are more concerned with profit, and with covering their own and each other's backs than with the suffering of patients. The person standing on the side of right usually stands apart from the crowd. Nearly everyone who has changed something for the better has stood in a lonely place. But the work you are doing lessons the suffering of human beings, and the work "they" are doing increases it. I want you to know how much hope you give to hopeless people. I do not know how--or if--I could have survived the months following my surgery without this forum and your immense caring and generosity. And your knowledge. Imagine--suddenly having a horrible iatrogenic condition and being able to ask the best medical expert in the field any question you want whenever you want. For free. What you do for us is life-saving, and I have no doubt that you will also succeed in educating your colleagues about this terrible condition. Because there is power in doing what is right. Do not be discouraged. You are right on the axis of change. And we are all standing behind you--pushing. kris

There is really something wrong with the American trained EN
ENTs If anyone does anyone online researches, in Japan and Germany, it is very very rare for the dr to remove the MTs. Also, they only remove half the ITs in very rare cases. However, many America trained ENTs routinely removed the MTs. Even right now. I think it might because the health system in US is different from Japan and Germany. In Japan and Germany, all people have access to the hospital. Therefore, if something goes wrong, they can visit many drs. Then, the medical society knows the problem very soon. However, here, kinda sad, but in the topnotch hospital, like John Hopkins, or Dr. Dale Rice, they know what's going on, So, they won;t remove so casually. But, it's kinda fun, They know what's wrong. But the big picture is still the same. For example, if some ENT does not like you, and he removed all your ITs. It might still be quite difficult to sue him in US. Nevertheless, owing to this website, maybe the big picture in US will start to shift soon. Later, when patients realizes its safe to have the surgery, acutally it will benefit the income of the ENT. So, it's a win win. Why not just admit the past fault. What's the deepest reason? Maybe the hosptial really make people sicker. The icon of the hospital has snake there. And, in the one world government, the goal of the hosptial is to make money, if they remove more MT or ITs, then, later the patient will never leave the hospital. Some kinda conspiracy?