just had turbinate reduction
I just had septoplasty along with sub-mucus turbinate resection two weeks ago. As instructed, I used saline after the surgery to keep the nose moist. For the first week, it was more or less ok, but stuffy. This week, the nose became less stuffy but more dry, barely any mucus comes out. But far worse is my breathing. Although it feels like air is moving through my nose all right (doesn't feel empty), I had a straining and pulling feeling in my chest area, as though the air was not being forced in properly. I feel like I have to constantly concentrate on taking deep breaths or I'll suffocate. Worst of all is sleeping. I can barely sleep. Everytime, I start to doze off, I wake up panting trying to catch my breath. I saw my ENT, he was adamant that it could not be ENS because he had taken so little of the inferior turb out. He suggested I get chest x-rays since the sensation seemed to be there and not in my nose. I got chest x-rays, ekg's, blood work and ct's done. None of them showed anything bad. Another doctor thought the surgery looked good and suggested it my be post-op nasal drip, but I don't know. I'm nervous that even though there was minor removal of the turb, it was enough to affect air flow. It's been extremely scary as due to all these posts, I am aware of the horror ENS can cause. Any thoughts?

I'm sorry, but those doctors are wrong. It does sound the the hall mark symptom of ENS. However, that doesn't mean that it's going to be permanent especially if you retained most of your turbs in that SMR procedure. Two weeks is nothing. Keep moisturising and in two weeks from now start building up a slow but increasing regime of daily physical exercise. This sensation should improve within the next six months. If it is still there within a year from now, then you will have to start worrying about perhaps dealing with ENS in the long-term. Sorry, but everything might really be OK, so don't panic. Worst case scenario and you do have permanent ENS, even when people have full resections like I do , there are many coping tricks you learn to improve the symptoms and it's tough but manageable. But, that should not concern you now. Now you should try not to worry, stay optimistic , set yourself a target to beat this, so your exercise and make sure you get good night sleeps. Mild tranquilizers that the doctor can prescribe you will help you with that. Good luck and stay optimistic.

Thank you. One more question: Are you saying that by doing those things, the symptoms may improve on their own? I was under the impression that if you get ENS as a result of a messed up turb, it was pretty much permanent, since the turb can't be changed.

Look, Your turbs (inferior or middle, I don't know...) were reduced. I don't know by how much. The less reduced they are the better the chances are for a spontaneous recovery. It's mainly a matter of causing your nerve axons and receptors to regenerate completely. The more that happens the better your chances are. The occurence rate of ENS is a question we have no answer for, yet. But, it is thought that the more turbinate tissue resected the higher the occurence rate is. Currently it is clear that you have suffered some nerve endings damage in your nose, probably not only at the site of resection bu it has also spread a little around it. It's a risk that can happen in any surgery and it's called axontmesis. Because you are only 2 weeks post op it's difficult to tell if this is permanent or not. The nerve endings need some time to regenerate. If they do, they will most likely compensate for the loss of nasal resistance and you might find yourself completely free of ENS symptoms. Good luck. Refer your ENT to this article: Houser SM. Surgical Treatment for Empty Nose Syndrome. Archives of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery\ Vol 133 (No.9) Sep' 2007: 858-863. Infact, getit yourself and read it. Hand him a copy, as I doubt he'll bother to look at it if you don't. I always keep several copies with me and hand them to different doctors when I meet them, especially to the more skeptical ones.

TE, I am a month post-surgery. As far as your inquiry about how much turbs were reduced, it was only the infereior turbinates, and my ENT said he resected a minimal amount (4mm) from them. He said it was probably less than 5%. I don't appear to have many of the symptoms associated with ens (cold air rushing in, "empty" feeling in the nose, it doesn't feel excessively dry), I just continue to have this weird breathing abnormality, like I have to draw in more breath. It's not excruciatingly terrible but it is enough to make me uncomfortable and worry. My ENT sees me twice a week and removes a lot of crusting from the turbs (he told me this would be normal before the surgery). A couple of times, when he removed the crusts, my breathing was much improved. Other times, though, the breathing sensation persists. I sleep well at night (with a sedative), and irrigate regularly. Bottom line: My ENT tells me I need time to completely heal (6-8 weeks for the crusting to stop, several months for the nose to completely heal). He also says he has done this surgery hundreds of times and has never had an ENS case as a result (although he says he has treated ENS patients). But how in the world can I know he is telling the truth???

Sorry to be sceptical but I picked up on two things. I think you are best seeing a 2nd opinion if you are experiencing problems. It is of my experience that once things go wrong or look like they may have, it is difficult to get the truth. In your case I would double check: 1. How much was indeed resected (5% sounds very low). Another ENT should be able to see this from the scans. 2. The "I have done hundred of these" story. This is designed to make you feel like that you must be wrong or its in your head, and that you would be a fool to challenge it. Also, please try and see a Dr in a different city if you can, and politely say that you would prefer not to say whom the treating Dr was when you are asked (becasue you will be). This is the only way you might get a totally unbiased opinion. These are just my thoughts and experiences on the matter by the way.

007 is right.

These things I will most definitely do. But: 1. Will a CT scan this soon after surgery be useful given the amount crusting or swelling I have? Will it still give an accurate depiction of how much turbinate was removed? 2. Whether he is telling the truth or not about the "done this a hundred times", is the doctor correct in his assertion of the healing time? He told me before the surgery he completely expected the crusting to last 6 - 8 weeks (so far I'm within that schedule) and that the overall healing of tissue could take up to 6 months. Is this breathing issue something I should be worrying about now or after that alotted time?

Guys, Please listen to Te,give it sometime, I was in dire straits when I first had mine. I mean I wanted to cry,die,and kill the doc at the sametime. You need to get your anxiety under control and try to not think about it and get some rest,exercise,and moisten the nose a lot. The nerves might respond,the tissue might responod/heal properly and everything could be A OK. If you research dryness is an issue sometimes after nose surgery but sometimes goes away for some 50/50 maybe I don't know. Take care