Trying to avoid ENS at all costs.
Hello Everyone, I have sinus trouble. I have had two sinus surgeries so far in my life and thankfully I have not developed ENS. My problem is that my middle turbinate has flamed up since I had a concha bullosa "repaired" to allow my Max. sinus to drain. Ever since I have been getting intermittent congestion and pressure that comes and goes with my nasal cycle. This problem only occurs on the right side. The left is fine. When the pressure there it is really severe causing mouth breathing and a sense of fatigue and malaise. I have pretty severe allergies and on good days the problem fades from my mind but generally I feel pressure and congestion through my whole head and especially on the right side. I live in anticipation of my cycle flopping over to the left side again, when this happens its like throwing a switch and I suddenly get motivated, improved mood and energy. I believe that the way that the structures in the nose interlock has been changed and now they compete for the same space when my nose cycles over to the right. I got a steroid shot about a month ago which helped a bit with the pressure but it is still a problem. This congestion is driving me crazy and I am very depressed about the state of my life and the state of my health. I consider further turbinectomy a weapon of last resort in my battle against congestion. Once it's gone you cannot get it back. I will do literally anything to get my life back. I am even saving up my money to go to Mexico to try hookworm therapy for allergies. The worms are harmless and easy to get rid of if I don't want them any more. You just take a pill that knocks them loose and they end up in the sewer. The therapy is expensive though but I'd rather spend $4000 trying hookworm therapy and having it fail than face possible ENS from another sinus surgery and not know if the hookworms would work or not. I am desperately looking for a solution. I had great relief when I tried a Naproxyn tablet my girlfriend had left over from a surgery but NSAIDs apparently tear your stomach up. Prescription painkillers obviously relieve the feeling of congestion and some of the inflammation but I am not sure this is a viable long term solution. Can you please list everything you would try for dealing with congestion before you would have any turbinate surgery? Thanks. p.s. My mom told me that someone at work said she took digestive enzymes for allergies and they "helped a lot" (not sure what that means since she is still taking 30mg Claritin every day). Anyway my mom is all gung ho about digestive enzymes but it sounds like quack medicine and confirmation bias to me. Do any of you know anything about "digestive enzymes" for allergies?

Hi Andy, I am pretty sure your mom's friend is talking about a book called "Allergies In Disguise: How To Permantly and Naturally Cure Your Allergic Condition". This book breaks down every aspect of food and environmental allergens and how to treat them with digestive enzymes, probiotics, antioxidants, and a 6 week diet change. Basically you need to give up milk, wheat, eggs, fast foods, sugars, pork, etc... for six weeks to give your digestive system a break. You can reintroduce these foods after the six weeks, but do so sparingly. You might also want to go to your local organic store and buy a "candida" cleanse program. This will get rid of the overgrowth of yeast in your in-*test*-('")ine. Many allergics have a yeast overgrowth. This is not quack medicine, but one has to be committed to the program or it will not work. This will work, but I feel many cannot stick to the program because of our fast food society. You really need to ask yourself if you are addicted to starches and surgars? If so, this program can definately work for you. It will also work if you have acid reflux. If so, you should be taking digestive enzymes anyway. The book actually promotes plant enzymes which are essentially digestive enzymes. I personally take plant enzymes and a probiotic everyday just for digestive purposes. At the very least give it a try! Just remember, once you cross that bridge, there is no going back. Obviously, we are all going to tell you not to do it on this site because we have already rolled the dice and lost. If you do decide to go ahead with a turbinate reduction, make sure you know exactly what your doctor is going to do. You and your doctor need to be on the same page as far as what "conservative" means when it comes to whatever procedure you choose. Please look up the book on Amazon.com along with Chris Martins' book on ENS. The allergy book is written by Carolee Bateson Koch. I would suggest spending 40 bucks, reading those two books, and then make a decision. Good Luck, js

leave alone,i'd take all your congestion symptoms over what i got.. WANNA TRADE?

:cry: I'm so sorry. :(

About what?

Just leave it alone. Trust me, having that congestion is way better than having ENS symptoms. Just use some sinus rinse and start getting some allergy shots. The congestion is probably a result of the past surgery. In my opinion we need to just leave our damn noses alone! There are many better alternatives to having surgery. I would do anything to have my full sized turbinates and deviated septum (which really caused no symptoms) back.