Sinus Problems and Balloon Sinuplasty

• Balloon sinuplasty is much less invasive than traditional sinus surgery. This means you can look forward to a less painful recovery, faster recovery, and better long-term results.

• Oftentimes, the best candidates for Balloon Sinuplasty are patients who have sinusitis that has not yet been resolved, or patients who have recurring sinusitis when using traditional medical treatment.

• It is advised that surgery should only be considered if medical treatment fails, or if there is nasal obstruction that cannot be corrected with traditional medications. Our doctors will help determine which type of surgery will solve your sinus problems.

• To read even more about balloon sinuplasty, visit our blog post: https://northeastatlantaent.com/blog-articles/2019/balloon-sinuplasty

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)

This type of sinus surgery is recommended for certain types of sinus disease. During this procedure, we will use an endoscope to look directly into the nose, while removing the diseased tissue and polyps and clearing the narrow channels located between the sinuses.

• Either local or general anesthesia can be used for this procedure. We can help determine which is the most suitable method for your circumstances.

• Before you opt for surgery, you should have full understanding and realistic expectations regarding recovery, results, and postoperative care.

• For a successful recovery, it is best if there is a cooperative effort between the patient and doctor throughout the entire recovery process. It is always best for patients to abide by all pre- and post-operative instructions.

What are the Symptoms of Sinusitis vs. a Cold or Allergy?

A child’s sinuses do not fully develop until the age of 20. It is possible for children to suffer from sinus infection. The maxillary (behind the cheek) and ethmoid (between the eyes) sinuses are present at birth even though they are very small.

Unfortunately, sinusitis in children is difficult to diagnose. This is due to the fact that respiratory infections are more frequent and its symptoms can sometimes be subtle. Unlike a cold or an allergy, bacterial sinusitis requires a doctor’s diagnosis. Also, him or her will provide treatment (typically an antibiotic) to prevent future complications.

If your child or yourself has a sinus infection, the following symptoms may occur:

• • swelling around the eyes

  • irritability or fatigue

  • the common cold lasting more than 10-14 days (this can sometimes be accompanied by a low-grade fever)

  • headache (usually not before the age of 6)

  • thick, yellow-green nasal drainage

  • post-nasal drip (this can sometimes lead to or be exhibited as a cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and/or bad breath)

If your child receives medical therapy, but the symptoms still last, your doctor should determine the underling cause. This will help to determine if allergies or frequent upper respiratory infections are playing a role.

How to Prevent Sinusitis

Preventing a medical condition is very important. In order to avoid developing sinusitis while you have a common cold or an allergy attack, it is recommended to keep your sinuses clear by:

• Getting tested for allergies. After getting an allergy test and then following up with allergy treatments, you can increase your tolerance of allergy-causing substances. If at any point you think you may have sinusitis, call your ENT doctor for an appointment.

• If you suffer from allergies, try your best to stay away from allergy triggers. If you simply cannot stay away, use over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines, and/or a prescription nasal spray. These methods will help to control future allergy attacks.

• Avoid traveling by airplane as much as possible. If you simply have to fly, use a nasal spray decongestant before boarding the plane. This will help to prevent sinus blockage, which will allow the mucus to drain.

• Use an oral decongestant or a short course of nasal spray decongestant.

• When blowing your nose, do it gently. The proper technique is to block one nostril while blowing through the other.

• Try as hard as possible to drink plenty of fluids. This will help to keep nasal discharge thin.

What to Do Now

Since the symptoms for sinusitis are similar to those of colds and allergies, you may dismiss the fact that you should see a doctor. If you have any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, it is advised that you see an ENT doctor to get evaluated. Actually, if you have 3 or more symptoms, definitely schedule an appointment.

You can call either of our Northeast Atlanta ENT offices. We are conveniently located in the Suwanee & Johns Creek area and Lawrenceville, GA. Our doctors look forward to helping you feel better soon.