@kay874-Your additional details are helpful. This is what ENTs are notorious for doing and I am sorry you experienced this.
My situation was the same.
-I am not sure how much information you were given.
By the first ENT and the one for second opinion.
-Conchae Bullosa are common findings on CT scans.
A conchae bullosa is a fancy term for air pocket in the bone of your turbinate. These are usually only found in the middle turbinate, so I’m not sure why your inferior turbinates were removed, altered, touched. These typically develop as your nasal cavity develops as a child. They are very common and most people will not know they have them, unless given a CT scan. Which in the ENT world is the only way they can convince you, you have a “problem”. In fact sinus/nasal surgeries only began to sky rocket, when CT/MRI imaging became available. Doctors were finally able to create stories and “findings” for people, convince them they had abnormalities and use to the scans for insurance approval. There is a reason why sinus/nasal surgeries are the highest volume surgeries performed in the US. Until more awareness is brought to this, more people will continue with devastating surgery’s.
What people need to remember is that all of these surgeons are only taught off of baseline text book models of what is “normal”. Each individual body however, is not an exact prototype. We all have different curvatures, bone structures, tissues etc...These ENTs only go off what they deem visually “normal” and what you tell them. So show up to an ENT office with a complaint, they will search for a reason to match your complaint which could have zero correlation what so ever.
Any patient who presents with pain to an ENT especially for headache should always have a Neuro involved first. Many migraine type headaches will show up in the nose forehead and side of head.
TMJ headaches as well refer to the face nose and eye.
10% of patients who ever present to an ENT will actually need/benefit from a surgery.
-There is a lot of controversy in the ENT world about “sinus headaches” and contact point headaches, and how surgery will typically do nothing to help headache that you feel is coming from your sinuses.
QUESTION-were you ever referred to a Neurologist pre surgery to examine these headaches?
QUESTION-was this ENT a new visit for you? Did you have any history of sinus issues? Did this ENT have you even try medical therapy to see if headaches improved? I am going to take a guess, that this ENT was probably late 30’s early 40’s. They are taught how to bill insurance for all kinds of procedures and how to get patients in an O.R. If this ENT worked in a big medical system vs. private practice this happens.
There is a standard protocol in the ENT community that is supposed to involve a minimum of 6 month of conservative medical therapy. If you end up at the wrong ENT who only wants to operate, they will not mention threes options.
QUESTION? Did you have a pre-opp report that explained the surgery. And do you have a post opp report as well?

If you never had breathing issues before, then a conchae bullosa would typically not be the cause of headaches and you say you are breathing fine now.

I would recommend seeing a Neurologist. The one I saw, said she actually attends ENT meetings and speaks to them about the cross over symptoms of headaches and nasal issues. She also stated that she is referred many patients post sinus surgery because in her own words “ENTs know nothing when it comes to nerves”. If you explain to a Neurologist your original symptoms and now your post surgery symptoms they can try to help you.

I am truly so sorry you are now dealing with this. Do know that this is not rare. The ENT community is now becoming more known for this. And more people need to speak up, in order to make others more aware.