What's your experience with turbinectomy for dry nose and throat?

Posted by schnoz @schnoz, Jun 9, 2022

My ENT doctor recommends a bilateral inferior turbinectomy for me. I have never been able to breath through my nose very well and it's always dry. My mouth and throat are often dry too.

My real problem is being able to breathe well when I lie in bed. My nose and mouth become more dry and sometimes my throat gets congested. I sometimes wake up feeling kind of bad, like maybe I'm not getting enough air.

I have read comments by some who have problems after a turbinectomy. It makes me hesitant to have it done. My condition isn't horrible to live with. I read a comment by one person who recommended the Vivaer procedure as an alternative. Does anyone here have this type of problem or had surgery for it?

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@hopeful33250

Hello again, @schnoz

I see that you have had a lot of replies to your post. I also see in your last post that you mention being underweight and that your stomach feels overly full.

As you have said that you have been seen by GI specialists, would you mind sharing what type of tests they did and any conclusions they might have made?

Since there are a number of foods that bother you, have you considered keeping a daily journal of food, beverages, and physical activity to see if there is any correlation between those and your symptoms?

I can see that this is more complicated than just the nasal problem. Have you been referred to any other specialists for a review of your symptoms?

Endocrinologists are quite good at putting together symptoms and seeing the "big picture" if you will.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Finding answers to complex problems is a process. Will you continue to post updates as you progress through this process of finding answers?

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Hi Teresa,

No one has ever told me that my digestion issues are related to my dry nose and mouth.

I have seen a number of GI doctors and dieticians though. I guess they might say I have something like Gastroesophageal reflux disease although I don't think my symptoms are exactly what would typically be considered GERD.

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@schnoz

The first ENT I saw never suggested surgery. I didn't think he did surgery.

What questions should I ask the surgeons about the turbinectomy? The specifics of how they perform it? I thought you felt that turbinectomies were not a good idea.

What kind of doctor can help diagnose my problem other than a ENT?

I don't know if you wanted me to answer your questions but:
I'm not in a dry environment. I am underweight. I can't gain much weight because my stomach feels overstuffed if I try to increase calories. Sometimes I get burning or discomfort in my stomach. I've seen a number of GI doctors and dieticians.
Many foods and drinks don't agree with me. I exercise. I don't eat before bed.

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@schnoz-

I tend to ask questions because the human body is complex and works entirely as a whole system.

Often when I ask questions it will lead to another issue or issues the person mentions. Specialists do not work in this way.

For example-many people who visit an ENT for “throat” issues will be diagnosed with silent reflux and referred to a GI specialist. That person had only ever felt soreness in their throat, however it is coming from their stomach. That reflux can back up into their nasal pharynx and turbinates causing swelling and congestion.

-When people get congestion from drinking milk or any dairy products. That comes directly from the gut interaction of the inflammatory response to dairy in your system. The nose doesn’t congest because you are putting milk directly on your nasal tissue. It is coming from the response, systemically, internally.
When some people remove dairy from their diet, they notice their eyes clear up and they can breathe better. That has nothing to do anything being removed from the eyes or nose. That is the response of removing the inflammatory load on the entire system.

These are ONLY examples-may or may not be your situation. These are examples to show you how the nasal tissues respond to everything systemically as well as externally.

If you have seen a number of specialists-GI and Nutritionists I am curious on what their advice was to you? Ok so they say you “have” GERD. Do they tell you what causes GERD or send you on your way with an RX for Prilosec, without any other recommendations?

And to answer your original question of this thread.

Correct- I personally don’t agree with turbinectomies, and you can find many medical doctors who don’t as well.
What anyone needs to remember is even surgeries, evolve with more research over time,that proves what once what thought to be acceptable is not.

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@nrd1

@schnoz-

I tend to ask questions because the human body is complex and works entirely as a whole system.

Often when I ask questions it will lead to another issue or issues the person mentions. Specialists do not work in this way.

For example-many people who visit an ENT for “throat” issues will be diagnosed with silent reflux and referred to a GI specialist. That person had only ever felt soreness in their throat, however it is coming from their stomach. That reflux can back up into their nasal pharynx and turbinates causing swelling and congestion.

-When people get congestion from drinking milk or any dairy products. That comes directly from the gut interaction of the inflammatory response to dairy in your system. The nose doesn’t congest because you are putting milk directly on your nasal tissue. It is coming from the response, systemically, internally.
When some people remove dairy from their diet, they notice their eyes clear up and they can breathe better. That has nothing to do anything being removed from the eyes or nose. That is the response of removing the inflammatory load on the entire system.

These are ONLY examples-may or may not be your situation. These are examples to show you how the nasal tissues respond to everything systemically as well as externally.

If you have seen a number of specialists-GI and Nutritionists I am curious on what their advice was to you? Ok so they say you “have” GERD. Do they tell you what causes GERD or send you on your way with an RX for Prilosec, without any other recommendations?

And to answer your original question of this thread.

Correct- I personally don’t agree with turbinectomies, and you can find many medical doctors who don’t as well.
What anyone needs to remember is even surgeries, evolve with more research over time,that proves what once what thought to be acceptable is not.

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@seekinginfo

What kind of doctor do you recommend that see for my breathing problem?

I don't think I ever mentioned my breathing problem to my GI doctors and dieticians. As far as my GI issues, they made some diet suggestions. The doctors have had me try a number of medications, mostly for reflux, and some supplements.

I didn't drink milk for years because it doesn't agree with me. That didn't help my breathing.

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@schnoz

@seekinginfo

What kind of doctor do you recommend that see for my breathing problem?

I don't think I ever mentioned my breathing problem to my GI doctors and dieticians. As far as my GI issues, they made some diet suggestions. The doctors have had me try a number of medications, mostly for reflux, and some supplements.

I didn't drink milk for years because it doesn't agree with me. That didn't help my breathing.

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@schnoz

I really can’t make that recommendation for you.

You’ve seen what sounds like 3 ENTs. They have all given you their objective opinion, which sounds like all 3 were different.

True breathing issues-meaning you can not get air in and out of your nose- is different than dryness. Breathing sensations are all subjective.

So when you return to your ENT or new ENT for a 4th opinion, I only recommend you be very assertive and clear on your exact subjective feelings.
And ask questions when given an elective surgical option.

Earlier you stated you don’t think you have a structural issue. Turbinectomies and a Vivaer procedure is addressing structural issues.

You have to really have an understanding of all of this, by the time you get to the level of an ENT visit.

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@schnoz

Hi Teresa,

No one has ever told me that my digestion issues are related to my dry nose and mouth.

I have seen a number of GI doctors and dieticians though. I guess they might say I have something like Gastroesophageal reflux disease although I don't think my symptoms are exactly what would typically be considered GERD.

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Hi @schnoz,

I do hope that you find answers in order to make a good treatment decision.

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