Brain Fog from Sinus infection and inflammation

@sdgoddard10- I’m sorry you are experiencing this. Truly. I know how frustrating it can be. It sounds like you were heaving acute exacerbations from having ongoing sinus inflammation. Sometimes this can happen during different climates, different viruses that don’t clear. The issue with using antibiotics to rule out anything is that antibiotics only work for bacterial infections. A sufferer of long standing sinus inflammation typically is not being exasperated by bacteria infections, so antibiotics would have never worked in the first place.

The issue would lie in the inflammatory response. And what is causing it.

You can ask your ENT this- ask he/she why allergy testing was never addressed.

These procedures did not clear, solve, cure your inflammatory issues. There is no cure for ongoing sinus inflammation as it is purely a systemic response.

This only widened your nasal airway and sinus openings.

I would also ask to be evaluated for scarring. Frontal sinuses have a high rate of scar tissue developing which would then cause a new blockage. If you left frontal sinus was opened, I would ask to be sure there is still a proper opening.

A CT scan can not distinguish between regular tissue and scar tissue.

You should not be having head pressure that bad. These surgeries can create new blockages due to exacerbated inflammation and scar tissue.

@sdgoddard10

Did you ever get a second opinion before this surgery?

And aftercare for this extensive of a surgery is extreme important. If no after care was instructed in terms of daily nasal rinses etc…

No council of how to manage ongoing sinus inflammation throughout the rest of life?

Did ENT discuss failure rates and high possibility for need of second surgery?

@sdgoddard10 I just can’t imagine all that you’re going thru. Are you being cared for at a university hospital or large medical center? If you would be interested in being seen at Mayo Clinic, you can use this link:

It may work best to discuss this with your doctor and get his help by making a referral.
Do you have someone that you can talk with about your feelings of isolation?

I’m just being seen by my gp and ent... I’m considering going to University of Iowa because it is closer to where I live.. I am married and I don’t feel isolated... just this swelling in my left side is bothering me more than my doctors seem to think..maybe they are stumped...I have been taking prednisone and that seems to help a little..

@sdgoddard10
Did you have specific trouble in your left frontal sinus, pre surgery?
I’m curious why everything was done bi-lateral, except only balloon sinuplasty on left side?

I had swelling in the left sinus are for many years. Was diagnosed with chronic depression...my right sinus is under developed...I think the left sinus inflammation has something to do with depression but I’m not sure

@sdgoddard10-sorry to hear this.

The sinus/nasal area is extremely complex. There are many pain referrals to this area for many many reasons.
Many things that are disrupted in the body show up in the nasal/sinus area and present as “disease” which just means something is in dis-ease in the body.
Many disregualtuons present in the nasal/sinus area. Many people who have low level migraines and never know it, self diagnose themselves with “sinus pain pressure”.

Depression can also cause inflammation.

If you were already sensitive in this area, as a heightened sensitivity and the original problem was not addressed, it can intensify things afterwards.

If you were never blowing out tons and tons of green, yellow, nasal mucous then sinus blockage was not an issue.

Many sources of inflammation in these areas are not anatomy driven, but are for many other reasons.

I am sorry you are dealing with this, as for many reasons I just don’t believe in these surgeries. As they are often misdiagnosed very often. Only a small minority of people ever go on to ever needing any type of alterations to their sinus/nasal cavity.

The only thing an ENT will offer for pain is steroids, which address ALL body inflammation temporarily. And or NSAIDs.

I’m going to University of Iowa to speak with an ent specialist on March 31...wish me luck and thanks to nrd1 for advice..you sound highly educated

@sdgoddard10 - First- it’s great that you have an appointment so soon at the University of Iowa!
I feel for you- I have had sinus infections since childhood- bacterial infections. I also have had seasonal allergies. I even had allergy shots in my 50s because I would get dizzy and headaches on a daily basis in spring and fall. The shots helped.
However, I had frequent severe sinus infections- the worst one brought me to the ER. I had pan- sinusitis- affecting all sinuses. I felt like I was going to die.
After this episode I had my first sinus surgery- 2004. My sinuses were full of debris from all the years of problems.
Recovery was rough, but then I was fine for a few years. 2010 I had a minor revision.
I still get sinus inflammation with allergies- new ones after I moved south.
I get bacterial infections a couple times a year- makes me feel very sick.
I manage congestion on a regular basis with various sprays and saline flushes.
Good luck at your appointment!

@astaingegerdm-
Thank you for sharing your history/experience.

If you still get sinus infections and you are treating the inflammatory response with allergy medications and you manage congestion with sprays and rinses, what exactly did your surgery help you with? And why did you need a revision surgery?