Sinus Surgery

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Ajs
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Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:43 pm

I am scheduled to have sinus surgery on April 15th. The doctor is well aware of my history of cdiff and agreed to do the surgery with no antibiotics. Has anyone else here had sinus surgery without needing antibiotics? He has also prescribed a nasal rinse which includes mupirocin as a preventative measure to avoid oral antibiotics. He has left it up to me on taking the nasal rinse with mupirocin. I had considered doing the rinse for maybe the first two or three days and then discontinuing to add the mupirocin. I would really appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this. I have battled sinus issues my whole life. I am hoping this surgery will help me avoid future use of antibiotics. Not to mention a ct scan shows I still have an active infection under my left eye. My sinus infections tend to lead to pneumonia.

beth22
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby beth22 » Sat Apr 06, 2019 9:10 pm

I have used mupirocin topically without any side effects. Good luck with the surgery.

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Sat Apr 06, 2019 10:27 pm

Thanks Beth22! I sure hope it helps. I’ve heard so many mixed reviews. I was scheduled to have sinus surgery last May 2018 when I was first diagnosed with cdiff. I canceled because I was so weak at the time. I didn’t feel that I was in a good position to recover from a surgery. This sinus rinse has me so nervous. I’ve talked to a few people who had sinus surgery and never took any form of antibiotic. I’m tempted to give it a shot without the mupirocin...

Ril
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ril » Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:09 am

I have also used mupiricin topically without any problem yet it does carry a c diff warning.

I would discuss the risks with my GI and also discuss the necessity with your ENT and the risks of sinus surgery without using anything, if you have not already done so. I do not believe it is addressed on our list of antibiotics on the the CDI section because we don’t address topicals. Obviously you do need the surgery. If you decide to take it and can tolerate Florastor you might want to start taking Florastor twice a day and stick with that for a while after surgery.

Good luck with everything.

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Sun Apr 07, 2019 3:01 pm

Thanks RIL. I have actually already started taking Florastor twice daily as a precaution. As I started inquiring with people I know who have had sinus surgery, several of them have told me that they weren’t even prescribed antibiotics. The ENT at the last minute prescribed the antibiotic rinse as a precautionary measure in effort to avoid infection. I’m sure he didn’t realize that even an antibiotic rinse could cause a relapse. My anxiety is really starting to elevate over this. I just hope that I’m making the right decision moving forward with surgery. I’ve been cdiff free since my FMT last August 2018.

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Sun Apr 07, 2019 4:35 pm

I noticed in an old thread where Bobbie used gentamicin as a nasal rinse. I’m trying to research myself, but is this a safer antibiotic to use than mupirocin (regarding cdiff). Also, does anyone know of any other antibiotic used as a nasal rinse that is a low offender? I’m sure my doctor would be willing to change the prescription. I really appreciate the input! Hopefully this will help someone else in the future.

Ril
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ril » Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:35 pm

My question would be should you be having surgery before your active infection is cleared up? Would the risk of infection after surgery be less if your current infection was resolved so you don’t need any antibiotics for surgery? I would be asking a lot of those kinds of questions before proceeding.

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:58 pm

That is a very good point, and has been one of the concerns that I have addressed with him. This infection (the doctor believes) has been there since before my original bout with Cdiff one year ago. Antibiotics would clear it mostly, but as soon as I came off it would come back. The last CT scan shows that it is at its most isolated point since we have been watching it. It is taking up about 1/4 the size of my maxillary sinus under the left eye. It seems to get down to this point and then eventually flare back up. The doctor thinks it is best to do the surgery now and flush out the remaining infection and open up the sinuses so it will drain better in the future. I have also tested positive for several environmental allergy triggers. After surgery I will be starting immunotherapy with allergy shots weekly. This along with the surgery will hopefully increase my chances of avoiding antibiotics in the future. It’s the only thing else I know to try. I know most sinus infections are viral, but what do you do when you keep one all the time? I either have one all winter long, or all spring long. Anyone who knows me well that I’ve told about the sinus surgery is telling me, “It’s about time!” It’s still so scary though. I do feel like I’m in a good place right now as far as my health. My sinuses are not horribly inflamed, and the doctor says this will aid in a quick recovery. The most obvious symptom I have left from my Cdiff adventure Is this nagging, constant burning sensation I have in my lower right side. It feels like it is just under the surface of the skin, near where your appendix would be. I’ve just learned to ignore it. The CAT scan has shown nothing. I really do appreciate all the input! I’m just trying to make the wisest decisions regarding this surgery. Again, I have spoken with several people who had the sinus surgery and never took an anabiotic through it all. Right now I am leaning toward not even doing the anabiotic rinse at all.

Ril
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ril » Sun Apr 07, 2019 9:48 pm

Sounds logical but when in doubt don’t seek any more info from us...get a second ENT opinion!
Good luck!
Rita

georgina
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby georgina » Mon Apr 08, 2019 12:35 am

Good luck with the surgery . I have appointement with my ENT specialist next week to talk about a tonsillectomy . I hope he can agree not to give me antibiotics if the surgery is needed .

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:38 am

Thank you both, and good luck with your appointment Georgina!

Bobbie
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Bobbie » Fri Jun 21, 2019 2:58 pm

Hope you had the surgery annd it was successful. It was a Godsend for me. Sinus problems sent me down the C Diff Road.

Let us know how you are doing.

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Sun Aug 25, 2019 10:20 pm

Hi Bobbie! I’m so sorry that it’s been so long since my last response. I did have the surgery which was a breeze, and I’ve also started allergy shots as well. So far I haven’t had a sinus infection. I still get stuffy at times, but hopefully the allergy shots will help with that soon. I’m still dealing with tightness in my chest from the pneumonia which started all of this. I’m jogging as much as I can to build my lungs. Thank you for checking in on me!

Bobbie
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Bobbie » Mon Aug 26, 2019 12:56 pm

Aja,
Glad u are doing well. Did your ENT mention saline irrigation? It also has helped me immeasurably.

Thx for posting,

Ajs
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Re: Sinus Surgery

Postby Ajs » Mon Aug 26, 2019 4:02 pm

Yes he did! He was really awesome about my situation. He did the entire surgery and never prescribed anabiotic’s. He gave me a saline rinse that included an antibiotic powder which I tolerated just fine. He felt like it was a good precaution to take to decrease my chances of developing an infection. I currently use a Neil Med bottle with saline if I feel a little stuffy, or if I’ve been exposed to excessive dust or pollen. I am trying to muster up the courage to post a success story. I know how important that is. It breaks my heart to see so few of them. I think many of us don’t feel much of a success even though the Cdiff is gone. I do plan to post soon though. I also hope to get back to helping on the forum. I really just needed a little time away from it all. I do owe a great debt to this forum though and I want to repay you guys for all the help you have given me!


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