medical update

As you all my know I haven't been able to smell for now going on 8months. It has its good points and bad. I can't smell my moms baking, but then again I can't smell Dyllan either. Haha anyways I went to the ENT who found some polyps that are swollen at the nerves in my nose. I went for an MRI which came back normal, why, because the MRI can't see the nerves like my doctor told me. only a CT scan can go in and see nerves and nerve endings. So with my insurance plan I'm paying out alot of money for an MRI that wouldn't and didn't even diagnose the problem. Of course I'm a little mad. The CT scan would have been a couple hundred dollars cheaper. So right now I'm on steroids which let me tell you is not making me any stronger all I really want to do is eat more. If this medication does not work I will be going in for surgery to have the polyps removed.

What are nasal polyps?

The 'paranasal sinuses' are the air cavities within the skull that open into the nose. If the soft tissue lining of the sinuses becomes swollen, it fills the available space and can then expand into the nose forming a growth called a polyp. As there are a number of small sinuses between the eye and the nose, when polyps do occur, there will usually be several of them.

What causes nasal polyps?

The cause of nasal polyps is not well understood. Some believe that they result from an allergy to things in the atmosphere, while others believe that they are caused by a sinus infection.

polyps usually treated?

The most effective treatment for nasal blockage due to polyps is surgical removal. Most specialists will arrange an X-ray called a CT scan to show the extent of polyp tissue in the sinuses and the layout of the bony partitions between the sinuses, the orbit (the bone around the eye) and the interior of the skull. Removal is generally carried out using a telescope (endoscope) to look inside the nose. In some cases the polyps are simply cleared from the nose itself. In other cases, polyp tissue is also removed from the sinuses.

Are there any risks associated with polyp surgery?

There is the risk of bleeding from the nose or a black eye due to damage to the wall between the nose.If the sinuses are cleared as well as the nose, there is a risk of the surgeon's instruments entering surrounding areas. Within the orbit, the eye and its muscles are at risk of damage. Entering the interior of the skull causes a leakage of fluid from around the brain (CSF leak). These complications are uncommon and can usually be avoided by having a CT scan available at the time of surgery.

Do polyps grow again?

Unfortunately, removing nasal polyps does not always prevent them from growing back. They may return a number of years after surgery. Surgical removal can be repeated if necessary. Using a steroid nasal spray on a regular basis can sometimes prevent recurrence of polyps, and should also be seen as the first line of treatment, in the hope of avoiding surgery at all.