bone or mucosa: which would I rather lose?
It's amazing how much a life-sucking condition can teach you about anatomy. Here's my summary. The basic options I am considering are:
* Partial Turbinectomy: surgical removal of either turbinate bone, mucosa, or both (removing bone probably requires removing mucosa).
* Cauterization (i.e. burning) of the mucosa. Cauterization of the bone is also possible.
* Somnoplasty (blasting RF waves through your nose) destroys bone tissue. Is this the same as "temperature controlled radiofrequency" (TCRF)?
Anyway the function of the turbinate seems to be:
What Do Turbinates Do?
The turbinates serve a major function. They warm inhaled air before it enters the lungs. They are covered by millions of cilia which defend the body against contaigons and irritants in the inhaled air. They provide an environment for the good white blood cells, and a bacteria-fighting enzyme called lysozyme, to gather and fight infection. They act as a baffle to better direct the flow of air.
No matter how much your turbinates seem to cause you trouble, you don't want to just remove them. If you did, you would have dryness, crusting and sensations of burning pain. Doctors have therefore come up with various ways to reduce the blockage of your nasal passages without removing your turbinates and their cilia.
I think all these functions are in the mucosa. So, if I could remove just the excess bone, this should do no harm, correct?
When I arrive in São Paulo, it seems I will get a tomography, see 2 different ENT surgeons, and then decide what surgery to get.
I can't wait to be able to sleep well without the use of addictive medications. I'm wondering if I should try Ephedrine in the meantime: it doesn't seem to have the rebound effect of oxymetazoline et al... My problem has only been getting worse: most days, breathing through my nose requires semi-conscious effort and I am almost always tired. I am now barely able to exercise. I often wake up with a sore throat after spending a night breathing through my mouth. My concentration and disposition are seriously impaired. When I arrive home at night, I just want to sleep.
P.S.: this is a nice set of nose-related tutorials.
* Partial Turbinectomy: surgical removal of either turbinate bone, mucosa, or both (removing bone probably requires removing mucosa).
* Cauterization (i.e. burning) of the mucosa. Cauterization of the bone is also possible.
* Somnoplasty (blasting RF waves through your nose) destroys bone tissue. Is this the same as "temperature controlled radiofrequency" (TCRF)?
Anyway the function of the turbinate seems to be:
What Do Turbinates Do?
The turbinates serve a major function. They warm inhaled air before it enters the lungs. They are covered by millions of cilia which defend the body against contaigons and irritants in the inhaled air. They provide an environment for the good white blood cells, and a bacteria-fighting enzyme called lysozyme, to gather and fight infection. They act as a baffle to better direct the flow of air.
No matter how much your turbinates seem to cause you trouble, you don't want to just remove them. If you did, you would have dryness, crusting and sensations of burning pain. Doctors have therefore come up with various ways to reduce the blockage of your nasal passages without removing your turbinates and their cilia.
I think all these functions are in the mucosa. So, if I could remove just the excess bone, this should do no harm, correct?
When I arrive in São Paulo, it seems I will get a tomography, see 2 different ENT surgeons, and then decide what surgery to get.
I can't wait to be able to sleep well without the use of addictive medications. I'm wondering if I should try Ephedrine in the meantime: it doesn't seem to have the rebound effect of oxymetazoline et al... My problem has only been getting worse: most days, breathing through my nose requires semi-conscious effort and I am almost always tired. I am now barely able to exercise. I often wake up with a sore throat after spending a night breathing through my mouth. My concentration and disposition are seriously impaired. When I arrive home at night, I just want to sleep.
P.S.: this is a nice set of nose-related tutorials.