Alternative Medicine Forum - Nasal Polyps - Any New Treatment On the Horizon?

Lifestyle > Alternative Medicine Forum > Nasal Polyps - Any New Treatment On the Horizon?

Q: Nasal Polyps - Any New Treatment On the Horizon?

asked by: Dave1971 on May 20th, 2006

New User

Hello. I am a 34-year old male, suffering from nasal polyps for the past 14 years. I have had multiple surgeries (1993 - polypectomy and septopasty; 1999 - endoscopic sinus surgey and another septoplasty which the doctor had to cut short due to severe bleeding (something happened but this was the only time I used this doctor, as I had moved to a different city); 2001 - endoscopic sinus surgery and reduction / opening of turbinates; 2004 - polypectomy). Well, now just 18 months after my last surgery, along with the springtime conditions of north dakota, I have noticed that my breathing passage has been clogged each morning and I can actually see nasal polyps in the far back of my nasal passage again. These things literally have popped up in the past two months.

I am desperately looking for some alternative guidance. I have moderate allergies, and have been on a regimine of allergy shots since my 2001 surgery. I also flush my sinuses regularly with sinusrinse and use two puffs of nasonex in each nostril each day. I have been on a few runs of prednisone since 2001, but prednisone really gives me some nasty anxiety / sleep disturbances / palpitations / blood pressure issues. I don't have asthma but I do have an intolerance to aspirin and asas. Finally, it seems that if I drink even a single beer, I get unbelieveable colored discharge and severe congestion ~ therefore I have now eliminated alcohol as it appears I am intollerant to some ingredient in this. I have had no sense of smell since 1999, except for immediately following my 2001 and 2004 surgeries (but this only lasts for a couple of weeks at best), oddly enough except for one or two days out of the blue in the past year and a half (no idea why), or after a few days on prednisone.

I am looking for alternatives. I have done as much research as I can, but things seem pretty unclear about these polyps. Does my case seem severe enough where I should now consider seeing a specialist at one of the top ent clinics in the country (ie. Mayo)? Is there any credibility to homeopathic treatments? Has the recent nasonex study moved some ent specialists to prescribing a higher dose (ie. 2 puffs twice per day), and if so, side effects? I am nervous about the prednisone. It clearly is not good. Does a one-week course a couple times per year add significant risk of serious side effects?

As you can see, I really would like some guidance here. Living in north dakota, medical options are quite good, but limited. Any information, new studies, or trial studies which you could share with me would be extremely appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Replies(6)

aviavi

replied on September 5th, 2008

New User

any news?

Hi. I can relate to your story.

And I too have noticed that beer or alcohol often (but not always) aggravates my congestion. Perhaps it's one of the things causing the polyps to grow in the first place?

I had surgery, but my the polyps started to grow back a few months later, and now, four years later, are pretty much fully back.

Have you had any luck since your original post? Any other viable treatments you've discovered?

Avi

stuffednose

replied on October 9th, 2008

New User

Sounds like my story

Hi, I can relate very well to your story. At first, the prednisone was a godsend. After a few courses though, I couldn't stand the shakiness it gave me.

My ENT and I originally thought my problems were caused by a severe allergy to dust mites. But recently, I've begun to consider that it might be aggravated by an allergic reaction to Beer... I typically have 2 or 3 beers every day after work. It's always made me a little stuffed up and I cannot believe it didn't occur to me before that this could be my problem!

Two natural treatments that have worked very well for me are a twice daily saline rinse with a squeeze bottle called "Naseaire." You can find it at your local pharmacy. I mix my own saline, you can look up a recipe online... just make sure you use distilled water and non-iodized salt. And regular aerobic exercise.. like riding a bike or jogging.. you'll be amazed how much mucus you blow after a good workout.

I've also heard from a reputable source that a daily dose of apple cider or rice vinegar thins the mucus... if you can choke it down.

Anyway, I am very optimistic that the Beer is a major cause of my problems. I've stopped drinking completely and am keeping my fingers crossed.

One other thing. I don't want to scare you, but I am also being tested for Cystic Fibrosis (wish me luck!). It is typically found in children, but in rare cases, people are not diagnosed until they are adults. My 26 year old cousin was recently diagnosed.. so there is a chance that CF is the reason for my problems... You might want to look it up in the off-chance you find some answers.

dfmopar

replied on February 11th, 2009

New User

nasal polyps

I've had nasal polyp sergury several times. I have also and currently been on prednisone. When I take prednisone, I also take an anti-biotic. I'm on prednisone for two weeks at a time. I've tried sinus wars... don't waste your money. I was on sinus wars for 26 weeks.
Alcohol for me makes my polyps worse. I haven't drank for 10 years... but my polyps came back.
Any questions just ask. Also haven't been able to smell for years.
Dave

micmar

replied on February 22nd, 2009

New User

nasal polps

sounds like the same story. I've had three surgeries,desensitized to aspriin,tried sinus wars,had a $2,500 blood test(to see what i was allergic to,and found out i was allergic to everything i was eating,gave all that up for three month and they still came back,mine started at age 38,i'm now 51,seems like they should be more research into the cause,but it seems like all they want to do is surgery and steroids(steroids have caused me to get osteopina be sure to increase calcuim when on steroids),i wish there was like a polyp convention so maybe WE could figuare this disease out

timeisshort

replied on April 23rd, 2009

Experienced User

i can help, i've been through this & now have control of my

i had polyps so bad my nostril was completely blocked & you could see it near the end of my nose. They told me i needed sergery & it would cost $3000 over & above what the medical tax would pay for. so to cut a long story short i researched & found the importance of having the correct balance of natural, non processed salt & the correct balance of water. I now have eliminated the polyps, I don't get asthma hardly ever, i don't have any allergies, i've lost weight & i sleep better. It also has a lot to do with addressing our mineral imbalance which addresses the thyroid disfunction that most of us all have despite the tests indicating otherwise. There are educational sites i could send you to but this forum site simply doesn't allow me to tell you about them, they acuse me of advertising & they don't seem to care that it might help people, even if the sites are not even selling anything.
Good luck, greedy & selfish.

timeisshort

replied on April 23rd, 2009

Experienced User

heres proof

they just changed the words. i had this worlds a real ----- (female dog) and they replaced that word with health forum!

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