low impact solution (but not so easy if you want to enjoy life)

[Guest guest]

I thought I should share my own experience since I've been in

the 'nothing works' category for so long. I've finally(knock on wood)

got a handle on the syndrome, I think.

The basic issue is that samters is an inflammatory syndrome and

people with it react worse to foods and substances than most people.

Our general level of inflammation is very high. So the idea is to

lower inflammation across the board in our bodies. This can

definitely be done.

My experience in brief: Samters with mild asthma but truly horrendous

nasal polyps. Had major surgery 6 years ago, really disrupted my

life. Have had 4 office surgeries since(excellent doc- said a few

years ago it wasn't available and would be a hospital visit). They've

been much more low impact than going under full anesthesia but still

are not a solution. I've done prednisone blasts which helped only

temporarily and really wiped out my health otherwise. I've also done

ongoing steroid nasal sprays of varying types- bad side effects for

me even though they're not supposed to (insomnia, weight gain around

the middle, lowered immune system- sick all the time). The sprays

work to keep the polyps at bay but wreck my life otherwise. I do take

singulair which helps in a minor way but at least I can tolerate it.

I also am aspirin sensitive. Tried desensitization but reacted badly.

Doctor had never seen a case like that (delayed reaction, 10 hours

later on 1/4 baby aspirin, got worse and didn't go away as I built

up). I felt poisoned and had to stop. Thought that was my last shot

for a normal life. But....

As samters is basically an inflammatory disease the idea is to lower

general inflammation in your body. Here are a few specific ways I did

this:

Salycilates- in foods (same stuff as in aspirin)- it's everywhere in

plants. A lot of very healthy foods (olive oil, avocados, fruits,

tea, etc) are very high and this can cause an ongoing inflammatory

reaction. I cut down drastically on these foods, though still cheat a

little. This is a critical issue because a lot of times when you

think you're eating really healthy you're actually loading up on sals

and that makes you worse. Hence, for me, the fact I never got better

even when I was being so 'healthy.' Even supplements made of

vegetables can have high sals, so it's tough to avoid.

Sugar- cut out completely. In me it causes inflammation because I

don't handle it well. I've also been losing weight around my middle

steadily just since doing this.

Preservatives and fried foods- inflammation again in someone with

samters. I cut it them out as completely as possible though chemicals

are hard to avoid, especially when eating out.

Allergy shots- for dust mites mostly, along with a lot of other

stuff. Again, if they work they'll lower your inflammation across the

board.

Accupuncture- very intensively and it's VERY hard to find a good one

but I finally did and I've noticed a definite change for the better

since.

All these things combined have made it so my nasal polyps do not grow

any more. They haven't yet shrunk back so I might do another office

op and then use the diet above to maintain. It's somewhat restrictive

but then so is being utterly miserable every day, so for me it's a

fair bargain. I have a cheat day so I don't forget what it's like to

be normal... I hope this info helps some of you whom nothing else has

worked without bad side effects. It took me 15 years to come upon

this as it was...