Re: My Un-Surgery

[Guest guest]

Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!! Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. "Do not take anything." Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, "well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here." She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at

eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room? Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point. So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, "Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure." Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien. My doctor comes in and he says, "it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control." SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr.

wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient... My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the surgery? Michele <soniarobins@...> wrote: ie congratulations,

I’m extremely jealous! I really do hope it keeps up for you, that’s great news. From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of SaidelSent: Friday, 21 July 2006 9:55 PMTo:

samters Subject: Oh my #$%#$%#$%#$%# GOD! I just had to tell someone right away and, well you know, besides us no one really wants to hear it or really cares.Well, I woke up this morning and something was strange. I could breathe - I mean REALLY breathe. I ran into the bathroom and dug out the peak flow meter and first shot blew a 330! 330!!!!!!! I haven't seen a peak flow north of 200 in YEARS! At first, there were still a couple of rales at the very deepest depths of my inhalation, but even those seem to be breaking up. My chest is CLEAR! I am so excited I am actually

shaking.My sinsuses are great too. Noticed that effect starting last night. Seemed like I was moving more air and was finding it much easier to modulate my voice when I was singing.Has to be the Zyflo. Great, but annoying news, since I really don't love the 4x a day dosing. But WOW, and holy crap!It is like someone threw a switch and opened everything up. I am too much of a realist to think that this could possibly last, but - assuming I can keep it going through the weekend - I am going to see how far I can push this. I can already imagine being able to run (yes, RUN) without grabbing for an inhaler.ie --No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version:

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[Guest guest]

Michele,

I did not have this happen but my Dr had so whenever I need to have surgery he always puts me on prednisone the week before to make sure all will be well and he has always advised me take my medications no matter what especially my inhalers.

Hope that helps,

Marjory

-----Original Message-----From: samters [mailto:samters ]On Behalf Of michele bledsoeSent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 9:53 AMsamters Subject: RE: My Un-Surgery

Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!!

Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. "Do not take anything."

Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, "well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here." She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room?

Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point.

So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, "Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure."

Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien.

My doctor comes in and he says, "it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control."

SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient...

My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the surgery?

Michele

<soniarobins@...> wrote:

ie congratulations, I’m extremely jealous! I really do hope it keeps up for you, that’s great news.

From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of SaidelSent: Friday, 21 July 2006 9:55 PMsamters Subject: Oh my #$%#$%#$%#$%# GOD!

I just had to tell someone right away and, well you know, besides us no one really wants to hear it or really cares.Well, I woke up this morning and something was strange. I could breathe - I mean REALLY breathe. I ran into the bathroom and dug out the peak flow meter and first shot blew a 330! 330!!!!!!! I haven't seen a peak flow north of 200 in YEARS! At first, there were still a couple of rales at the very deepest depths of my inhalation, but even those seem to be breaking up. My chest is CLEAR! I am so excited I am actually shaking.My sinsuses are great too. Noticed that effect starting last night. Seemed like I was moving more air and was finding it much easier to modulate my voice when I was singing.Has to be the Zyflo. Great, but annoying news, since I really don't love the 4x a day dosing. But WOW, and holy crap!It is like someone threw a switch and opened everything up. I am too much of a realist to think that this could possibly last, but - assuming I can keep it going through the weekend - I am going to see how far I can push this. I can already imagine being able to run (yes, RUN) without grabbing for an inhaler.ie

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[Guest guest]

,

That was unfortunate, what a waste of time!

My ENT always put me on a prednisone taper before surgery. He said that removing the polyps was much easier and safer after they shrink.

I wonder how much experience your doctor has with people who have polyps and asthma.

Better luck on your next one.

Pam

On 7/25/06 12:53 PM, " michele bledsoe " <know_better_time@...> wrote:

Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!!

Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. " Do not take anything. "

Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, " well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here. " She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room?

Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point.

So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, " Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure. "

Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien.

My doctor comes in and he says, " it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control. "

SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient...

My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the surgery?

Michele

[Guest guest]

Pamela and Marjory! thank you for this information. That's kind of how I felt... that they've done this before and why the heck didn't they prescribe predinsone. My allergist said he must not have known how bad my asthma was.... Well, why didn't he ASK!!sheesh, still a little upset. This ENT does a lot of sinus surgeries...so, yes, I think he knows ... I just feel he messed up with my case. I am having surgery with headset on... for image guided surgery... has anyone had this? MichelePamela <pam@...> wrote: ,That was unfortunate, what a waste of time! My ENT always put me on a prednisone taper before surgery. He said that removing the polyps was much easier and safer after they shrink.I wonder how much experience your doctor has with people who have polyps and asthma.Better luck on your next one.PamOn 7/25/06 12:53 PM, "michele bledsoe" <know_better_time@...> wrote: Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!! Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair.

I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. "Do not take anything." Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, "well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here." She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room? Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point. So

in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, "Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure." Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien. My doctor comes in and he says, "it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control." SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient... My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the

surgery? Michele __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

That’s not only frightening but

could have been life threatening as well. There’s nothing worse than

being treated the way you way, and perhaps it should be brought to the

attention of the hospital board/administrator.

In all my surgeries since becoming an

asthmatic I’ve always informed the Anesthetist I was

asthmatic and he made arrangements for me to use a nebulizer before surgery, so

there’s never been any issues.

From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of michele bledsoe

Sent: Wednesday, 26 July 2006 2:53

AM

samters

Subject: RE: My

Un-Surgery

Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!!

Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've

had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have

attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo,

albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for

this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take

anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma

medicine. " Do not take anything. "

Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the

pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, " well, I have

asthma, and basically that's why i'm here. " She steps out of the

room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this

point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing ... look at

eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before

the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What

do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room?

Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate

myself at that point.

So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and

again asks me the same questions. Then he said, " Unless this was an

emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there

is no way you should undergo any procedure. "

Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they

are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien.

My doctor comes in and he says, " it's a catch-22, we're doing this

operation to get your asthma under control. "

SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the

hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the

surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient...

My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or

anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the

surgery?

Michele

<soniarobins@...> wrote:

ie congratulations, I’m

extremely jealous! I really do hope it keeps up for you, that’s

great news.

From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of Saidel

Sent: Friday, 21 July 2006 9:55 PM

samters

Subject: Oh my

#$%#$%#$%#$%# GOD!

I just had to tell someone right away and, well you know, besides us no

one really wants to

hear it or really cares.

Well, I woke up this morning and something was strange. I could breathe - I

mean REALLY

breathe. I ran into the bathroom and dug out the peak flow meter and first shot

blew a

330! 330!!!!!!! I haven't seen a peak flow north of 200 in YEARS!

At first, there were still a couple of rales at the very deepest depths of my

inhalation, but

even those seem to be breaking up. My chest is CLEAR! I am so excited I am

actuall y

shaking.

My sinsuses are great too. Noticed that effect starting last night. Seemed like

I was

moving more air and was finding it much easier to modulate my voice when I was

singing.

Has to be the Zyflo. Great, but annoying news, since I really don't love the 4x

a day

dosing. But WOW, and holy crap!

It is like someone threw a switch and opened everything up. I am too much of a

realist to

think that this could possibly last, but - assuming I can keep it going through

the

weekend - I am going to see how far I can push this. I can already imagine

being able to

run (yes, RUN) without grabbing for an inhaler.

ie

--

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.3/394 - Release Date: 20/07/2006

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it free.

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Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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[Guest guest]

Michele, I had the headset/image-guided surgery about a year ago and it changed my life. It was a shockingly easy surgery to recover from -- no packing, no pain, not much drainage, and I could breathe -- REALLY breathe -- through my nose immediately after the surgery and during the twelve months since. The only challenging thing was not being able to blow my nose for a few days. My ENT said the polyps were blocking about 90% of my sinuses; he also fixed a deviated septum which helped open up the airway. Afterward, my asthma completely disappeared and my energy level came back up.

Since the surgery, I've only had a couple of sinus infections which were taken care of with antibiotics. Haven't had to use albuterol or Afrin or prednisone in a year, and have been able to give up Advair. I still do allergy shots, and take Singulair (10mg), Zyrtec (10mg), and Flonase (one squirt up each nostril once a day), and irrigate religiously with my NeilMed bottle/solution packets (16 oz in the AM, 8 oz in the PM).

I go back for my one-year follow-up next week and he'll scope my sinuses to see if the polyps have started growing back. My sense of smell came back briefly a couple of weeks after the surgery, then drifted away for a while, but has been back for several months now.

My situation has been much milder than most of the horror stories I've read from my fellow Samterites: I never felt like my asthma was life-threatening, and I only had the asthma for a few months before I was referred by my allergist to my ENT, who got me in for surgery right away. But I really feel like my life completely turned around after the surgery. Even though you have had to re-schedule your surgery, Michele, I hope you will find it worth waiting for! I wish for you the same wonderful results I've experienced.

Best of luck!

Deborah in AZ

Re: My Un-Surgery

Pamela and Marjory!

thank you for this information. That's kind of how I felt... that they've done this before and why the heck didn't they prescribe predinsone. My allergist said he must not have known how bad my asthma was....

Well, why didn't he ASK!!sheesh, still a little upset.

This ENT does a lot of sinus surgeries...so, yes, I think he knows ... I just feel he messed up with my case.

I am having surgery with headset on... for image guided surgery... has anyone had this?

MichelePamela <pam@...> wrote:

,That was unfortunate, what a waste of time! My ENT always put me on a prednisone taper before surgery. He said that removing the polyps was much easier and safer after they shrink.I wonder how much experience your doctor has with people who have polyps and asthma.Better luck on your next one.PamOn 7/25/06 12:53 PM, "michele bledsoe" <know_better_time > wrote:

Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!! Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. "Do not take anything." Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, "well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here." She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room? Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point. So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, "Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure." Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien. My doctor comes in and he says, "it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control." SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient... My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the surgery? Michele

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I am on vacation but read this and had to answer. I have never had sinus

surgery done at an outpatient facility. It has always been done outpatient,

but always at a hospital. I think you should request that your surgery is

done at a hospital, prednisone or no prednisone (although normally if you have

been on any steroids within a certain period of time, a year, I think, you

should have a prednisone burst before surgery).

Also the reason that you should not take medicine before procedures is so your

stomach is empty. The nurse was wrong to tell you not to take your asthma

medications. They have always let me take my asthma meds before surgery with

a little bit of water. This was totally irresponsible on their part, but in

the future you need to advocate for yourself.

Do not do anything that would put you in danger, no matter what a nurse says

over the phone. It would be better to go there and have them say you cannot

have the operation because you took the meds, but you are still stable, than

to go there like you did being unstable and not have the surgery

Sorry you went through this. Unfortunately we all need to be our own

advocates and educate the health care providers rather than the other way

around.

Lori

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Deborah

Can you tell us more about the headset/image guided surgery thing -

from start to finish?? sounds interesting!!

(or perhaps there's some 'net links you can point me too?)

thanks

Andy (UK)

>

>

> Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of

your success!!

>

>

>

> Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening.

Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal.

Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at

night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a

sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to

tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if

this included my allergy/asthma medicine. " Do not take anything. "

>

> Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the

pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, " well, I have

asthma, and basically that's why i'm here. " She steps out of the

room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At

this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my

breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i

THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How

long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do

you go to the emergency room?

>

> Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had

to medicate myself at that point.

>

> So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing

and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, " Unless this

was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an

outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any

procedure. "

>

> Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors,

and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was

an alien.

>

> My doctor comes in and he says, " it's a catch-22, we're

doing this operation to get your asthma under control. "

>

> SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the

hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to

the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient...

>

> My question for those of you who have had this surgery....

has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor

prepare you for the surgery?

>

> Michele

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I am scheduled for surgery on aug 24, having polyps removed.

They are using a tool which sounds like this, It is called Landmarx.

It was explained to me as a computer guided tool.

> >

> >

> > Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of

> your success!!

> >

> >

> >

> > Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening.

> Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation

Normal.

> Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once

at

> night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a

> sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday

to

> tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked

if

> this included my allergy/asthma medicine. " Do not take

anything. "

> >

> > Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And

the

> pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, " well, I have

> asthma, and basically that's why i'm here. " She steps out of the

> room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At

> this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my

> breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i

> THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!).

How

> long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times

do

> you go to the emergency room?

> >

> > Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had

> to medicate myself at that point.

> >

> > So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing

> and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, " Unless this

> was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an

> outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any

> procedure. "

> >

> > Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident

doctors,

> and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was

> an alien.

> >

> > My doctor comes in and he says, " it's a catch-22, we're

> doing this operation to get your asthma under control. "

> >

> > SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for

the

> hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to

> the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient...

> >

> > My question for those of you who have had this surgery....

> has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor

> prepare you for the surgery?

> >

> > Michele

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi, Andy -- for my image-guided surgery last August, I first had a CT-scan while wearing a plastic headset which was embedded with small, BB-like (as in a BB gun or air rifle) metal spheres. Apparently, the scan shows the size and locations of the polyps in relation to the locations of the BBs. It is a special type of scan that required a specific CT scan machine -- I actually had to go back for a second scan because they used the wrong machine during the first one.

Then, during surgery, I wore the same plastic headset. The surgery was performed going through nostrils and into my sinuses like a regular polypectomy, but rather than simply using an endoscope to see where to cut, the surgeon (my ENT) was guided by a comparison of the images from my CT scan and the images he was seeing right then and there while I was wearing the same headset. Almost like a real-time X-ray machine that guided him to the right spots. Clearly I'm not a medical professional so I don't know the correct words to use. This image-guided system allowed him to see where my polyps were in 3-D rather than a typical 2-D image, which enabled him to be much more precise in cutting. I got the feeling that it allowed him to selectively snip rather than hack away, which is probably one of the big reasons I didn't have to have my sinuses packed and I didn't have much drainage.

The headset I wore (yes, I saved it although I couldn't tell you why) is a GE Insta Track Headset for Image Guided Surgery. I got this from the GE website: http://www.gehealthcare.com/rad/savi/nav/igs.html

The headset fits very, very snugly (actually a bit uncomfortably). Believe it or not, wearing the headset during the CT scan and just prior to surgery was the worst thing about the surgery and post-op recovery period. (That plus having to resist the impulse to blow my nose for several days afterward.) I was expecting a real horror show of an experience and it ended up being the easiest surgery I've ever had.

Hope this helps!

Deborah in AZ

Re: My Un-Surgery

Hi DeborahCan you tell us more about the headset/image guided surgery thing - from start to finish?? sounds interesting!! (or perhaps there's some 'net links you can point me too?)thanksAndy (UK)> > > Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!!> > > > Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal. Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. "Do not take anything." > > Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, "well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here." She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room? > > Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point.> > So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, "Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure."> > Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien.> > My doctor comes in and he says, "it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control."> > SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient... > > My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the surgery?> > Michele> > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________>

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Deborah, Thank you so much for this information! I was so happy after I read it!! My surgery has been rescheduled for Aug. 16th. Unfortunately, I had to go to the ER room at 2am for my asthma two nights ago. It was my first visit to ER. They said I was lucky to get there when I did... as any later and they would have had to put tubes down my throat. So lesson learned! The ER doctor gave me a prescription for a VERY expensive medicine that I put in my nebulizer. I use it only to keep me out of the ol' ER room. I still have a little wheezing, but main problem is my lungs kind of hurt. Hopefully I'll have my asthma in control by Aug. 16th. MicheleDeborah Dellis <ddellis@...> wrote: Michele, I had the headset/image-guided surgery about a year ago and it changed my life. It was a shockingly easy surgery to recover from -- no packing, no pain, not much drainage, and I could breathe -- REALLY breathe -- through my nose immediately after the surgery and during the twelve months since. The only challenging thing was not being able to blow my nose for a few days. My ENT said the polyps were blocking about 90% of my sinuses; he also fixed a deviated septum which helped open up the airway. Afterward, my asthma completely disappeared and my energy level came back up. Since the surgery, I've only had a couple of sinus infections which were taken care of with antibiotics. Haven't had to use albuterol or Afrin or prednisone in a year, and have been able to give up Advair. I still do allergy shots, and take Singulair (10mg), Zyrtec (10mg), and Flonase (one squirt up each nostril once a day), and irrigate religiously with my NeilMed bottle/solution packets (16 oz in the AM, 8 oz in the PM). I go back for my one-year follow-up next week and he'll scope my sinuses to see if the polyps have started growing back. My sense of smell came back briefly a couple of weeks after the surgery, then drifted away for a while, but has been back for several months now. My situation has been much milder than most of

the horror stories I've read from my fellow Samterites: I never felt like my asthma was life-threatening, and I only had the asthma for a few months before I was referred by my allergist to my ENT, who got me in for surgery right away. But I really feel like my life completely turned around after the surgery. Even though you have had to re-schedule your surgery, Michele, I hope you will find it worth waiting for! I wish for you the same wonderful results I've experienced. Best of luck! Deborah in AZ Re: My Un-Surgery Pamela and Marjory! thank you for this information. That's kind of how I felt... that they've done this before and why the heck didn't they prescribe predinsone. My allergist said he must not have known how bad my asthma was.... Well, why didn't he ASK!!sheesh, still a little upset. This ENT does a lot of sinus surgeries...so, yes, I think he knows ... I just feel he messed up with my case. I am having surgery with headset on... for image guided surgery... has anyone had this? MichelePamela <pam@...> wrote: ,That was unfortunate, what a waste of time! My ENT always put me on a prednisone taper before surgery. He said that removing the polyps was much easier and safer after they shrink.I wonder how much experience your doctor has with people who have polyps and asthma.Better luck on your next one.PamOn 7/25/06 12:53 PM, "michele bledsoe" <know_better_time > wrote: Wow, ie... loved your post... it's great to hear of your success!! Today, fellow Samter's, I had an interesting happening. Now, I've had asthma... and it's been what I call Situation Normal.

Meaning, I have attacks a couple of times a day and usually once at night. I take Zyflo, albuterol, Xopenex, and Singulair. I had a sinus surgery scheduled for this morning. They called yesterday to tell me to remember not to take anything after midnight. I asked if this included my allergy/asthma medicine. "Do not take anything." Well, of course, I arrive there at 6:15am wheezing. And the pre-op nurse looks at me a bit concerned. I said, "well, I have asthma, and basically that's why i'm here." She steps out of the room and comes back with about 5 doctors (most in training). At this point, I felt like a lab rat. They all listen to my breathing... look at eachother ... then ask all the questions (i THINK they should have ASKED before the frickn' surgery day!). How long have you been like this? What do you take? How many times do you go to the emergency room?

Luckily, I brought my Zyflo and albuterol... because I had to medicate myself at that point. So in comes the anethesiologist. Listens to my breathing and again asks me the same questions. Then he said, "Unless this was an emergency and you were in the hospital (this was an outpatient facility) there is no way you should undergo any procedure." Now comes more of the curious eyes of the resident doctors, and they are all looking at my chart, my Zyflo, and me, like I was an alien. My doctor comes in and he says, "it's a catch-22, we're doing this operation to get your asthma under control." SO anyway, I have to reschedule my surgery... maybe for the hospital. But my dr. wants to be on predisone for a week prior to the surgery and see if we can do it in the outpatient... My question for those of you who have had this surgery.... has

this or anything like this happen to you? How did your doctor prepare you for the surgery? Michele __________________________________________________