Have A Minor Health Condition Which Isn’t Taken Seriously But Impacts Loads On Daily Life

[Raidergal2022]

Do any of you have a health condition which isn’t deemed as urgent or serious but impacts on you everyday?

I have had chronic rhinitis with nasal polyps for the past 12 years, managed with nasal sprays/drops and antihistamines (allergy tests were negative yet these help)

The semi chronic blocked nose/polyps impacts me in several ways -the blocked nose is just uncomfortable. I remember at university during lectures it was so blocked that when I swallowed it would make a popping noise and people would look at me, some questioned what was causing it. At least once per day my throat and back of nose feels tight and I automatically panic as it feels like my throat or windpipe might close off even though it doesn’t.

Also I have started to experience odd breathing sensations (like I can’t get enough air) I am unsure if this is sinus related or anxiety but the blocked nose doesn’t help

I have been to my gp several times but nothing really changes. Last time I went there was a nurse covering for the gp and I felt she talked down to me the first thing she said when I Waldorf ina no explained the issue was ‘well you’l have it for the rest of your life love, it’s not urgent’. Then she said ‘you don’t have covid do you, because I am clinically vulnerable’. I felt I had been shamed for going to the gp.

After explaining further to her I was referred to a ENT specialist who initially recommended surgery as he confirmed I had polyps but after a scan he changed his mind and said it didn’t look too bad. He advised saline irrigation which I’ve been using but to not much avail

I think clinically it is seen as such a minor problem yet it impacts a lot on life through the day.

[anneasquith]

I can see this is very uncomfortable for you and impacts your daily life. Maybe sqad will see your post.
He likes a nasal story :-)

[Raidergal2022]

Thanks Anne, sounds familiar he has replied and helped me before.

I don’t think much more can be done for it really I am prescribed the strongest nasal steroids - fluticasone drops. I can’t identify a trigger. I think my post was more a rant but yea any help is welcome

[bednobs]

although do not have anything diagnosed in that department, as im heading towards menopause i have been having extraordinarily heavy periods for about the last 4 years there are some days i cant go to work because any movement leads to flooding so i have to sit on 2 towels at home, with period pants, tampon and pad on and that might still only last half an hour. If you tell people you've got heavy periods, no one seems to understand

[anneasquith]

A good rant is better than any nasal drops . ( for a wee while ) :-)

[anneasquith]

More of a haemorrhage bednobs. Have you seen a gynogologist ?

[anneasquith]

FGS . Synecologist

[Sqad]

I must say that I agree, with the diagnosis of the E.N.T surgeon, but cannot understand why he was put off operative procedure because of the scan results.
It seems to me that you either will have to accept a lifetime of nasal steroids OR seek a second opinion.

You have Non Allergic Vasomotor rhinits for which there is no cure. Endoscopic nasal surgery, may improve your blocked nose.........or it may not.

[Raidergal2022]

Thanks Squad. The scan results showed relatively clear nasal passages/airflow (apart from slight inflammation in maxillary sinus) so he advised against surgery. Just prior to the scan I had been using fluticasone drops which minimised the polyps I imagine that this would have made the condition of my nose / sinuses look less severe and influenced his opinion maybe.

He said that polyps often come back after surgery anyway and advised me to use nasal saline irrigation 4 times per day

The biggest mystery to me is that if my condition is non allergic (all allergy tests have been negative and I am unable to identify a trigger) then how come antihistamines help relitavely well. They obviously don’t eliminate the whole issue but they do get rid of the runny sneezy tingling feeling (?allery symptoms) after 30 mins of taking them.

My biggest worry is developing asthma as my gp said I am at high risk (due to rhinitis and family history -my dad has nasal polyps and adult onset asthma ?if his is allergic/non allergic).

I have read that adult onset asthma particularly with polyps is particularly severe/difficult to manage too. This is partly why when I get the tight sinus/throat sensation I worry that it will affect my lower airway too.

[Sqad]

There is an association between nasal polyposis and asthma but it involves the response of the body to aspirin, which is not the case with you.

I have never been convinced that nasal polyps predisposes to repiratory disorders, in fact in my experience is quite the opposite in that ot is the lower respiratory which may trigger the nasal problems.

Whatever, don't worry about developing asthma and even should you do so, it is no more difficult to control than normal asthma.


Why do antihistamines give relief in non allergic rhinitis?......I don't know and I would suspect that neither does anyone else, but they do.

[Raidergal2022]

Thanks for your reply that makes sense ^

[bobbinwales]

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