How do I manage bilateral nasal polyps and obstruction?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have had complete nasal obstruction for two years with total loss of smell and taste, affecting my appetite and quality of life. I wake up with severe dry mouth from mouth breathing, and my snoring is so loud that my wife sleeps separately. I have constant sinus pressure, facial pain, and thick nasal discharge. I have tried antibiotics, steroid sprays, and decongestants without improvement. My computed tomography (CT) scan showed bilateral nasal polyps completely filling both nasal cavities and ethmoid sinuses. My laboratory reports showed elevated eosinophils at 720 cells/μL.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You have severe nasal polyps blocking your nose, causing loss of smell and taste, dry mouth from mouth breathing, loud snoring, sinus pressure, facial pain, and thick nasal discharge. Medicines like steroid sprays, pills, antibiotics, and decongestants have not helped. Your blood tests showed high eosinophils, which means your body has a type of allergic inflammation linked to these polyps.

Nasal steroid sprays are usually the first treatment to shrink polyps. Steroid pills can be given for a short period if sprays do not work or if your nose is fully blocked. If medicines fail, surgery, like endoscopic sinus surgery or polyp removal, is often needed to open your nose and sinuses so you can breathe better. New biological treatments like injections are now available for people with severe nasal polyps. These target the inflammation in your body and can shrink the polyps, improve smell, and reduce the need for steroids.

Even with surgery, polyps can grow back. Most people need to keep using nose sprays and regular sinus rinses afterward. Visit an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor about endoscopic sinus surgery since medicines have not worked and your symptoms are severe.

After surgery, you may still need steroid sprays, nasal rinses, and possibly biologic injections to keep polyps away and breathe clearly. Talk with your doctor about allergy management and ways to prevent polyps from returning, such as regular sinus rinses and avoiding irritants. This approach is best for improving your symptoms and quality of life, helping you breathe through your nose, sleep better, and get back your sense of smell.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.