I have recurrent nasal polyps despite steroids. Is it common?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 41 and have long-standing nasal blockage, mouth breathing, and poor smell. ENT scope showed nasal polyps, and the CT PNS report mentioned bilateral ethmoid polyposis with sinus blockage.

I was given a steroid nasal spray and a short oral steroid course, which helped briefly, but symptoms returned in two months.

Is it common for nasal polyps to recur so fast after meds?
At what point should surgery be considered instead of repeated steroids?
Can untreated polyps permanently damage the sense of smell or sinuses?
Also, I have mild asthma. Does that make polyps harder to control long-term?

Kindly suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and understand your concern.

What you are describing is something we commonly see with nasal polyps. They often improve with steroids and then slowly come back once the effect reduces. So recurrence within a couple of months does happen, especially when the underlying tendency is strong.

In simple terms, this is more of a long-standing inflammation issue rather than just a one-time problem. Because of that, sprays usually need to be continued regularly for longer periods to keep things controlled. Short courses alone often give only temporary relief.

Surgery is usually considered when symptoms keep coming back despite proper treatment, especially if the blockage, poor smell, or discomfort is affecting your daily life. It is not about rushing into surgery, but when medicines are not giving lasting relief, it becomes a reasonable next step.

Even after surgery, some form of medical treatment is still needed to prevent recurrence. About your sense of smell, when polyps block the nasal passages for a long time, smell can be reduced.

In many patients, it improves once the blockage is relieved, but if it stays uncontrolled for a long time, recovery may not be complete. Your asthma is relevant here. We often see that people who have both asthma and nasal polyps tend to have a more persistent course, so controlling both together becomes important.

So overall, what you are experiencing is not unusual, and if symptoms are repeatedly coming back, it would be reasonable to discuss the option of surgery with your ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor.

I hope I have addressed all of your queries and concerns.

Do follow up for more queries. I am happy to help you.

Thank you.