A long, painful season of recuperating from sinus surgery draws to a close

I recently underwent surgery to clear up a sinus infection.

Even though I had a double-lung transplant eight years ago, cystic fibrosis (CF) still often results in thick, sticky mucus clogging up my sinuses and becoming a breeding ground for germs.

I’ve lost track of how many sinus surgeries I’ve had. Six? Could be less, could be more. Math is hard. In any event, I was long overdue for this one, as the infection I’ve been carrying around couldn’t be remedied with just antibiotics. It had leaked down into my lungs and taken up residence.

I’m thankful to be on the other side of the surgery, but it was quite the recovery process.

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I was in need of a refresher because it had been about seven years since my last surgery, and my ears, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor was phenomenal. She explained everything before the surgery, accommodating my specific needs and addressing my concerns.

We created a plan together for when and how my surgery would be done, and it felt reassuring to have a doctor who included me in making decisions for my care plan. I felt seen, heard, and assured that I would be well taken care of throughout the whole process, and I certainly was.

Strangely enough, I forgot how painful sinus surgery is. That’s probably a good thing, or I would have put it off even longer than I had already.

It was even more intense this time, though. The surgery took three hours to clean out my sinuses due to scar tissue and built-up bone from previous surgeries. Apparently, I bled more than most people do, too. I’m already anemic, and certainly felt the drop in my blood count afterward.

I also had such intense headaches. It felt like a vise was squeezing my skull while a sledgehammer was slamming into my forehead. The pressure from the surgical packing that was left in my sinuses to help with bleeding also made it all so painful.

I also needed intravenous antibiotics to fight the germs in my sinuses and lungs, which meant two weeks in the hospital. In addition to intense pain, I was also experiencing abnormal breathlessness, so I was relieved to stay there while the antibiotics did their work. I can’t imagine how scary it would have been to have had to deal with the residual symptoms at home. I appreciated the medical experts who made sure I had what I needed and monitored me closely.

Recovery took longer than I had hoped. I was exhausted once I got home. After my follow-up appointment with my ENT, I ended up having a post-surgical sinus infection, which is always a possibility. That explained why I continued to feel terrible. After a round of antibiotics in my sinus rinses, it cleared, thankfully.

It’s been a long, painful season of recuperation, though. Allowing myself to rest more doesn’t come easily for me, but tuning into the pace that my body requires has helped the healing process.

And I’m finally feeling better, which is one of the best feelings after such a long bout of illness!

Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.