Julie had been suffering from repeated sinus infections - as frequent as one every 6 weeks. She had seen several doctors and unsuccessfully tried repeated courses of medications. She and her doctor finally discussed surgery as her next step. She learned about the use of Balloon SinuplastyTM devices. She had heard of tiny balloon catheters being used to open arteries in the heart, and it made sense that balloons could be used to open her sinus passageways.
Immediately after surgery using the Balloon SinuplastyTM devices, Julie remembers saying to her doctor, "Wow - I can breathe through my right nostril. I haven't been able to do this for over two years!"
Her recovery and improvement were fast. "I was feeling significantly better within days. About two weeks after, it got really good, and it's been that way ever since... I feel much better than I did before and no infections - that's the biggest bonus because the infections used to keep coming back... I've done no nasal sprays, no decongestants, no medication at all!"
After 6 months off due to sinus pain, Julie is now back enjoying horseback riding. "Within a week of having surgery, I was back in the saddle. That was great to be able to ride and go out on a good trail ride and not just feel like I was in pain or had a horrible headache. It was really great."
Her work and family life have also improved. "My family is a lot happier since I had the surgery. I haven't been as tired. I haven't been as irritable. I've been able to spend a lot more time with my kids and enjoy it instead of feeling like that's work. I've also done better at work as well. I am in a pretty senior position and it is really hard to focus and concentrate when you are in pain and really tired a lot of the time... This has been the best summer I've had in probably 10 years. My quality of life has been much, much better."
Julie has advice for others suffering from sinus problems. "I'd absolutely recommend to anyone who's having sinus problems to allow their physician to use Balloon Sinuplasty devices because they are less invasive, less risky, and less scary than surgeries using knives in your nose... The surgery using the Balloon Sinuplasty devices was a piece of cake. I would do the surgery again in the same way without hesitation. Don't wait until your life is really miserable to do it yourself."
