Kathryn had been suffering from chronic sinus problems for her entire adult life. She suffers severe sinus headaches with such intense pain and pressure that she has to stay in bed. She has even been hospitalized twice. Kathryn has seen many specialists including allergists, ENT physicians, and internists, and has tried a wide variety of medical therapies to no avail. In the last few years, she has not been able to enjoy outdoor activities. She can not take her grandkids to the park, ride in her convertible, or even open the windows to her house without spending the next few days in bed and out from work. After talking with her doctor, she opted for surgery using Balloon SinuplastyTM devices because it sounded less invasive.
Kathryn has noticed significant improvements since having the surgery. "In just 2 weeks, everything was functioning normally. After the third week, I could actually feel the air going into my cheek, and I could feel air in my forehead. It was a totally new experience for me. I do not ever remember being able to breathe through my nose! It's been a couple of months, and it's been amazing to me - I'm still not totally used to it. I can blow my nose and mucus comes out to the tissue which has never in my life ever happened. I've always just had tons of post-nasal drip. It's unbelievable."
She is now enjoying outdoor activities. "On July 4th weekend, we took our convertible out and drove on Highway 1. I never had a headache or experienced congestion. It's just totally unbelievable. If this had been before my surgery, I would have been on antibiotics again, and I would have spent countless days of my life in bed."
Kathryn has advice for others, "To another sinusitis patient, I would say, 'Schedule it now.' It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Go for it as soon as you can."
