Cold, Flu, and Sinus:Sinus Surgery
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What You Need to Know
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Expert Advice on Recognizing, Treating, and Avoiding Sinus Infections
Jeffrey Terrell, MD
Director of the Michigan Sinus Center
Q: Can it be dangerous to ignore sinus infections?
A: It’s best to see your doctor if you think you have a sinus infection. Very, very rarely, sinus infections can spread to the tissues surrounding the sinuses, the eye, or the brain, with consequences including blindness, meningitis, and even death. Read More
A: It’s best to see your doctor if you think you have a sinus infection. Very, very rarely, sinus infections can spread to the tissues surrounding the sinuses, the eye, or the brain, with consequences including blindness, meningitis, and even death. Read More
MY STORY
Sinus Surgery Was Harder Than I Expected
Once in a while I still get sinus infections, even after surgery
After I woke up from sinus surgery, I felt like I couldn't breathe. My nasal cavity was packed with material. Breathing through my mouth was hard too because I’d had a tube down my throat, and it was sore. I don’t think of myself as being claustrophobic, but waking up and not being able to breathe—well, it was a little scary. It wasn’t a cakewalk, but I’m still glad I had the surgery. Read More
MY STORY
I Had a Quick Sinus Surgery and an Easy Recovery
One surprise: Surgery changed the shape of my face
One of my daughters had sinus surgery, and it was an ordeal. So even though my sinus troubles were so bad I was nearly housebound, I said, "Sinus surgery is not for me." Then a doctor showed me CT images of the sinuses above my eyebrows and below my eyes. They were packed tight with swollen tissue. He said they may have been that way for 40 years. Read More
