Some Empty Nose Syndrome symptoms, ENT says it's too early for ENS

Question

It has been almost 2 weeks since my septoplasty w/ SMR of my turbinates. I do feel a lot of air coming in but it feels like I'm breathing through a snorkel. It's loud and despite getting a lot of air I feel like I'm out of breath. It gets worse in the evening and has been effecting my quality of sleep. The air is dry and cold. Originally my breathing was a little blocked on one side due to an injury that took place a few months ago but it wasn't terrible. Is this ENS?

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

dear gettingdepressed It's too early to be diagnosed w ENS. You likely have significant swelling and crusting and it will take about 6 weeks for those issues to resolve. Be patient and follow your surgeons instructions.

Levente S. Deak, MD, PhD · Answer

It`s too early to say you have ENS. I would suggest you to use only nasal saline twice daily and add some nasal steroid. 
It has been shown that antihistamines can improve the nasal airway sensation.

Steven M. Daines, MD, FACS · Answer

It can take several weeks to several months for your nose to heal after a septoplasty. After two weeks, many patients still notice a sensation of swelling and blockage. Follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions and be patient-- you will likely notice slow improvement over the upcoming weeks.

Frank Scaccia, MD, FACS · Answer

ENS is controversial . Some specialists think its not a real entity or at the very least over diagnosed and can possibly be a psychological problem. I almost routinely if the inferior turbinates are enlarged when I am doing nasal surgery remove at least 30% of the inferior turbinates in various locations decided individually by endoscopic exam.  Hardly ever touch the middle turbinates unless they a concha bullosa blocking the outflow of the sinuses and then will only take the lateral half.  Never touch the superior turbinates unless forced to remove a posterior piece to get into the sphenoid sinus during sinus surgery. You are probably feeling all the air hitting the crusting inside your nose now.  Once the crusting resolves and the nose heals things should get better. Hopefully you are not hearing a whistle from a septal perforation as that can be annoying.  I have done 1000s of nasal surgeries over the last 25 years and my patients never complain about ENS and love all the airflow.

Some Empty Nose Syndrome symptoms, ENT says it's too early for ENS

Answers (4)

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