I don't know how common they are, but I have had them removed on several
occasions.  Having them removed can bring relief both directly to airway
functioning and indirectly to asthma.  Don't go to just any ENT, however.
Find the best-regarded in your area, because this can be a delicate
procedure (especially for high polyps).   That said, (and not to scare you
unduly) in the hands of an experienced surgeon one can get great relief from
the procedure.  I have never regretted having it done.  Good luck.

 I just had the surgery to remove my polups on July 1st. I am still
somewhat recovering. No it was not painful, but just kind of annoying.
I was completly out and the surgery took about 2 and a half hours. The
worst part for me was coming off the anesthesia. Think about your
worst hangover and times it by 10. The only type of pain I have had is
a sinus headache but no worse than I was having before the surgery. I
still cannot smell but Dr. said it could take up to 3 months for the
swelling to go down and then my smell may return. I have had little to
no bleeding. I have been feeling generally icky and run down since the
surgery so take a week or so off from work to rest. I did not think
the surgery would do this to me but I at least have had to take things
easy for the past 2 weeks. I went back to work after a week but was
still feeling crappy and could have easily spent another week on the
couch. I do agree to find a GOOD Dr. because it is an extremely
delicate procedure. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

I don't know if I had polyps, however I couldn't breath through my nose and
had numerous sores and scar tissue. I ended up having a sinoplasty (?
spelling) to remove all the sores and tissue.  That hurt bad.. I got sent
home with a tampon shoved up my nose and looked like I lost bad in a fight.
   I was pretty sick and in pain for about two weeks. I, unfortunately,
have to go through it again.  I have an endoscopy done everytime to clean it
out and now it's back to surgery.
   I was told it had to do with numerous nasal inhalers over the years and
that one time I was given Vascenase (?) and that burned a lot of tissue
away.

Jennifer

I had sinus surgery about 5 years ago. Turned out that I also had major
polyps, which of course were removed. I live in Los Angeles (5+ years now,
coming from New England) which has caused childhood asthma to recur. (I'll
post more on that later when I ask the proverbial, and seemingly provocative
'air cleaner recomendation' question).

I've started back on some meds recently after the Nth sinusitis infection
since surgery (N=4 or 5 in 5 years :( ). I am on nasocort (sp?) and zyrtec.
I tried singulair initially but it seemed to trigger more low level asthma
so they switched me to zyrtec. Turns out it was all timing - the asthma &
start of singulair was directly correlated with major increase in levels of
ozone in LA. Go figure ;)

Prior to moving to LA, the only thing that would trigger asthma attacks
since I was a teenager was exposure to cats (my only confirmed alergy). Oh
and sometimes the sulpher from lighting a match if I get a good whiff.

aaanyway, polyps - in the past couple years (3+ years since surgery), I
started noticing that I would blow my nose and get a "nose rocket" (my term)
popping out. Felt internally like a tennis ball shooting out of it's can -
thuuunk.  When I described them to my ENT, he immediatly said "those are
polyps!" My description was that they look like vitimin E pills (round,
encased goo of 1/4" - 1/2" diameter.) Just had one pop out in the shower the
other day. NASTY. But, I feel sooo much (pressure) relief after they do.
Always from the right side, which it seems the surgery did a bit more
'cleaning' in.

Has anyone else had this self-ejecting polyp phenomena?

more later...
john