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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / May 2005Sinus Polyps. To treat or not to treat?
Hi, Last week I went to a Ear Nose and Throat doctor because I had a lump on my cheek, which turned out to be nothing. During my visit he found polyps on my sinuses, which give me no problems whatsoever. However, the Dr gave me antibiotics and steroids in a spray form to treat them. Should I even bother if I have no problems at all from this polyps? Should I just leave them alone? I'd hate to start taking antibiotics and steroids if it's not necessary. The doctor said it was up to me to treat them or not, that he was just being thorough. Thanks. NDD > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > NDD If they don't start growing at a rapid rate, you will be fine...at least for awhile. When they get big enough to block your nose to an extent, you will want to have something done. ...Allen > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > NDD Why would you treat something that's so asymptomatic that you didn't know it was there? Susan My mother in law was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine mammogram...she had no symptoms....but the cancer definitely needed to be treated! I think it is wise to seek advice about whether certain medical conditions need treatment, regardless of the symptoms they present. Granted, nasal polyps should not be compared to breast cancer, but I think it is still wise to seek advice. > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Susan > My mother in law was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine > mammogram...she had no symptoms....but the cancer definitely needed to > be treated! I think it is wise to seek advice about whether certain > medical conditions need treatment, regardless of the symptoms they > present. Granted, nasal polyps should not be compared to breast > cancer, but I think it is still wise to seek advice. What on earth are you responding to? The polyps are asymptomatic, not cancerous, and have already been examined by a doctor. The OP had already sought medical advice. Susan On 4/8/05 8:08 AM, in article 3bnl36F6ipfn0U1@individual.net, "Susan" > Why would you treat something that's so asymptomatic that you didn't > know it was there? Nasal polyps can block the sinus drainage and result in changes in the sinuses that might require sinus surgery. The doctor is correct in prescribing antibiotic with the spray in order to shrink the polyps - because of the blockage, there is some infection and the polyps won't shrink if there is infection. > On 4/8/05 8:08 AM, in article 3bnl36F6ipfn0U1@individual.net, "Susan" > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > shrink the polyps - because of the blockage, there is some infection and the > polyps won't shrink if there is infection. But in this case, the polyps were not causing a blockage. Is the OP to stay on antibiotics and steroid spray permanently? Susan > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Susan \ They weren't causing a _noticeable_ blockage; that doesn't mean that some blocking and sequestration of fluids wasn't occurring. Polyps aren't noted for shrinking spontaneously. Most of us who have had them (and in my case, 4 surgeries to remove them), know that they recur and only get worse without attention. > They weren't causing a _noticeable_ blockage; that doesn't mean that some > blocking and sequestration of fluids wasn't occurring. Polyps aren't noted > for shrinking spontaneously. Most of us who have had them (and in my case, > 4 surgeries to remove them), know that they recur and only get worse without > attention. You've had symptomatic polyps, and I understand why these would require treatment. Is it necessarily the case that any and all polyps will inevitabley continue to grow and to create blockages? Susan > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Susan In medical matters, there are few inevitabilities. My polyps didn't originally start out symptomatically either; their presence was noted during a routine exam by my family doctor, but nothing was done. About a year later, I became continually congested and obstructed. It has been my experience that polyps do continue to increase in size and create blockages. How about others here? > In medical matters, there are few inevitabilities. My polyps didn't > originally start out symptomatically either; their presence was noted [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It has been my experience that polyps do continue to increase in size and > create blockages. How about others here? The problem with asking the question here is that we're all self selected for having sinus symptoms. If it were me, I would have asymptomatic polyps observed regularly for changes/growth, rather than immediately initiating treatment, but that's my personal bias. Susan Susan, Sorry I didn't explain myself better in my response. I have had nasal polyps removed several times and I completely understand that they usually have nothing to do with cancer (if ever?). I did not mean that the individual posting the qustion had any risk of cancer what-so-ever. I was just trying to make the point that simply b/c a condition has no symptoms does not mean that treatment should not be considered or looked into. Your response indicated to me that you didn't understand why something with no symptoms should be treated. I was just trying to support this individual for seeking more information about the condition. I also had the exact same experience that ARoberts referred to in his/her response. Hope that makes more sense. Thanks! > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Susan > Susan, > Sorry I didn't explain myself better in my response. I have had nasal > polyps removed several times and I completely understand that they > usually have nothing to do with cancer (if ever?). I did not mean that > the individual posting the qustion had any risk of cancer what-so-ever. I was wondering if we were both reading/responding to the same post, thanks for clarifying. > I was just trying to make the point that simply b/c a condition has no > symptoms does not mean that treatment should not be considered or [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > condition. I also had the exact same experience that ARoberts referred > to in his/her response. Hope that makes more sense. Thanks! I don't believe that non-fatal/asymptomatic conditions that may not ever progress should be treated unless and until it's clear that they are causing, or will cause, more harm than treatment may cause. Saying so was my way of supporting the OP. I adamantly believe that each of us must do due diligence, thoroughly researching all health conditions and prescribed treatments before taking them, barring emergency lifesaving procedures, of course. Susan <doesn't take a doctor's word by itself, ever> > In medical matters, there are few inevitabilities. My polyps didn't > originally start out symptomatically either; their presence was noted [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It has been my experience that polyps do continue to increase in size and > create blockages. How about others here? That was my case. Then I found something that made a big difference. I'm not on any medication and my polpys have receeded. I can actually smell again from 100% loss of smell for years. I have a theory about it that I have pieced together from others. I'll post it when I get a chance. >> In medical matters, there are few inevitabilities. My polyps didn't >> originally start out symptomatically either; their presence was noted [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >it that I have pieced together from others. I'll post it when I get >a chance. Please, *what* medication? How much, how often? Side-effects? Thanks, David One of my old Bosses got those nasal polyps when he stopped his allergy shots. He was in his 40's, a very hyper man, lost his temper very easy. shirley >You've had symptomatic polyps, and I understand why these would require >treatment. Is it necessarily the case that any and all polyps will >inevitabley continue to grow and to create blockages? I do not think so. I agree with you that monitoring them may suffice. > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > But in this case, the polyps were not causing a blockage. Is the OP to > stay on antibiotics and steroid spray permanently? The antibiotic is just to knock down the infection while the polyps are shrunk by the steroid spray. There's no problem with being on steroid sprays indefinitely to keep the polyps from returning. The cemeteries are full of people who didn't seek medical attention for their medical problems because they were asymptomatic at the time.  SignatureSteven D. Litvintchouk Email: sdlitvin@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me. > The antibiotic is just to knock down the infection while the polyps are > shrunk by the steroid spray. There's no problem with being on steroid > sprays indefinitely to keep the polyps from returning. IME and IMO, there is definitely a problem with staying on steroid sprays indefinitely, though I understand why someone with symptomatic polyps would require treatment. > The cemeteries are full of people who didn't seek medical attention for > their medical problems because they were asymptomatic at the time. > We all end up dead eventually, but I doubt many of us die due to failure to use steroid nasal sprays daily. Just MHO. Susa > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Susa I let my polyps go for way too long without treatment. The physical pressure from the polyps against the bone inside my head caused the bone to erode. Keep in mind this was pressure I couldn't feel. I had to have several bone grafts around my eye. The bone was also eroding in my spenoid sinsus (I think that was the one) and the doc said the bone would have perforated in several years. I believe his words were "serious cranial issues" would have resulted. They cultured staph out of my sinuses along with other bacteria. If that gets into your brain... > I let my polyps go for way too long without treatment. The > physical pressure from the polyps against the bone inside my [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > of my sinuses along with other bacteria. If that gets into > your brain... I understand. But the OP saw a doctor who offered treatment as an option, not a necessity. Susan > I let my polyps go for way too long without treatment. The > physical pressure from the polyps against the bone inside my [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > of my sinuses along with other bacteria. If that gets into > your brain... BTW, are you saying above, that your sinuses were asymptomatic, or just that you were not aware that you had bone pressure? What brought you to the diagnostic process? Susan On 4/9/05 6:20 AM, in article 3bq353F6kg537U1@individual.net, "Susan" > But in this case, the polyps were not causing a blockage. Is the OP to > stay on antibiotics and steroid spray permanently? No, generally a week of therapy suffices to shrink the polyps. > On 4/9/05 6:20 AM, in article 3bq353F6kg537U1@individual.net, "Susan" > >>But in this case, the polyps were not causing a blockage. Is the OP to >>stay on antibiotics and steroid spray permanently? > > No, generally a week of therapy suffices to shrink the polyps. So, polyps that aren't causing symptoms or blockage still require treatment before they cause problems? Or are you saying to initiate treatment if/when they cause blockage? What stops them from responding to whatever conditions caused them to grow once the week of steroids is complete? Susan <grateful not to have polyps> > x-no-archive: yes > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > What stops them from responding to whatever conditions caused them to grow > once the week of steroids is complete? > Susan <grateful not to have polyps> Ah, there's the rub. Those of us who have the tendency to develop polyps know that they recur--endlessly. In my case, short-term treatment has always meant short-term relief. |
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