septo1 wrote:
Thanks for your questions, MaryS.  Here are my best attempts at answers:
1) I have had many pre-op and post-op CT scans.  Once I get a hold of them, I will definitely have the docs providing third/fourth opinions take a look and compare them.  I think that will give me some more certainty about what (if anything) was done to my turbinates.
2) It says I had septoplasty, but doesn’t say what part of the septum was operated on.  I do know that several docs said before my surgery that my left side “buckled” pretty high up there.
3) As for my FESS, it says I had ethmoidectomy, frontal sinustomy, maxillary sinusotomy, and sphenoidotomy.  I don’t see the term antrostomy anywhere.  All of it was endoscopic and performed bi-laterally.  Again, there is absolutely no mention of TR---I have combed through it a hundred times.
4) The pathology report is separate from the op report and I don’t have it (there a reference to it in the op notes).  I will request it.
5) I can breathe through both my nostrils, including the left (dry) nostril.  I would say I usually feel like I don’t get quite as much air in my left nostril as my right, but I think that is because the left is usually somewhat congested.  When I say congested, I mean it’s usually partly congested where there is some thick mucus that is partly blocking my airway.  Periodically when I pass mucus it will feel more open where it is not at all congested.  And every so often it will totally close up for a few minutes.  But 90% of the time or more I am able to get air through it but it is partly congested.

1) Yes, it is a good idea to obtain all your imaging and have further opinions. Hopefully, you will get some answers.
I found this interesting chapter on sinus imaging. It may help you navigate around in the event you want to look at your own CTs (as many of us eventually did)

2) on septoplasty, I asked because there are complications from septoplasty. I think there is a greater risk of structural collapse from an anterior septoplasty. I recall reading that the majority are done on the posterior, but I am not certain. Here is a good section from a book on septoplasty complications. Includes perforation and nasal deformity - both of which can cause dryness.

3) I am not totally up on terminology. I think the maxillary sinusotomy could be the same as an antrostomy. Not sure. But, relative to what sinus procedures can cause significant problems with too much ventilation, thus dryness, I believe the maxillary or middle meatal antrostomy is the culprit, particularly if there is a very large opening created.

4) The pathology report is definately worth having, even if it does not talk about the TR.

5) The thing with having a problem like this is that most people have trouble explaining it, and certainly feel it is different than anything they experienced through out their lives, and something totally new to their nose. And something that the usual sprays etc don't seem to help. With me, I feel that my breathing dries out the mucus and it immediately gets lodged in many places, esp the back mf my nasal cavity where it blocks breathing. So the "front" of my nose (nstrils) can be clear for a bit, but I still can't breathe well.

Hopefully the fact that you are dry on only one side will help a Dr be able determine what is wrong, since it may elimiate other possiblities that would be bilateral.