Nasal Polyps Allergic Rhinitis and Asthama

I was having a bad cold and one night nose got totally blocked . I panicked and visited the ER they put in some drops and I was fine . I visited a ENT and she looked in my nose and said I had Nasal Polyps and this is related to my asthma and allergy . She directly adviced surgery even before trying to treat it . My GP adviced me against any surgery and said it was common for asthama and allergy patients to develop polyps and it was nothing to worry about . I feel stuffy nose and at times it blocks off totally . Anyone with asthma allergy etc face this what is the experience and the treatement . I have been advised nasal cortisteroid sprays , antibiotic course and allergy meds , this added to my asthma meds . As this is something I never heard of before I am very worried please advice .I have asthma for over 25 years I am now 41 .

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I agree with the GP, don't panic. The combination of asthma, rhinitis and nasal polyps is quite common, sometimes called the 'asthma triad'. The polyps may shrink with several months of intranasal corticosteroids, I'd definitely try that before going in for surgery.

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Hi Sanjay,

I agree, there are several treatment options and intranasal steroids are certainly worth a try. Leukotriene antiagonists such as montelukast (Singulair) or zafirlukast (Accolate) might also be helpful.

One thing to point out is that people who suffer from this triad are often aspirin sensitive as well, so if you are not already avoiding aspirin and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac and others) then you might want to consider trying this.

Em H

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Hi Sanay,

nose problems are not nice. I have had polyps removed, but only after trying various nasal steroid sprays. It has made it better, in that i dont have a solid lump in my nose any more. but still have persistent rhinitis and sinus probs so can't breath through my nose (or smell anything) most of the time. Def worth trying the steroid sprays first. Even if you have polyps removed surgically, polyps do have a tendency to come back. You'd probably be told to use the sprays even if you have surgery to try and prevent re-growth.

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Feels good

Thanks

It feels so good to be on this forum and learn from someone who has walked the path . It makes life that much more easy for someone having cobination of Asthma , Rhinitis and now to be told Polyps !