Sinus Polyps

[MissFG]

Obviously we all know once we have thyroid issues it affects the whole body and we can suffer with more than one autoimmune disease.

I’m waiting now to see an ENT as my doctor believes I have sinus polyps and all my symptoms match. I’ve been feeling pretty rotten and after researching it, it’s not good as they can reoccur.

They are caused by inflammation and chronic sinus infections and certain autoimmune disorders.

Has anyone else had nasal/sinus polyps due to Hashimotos? If so how did you get on, what treatment did you have and how have you managed the awful symptoms.

6 months I’ve been suffering low and the bridge of my nose has now swollen. There’s also a backlog at ENT from

December so who knows when I might get seen I’m really struggling now 🥲

[Nanny1086]

My husband had nasal polyps he used a Sterimar water nasal spray (Amazon) And it helped him enormously, good luck

[MissFG in reply to Nanny1086]

Thanks I’ve had steroid nasal sprays 5 x antibiotics ear sprays etc nothings working unfortunately

[Zephyrbear]

I have both Hashimoto’s and nasal polyps. I was told there was no particular connection between the two (or the 35 years’ worth of smoking I’d done in my life) the polyps developing long after the Hashi.

I have been put on a regime of using Neilmed rinse twice daily followed by Flixonase nasules rather than sprays. It’s a bit of an a*se-ache having to insert them and then lay on the bed with your head hanging down over the end for at least 10 minutes twice a day, but it does allow me to breathe through the nose and gets rid of the “stuffed” feeling in my head. However, sadly it hasn’t done too much for my ability to smell and taste and I only have fleeting moments of being able to do either... makes life extremely boring and food is just different tasteless textures.

I hope you’ll be able to get this sorted. My daughter developed the sinus polyps too and decided to go the surgical route, but her senses of smell and taste were destroyed during that process too and the damned things are coming back...

[HGP1]

I have nasal polyps that pre date being hypothyroid by a good few years (chance diagnosis as I'd been referred to ENT due to a swollen lymph gland).Mometasone fudoate nasal spray does a good job at reducing them for me.

I had a biopsy maybe 8 or so years ago and nothing concerning so just have nasal spray when they become a problem (usually around Feb as some allergen or other sets me off so have combined issues of allergies and polyps making it difficult to breathe)

The anesthetic floored me for a week afterwards which I wasn't expecting as hadn't had general anesthetic for a good 10-15 years and presumed it would only me a day or two, although that may have been ME/CFS related response.

When you do get to ENT the camera up your nose but stings a little, but if you've been doing covid tests then that may have helped prepare you.

I would speak to be GP about which nasal spray they've given you as I think they have more than 1 to try.

I am on 50 micrograms 2 sprays once a day of the Mometasone furoate and within a day or two I could breathe more easily. From what I recall that could have been increased a little then they would have tried a different type.

I hope they find something to give you some relief, I tried one of those nasal rinses in advice from pharmacist and it just made it worse as I think I must have washed some allergen into my nostrils rather than out so I didn't try that more than 3-4 times!

**edit just seen you mentioned in a reply you'd tried some steroid nasal sprays already, there is an allergy spray that so helps me (altho I was never 100% sure it wasn't just as I'd cleaned the bedroom really well) allersearch spray I think it's called so if you have allergies plus polyps then reducing the allergens helps a bit, I also have air purifiers in bedroom and main living area which help a little but not sure it would if only had polyps and no allergens making worse

*edit 2 I forgot to say I also have allergic rhinitis and tend to take cetirizine dihhdeochloride daily. From what I understand allergic rhinitis and nasal polyps often go hand in hand.

[Naomi8]

I have had sinus problems for many years(I have Hashi's)Quite a few years ago I had an ENT consultation as polyps were suspected as a cause.The camera confirmed no polyps.He also told me I did not have sinusitis!I had finished a course of antibiotics well before the appointment came due.I have had a sinus episode annually for many years,usually following a virus in the winter.This always leads to at least 3 weeks of trying to sleep propped up-as close to sitting up as possible.Of course in sleep I slip down & am awoken every 3 hours by truly excruciating pain in my head.This is alleviated by a "head-under-the-towel steam bath"& a freezer block clamped to my head.GPs & another ENT have told me this cannot be sinus pain as the pain in my head is in the wrong place!I always have to beg for antibiotics after 2 weeks of sleep-deprivation.Last time this happened was last summer & I now believe this episode was induced by pollen allergy.This GP made me go for eye-tests & an MRI scan of my head.The neurologist diagnosed a form of migraine.Nobody medical has connected the alieviation of pain by steaming.I have known for years its my sinuses & the pain in my head is referred pain due to pressure.I have even seen my pain referred to in the Merck medical encyclopedia as being caused by the sphenoid sinus.

This time a friend suggested antihistamines as it was summer & this resolved the episode very quickly.(Research on thyroid UK had led me to try chlorphenamine maleate)

Researching again on this forum has led me to ordering Quercitine & bromelaine tablets to take regularly.

I have used a Neilmed Sinugator twice daily for years & have recently invested in a Sinupulse. Elite.

When I lived in a damp welsh valley I had very regular sinus headaches & used a steroid spray regularly.This led to a dry eye which I now have to self-treat with gel drops & artificial tears.

I moved to the Cumbrian coast & things improved.Now I'm on the south coast things are even better,but I am going to have to avoid hay fever.