prednisone for nasal congestion

[Menomommy]

I’ve suffered from nasal congestion for at least a year now and decided to see an ENT specialist who advised I have a deviated septum and a blockage. The blockage is an inflammation of my nasal passages. I’m so unsure of what to do. I can tell he wants to do surgery but today I brought up that I read somewhere where you can take prednisone for some days and it works for a long period of time. I tentatively put my name in for the surgery but I asked if I can try the prednisone before the surgery which will be later in the year. So he gave me an prescription for 50 mg prednisone to take for 5 days. I’m wondering if anyone has been through this and how does taking prednisone for 5 days eliminate symptoms for so long. I hear by taking the meds for 5 days, may eliminate symptoms for 6 months or more. Can anyone give me some more insight before I start taking this medication? Thanks so much in advance!

[wiserlady]

I've been in your situation on and off over the past twenty or so years. The prednisolone will reduce polyps in the nose IF you have them and they are causing blockage etc. They shrink them, but eventually they come back. The deviated septum is a different thing. But I was also told years ago I had this and it needed to be done. I simply let them lead me to do what they wanted and regretted it. Firstly the operation was all arranged and then when at the hospital that day after laying around in bed for ages I was told it had been cancelled. This is difficult when you have a life and commitments and travelling problems. It was then reschedule and they stuck to it. The operation seems simple but it's very painful, and had to take morphine, high doses, which means you can't think straight, read etc and feel awful from taking it. It took me about a week to feel like I wasnt dying. And - after all that it did not help at all. I have since spoken to other people who had it done and said it did not help them. Think carefully about this and don't assume that they are always right.

[Menomommy in reply to wiserlady]

Thank you so much for your advice! What would you advise me to do?

[wiserlady in reply to Menomommy]

It is a big decision, needs a lot of thought and you know your body and circumstances best. BUT with my body and circumstances I would - if I knew then what I know now, not have had the nose done, and taken steroids when needed. There is a snag to that though as that can raise and lower our white blood cell count, I started to get asthma type symptoms and was put on montekulast and inhalers and it was not long before I had another illness due to them! I've stopped the montekulast but am stuck with this illness,which can be quite disabling - insomnia, mood swings, bad memory and much more which comes and goes and alternates with no real way of solving it. So think carefully about regularly taking steroids or inhalers or nose sprays etc for that reason. Hope this helps.

[Snook179]

As a lifelong sufferer I sympathise.A temporary steroid may alleviate symptoms but I go natural & have never looked back.

My GP recommended using Sterimar Congestion. It's sea water.

Use twice a, day & I can say I have not had a severe attack for years.

I still get occasional bad pressure pain but no infection for over 10 years.

I always have a Nasonex spray from GP in case I get really congested, but the Sterimar is a gift.

Hope this helps. I used to have to take 3/4 antibiotics at a time plus a cream when I had an infection. Not any more.

Most of the population have a deviated septum. Surgery is never guarenteed & I have been told by doctors to avoid unless it really is the last resort.

It's a vile op with no guarantee.

All the best to you.

[Menomommy in reply to Snook179]

Snook, I am very happy you replied…, I just ordered the steroids rx but haven’t Picked it up yet. When you are talking about sterimar is this a liquid you rinse your nostrils with similar to medicam which is a pouch you add to distilled water and rinse your nostrils with. Or do you think the Sheri at is better?

[Bidgie]

I was told by ENT surgeon that I had a deviated nasal septum which was curved so badly that I had a large nasal passage on one side and nothing on the other. I have a slightly prominent bone at the top of my nose hidden by glasses. I asked if I mattered if I had no airway on one side and was told if I needed resuscitation at any time they could not put an oxygen tube up that nostril, so decided to have surgery. It was well done with no problems, though I had it done under Private Health insurance. It turned out that I had broken a small bone at the top of my nose as a toddler that was not seen to! I still have some rhinitis/inflammation in the larger nostril occasionally but Sudafed spray works. Pick a good ENT surgeon after the pandemic. I had mine over 50yrs and could always breathe well, but had occasional sinusitis and nasal inflammation. No problem with sinuses since the operation. Good luck