Empty nose syndrome is a rare condition that can develop after some of the most common nose procedures. Those affected are left in a constant feeling of suffocation – and there’s no cure. An ENS sufferer describes his experience living with the condition.
Guest Information:
- Dr. Brent Senior, Chief of Rhinology, Allergy, and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
- James R. Skinner, ENS patient
I really liked the part when the patient describes his symptoms. I am an ens sufferer myself and it really reflects my reality since I had turbinate reduction surgery. I have my reserves concerning Dr Senior. I wrote to him after I participated in his North Carolina Study to tell him there was no timeline in his questions about mental health. Meaning there were no differences in his study between before and after surgery in regards to mental health. I made it clear my mental health was fine before anything done to my nose and if I had anything now, the surgery had done it. As much as I didn’t like this part of his study, I am still ambivalent about whether it’s a good thing or not if ENTs screen their more “ENS susceptible patients” before surgery. If that can prevent some ENS cases it’s good. On the other hand I don’t believe this surgery has its place, period. I just can’t see how the body can react normally when an important part of our nervous system is gone or injured. I believe ENS has more to do with “fast food” and “bread and butter” medecine logic than patient predisposition.
Turbinate reduction surgery (Agressive and conservative) needs to be banned.