Persistent Tooth and Sinus Pain While Diving and Flying — Looking for Experiences

[GDG]

There is something I do not get; you were diving without problems before. If the physical obstruction was causing the problem, why did it not cause a problem before? Did you have a trauma to your nose like an accident? Or do you mean the sinusitis was so severe that it caused a deviated septum or a polyp or a physical obstruction?

The deviated septum has probably always been there, but what would have made the difference is the chronic sinusitis I was diagnosed with. If I used to dive without problems (paradoxically until last September) and in November everything changed, something changed and probably the bone spur blocking my turbinate, plus the inflammation from the sinusitis, created a pressure imbalance. But no one has ever given me 100% certainty of the solution or cause of the problem, it's only a matter of exclusion.

 

[GDG]

OP, (@GDG) said:

So I went to my ENT specialist. He sent me for a CT scan, which showed chronic sinusitis on the left side (exactly where I felt the pain) along with a deviated septum and a bony spur obstructing the turbinates due to severe inflammation.

So I went to see two maxillofacial surgeons, who both recommended surgery to remove the bony spur and clean the sinuses.
I honestly didn’t know where else to turn, so I decided to go ahead with the surgery.
I had the operation on June 18.



I had "weird" sensations in my ears after my last dive trip. Went to walk in clinic, got dosed with anti-biotics, went back, got dosed again, then went to see ENT when problem persisted.

I had conversations with my ENT regarding diving, and he did a full exam, including CT scan. Deviated sepum, problem with turbinates, surgery recommended. I had the surgery two months ago, nose is still a bit tender, but I can breathe a LOT better.

One thing he was very clear on - no diving for at least six weeks post surgery. Seems to me that you might be pushing that a bit given your surgical date...

I'll do a test in late August in fact