NE Valley Times

• Study shows 91% of patients would have balloon procedure again vs. 49% of functional endoscopic sinus surgery patients
• Medical News Today reports treatment is needed if sinus infection symptoms become detrimental to one's quality of life
• Balloon Sinuplasty is an outpatient procedure that is performed in office. 

Following a deviated sputum diagnosis and two failed sinus procedures, one patient of Arizona Breath Free Sinus and Allergy Center’s said the Balloon Sinuplasty procedure significantly improved his breathing, workouts and quality of life. 

Sinus issues and infections first began plaguing Zach Masch at a young age. Masch said his inability to breathe caused such a disturbance in his daily living and quality of life, he sought medical treatment in hopes of finding relief. Despite the first procedure failing to cure his alignment, Masch decided to see another ENT for a second opinion. 

"My junior year of high school, we went to go see another ENT where he told me I have deviated septum and he was going to shave it down. I then have that surgery and I just remember it as the worst recovery of my life. Nothing got better, so I kind of lost all hope in ENT and thought this was how my nose would be,” Masch said.

Masch, a very physically active person, remembers how even in high school he expressed to his coaches concerning his sinus infections, which caused him to not be able to breathe, but they were unsympathetic to Masch’s alignment. 

“They just didn't understand it, nor did I. I couldn't breathe right and I just thought it was just something I was going to have to deal with my whole life,” Masch said.

On a normal day like any other, it suggested to Masch that he see highly praised ENT Dr. John Stewart at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers. Though lacking hope of successful treatment, Masch followed up the recommendation and scheduled his initial appointment. Dr. Stewart offered Masch help in having an ability to breathe normally again through having the balloon sinusplasty procedure done. 

“I went in to see him and he told me he could help me breathe normal again. He explained the whole procedure, and that's kind of what got me to go that route,” Masch said. 

According to Healthline, balloon sinuplasty, a revolutionary minimally invasive procedure, involves a tiny balloon inserted through the nostril into the sinus and expanded, permanently opening the sinuses. Balloon sinuplasty is recommended for the suffering of snoring, postnasal drip, chronic congestion, mouth breathing, chronic sinusitis, sinus headache pain, pain in upper teeth, bad breath, thick and yellow grainy nasal discharge, nasal congestion, stuffy nose, facial pain, and pressure.

“You don't feel well during the first couple of days, then after that, you start to feel a little bit better. The best day is getting the splints out. I want to say 48 hours after the splits were out, I felt like a new person. I was excited,” Masch said.

Following Masch’s recovery, he said the rest was a cakewalk, commenting jokingly that “I guess what they said is right third time's the charm.”

“I feel amazing. I’ve had some of the best workouts of my life,” Masch said. “Having the surgery now, I feel like I wish I could go back and do it all over again because I'm getting so much more oxygen. Just being able to breathe so well and I close my mouth and be able to breathe normally. I've never been able to do that my entire life so that was a big awakening.Being able to breathe is so crucial, and it's something I'll never take for granted... To this day, like now there are some instances where I wish I couldn't smell so well.”

Ninety-one percent of patients who've had a balloon procedure would do it again vs. only 49% of functional endoscopic sinus surgery patients, according to a prospective cohort study from the Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology, which recorded measurements in quality of life after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Masch said he encourages anyone considering the procedure due to nose issues or feeling like something is wrong to have the balloon sinuplasty. 

“Usually you're more afraid about the recovery once you start getting committed, so [I[ want to open some eyes and show the fact that it was only seven days. It's a miracle that you can feel well, or almost back to totally normal, after that,” he stated. 

Medical News Today reports treatment is needed when sinus infections are severe enough to make symptoms detrimental to one's quality of life. In treating mild cases, steroid sprays, decongestants, antihistamines, nasal dilators and saline irrigations are recommended. More severe cases, however, need to be addressed by a physician. 

Sinus inflammation specialists are an imperative resource for sinus inflammation patients seeking diagnosis and treatment. 

Tamara Connor, another patient of Dr. Stewart’s, said her experience was “exceptional” when addressing her complications and handling her care and treatment.

“My experience with Dr. Stewart at Arizona Breathe Free was nothing short of exceptional. Everyone at this clinic was very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with,” Connor said. “During my first visit I was able to get my imaging done, receive a diagnosis, and schedule my procedure - I have never had such an efficient experience at a doctor's office. Dr. Stewart explained everything in a manner in which I was able to understand and made me feel comfortable with my plan of care every step of the way. I highly recommend Arizona Breathe Free to anyone who has any breathing, allergy, or sinus issues!”

To find out if you could benefit from a balloon sinuplasty, take this online sinus assessment.