u/jcheat_32

What are first symptoms and how long until it’s obvious? Does pain come and go at first? Does it take days? Hours? Etc?

Thanks 🙏

Does anyone else have a relentless post nasal drip sensation with not much output?

I’m doing the twice daily washes. Had surgery 2 months ago. But I had this sensation before surgery while on antibiotics.

It is unreal. This constant drip sensation and it causes me to hock and blow to try and get rid of it which might be sort of a vicious cycle making it worse. Not sure.

I cannot figure it out and it’s maddening.

I’m on a topical wash that includes 2 antibiotics and a steroid… it can’t get much better than that.

Does anyone else experience this? What has anyone done about it if there is anything to do about it?

2 months out from FESS. On topical wash including 2 antibiotics Levofloxacin and Gentamicin with budesonide steroid. Twice daily.

Just an up and down recovery. But two days ago started what felt like a relapse. Still have the bacterial smell.

No polyps etc.. truly only thing remaining is biofilm or bone infection. Just here to talk about biofilms and seeing if others really struggled to clear their infection after surgery despite following treatment.

Ent says 2 months is still early which I can get behind. Just struggling understanding the relapse while on that kind of wash.

Anyone get better after like 6months? A year? I’m starting baby shampoo sure. Just seems kinda like a long shot to be honest. But I’m doing it nonetheless.

Just seeing if anyone’s had success clearing chronic infection that had to do with osteic bone (bone thickening due to chronic infection/inflammation) or biofilm formation.

Thanks everyone.

63 days post-FESS. Surgery was April 17, 2026. Had everything operated on except the sphenoid — it was clear on the March 10 CT and wasn’t indicated.

Prescribed a topical compounded wash for 4–5 months: levofloxacin, gentamicin, and budesonide — two antibiotics and a steroid, twice daily. I’ve been very consistent. 122 washes in as of today.

Recovery hasn’t been linear, but I’ve been functional. The sensation of postnasal drip and needing to hock backwards has never fully gone away. Inflammation-wise things have been pretty good overall. I’ve had 4 debridements every 2 weeks since surgery, and my Lund-Kennedy score has trended down: 12→10→10→6.

But starting June 18 and continuing today (June 19), I’ve had this dizziness, lightheadedness, wooziness — possible vertigo. I’m listing all of those because I genuinely don’t know which word fits. It’s just a feeling I’m trying to describe the best I can. Not sure if it’s position-dependent. I don’t think it is. It’s just kind of there in the background, and I notice it more or less at what seems like random times. My nose isn’t terribly congested right now — I can breathe fine through both sides, and there’s not a lot of yellow or green sludge.

I wouldn’t expect there to be while on this wash though, which is part of what messes with my head. I don’t know if the wash is just suppressing the visible signs while everything else underneath is still brewing. I don’t know.

I’m super discouraged because I can’t understand how this isn’t a bacterial sinusitis cause — but I also can’t understand how it could be, given that I’m on this wash. My ENT prescribed 4–5 months specifically because there was risk of chronic infection. He documented hypertrophied osteitic bone intraoperatively — chronically inflamed bone that’s thickened, remodeled, with poor blood supply. He removed as much as he could.

I say all that because I think this is more likely bacterial than viral. I just hate that I’m two months in and facing a new symptom. I’m worried about possible sphenoid involvement even though the March CT appeared clear, and beyond that, infected bone or biofilm are the only logical conclusions I can come to. If I’m on this wash and still having issues, it seems like either the wash isn’t reaching where the problem is, or the bacteria are outpacing what the wash can handle.

What’s frustrating is my last appointment on June 16 — just three days ago — my Lund-Kennedy score was a 6, down from 10 two weeks prior. Not perfect, but my ENT didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, and I didn’t feel this way at that visit. This has only come on in the last couple of days.

I’m hoping it’s just part of the non-linear healing process and it’ll settle down, but it doesn’t feel that way.
I’ve never really had dizziness or lightheadedness as a symptom before with my sinus issues. My understanding is the usual pathway is sinus inflammation swelling or blocking the Eustachian tube, which throws off middle ear pressure, which messes with the vestibular system. If that’s what’s happening, I’m trying to understand how things could be escalating while I’m on this wash.

Also wondering if the wash technique itself could contribute — I’ve been hanging upside down during rinses to get better posterior coverage. Hasn’t caused issues before, but figured it’s worth asking.

Would love people’s input. Anything you’ve got — experience healing from surgery and dealing with chronic infection, whether you’ve had this symptom with sinus stuff, battling the viral vs. bacterial question, non-linear healing after surgery, trusting the process. Just trying to reconcile how I feel with “oh it’s probably nothing” when that’s never been the case for me.

Thanks everyone for taking the time.

New wash — Budesonide + Amphotericin B + Clotrimazole + Gentamicin + Levofloxacin (added: amphotericin B + clotrimazole)

•	Why: rare Candida on May 12 culture  
•	Started May 29, 2026, 7:30 PM  
•	Twice daily, May 29 → June 1 = \~6 washes total

I was originally on bud Gent Levo but he added the others just to be safe.

The first night using it… it was sort of an irritation. Like a fan blowing in my eye cold air. Same second day. Vision went blurry in that eye. Hasn’t really gotten better. Did some basic eye drops which helped the burning but I’m noticing a bump form on my eyeball.

I know this is a very niche thing. But if anyone’s had issues with these washes it would help me narrow down what’s going on. It’s the only thing I can think of.

Please take the time to skim but read the bottom and give your experience and feedback please. Anybody’s shared experience is so good to read about.

Post-FESS Day 26 — chronic infection, biofilms, and topical washes. Anyone actually beat this?

Surgery: Bilateral FESS — total ethmoidectomy (ant + post) with frontal exploration, bilateral maxillary antrostomy, concha bullosa resection, IT fracture, 2 frontal balloon dilations each side. April 17, 2026.

Post-op day: 26.

Post-op wash: Compounded budesonide-gentamicin-levofloxacin (1-80-100 mg), twice daily for 5 months. About 50 washes in. Also doing 1–2 additional mid-day washes with manuka honey, xylitol, and salt packs.

ENTs are pretty adamant that most CRS is chronic inflammation. Some go as far as saying bacteria doesn’t really matter, cultures don’t matter — that’s directly from my ENT and from the literature. He doesn’t go quite that far but acknowledges it’s the prevailing view.

I’m not convinced I’m a Type 2 inflammation patient. No nasal polyps pre-op, no allergies on skin testing, low IgE, low eosinophils. My surgical findings told a different story — thickened osteitic bone, scar tissue, purulent secretions in the ethmoid cavities. Chronic infection picture. Unfortunately no culture was taken intraop like I’d hoped. Just got one taken at my Day 25 debridement — waiting on results.

What I’m afraid of, and the only logical explanation I can land on for why this topical wash isn’t giving me the results I was hoping for: biofilms. Possibly bone-level infection deeper than what topicals can reach. I’ll deal with the second one later if it comes to that.

The literature on biofilms is frustrating. My symptom pattern fits — partial improvement on antibiotics, symptoms returning as a low-grade smolder, constant post-nasal drip feeling without a ton of mucus production, a subtle infected smell that never fully goes away. Textbook biofilm presentation.

I’m currently using xylitol and manuka honey in my extra washes, sometimes hypertonic (2 salt packs instead of 1). Have Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo rinse on deck but waiting for more healing before starting. Ordered Nasodine (0.5% povidone-iodine nasal spray).

What I’m looking for:

Has anyone dealt with chronic infection post-FESS? Especially the biofilm side of things? Is there a way to actually win this or is it just management forever?
I understand the inflammation battle might be lifelong — that’s what steroid washes and biologics are for. Fine. But the infection piece — I want that off the table as a threat.
If you’ve been on topical antibiotics post-surgery: what was your experience? How long before you saw real results? What was the next step if they didn’t work — switch the wash? Oral antibiotics? Macrolides? I’ve read macrolides are more anti-inflammatory than they are actual biofilm eradicators.

I’ve also read topical protocols can take up to 3 months to work. I get that intellectually but it’s hard for my brain to understand what wash 150 is going to do that wash 50 didn’t. 50 twice-daily washes is a lot of runway to still be symptomatic.

I’m in a no-man’s-land where everything’s in the middle. If it were raging infection it’d be obvious. If there were zero colored mucus, no smell, and only inflammation — also obvious. Instead I’m getting a little bit of everything. Symptoms are really similar to pre-surgery, only difference is I’m structurally more open.

Would genuinely appreciate anyone who’s dealt with chronic infection, used a lot of antibiotics, and had trouble clearing things to share what came next. What worked. What didn’t. What you’re doing now. Thanks.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

14 days post-FESS — second week worse than first. Anyone with osteitis/biofilm/difficult infections have a similar experience?

14 days post-op from a pretty extensive FESS — bilateral total ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy, concha bullosa resection, frontal sinus exploration with balloon dilation, inferior turbinate reduction. During surgery he found osteitis (thickened, infected bone) in both ethmoid cavities and removed as much as he could. Also found scar tissue, thick mucus, and purulent secretions bilaterally. So there was confirmed active disease at time of surgery despite being on antibiotics leading up to it.

Pre-op I cycled through augmentin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, cefpodoxime — plus the same topical wash I’m on now. Cultures always grew Strep pneumo and/or H. flu. Common bugs, but no susceptibility testing was ever run, and no culture was taken during surgery, so I’m flying blind on resistance.

Currently on budesonide-gentamicin-levofloxacin topical wash (1/80/100mg) twice daily for 4 months. Finished a 12-day prednisone taper two days ago. First debridement was two days ago — scope looked clean, no visible pus, cleared to exercise.

Days 8–10 post-op I felt the best I had in a long time. Wide open, minimal symptoms, almost dared to feel optimistic. Then Day 11 a scratchy throat started. Now Day 14 — post-nasal drip, congestion high in the nasopharynx, beginning of a headache above the bridge of my eyes. The sensation is uncomfortably identical to what my bacterial infections felt like pre-surgery.

I know healing isn’t linear. I know prednisone withdrawal can cause rebound inflammation. I know week 2–3 is peak mucus production. But this doesn’t feel like “normal recovery noise” — it feels like the pattern I’ve lived with for two years.

With osteitis, likely biofilms, and no susceptibility data, I’m trying to figure out whether this wash can actually hold ground or whether the bacteria are just waiting out the clock. Anyone with a similar profile — osteitis, chronic infection, topical washes that partially worked but didn’t hold —

I’d love to hear your experience. Did it eventually stabilize, or did you need escalation?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

FESS Recovery — Day 0 & Day 1 Update

Had my surgery on April 17, 2026. Full procedure list for anyone researching:

•	Nasal/Sinus Endoscopy with Total Ethmoidectomy (Anterior & Posterior), including Frontal Sinus Exploration — Bilateral

•	Maxillary Antrostomy — Bilateral

•	Concha Bullosa Resection — Bilateral

•	Stereotactic Computer-Assisted (Navigational) Procedure — Bilateral

•	Therapeutic Fracture of Inferior Turbinates — Bilateral

Day 0: April 17

Woke up from surgery around 3:30 PM. Slightly nauseated, less pain than expected, pretty groggy. The worst part was the downward pressure anytime I tried to swallow or talk — super annoying and honestly the defining sensation of this whole thing so far.

Shoutout to the Reddit post that recommended cough drops and Aquaphor Healing Ointment. I genuinely don’t know how anyone survives without those two things. Seriously — outside whatever your doctor prescribes, those are the most important items you can have.

Pain meds stayed in the cabinet. Managing fine with 2–3 Tylenol every 6 hours and 1 Zofran every 8. Not because I’m tough… I get nauseated easily so I’ve personally stayed away from anything stronger.

Day 1 (Today) April 18

First night of sleep was decent, all things considered. Mouth breathing is brutal — just like everyone warns you — but keep the Aquaphor on constantly and a cough drop in at all times. I slept in a recliner with one of those wrap-around neck pillows. Keeps your head elevated and locked in place. Highly recommend.

Funny thing — and it kind of is funny — my mouth kept falling closed naturally as I drifted off, which would stop my breathing and jolt me awake. Every time I’d just laugh. Cool new sleep mechanic.

Drainage has been lighter than I expected. My surgeon used dissolvable packing, so I haven’t had the volume others describe. I suspect that changes as the packs dissolve and pressure releases.

Day 1 is a step down from Day 0, mostly pressure-wise. Swallowing and talking are just uncomfortable enough to make eating and drinking annoying. No sore throat though — it’s not throat pain, it’s more like pressure high up behind the nose. Any exhaled air from swallowing or talking feels like it’s going to blow out whatever dam is holding everything together up there. Front teeth ache a little too. Not bad, just there.

Overall

There are moments where I think this isn’t as bad as I expected and moments where I think yep, this is exactly as bad as I expected. So far it’s never actually been worse than I expected. It ain’t great. The duration is going to suck. But I’ve watched sports and used my laptop — not completely inoperable like I feared.

The thing I’d tell anyone: if pain and nausea are managed, what actually makes this miserable is the stuff you don’t anticipate. Dry lips. Dry throat. Head position. A cough drop, some Aquaphor, and a good neck pillow go a long way.

I’ve been prescribed topical wash. Bued-Gent-Levo twice daily for 30 days.

Will update as days go on.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Weeks 2–4 post-FESS — anyone willing to talk about the messy middle?

Day 13 post bilateral FESS (total ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy, concha bullosa resection, inferior turbinate fracture). Everyone’s experience is different, but I’m hoping some of you remember this phase.

Days 7–11 were honestly pretty good. Breathing improving daily, big debris clearing events, energy coming back. First debridement yesterday (Day 12) went well — dissolvable packing and consistent washing meant there wasn’t much left to clean out.

But around Day 11 things got weird. Scratchy throat, dryness high up, PND creeping back, hocking up small amounts of mucus again — similar to how I was pre-surgery. I also finished my prednisone taper yesterday (12-day taper starting at 40mg), so I know steroid rebound could be a factor. I have young kids in daycare so a mild virus isn’t off the table either.

There’s tons of information out there about the first week and about long-term outcomes, but not a lot about this middle stretch where healing isn’t linear and every fluctuation makes you wonder if something’s wrong. Did your weeks 2–4 feel like a rollercoaster? Did things that seemed better temporarily get worse before improving again? When did it actually start feeling like a new baseline — month 2? Month 3?

One more thing. I’m on a compounded topical wash with both steroid and antibiotics twice daily, plus 1–2 extra saline rinses. I understand topical steroid washes are fairly standard long-term maintenance. But my ENT prescribed the antibiotic component for 4 months — longer than I expected. His reasoning is elevated chronic infection risk in my case. I had osteitis (bone thickening, not osteomyelitis) in both ethmoid cavities and both frontals, which he removed what he could. The extended antibiotic wash is to keep those exposed bone surfaces clear while new mucosa grows over them.

Anyone else dealt with osteitis or an extended antibiotic wash protocol? How did it play out?