Basically, the Doctor I went to today said I do need sinus surgery, sooner rather than later. He said we need to find out what is inside that sinus. He said a minimal chance it could be cancer. But because it’s only on one side, that’s not normal so they need to do surgery and a biopsy.
He mentioned the first doctor I went to is very aggressive with surgery. He said I shouldn’t have the floor of my eyeball reconstructed with cartilage from my nose. He said all I need is some plastic surgery to raise up the lower eyelid. However, there isn’t anything he could do with the upper eyelid. So, to me, that isn’t really going to fix the problem all that much. He also gave me that spiel of “nobody’s face is perfectly symmetrical”. I showed him the pictures so he agrees there has been a change. He said as long as I don’t have double vision or any other issues like that, then I shouldn’t worry about the eye part as much. His main concern is getting the sinus surgery done to find out what is inside there. He also gave me the name of an ocular plastic surgeon if I want to get a second opinion about the eye surgery part (raising the lower lid). I’m also thinking I’m going to keep the appointment with the other doctor that Dr. Perez gave me after I wasn’t happy with the first doctor. Because my 2nd opinion differs so much from my first opinion. I feel I could use a third opinion, in addition to seeing the ocular plastic surgeon to find out about the eyelid.
October 31, 2006 at 9:44 am
Ugh. A 3rd opinion would definitely be helpful… ):
October 31, 2006 at 3:33 pm
A third opinion definitely woudn’t hurt.
November 1, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Today, I was complaining about my contractor and how he has tried to duck out of retesting for mold to make sure what they did to remediate it worked, and my co-worker said maybe *that’s* what caused my silent sinus syndrome.
I left a message for the doctor to call me back so I can mention that to him.
November 2, 2006 at 10:39 am
I would think it would more likely be the shitty job Virginia Design Builders did in containing and cleaning up the drywall dust. The contract specified that it be left in a “broom-swept condition” every day, but there sure as hell is a lot of drywall dust EVERYWHERE, even still. I think that’s what may have killed our cat last year too.
November 2, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Well, the nurse called me back and said the doctor said that mold or allergies to dust would not cause this silent sinus syndrome, and he believes it was caused by something else. I still need surgery to fix it and do a biopsy to find out what is inside my sinus.
3rd opinion for Silent Sinus Syndrome is Nov 6th, and 2nd/3rd opinion for the eyeball floor reconstruction/lower eyelid lift is Nov 9th.
May 7, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I see that this post is a bit old but I had to respond, I had the same nightmare happen to me, it took two surgeries to get me looking normal again. One day I just had a droopy eye, and my eye watered like crazy at night. Anyway, just curious how everything panned out for you. The doctors told me they had no idea what caused it-and maybe I was just “born that way”.
May 7, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I ended up at Johns Hopkins University Hospital and had endoscopic sinus surgery on my right side. The problem I had, Silent Sinus Syndrome, was my right sinus was clogged up with something, and it had created a vacuum that was sucking my eyeball down and eroding the bone. The sinus surgery was to stop the problem from getting worse, but it wasn’t going to fix the sinken eyeball.
I did go for a consultation with their opthalmology department, but I decided the surgery to insert a plate under the eyeball isn’t necessary at this time. It’s supposedly not going to get any worse, so that’s good.
May 23, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I am now an eye plate wearer…hahaha-ofcourse no one knows that unless I tell them. It fixed the eye “droop”-I just couldn’t stand looking in the mirror. The surgery was no problem but I spent an entire summer looking like someone had beat me up. Before the that second surgery, it was pretty obvious to most people that knew me something was not right, otherwise I wouldn’t of done it either-I hate hospitals and being “put under”. YOur descripton of the right sinus was what I heard too, it was on my right side also.
May 23, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Thanks, busymom. If my eye were to get worse as time goes on, I’d probably go for the surgery. I am glad to hear that yours went well and it fixed your issue. Did you have Silent Sinus Syndrome also?
May 24, 2007 at 8:18 am
You might want to try emailing her as well…
September 26, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I also have been diagnosed with Silent Sinus Syndrome. My doctor told me that the reason I probably got this infection is because the airway to my sinus is blocked by an abnormality of the bone that divides my nose. My left eye was very droopy last Winter. My doctor advised that I have surgery to clear my sinus but I did not want surgery. He then prescribed antibiotics and steroids. They seemed to clear most of the sinus and my eye looked almost normal. But now, a year later, my eye is starting to droop again. I am going to try the medication again, but if it does not fix the infection I will opt for surgery. It’s nice to know that I am not the only person dealing with this odd condition.
September 26, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Wow, Victoria, I’m really starting to think that it is not as rare as they say it is. I’m not sure where you are, but if you do end up needing surgery, I’d greatly recommend Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. My surgery was performed by Dr. Andrew Lane.
January 30, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I went through this exact situation, too, in 2005, and had the double-header surgery, my ENT cleaning out my sinuses and then my eye guy rebuilding the orbit floor with titanium. I am SO glad I did it and you would never know. You are not alone, Carolyn! For anyone interested, my doctor was George Stasior, Latham NY, he was FANTASTIC. I heartily recommend him.
February 17, 2008 at 9:16 pm
silent sinus surgery performed 2.13.08 went fantastic. no pain (literally)& did not require using pain medicine. right side, totally blocked, opened, cleaned, bone spur removed from left side. only a few days post surgery. with this condition, it deteriorated my right eye socket bone structure that required an implant.
February 17, 2008 at 9:22 pm
waiting to see if this corrects the sleep apnea
March 11, 2008 at 3:55 pm
A very belated reply, yes I was diagnosed with Silent Sinus Syndrome, I had two great doctors in San Antonio put me back to normal. I was diagnosed when I was pregnant with first child, nothing like a little added stress.
January 5, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Hey! I have been diagnosed with silent sinus syndrome. I also live in San Antonio. I am curious who your doctors were. Seems like you are satisfied with both of them.
May 18, 2011 at 3:42 pm
I just saw your post- It is probably too late but I will post the name of the doctors.
I will be be back soon with that.
March 20, 2008 at 8:09 pm
I have been going to my doctor for 7 months with this, and even the eye doctor suggested Thyroid and made the wrong assumption that my right eye was bulging out when in fact it is the left that is sunken in, and is so obvioulsy has alower pupil, I don’t know how they missed Silent Sinus!! I am so embarassed and am continually squinting so it doesnt look so bad. Now I have essentially diagniosed myself I cna go back to him. What a lot of time has been wasted.
April 3, 2008 at 10:44 pm
I have some similar symptoms and went to an ophthalmologist and he said he found nothing abnormal. So I’m wondering if he could be wrong….. Is there any other symptoms other than sunken eye? Cause all I’ve got is a slightly sunken left eyeball. The doc says it may be related to Bells Palsy that I had 3 years ago, but sounds kinda wierd since it was 3 yrs ago. I also have lost a ton of weight suddenly b/c of stress and college, but I would think it would be both eyes sunken if it were my losing weight that caused it… Any replies with advise would be greatly appreciated…
April 4, 2008 at 5:14 pm
You might want to either ask your doctor if he’s heard of silent sinus syndrome, or get a second opinion.
When I was going through my diagnosis, I had doctors telling me that “no one is completely symmetrical”, which was annoying. That’s when I started bring “before & after” pictures so I can show them that there was indeed a problem.
July 27, 2008 at 7:00 am
first off, i would like to sincerely thank carolyn for bloggin and sharing her experiences with silent sinus syndrome. i’m not absolutely certain if this is the condition that i’m suffering from but it’s the closest thing that resembles what has happened to my face. since i no longer have health insurance i’m not able to get a proper diagnosis so for the time being i’m hoping that it doesn’t worsen… although i feel it is at an even quicker rate… which has been really difficult for me because people no longer look nor treat me the same. i’ve always been rather carefree and confident but over the past year or so i’ve really become introverted… i’m trying my best to positive, accepting this new reality that the body eventually grows old but it’s tough nevertheless to realize that people aren’t as gracious and understanding as one would hope… but then again there are REAL people like those of whom have posted on this site (including Carolyn) that give me hope. so thank you for all for sharing and if any of you know any doctors who are familiar with Silent Sinus Syndrome and located in southern California who are willing to give a free diagnosis i would be most grateful for a referral. thank you and bleesings to you all!
June 21, 2012 at 2:26 pm
I know this reply may be a little late but if you are still suffering from silent sinus syndrome, Dr.Bobby Korn at UCSD Shiley Eye Center in San Diego Ca. did an excellent job. I too had my regular doctor tell me there was nothing that could be done and the drooping of my right eye was either a side effect from having Cryptococcal Meningitis or because i was just now noticing my face was not symmetrical and has become more noticeable with age. It took a year of nagging him to give me a referral for an eye specialist. DR. Korn took one look at me and knew was wrong then confirmed after an exam and ct scan. Hopefully you have treated already but if you haven’t check this guy out.
August 3, 2008 at 1:37 am
I have just been diagnosed with silent sinus syndrome after 4 months of double vision that occurs once or twice every day to every other day. I had an MRI done, not a CT scan (my choice as the CT has alot of radiation) I am going to see a sinus specialist as soon as i get the appointment made. my face doesn’t look asymetrical unless you really look hard to see it. I’m staying off of dairy and wheat as these may have caused the chronic inflammation if the sinus.
November 2, 2008 at 7:41 pm
My family thinks I am crazy as I have been telling them that my eyes have been receding into the sockets. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have come across your blog and read all of the comments. Tomorrow I am making an appointment with my eye doctor and going armed with information about silent sinus syndrome. I have long had allergy and sinus problems and really feel like this may be what the problem is. Thanks for making me feel that I am not alone, and not crazy!
November 12, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi!
For the past month I have noticed a change in my right eye. It looks like it has sunken in and wider. After being in denial for a bit and thinking “people’s faces change”as you get older (i just turned 33) my sister said something to me about it.
I saw my eye doctor and told him about seeing something about sss on the internet and he had never heard of it. I saw my regular family doctor and I have CT scan scheduled for tomorrow for my sinuses and both eye orbits. Although he didn’t see a huge difference – I see it..something’s NOT right. A little nervous. I just want to find out if this is sss and I want my eyes back to normal! So glad I found this site!
November 13, 2008 at 7:56 am
Good luck, Christy! When I got my CT Scan, I waited around for an extra half hour to get a copy of the cd with the images. That was very convenient when I had to bounce from doctor to doctor for second and third opinions. So you might want to ask if you could get a copy of them if they don’t offer. Mine also had the MRI images on it.
November 16, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Thanks for your response, Carolyn.
So, I had my CT scan Thurs. They saw major stuff going on with my right sinus. The radiologist wanted to do a MRI right away so he could see even more what was going on.
To make a long story short, he said I have an imploded sinus or SSS.
To back up a bit I had a septo-rhinoplasty 11 months ago and they saw scar tissue which is keeping my sinus from draining. So, they think that is what’s causing this. I saw the doctor who did that procedure and he is consulting with an ENT specialist and I’m to hear something from him tomorrow. SO, we’ll see what happens. Oh, and I did get a disc with my images from both the CT and MRI. Very awesome.
November 18, 2008 at 8:32 am
Frustrated and kinda scared. I have to see an opthamologist today, have another ct scan (for navigating) on Thursday. Surgery is scheduled next week. The doctor said we won’t really “know” what’s going on in there until she she gets in. Hoping for fluid of some sort and not something else. I will know more after I see the eye guy and such.
Did anyone else have similiar experience with the steps I’m taking?
November 18, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I did have go to in for an additional CT Scan because they saw “something behind my sinus” and wanted to do a biopsy on that. Depending on what it was, they would have had to do more invasive surgery if it was something bad (cancer). Turned out, it was fine and I had the more simple surgery and I had an amazing recovery time.
November 18, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Well, I’m glad everything was fine for you!
How long was your recovery time?
November 19, 2008 at 7:37 am
The only pain I had was my throat hurt for a few hours after the surgery because of the breathing tube. I had some sinus pressure throughout the week, but I didn’t even take any of the pain medicine they had prescribed, and I didn’t even take an ibuprofen. I almost took a pain med for that sinus pressure, but I was like, “this isn’t really pain, it’s more discomfort” and so I decided against taking the pill.
April 24, 2009 at 6:27 am
I follow your posts for quite a long time and must tell that your articles are always valuable to readers.
March 16, 2010 at 3:42 pm
I was recently diagnosed with SSS (right side) as well. I am asymptomatic so far and it was only discovered because of a polip found on my left side. I am contemplating surgery in the next few months and came back to the office to research this condition when I found your blog. I am glad you shared your experience because after the surgeon’s appointment my head was left spinning with Dr’s lingo and it is nice to hear about the entire experience from a fellow patients point of view.
Thanks for sharing.
January 2, 2011 at 2:45 pm
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April 28, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Hello
I’m from Brazil and recently received the diagnosis of Silent Sinus Syndrome; I can see here that some years ago many people (I say many because I thought it was so rare..) posted about their experiences..
It’s nice, as some of you said, to know that I’m not the only that is getting some difficulties to find the best treatment, and the same idea from different doctors..
If you know, I’m accepting more suggestions of doctors that have some experience in this surgery…
I’m not seen double yet.. just have an assimetry in the orbit..
Thanks!
Huges!
August 4, 2011 at 7:38 pm
I am the Mom of a 19 yr. old with recurrent sinus infections that has just been diagnosed with Silent Sinus Syndrome. Will the surgery to open the sinus help the frequent infections? He does not have any eye problems, yet. What sites have you found most helpful?
Thanks!
Carolyn
August 5, 2011 at 9:52 am
Hi Carolyn (Nice name, btw
),
I did not have any sinus infections before my diagnosis of Silent Sinus Syndrome. My only symptom was the wide eye.
I didn’t find any useful sites on the internet back when I was researching it. I just went to a few doctors and got conflicting information on what to do about my wide eye, so I finally went to Johns Hopkins so I would know I would be in good hands. Dr. Andrew Lane with Johns Hopkins took good care of me.
March 30, 2012 at 10:03 am
Thanks to Carolyn, and all of you for your comments. I too have SSS and as many of you have said, its nice to know there’s others in the same boat who understand. I had sinus (drainage)surgery in Nov 2010 which wen well, and am on a wait list to have the orbital floor reconstruction. Although i am on the wait list, i havent completely decided whether to go ahead or not. One specialist says its not necessary, another says that it is, and if the condition should get worse, it will be harder to rectify. I welcome any further comments and or advice on orbital floor reconstruction. Thanks.
May 19, 2012 at 8:14 am
I too have just been diagnosed with SSS. I previously (4 years ago) was diagnosed with chronic sinus (when I was pregnant with my first child) I was getting infected sinus every couple of months then about 8 months ago I litterally woke up one day and noticed my left eye had sunk back. My doctor refferred me to an eye specialist who checked my eye sight (which was fine) and just told me I had a condition where one side of the face looked different to the other. Not satisfied with the diagnosise I went back to my doctor 2 times and she just kept telling me these things happen to some people as they get older and that nothing was wrong (I am 35yrs). Frustrated I went back a 3rd time and told her to give me a referral to the Eye Ear and Nose hospital, straight away they sent me for a CT scan and I am booked in to have the sinus surgery on Thursday (crapping myself). I have been told I will need further surgery down the track to rectify my eye. Did anyones’ eye return to normal without needing the eye surgery? Thanks for all your previous discussions I have found them extremly informative.
May 19, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Hi Kym,
My eye returned mostly to normal after the sinus surgery without having the orbital reconstruction surgery. I did go for the consultation, but the risks of that surgery scared me too much. I feel lucky that my eye bounced back anyway without the orbital reconstruction surgery.
My eye didn’t get 100% back to normal, but it is not obviously noticeable anymore.
October 4, 2012 at 8:16 am
Hi carolyn, in how many weeks or months it got back, i just got sss surgery done last week, looking at my eye every day to bounce back, can u tell me the process and duration of it coming back to normal. thanks ritu
May 20, 2012 at 9:17 am
Kym, I was “crapping myself” before my sinus surgery too. but it all went very smoothly, and i had minimal pain afterwards.
the surgery definately helped to relieve the pulling effect that the infection had on my face. but the eye is still sunken, and my eyebrow is lower than the other (did anyone else get this?)
I also wondered if anyone else used eye drops before the SSS kicked in?
Carolyn……you mention that the risks of the surgery for oribital floor reconstruction scared you too much. would you mind running through these risks with me. i fear that perhaps my surgeon is glossing over them a bit.
May 21, 2012 at 10:14 am
Double vision and blindness were the ones that scared me the most. There were others, but I couldn’t remember what they were. The surgery sounded so complicated.
I blogged about the consultation here: http://carolyncasl.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/opthalmologist-appointment/
May 21, 2012 at 11:14 am
thanks carolyn. i didnt realised blindness was a possibility. i knew double vision was possible, but thats also possible if i dont have the surgery.
katie
August 24, 2012 at 11:11 pm
Hi. I am another sss victim. I underwent my sinus surgery and waited one year to do the orbital reconstruction (recommended by my ent and opthalmologist incase it could correct itself). My eye did look slightly better but still a noticeable differnece,mainly in photos. My ent did a great job as I had no issues (no numness, loss of taste or smell) or pain and my opthalmologist told me he did a beautiful job. I just underwent the eye surgery last week. I was so scared but my dr said he’s only seen one case of double vision that he corrected with another surgery. he used a tiny piece of cartilage from my ear and went under my eye without cutting!! (im still not sure how really-all endoscopic). post one week surgery, now my eye looks better. No longer sunken! Still swollen so its hard to tell full effects still. I have 3 months to go. I am numb in part of my upper lip and on my cheek thats weird but the feeling will come back in few weeks. Hopefully my eye heals back to normal. I hate surgery! but of course its your face that everyone sees so if you dont look like yourself you feel uncomfortable.
August 27, 2012 at 2:39 am
Thankyou so much for your comments. I hope you dont mind, but i have several questions…….
- firstly, i can’t get my head around the no cutting part. Do you mean no cutting on the outside? surely he had to cut the skin under the eye to get it in there? if not….wow.
- secondly, was your surgeon Oral/maxillofacial surgeon or an Ocular plastic surgeon?
- was it/is it painful?
- how long do they expect it to be swollen for?
- Is the numbess causing you any issues?
- When you say 3 months to go……..is that for complete recovery? Are you able to return to work before then?
I am so sorry to load you with so many questions. As i am sure you are well aware, making the decision to have this surgery is incredibly hard. But could be easier if i am armed with information.
Thanks again.
Katie
November 13, 2012 at 11:58 pm
I have been diagnosed with SSS a year ago and over the past few months my symptoms has worsened with coughing, sore throats, pain in my face above my mouth under my nostril, drainage, sneezing, and headaches. My Dr has decided to remove the fluid for Nov 26 but I have been reading some horror stories on other websites about the recovery process. I’m not terrified to have the surgery because I lead an active life and I just want to know if anyone else has suffered such a long and painful recovery process. My Dr states that he is going to use a conservative form of surgery but I’m still scared. Please anyone please help and give me some advice.