Hello again. As some of you know, I had a rather complex revision down-graft two months ago (will get around to writing a post about the results of this surgery at another time).
When I woke up from surgery I could feel (as I always do) that my sinuses were full of blood. Usually they drain at some stage in the first 5-7 days post-op ... but this didn't happen, and by week three it was clear that I had a sinus infection that had spread to the plates (or a plate infection that had spread to the sinus as has been suggested by my registrar). This was confirmed on xray showing an almost full right sinus. Since then, I've been on four courses of antibiotics (alternating each time to avoid antibiotic resistance) and I'm about to begin my fifth!!! I've been told that the plates have to stay in for min three months - but preferably six months. I'm in constant pain - even with the high dose of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, nasal rinses and sprays, mucolytic liquids etc. have a constant headache and feel nauseous and miserable from all the antibiotics.
Today, the pain is intensifying and I'm waiting for a call from my surgeon, but it is pretty distressing as I can't imagine what happens next?
Has anyone else here been through similar? And if so, how soon after downgraft surgery did they take out your plates?
Would the alternative now be to go back in, debride and re-plate? Or is it more likely that they will put me on even higher doses of antibiotics for another month until the three month mark? Just wondering what my options might be here.
Thanks