Sherri Ann Cutrona, born sometime between 1962 and 1963, resided in Manchester Township, New Jersey, USA. She passed away on July 16, 2020, at the age of 57. Sherri was originally from Hackensack, New Jersey, she had previously lived in Brick before moving to Manchester Township three years prior to her passing.
Sherri worked as an engineer for Heyco Products in Toms River before retiring. She was active in the Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) Support Group and in the Facebook group Empty Nose Syndrome Awareness. Sherri Ann had a passion for dancing, cooking, sewing, and cruises.
She is survived by her two sons, Cory J. Speiser of Manchester Township and Shane C. Speiser of Brick, her father Joseph Oles of Toms River, her brother Jeff Cutrona of Toms River, and her sister Cynthia Ronan of South River. Her final wish was to have her ashes scattered at sea.
Sherri Ann Cutrona's story regarding Empty Nose Syndrome
Sherri Ann's journey with Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS) was long and arduous, marked by numerous consultations and treatments with various specialists. She saw Dr. Oren Friedman at Penn in Philadelphia. Dr. Friedman confirmed her ENS diagnosis but unfortunately said there was nothing he could do to help her, except for prescribing Premarin cream, antibiotic ointment, and ordering nasal oil from the Mayo Clinic. Sherri Ann left the appointment feeling disappointed as he mentioned he didn’t need to see her again.
In another consultation, this time over the phone with Dr. Das, he explained that her inferior turbinate’s were removed by about 50%. She wrote that Dr. Das was compassionate and knowledgeable about her numerous health issues, which was a refreshing change for Sherri Ann, who had often felt dismissed by other doctors.
Sherri Ann vented her frustrations about her declining health. Recently, she had a port installed to facilitate her IVIG infusions due to her deteriorating veins. She lamented the myriad of health issues stemming from her turbinate surgery 29 years ago, which had prevented her from living a full life. Her daily struggles and constant crying had worn her down, making her long for just a few days of feeling well.
She sought advice from others about their experiences with implants, especially those who underwent surgery with Dr. Nayak. She was curious about their recovery times and overall satisfaction with the results, hoping for positive feedback. Members of the group reassured Sherri Ann that she was not alone, but she continued to experience severe ENS symptoms. She contemplated getting a new CT scan and sending it to Ohio State University for further evaluation. Despite having implants, she still felt extremely dry, describing it as 'desert dry.
Sherri Ann had endured chronic sinus and respiratory infections for years, which led to severe asthma, GERD/reflux, IGG deficiency, sleep apnea, allergies, and irritable bowel syndrome. A new health crisis came when her trachea and main bronchus collapsed, requiring major surgery to install mesh supports. Doctors attributed these problems to her chronic infections, exposure to burning plastics at work, prolonged steroid use, and Empty Nose Syndrome.
Reflecting on her years of suffering, Sherri Ann realized she had been living with undiagnosed Empty Nose Syndrome for a long time. The condition had worsened with age, and an endoscopic examination revealed the extent of the damage from her previous laser turbinate reduction. The turbinate’s were reduced by 50%. She felt disheartened by the lack of understanding and support she had received over the years. She also told another member that she had severe problems with her sleep. She writes that she never slept again after her sinus surgeries.
Sherri Ann tried an experimental surgery to add nasal implants to create more volume in her nose due to loss of turbinate volume. Dr. Overdevst performed her implants. 4 months after implants she writes there was no improvement. Sherri was also exploring stem cell injections as a potential treatment and had an appointment scheduled. She also had a CFD study performed before her implants. The result can be found further down in the text.
In her correspondence with others in the community, Sherri Ann expressed deep frustration over the lack of effective treatments and research for Empty Nose Syndrome. She felt hopeless at times but continued to find solace in her faith and the support of fellow sufferers. Despite her challenges, Sherri Ann held onto the belief that relief was possible and continued to seek out new medical opinions and treatments.
Sherri Ann passed away July 16, 2020, at the age of 57. From what we know the reason was another lung infection.
When the nose remains wide open and dry without protective mucous membranes, cold, unfiltered air reaches the lungs and can easily carry bacteria and viruses directly down to the lungs. Furthermore, when the nasal mucosa is destroyed and removed, the ability to produce nasal nitric oxide is reduced. This gas is normally antibacterial and antiviral, which could also be a cause of her recurrent lung infections
Sherri Ann's battle with ENS and the complications it caused were relentless, and her loss is deeply felt by the members of the ENS Awareness group. Her story underscores the severe impact ENS can have on one's life and the need for greater understanding and treatment options for those who suffer from it. Sherri Ann lived most of her life without knowing her problems were related to a previous turbinate reduction with laser that had reduced the volume of her turbinate’s by 50%.
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