söndag 16 februari 2025

Empty Nose Syndrome After Turbinate Surgery – The Tragic Story of Marc Bidaux


IN MEMORY OF MARC BIDAUX
Victim of empty nose syndrome (Departed January 23, 2021, France)

Testimony https://www.syndromedunezvide.com/2019/09/temoignage-de-marc-b.france.html

September 17, 2019 , Written by SNVPublished in #Testimonials
I am 42 years old, in a relationship with two children and live in Finistère. My story unfortunately resembles that of many victims of Empty Nose Syndrome, a sad story. About eight or ten years ago, I suffered permanently from a severe nasal obstruction. At the time, I was prescribed many sprays such as Dérinox, "Destop" for the mucous membrane, never to be used for a long period, I paid the price ...). Conclusion: we did not tackle the causes of this obstruction: a blocked nose due to allergies and my condition only got worse.

June 2015 (First surgery: bilateral lower partial turbinectomy):

Tired of this very blocked nose, I consulted several ENT specialists to find a viable solution. With full knowledge of the facts, I had inquired about possible operations as well as their complications such as Empty Nose Syndrome. After two or three appointments, I came across an ENT specialist at the Brest University Hospital , who seemed competent, serious and above all open to dialogue regarding ENT risks. She reassures me and offers me a minimal turbinectomy of a few millimeters, with drawings showing a slight cut of the turbinates, (drawing that I still have). Still worried about the potential risks, I ask her if a turbinoplasty would not be preferable . She dissuades me, an unnecessary operation according to her, claiming that I will be bothered again in two or three years . My nose being really very blocked, after reflection and reassured by the minor cut of my ENT, I accept the operation which goes well according to her. After a few weeks, it is true that I breathe better, especially on the right side.

January 2016 (Second surgery: near total lower turbinectomy):
At the check-up appointment, I told the ENT that I was breathing well on the right side but the left side was still blocked, they decided to do a little additional partial turbinectomy on the left. For me, it was a matter of cutting a little more but not removing everything, as in the ENT's drawings... After the procedure, my left nostril seemed less blocked. However, I was still a little uncomfortable but nothing more, I was breathing better than before, so everything was perfect.

March 2019:

Suddenly and for no reason, my nose became completely blocked for a month and a half. I had completely forgotten my fears about Empty Nose Syndrome and I didn't think about it for a single second. The treatment (corticosteroid, cortisone, spray) certainly unblocked my nose but too much. I had to stop it after three days. Severe pain appeared, as if my nose was pulling and burning. I felt that it was too open, too much unfiltered, unwarmed air was rushing violently when I inhaled. Since then it's been hell, my nose is sometimes congested/blocked, sometimes too open with painful breathing, nasal and nasopharyngeal burning, facial pain, intense fatigue. The worst is the dyspnea which means that I can no longer sleep without medication otherwise I suffocate as if I could not breathe "automatically". (Nocturnal asphyxia ).

Beyond the physical suffering, anxiety and depression are inevitable, how can I live and assume my role as a father, my job in this state ? At work, I have difficulties, no nap possible. I can no longer sleep without medication, no restorative sleep. How can I hold out over time, with this disease which is a priori degenerative? No treatment either , I consulted ENT specialists and several colleagues of the one who operated on me, who told me, and I quote: " I'm not going to invent a disease for you, you have nothing ." Fortunately, others, competent and honest, diagnosed me with Empty Nose Syndrome with a scan to support it showing a resection of 90% of my inferior turbinates .

Since 2015, ENT specialists have observed a degeneration and progressive atrophy of my mucous membrane due to the nasal cavities being too open, but they had no solution or corrective operation to offer me. Possible operations are rare and offer no guarantee of success, such as implants for example. I met a famous professor in Italy who told me: " you were operated on by a very young ENT specialist with no experience. " He did not want to operate on me, it was too risky and advised me to wait a little while and observe the evolution of my mucosa and then contact him again. Soon, I have an appointment in Nice, with a renowned professor, known for his cartilage implants , I am waiting for his diagnosis. Today, I live as best I can. I have lost a lot of my energy, my joy of living. I suffer day after day. the symptoms of this iatrogenic disease. I try to continue to do a little sport, to enjoy my children as best I can. Despite my expressed fears about the complications and risk of SNV, my ENT went ahead, removing all of my turbinates, probably to get his hands dirty. No doubt, I was just a guinea pig and too bad for the consequences...

A LA MEMOIRE DE MARC BIDAUX, victime du syndrome du nez vide( décedé le 23 janvier 2021). (France)


17 Septembre 2019 , Rédigé par SNVPublié dans #Témoignages

J'ai 42 ans, je suis en couple avec deux enfants et vis dans le Finistère.Mon témoignage ressemble malheureusement à celui de beaucoup de victimes du Syndrome du nez vide, une triste histoire.

Il y a environ huit ou dix ans, je souffrais en permanence,d'une forte obstruction nasale.A l' époque, on m'avait prescrit de nombreux sprays tels que Dérinox , « du Destop » pour la muqueuse, à ne jamais utiliser sur une longue durée, j'en ai fait les frais ...).Conclusion: on ne s'est pas attaquer aux causes de cette obstruction : un nez bouché due aux allergies et mon état n'a fait qu'empirer.

Juin 2015 (Première chirurgie: 
turbinectomie partielle inférieure bilatérale)

Fatigué de ce nez très bouché, je consulte plusieurs ORL pour trouver une solution viable.En connaissance de cause, je m'étais renseigné sur les opérations possibles ainsi que leurs complications comme le Syndrome du nez vide. Après deux ou trois rendez-vous, je tombe sur une ORL au CHU de Brest, qui me semble compétente, sérieuse et surtout ouverte au dialogue quant aux risques ORL.

Elle me rassure et me propose une turbinectomie minime de quelques millimètres, avec des dessins montrant une légère coupe des cornets,(dessin que j'ai toujours). Toujours inquiet sur les risques potentiels, je lui demande si une turbinoplastie ne serait pas plutôt préférable .Elle m'en dissuade, opération inutile selon elle, prétextant que je serai à nouveau gêné dans deux ou trois ans.Mon nez étant vraiment très obstrué, après réflexion et rassuré par la coupe mineure de mon ORL, j'accepte l'opération qui se passe bien selon ses dires. Après quelques semaines ,c'est vrai que je respirai mieux, surtout du côté droit.

Janvier 2016 (Seconde chirurgie: turbinectomie inférieure quasi totale) :


Au rendez-vous de contrôle, je dis à l'ORL que je respire bien du côté droit mais le côté gauche est toujours bouché, on décide de faire un petit complément de turbinectomie partielle à gauche. Pour moi, il s'agissait d'en couper un peu plus mais de ne pas tout enlever, comme sur les dessins de l'ORL ...Après l'intervention , ma narine gauche me semblait moins obstruée.J'étais toutefois toujours un peu gêné mais sans plus, je respirai mieux qu'avant, tout était donc parfait.

Mars 2019:
Subitement et sans raison, mon nez s'est bouché complètement pendant un mois et demi. J'avais complètement oublié mes craintes concernant le Syndrome du nez vide et je n'y ai pas pensé une seule seconde. Le traitement (corticoïde, cortisone, spray ) m' a certes débouché le nez mais bien trop. J'ai dû l'arrêter au bout de trois jours.De vives douleurs sont apparues, comme si mon nez me tiraillait et me brûlait .Je sentais qu'il était trop ouvert, trop d'air non filtré, ni réchauffé, s'engouffrait violemment à l'inspiration.

Depuis c'est l'enfer,.mon nez est tantôt congestionné/bouché, tantôt trop ouvert avec une respiration douloureuse, des brûlures nasales et du naso-pharynx, des douleurs faciales, une fatigue intense. Le pire, est la dyspnée qui fait que je ne peux plus dormir sans médicament sinon je suffoque comme si je ne pouvais pas respirer “automatiquement”.( Asphyxie nocturne).

Au-delà des souffrances physiques, l'anxiété et la dépression sont inévitables, comment vivre et assumer mon rôle de père, mon emploi dans cet état? Au travail, j'ai des difficultés, pas de sieste possible. Je n'arrive plus à dormir sans médicaments, pas de sommeil réparateur .Comment tenir avec le temps durée, avec cette maladie qui est a priori dégénérative?

Pas de traitement, non plus, j'ai consulté des ORL et plusieurs confrères de celle qui m'a opéré, qui m'ont dit , je cite: " Je ne vais pas vous inventer une maladie, vous n'avez rien".Heureusement, d'autres, compétents et intègres, m'ont diagnostiqué le Syndrome du nez vide avec scanner à l'appui montrant une résection de 90 % de mes cornets inférieurs.

Depuis 2015 , les ORL ont constaté une dégénérescence et une atrophie progressive de ma muqueuse dues aux cavités nasales trop ouvertes, mais ces derniers n'avaient aucune solution ou opération réparatrice à me proposer.Les opérations possibles sont rares et offrent aucune garantie de réussite, comme les implants par exemple.

J'ai rencontré un célèbre professeur en Italie qui m'a dit: "vous avez été opéré par un très jeune ORL sans expérience..".Celui-ci ne souhaite pas m'opérer, c'est trop risqué et m'a conseillé d'attendre un peu et d'observer l'évolution de ma muqueuse et de le recontacter ensuite.Prochainement, j'ai rendez-vous à Nice, avec un professeur réputé, connu pour ses implants de cartilage, j'attends d'avoir son diagnostic.

Aujourd'hui, je vis comme je peux.J'ai perdu beaucoup de mon énergie, de ma joie de vivre. Je subis jour après jour. les symptômes de cette maladie iatrogène. J'essaie de continuer à faire un peu de sport, à profiter tant bien que mal de mes enfants .Malgré mes craintes exprimées sur les complications et risque de SNV, mon ORL est passée outre, en enlevant la totalité de mes cornets, pour se faire la main probablement. Sans doute, n'étais -je qu'un cobaye et tant pis pour les conséquences...

Risks of Nasal Surgery: Empty Nose Syndrome and the Tragic Case of Sam Treffry

New Departure Due to Empty Nose Syndrome: The Tragic Death of Sam Treffry, Australia (October 1, 2024) 😢⚰️. Fifth for year 2024. See the the original post from Sam's brother here

A Cherished Memory: A Boating Trip with My Brother Sam

Eleven years ago, in 2013, I went to Wolli Creek near Tempe station with my brother Sam. Sam had acquired a boat, and he suggested we row it down Wolli Creek to Nanny Goat Hill. It was a beautiful, sun-dappled day. We played chess, navigated through the mangroves, and arrived at an island where bats slept in trees, and pillars of leaves formed cave-like structures around us. This trip down Wolli Creek is one of my most cherished memories with Sam, captured on video, but now it has become a sad reminder of the loss of my brother. View Sam´s PDF file here


Sam Treffry’s Tragic End: A Battle with Empty Nose Syndrome

Just two days ago, my brother Sam Treffry took his own life. In his suicide note, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with a severe medical condition known as (ENS). This rare, incurable, and extremely challenging disease is well-documented, with many cases of sufferers tragically resorting to suicide. 

Living with ENS: The Hidden Struggle Sam Faced

Sam’s note described his battle with Empty Nose Syndrome. He had to withdraw from his university studies and quit his jobs because he could no longer cope. He struggled to sleep, fell into a deep depression, and withdrew from his family. My brother died at 34 years old. It’s unclear how long he had known about the diagnosis, but it appeared recent, and it triggered a rapid decline in his mental and physical health. ENS is a condition that arises from routine nasal surgeries that remove tissue. Sam had several nasal operations during his teenage years to address sinus issues and correct his septum, which eventually led to this cruel disease.

The Insomnia and Fatigue That ENS Inflicted on Sam

Before his death, Sam had been working in both a hospital and a hotel and was studying a degree in town planning. On the surface, he seemed happy, but he was always tired—a common symptom of ENS due to the insomnia caused by breathing difficulties. My brother was suffering in silence, and the pain drove him to an unimaginable decision. Sam’s suicide has devastated our family. We never knew about his ENS diagnosis and therefore never had the opportunity to help him properly. The silent suffering he endured was incomprehensible.

A Heartfelt Goodbye: A Brother’s Tribute to Sam Treffry

I love you, Sam. I miss you more than words can express. I wish you had reached out to me. I would have done anything to take care of you, ensuring you got the help, love, and care you deserved. But you didn’t reach out, and now you’re gone. I’ll hold on to our cherished memories until we meet again, where I know you’ll be waiting for me. You’ll always live on in my heart, my thoughts, my dreams, and in the tears I’ve shed for you.

Sam’s Story: A Call to Awareness for Empty Nose Syndrome

Will posted in the Group Empty Nose Syndrome Awareness: "I wanted to share Sam’s story. My younger brother ended his life two days ago. His note revealed the hidden ENS diagnosis that had led him to stop working and drop out of university. My family had no idea he was suffering from this condition, which led to a profound shock for all of us. Sam’s life changed after a series of routine nasal surgeries during his teenage years to correct sinus issues and snoring. These surgeries were performed by Dr. Mooney, a doctor later jailed for malpractice and linked to two other deaths during nasal surgery. Recently, this doctor has begun practicing again in Sydney.

The Downward Spiral of ENS: Self-Medication, Depression, and Low Self-Esteem

As a result of the nasal surgeries, my brother fell into a cycle of self-medication, depression, and low self-esteem. His tragic end at 34 years old remains a deeply painful reminder of the horrors of Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS). Although we don’t know exactly how long he had known about his ENS diagnosis, it appears he had only recently been informed, prompting a rapid and heartbreaking decline. Before his death, he had been working in a hospital, studying at university, and seemed outwardly content, despite his constant fatigue, a hidden symptom of his suffering.

Sharing Sam’s Story: Raising Awareness About ENS

I wanted to join this group and share Sam’s story in the hope that it can raise awareness. My brother’s sudden passing was a complete shock, and the fact that we never knew about his ENS diagnosis until it was too late only deepens our sorrow. 

Sam,s departure October 1, 2024 serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of awareness, early diagnosis, and support for those living with this debilitating condition.

Risker med näsoperationer: Dorys tragiska öde efter näskirurgi och ENS

Doloretta “Dory” Ruggeri Lodge var en kärleksfull och aktiv kvinna som levde ett rikt liv, hängiven sin familj och njöt av vardagens rutiner, som att laga mat och promenera med sin hund. Den 28 december 2018 genomgick hon en näskauterisering utförd av en öron-, näs- och halsläkare (ÖNH-specialist). Hennes läkare försäkrade henne om att det var ett enkelt och riskfritt ingrepp med en snabb återhämtning. Men detta ingrepp blev början på en rad förödande hälsoproblem som till slut ledde till en tragedi. Läs mer om Dory i denna PDF-fil

Omedelbart efter kauteriseringen av sina näsmusslor började Dory uppleva svåra och oväntade symtom. Hon kunde inte sova och kände en ständig känsla av torrhet och kvävning. Hon beskrev det som om hennes näsa hade "en miljon små skärsår," en konstant smärta som gjorde det svårt för henne att fungera.

I hopp om lindring återvände hon flera gånger till ÖNH-läkaren, men varje gång fick hon höra att allt såg bra ut och att det inte fanns någon medicinsk förklaring till hennes symtom. Hon hänvisades till en allmänläkare, som i sin tur skickade henne vidare till andra specialister, inklusive en terapeut och en sömnexpert. Tyvärr gav ingen av dessa remisser några svar, och hon fick gång på gång höra att hennes symtom troligen berodde på ångest eller depression.

Se Dorys berättelse i videon nedan, lyssna efter 12 minuter och 37 sekunder.

Under flera månader förändrades Dorys liv drastiskt. Från att ha varit en livfull kvinna som njöt av familjesammankomster blev hon tillbakadragen och isolerad, ovillig att umgås med sina nära och kära av skam över sitt försämrade tillstånd. Hennes symtom förvärrades gradvis – hon kämpade med ständig andnöd, oförmåga att sova, aptitlöshet och en växande känsla av hopplöshet. Hon prövade alla behandlingar som hennes läkare rekommenderade, inklusive ångestdämpande mediciner, antidepressiva, meditation och livsstilsförändringar som motion – men hennes extrema sömnbrist gjorde det nästintill omöjligt.

I sin desperation började Dory söka svar på egen hand. Sent om nätterna, oförmögen att sova, grävde hon djupt på internet och snubblade till slut över information om ett tillstånd kallat Empty Nose Syndrome (ENS). ENS är en allvarlig iatrogen sjukdom som kan uppstå när viktiga nässtrukturer förloras, vilket leder till kvävningskänslor och extrem torrhet. När Dory läste om syndromet kände hon igen sina egna symtom och insåg att hon äntligen hade hittat orsaken till sitt lidande.

Hennes upptäckt ledde henne till en specialist i Los Angeles som var insatt i ENS och erbjöd en kirurgisk behandling som kunde lindra hennes symtom. Dory var beredd att ta den ekonomiska och känslomässiga risken med att resa tvärs över landet, eftersom detta var hennes sista hopp om att återhämta sig. Men strax innan den planerade operationen fick hon ett samtal från specialistens mottagning – de förklarade att även om ingreppet kunde hjälpa, fanns det inga garantier för att hon skulle återfå sitt normala liv. Denna osäkerhet slog hårt mot Dory, som redan i månader hade kämpat med symtom som läkare avfärdat. Nu kändes även möjligheten till lindring utom räckhåll.

På dagen för sin bortgång fann hennes familj ett brev där hon uttryckte sin förtvivlan och frustration. Hennes dotter berättade att om Dory hade fått mer information om riskerna med näsoperationer, eller om hennes symtom hade tagits på allvar tidigare, hade utgången kunnat bli en annan. Dorys tragiska öde belyser vikten av att läkare ger noggrann information om kirurgiska risker och att sjukvården erkänner och behandlar Empty Nose Syndrome med empati och förståelse.