ENT | Surgery | IVIg Update

Before I get into the details, I would just like to stop, and say this.  The myriad of ailments that I have had my entire life, between the teeth issues, and cystic acne, recurring infections have been literally pointed out and solved faster at Immunoe than anywhere else.  I would just like to thank both the ENT’s NP, my ENT, and my immunologist for jumping on my case so quickly, and actually treating me like a real patient.

Just returned back seeing my ENT from my pre-op appointment.  The meeting went unexpectedly well.  After briefing him with the ailments and issues leading up to this point, he was on point.  Fred has been put officially on notice.  Pending scheduling, and a consult with my immunologist to do another round of IVIg prior to the surgery, we are looking at potentially having surgery next Saturday on the 20th (tentatively) to do the following procedures:

• Septoplasty
• Bilateral Turbinate Reduction
• Bilaterally Maxillary Antrostomy
• Left Total Ethmoidectomy
• Left Frontal Sinusotomy

The surgery will take about 3 hours complete, and the recovery from the surgery will be roughly 2 weeks.  The method or approach to this surgery will not require the need of a neurosurgeon at this time, and will be done utilizing both an endoscopic approach (through the nose, and back of my throat), and a Frontal Sinus Trephination (drilling a small hole in my left eyebrow).  I will have to follow up with another CT in the future to verify that Fred doesn’t form into Fred Jr, which would then require the need for a Neurosurgeon to perform a much more invasive procedure to completely remove it.


I am currently awaiting to hear back from the surgery scheduler after both my ENT and Immunologist confer on the best approach to the procedure, such as getting a full dose of IVIg in prior to the procedure.  The surgery will be scheduled at Swedish Medial Center, or at Presbyterian St. Luke’s for the procedures above, he also has access to Porter, which I respectfully declined having it completed there for previous reasons.

Another astounding comment and finding that my ENT made is that this has most likely the root cause of all of my issues, and that by completing the surgery, that my immune system may recover as it has been focused on the osteoma for so long.  The osteoma is most likely the reason why the cysts, teeth, and recurring infections have plagued me for so long.  As much as I would love to have that be the root cause of the issues, with my medical history, I am pretty certain that the CVID diagnosis is accurate, and that the IVIg will need to be required for the rest of my life.

He also prescribed Cefdnir for the Parotid/Submandibular gland infection I have got going on, so hopefully we can get that to go away sooner rather than later.

But all I can do is remain hopeful that I won’t need IVIg as often / frequent as is now, but that is to be determined.  I am overwhelmed, and quite frankly speechless as to this being spun around 180 degrees so quickly from my initial consult with the ENT’s NP, to now.  My faith has been restored in the medical team I have assembled to focus on my care, and going forward, I will make sure that I am putting my health first before anything else.


Today I feel much better.  It’s odd for me to say this, but I almost feel like me again.  I believe that the IVIg therapy yesterday got my levels up, and I actually have energy.  The side effects that I was feeling last night seemed to have gone by the wayside.  I also received back my labs drawn prior to my IVIg infusion:

C-RP:  Normalized
CBC:   Only abnormal result was elevated Neutrophils @ 7.7
IgG:     Still low at 633mg/dL.

I am really looking forward to the end of the tunnel, this has been and incredibly long journey for me.  And as always, big thanks to my alternative life partner to shuttling me to/from my appointments.