July 7, 2018
How I cured myself of Nasal PolypsNow, for those of you who have nasal polyps know what it’s like waking up every day of your life with a cloudy head, stuffed nose and dry mouth. It does not get any better as the day goes on. Life is not pleasant, but somehow we battle through day after day.
That was my life for 15 years and then it changed.
Prior to my first job, I was definitely an outdoors person, always out playing football, very rarely home.
The world before computer games or the introduction of the internet in our lives. Nevertheless, life was good and my health was brilliant.
The new job brought with it long hours indoors, something strange to my way of life. Well, I just got on with it and was determined to succeed.
In fact I excelled and within two years had completed my graduate programme and taken on a management role. Life was going well.
Then, two years in to my job I noticed a couple of things happening.
Firstly, I started to develop tightness in the chest when breathing and one side of my sinus seemed obstructed.
Like a typical person I went off to the doctors.
After describing my symptoms to the doctor he diagnosed me has having Asthma and prescribed me my first inhaler.
For my sinus I was referred to ENT – yes, the long waiting list now had my name on it.
After a long wait I was seen by an ENT specialist – he said my nasal bone had moved to one side and that I needed it straightened.
So I agreed and after another long wait I was operated on. Within a day I was home and after a week was feeling better.
Obstruction cleared and life continued, but now with only my Asthma to deal with.
A couple of years after my sinus operation I started to experience blockage in the sinus.
At first I noticed my nose would drip. It was rather embarrassing and then I started to become self conscious.
Off to the doctors I went and I was informed I had what you call a nasal polyp.
Oh, a polyp, that should be easily dealt with, right? right? Err.
“No. Sorry, there is no known cure for this, but you can have it surgically removed if it causes problems”…said the doctor.
Before taking such drastic action I was advised to stake steroid sprays. Yes, not just one, I went through all of them one by one.
No luck. In fact the condition got worse, along with my Asthma. Now I was really feeling it. On the waiting list I went to have these nasty things removed.
A year later I had my operation. It seemed very simple enough and I was home the next day.
Within a week the blood and swelling had cleared and I could BREATH from my nose!! I felt FANTASTIC.
I had long forgotten how that felt. There was however one problem. My lost sense of smell had not returned.
That really took away the great feeling.
Within a year, my nasal polyps had returned. I began to get really frustrated.Along with my worsening asthma I started to lose my temper more easily.
Not only this, the guilt I felt after losing my temper was really getting me down. It was so against my nature that I found it hard to deal with.
What was I to do? Again I went on the waiting list for a 2nd time to remove the nasal polyps. As before, it all went well.
My sense of smell still did not return. Worse was to come. My polyps returned within 2 months.
Depression was setting in. Work was extremely stressful and busy. It was not getting any better.
At this point I took time out to reflect on what to do. The words of my ENT consultant were still ringing in my ears “see you in 2 years time”!
There had to be a better way. By now we had the internet. I had access and I started to research this further.
As is now familiar to all of you in my position, the web is awash with all sorts of claims and cures.
I was willing to try anything. It’s surprising how quickly you can reach that
From when the condition started it has been a journey of 15 years, 3 operations,
2 CT scans and countless number of sinus sprays. After all this time I’ve had the longest period of relief ever!
I find myself clear of nasal polyps and have been clear for 2 months already. So what happened?
I started to research Vitamin D and found that it controlled the immune response to inflammation.
It started to make sense. Asthma was an inflammation response. The immune was unable to operate efficiently without Vitamin D.
For someone born in Pakistan and raised in the UK from the age of 2, my DNA was expecting there to be sun.
I must of managed to get through in life as I was always an outdoors person until I started working.
I was dedicated to my career and definitely did not get enough sun. The deficiency must have got worse.
Was I kidding myself? This sounded too simple. Luckily for me my ENT appointment arrived.
I put to my consultant my theory and my experience in Pakistan. I asked him if there had been any study of Vitamin D deficiency and sinus issues.
He said there was nothing he had read. I left disappointed, but still very optimistic.
On the waiting list I went for my 4th operation which I knew would be a year away, so better get on the list now.
I returned home determined to try out my theory. The very next day I went to Holland and Barrets and bought myself Vitamin D3 – the sunshine Vitamin.
I started taking it the same day. Nothing happened for a week.
Then I noticed I had a sore throat and a mild cough started.
After about 2 weeks my cough became more productive and I started coughing up white mucus on a regular basis.
After about 3 weeks the cough was becoming very sensitive and difficult to control.
I was unable to sleep and at times the cough would be violent, requiring increasing force to clear mucus which was stickier and more difficult to dislodge.
After 4 weeks I could not take the cough any longer. I could barely speak. My inhaler intake was at its highest for 2 years and I was in need of relief.
I went to see my doctor who prescribed me a short course of Prednislone.
I hate Prednisolone, but I realised it was a necessary evil. So instead of taking it for a week,
I took just enough to bring the cough under control. In the end I needed 3 days worth.
Throughout this period I continued with my Vitamin D3. After 4 weeks I noticed my sinus started to open up
. I put this down to the Prednisolone. It is known to shrink nasal polyps but is not something you want to take long-term because of the side-effects.
After 6 weeks I was sure the Prednisolone was no longer active, but my polyps continued to shrink and after 7 weeks both sinuses were totally clear!
The best was yet to come. After 8 weeks my SENSE OF SMELL RETURNED after 15 years! Understandably,
I was in tears and very emotional. I was so grateful for this change in my health.
My Asthma was non-existent and my nasal polyps had been cured. It’s been over 2 months now and every day I feel even better.
I will occasionally wake up and clear my sinus and notice blood. I guess the deeper polyps are breaking and clearing. Only time will tell how long this will last.
After all this, it was the Vitamin D3, something that is easy to purchase and relatively cheap.
I realise there is no substitute for the real thing and I now always step outside and sit in the sun for 15mins to make sure I get my daily dose.
On cloudy days I take my Vitamin D3.
If you plan to try this, it maybe worth asking your doctor for a test to establish your current level of Vitamin D.
I took one pill of 400iu per day first and then moved up to 800iu for a few weeks.
I plan to get my levels checked, but to be honest I could not be bothered to waste anymore time.