Nose and sinus
Nose and sinus
Nose and sinus consultations are for blockage, pressure, discharge, sneezing and a nose that will not settle. The first explanations are often allergy, infection or the shape of the airway. Surgery is a later conversation, not the opening assumption.
On this page
Concerns assessed here
A blocked nose can be constant or only at night. It can follow a cold and refuse to leave, or it can come with facial pressure, a reduced sense of smell, or mouth breathing. Some people have already used sprays and want to know why the nose is still closed.
The page is about how those problems are assessed. It does not grade your symptoms, and it does not tell you that you need an operation.
What the consultation may involve
The history covers which side blocks, whether it changes, what you have tried, and whether asthma, allergy or aspirin sensitivity sits alongside it. The nose is examined. A camera look inside the nose is used when the view from the front is not enough, and it is explained before it is done.
- Questions about blockage, smell, pressure and earlier treatment.
- Examination of the nose, and an endoscopic look when needed.
- A plan that may start with medical treatment rather than surgery.
- Imaging only when the result would change the decision.
Non-surgical care comes first when it fits
Rhinitis and many episodes of sinusitis are managed with treatment aimed at inflammation, not with an operation. If medicine has already been used properly and the nose is still blocked, the consultation can then discuss whether the septum or the sinus drainage is part of the reason. That discussion is individual. A crooked septum on a scan is not, by itself, a reason to operate.
Tests and location
Allergy testing has been listed among Apricity’s services in public profiles. Confirm that it is offered at your visit before you come specifically for it. Scans, when needed, are arranged at a facility the clinic names. They are not promised on the day.
Practical questions
Should I start with a scan?
Usually, no. A history and an examination come first. A scan is useful when it would change the plan, not as a substitute for the visit.
Is a blocked nose always a bent septum?
No. Allergy, infection and the lining of the nose cause blockage as well. Surgery on the septum helps only the portion of the problem that the septum is causing.
What if this feels urgent?
Difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or a throat that is swelling quickly needs emergency care. Do not wait for a reply to the website form. A hearing loss that arrives suddenly should be assessed the same day: call the clinic, or go to an emergency department if the clinic is closed.