I went to a sleep clinic today. My allergies have gotten insane. I can't breathe. At any rate, they looked into my nose, and the doctor said, "Oh WOW. Your turbinates are totally blocked." I had to look up what these are: Turbinates

She said they zap them with some kind of microwave or radio wave to bring the swelling down. I've never even heard of this.

Anyone have any experiences?

I hope they are not planning on doing something that will cause 'empty nose syndrome', because that would be worse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_nose_syndrome

It might be better to figure out what causes the allergies, and treat them, rather than messing with your nose. Your stuffy nose is a symptom, not the cause.

When I was 19, I had nose surgery to 'correct' what the doctor claimed was a crooked septum, and that was supposed to have been causing my breathing problems.

The surgery was awful, the recovery worse, and in the end it was all for nothing, because it didn't do ANY good whatsoever!

I have not had turbinate surgery, but I have serious problems with my turbinates - they are very large and obstructive (as per my ENT.) I am on Vyramist nasal spray, but I tested negative for all allergies so my ENT thinks it's environmental. He also has me on regular saline spray - which helps, and at I have a personal steam inhaler (VICKS) that helps a great deal as well (especially before I go to sleep.) Thing with the steam inhaler is, it doesn't work for me as well unless I have the vapor inhalent pads.

If I were you I'd exhaust other resources before getting the turbinate surgery, but since I don't know what the surgery really entails, I don't know how invasive (or non-invasive) it is.

Good luck with finding your answers

Have you tried a neti pot before? It might help, they can be very beneficial.

I had mine done and don't regret it. I went to a clinic in Harley Street, London for the work. First up I met one doctor who gave me the once over and to discuss reasons for the op. I.e. I snore rather loudly and also might right nostril was forever closing up, especially when I lay on my right-hand side in bed at night. A quick inspection showed that the turbinates were large and also the septum (wall dividing the nostrils) fattened out towards the top.

The actual operation was very quick. An anasthetic is placed in the nose and shortly afterwards the doctor strips away both with a laser. The whole procedure took about 20 minutes. For about a week or so it feels like you have a bad cold with lots of fluid in the sinuses etc, this is natural.

Now I have no trouble breating at all. I still snore like a road-drill though