Amazon Category:  Health/Wellness Publisher: Cold Tree Press ISBN-10:  1583851976 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 236 Copyright: Aug 30, 2007 ISBN-13: 9781583851975 Enthusiastically endorsed by top doctors, this Amazon bestseller in "otolaryngology" contains an empty nose syndrome (ENS) sufferer's inspiring story; an unbiased critique of nasal surgeries; an inside look at medical politics surrounding ENS (never-before explored!); and a discussion of holistic treatments that not only apply to ENS, but also to sinusitis, allergies, postnasal drip, nasal congestion, acid reflux and asthma. From Midwest Book Review: The nose is an organ of the human body that can be afflicted with a number of serious ailments to health. These problems include such conditions as rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and empty nose syndrome (ENS). It has only been in recent years that physicians have come to understand and treat ENS. But there are still a great many doctors unfamiliar with this syndrome and the treatment options that sufferers have to choose from. An ENS sufferer himself, Christopher Martin has written a comprehensive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' introduction to what ENS is, what can be done about it, and what to be aware of in various treatment options in Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim! Christopher relates his own personal account of coping with ENS, offers an informed and informative evaluation of turbinate surgeries with respect to nasal conditions, provides an 'insider' look at the politics surrounding ENS within the medical community, and identifies the best treatments for ENS, many of which are also efficaciously applicable to sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, postnasal drip, GERD, and asthma. Invaluable reading for medical students, physicians, and non-specialist general readers, Having Nasal Surgery? is especially recommended for personal, professional, and community library Health & Medicine reference collections and reading lists.

ENS Member TE (The Ultimate Guide for Nasal Sufferers)
Chris Martin has written the ultimate "Bible" for anyone considering nasal surgery in general, and more specifically for those who have breathing problems related to swollen turbinates and are considering turbinate reduction surgery. This book will also serve as the ultimate guide for how to improve the lives of those who have already had the misfortune of overzealous resections of their turbinates and are now struggling with ENS. "Having Nasal Surgery?" is the first ever book on ENS. The coping strategies and tips detailed in this book can benefit not only ENS sufferers, but also all those who suffer from chronic nasal problems and discomfort, such as chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, and every otherwise healthy individual who simply wants to learn how to better deal with the most common medical problems affecting humanity: the common cold and nasal obstruction.

"Having Nasal Surgery?" is addressed to the layman and medical professionals alike. It is written as an easy and well-flowing read, but at the same time is backed and packed with scientific references from the latest medical literature published in leading medical journals. True, Chris Martin is not a doctor himself, but the fact that his book is endorsed by well-known and acclaimed doctors - such as Drs. Grossan, Tichenor and Houser - with a foreword by Dr. Houser himself (a leading authority on ENS) adds greatly to the scientific and medical credibility of this book.

Chris tells of his personal misfortune of suffering from ENS due to an over aggressive surgery he had in his late teens. As a fellow sufferer, I can testify firsthand that his descriptions are honest and accurate. Sadly, ENS is a devastating medical condition which has a very negative impact on the sufferer's well-being and quality of life.

I hope that ENT and facial reconstructive specialists and plastic surgeons will embrace this book just as much as I know their ENS patients will. I hope that through this book they will better understand the depth of suffering from ENS and realize their responsibility to 1) not only avoid destroying the mucosal structures of the nose when they perform nasal and sinus surgeries of all sorts, but also 2) that they will recognize the fact that for many decades now patients have been over "turbinectomized" and as a result there are potentially millions of patients in the world today suffering from ENS symptoms and are misdiagnosed because of overmasking other pre-existing conditions and not enough awareness to ENS.

I hope that one of the accomplishments of this book will be that these doctors begin to more aggressively search for those misdiagnosed ENS patients and that they will maximize their efforts to help improve their symptoms and utilize their knowledge and skills to come up with viable medical solutions (surgical and others) to rebuild or regenerate amputated turbinates.


BookReview.com (An Ideal Sourcebook on ENS!)
The frightening thing about the human body is that it can break down in thousands of ways, and it is impossible to prepare for every contingency. Between the endless variety of specialty doctors, conditions dramatized by hospital television shows and words far larger than an average vocabulary, it's easy to be either terrified by the possibilities or caught off guard when an unheard of condition enters your life.

When this happens, the only way to confront the problem is to educate yourself as best you can - and if you have empty nose syndrome (ENS), Christopher Martin's "Having Nasal Surgery? Don't You Become An Empty Nose Victim!" is the ideal resource. One of the first books on the subject, it is ideal for both the typical person considering nasal surgery and doctors who may not know enough about the condition.

ENS, as Martin describes it, is a condition resulting from the removal of inner tissue known as turbinates following nasal surgery. This removal leaves the patient unable to breathe properly, with a string of chronic health problems including shortness of breath, nasal dryness, thick mucus and an inability to sleep. The discomfort caused by these symptoms frequently leads to distraction and depression, especially since many doctors don't even know how to treat ENS.

Martin, who has lived with ENS since 1997, provides it with a much-needed personal connection. He tells his story in detail, beginning with his flawed surgery and showing specifically how the condition impacted his life and the choices he had to make. Through it all, with the exception of a few wistful "what if" statements, Martin maintains a positive tone and a desire to move forward.

The book is not only useful for those looking for a personal story of ENS, but also to anyone who suffers from it and is looking for relief. Martin provides the reader with a comprehensive list of treatments, ranging from practical everyday remedies (even providing recommendations on what brand of nasal spray and gel to use) to recommending a certain type of surgery if necessary. For those who are looking for more in-depth information on ENS, he includes an appendix of medical texts, websites and specialized doctors.

"Having Nasal Surgery?" is an ideal sourcebook on ENS - informative without being dense, written in a coherent style and filled with first-hand experience on the condition. It's a book that all nasal doctors should have on their shelves and be ready to pass onto patients looking for answers.

Paige Lovitt of ReaderViews.com (Read First, Before Having Nasal Surgery!!!)
ENS sufferer, Christopher Martin, has written a very comprehensive book about his experience with ENS. ENS, or Empty Nose Syndrome, is defined in this book as, "...a cluster of symptoms in individuals who had a turbinate reduction or excision surgery that resulted in removal of too much turbinate tissue, leaving the nose "empty or wide open and the turbinates unable to function properly." Turbinates, which are located in our nasal cavities, help to warm and humidify air. When a person has turbinate reduction surgery, this can lead to ENS if too much turbinate tissue is removed. This problem is iatrogenic in origin, meaning that it is caused by medical treatment and not something that is genetic in origin.

An ENS sufferer is described as having, "...the sensation of not getting enough air despite a wide open nasal cavity, nasal dryness, and thick, sticky mucus." In addition to having their quality of life reduced as a result of this, many people that have ENS also are highly susceptible to depression and future sinus problems.

Mr. Martin wrote this book with the hope of making people aware of the complications that can result from turbinate reduction surgery. He offers suggestions for alternative treatments that could be used to avoid having this surgery. People who have sinus, allergy and postnasal drip problems would also benefit from these treatments which include natural, medical, dietary, and environmental remedies.

Mr. Martin has been dealing with this issue for ten years. He openly discusses his experiences with a variety of medical doctors and the differing opinions that he was offered. He felt fortunate to finally be able to find the doctors that were able to help him with his problem. These doctors also help contribute to this book. His personal disclosures make the book very interesting. I was also very impressed with the amount of references that he cites in each chapter to help back up his information.

People that would benefit from reading "Having Nasal Surgery?" include those close to people with ENS, people considering turbinate reduction surgery, those suffering from ENS, those with sinus and allergy problems, and the doctors involved with this type of treatment. I cannot imagine a more comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand source of information for the people whose lives would be improved by accessing this information. I truly hope that people who are planning to have nasal surgery will find this book before they go through the surgery, and not have to experience what Mr. Martin and numerous other people have had to.