Living with chronic sinus infections is exhausting. Constant congestion, sleepless nights, and endless rounds of medication can make it feel like there’s no way out. For Chris and his mother, Collette, this was everyday life—temporary relief never lasted, and the cycle kept repeating. But sinus issues don’t have to be permanent. Chris and Collette found lasting relief by addressing the root cause, proving that when you fix what’s broken, you can finally breathe freely.

What chronic sinus infections felt like

Chris doesn’t remember a time in his life without sinus infections. While most kids dealt with the occasional ear infection, he faced a different reality—one marked by non-stop congestion, postnasal drip, and pain behind his eyes.

“You have pain behind the ears, in the forehead–usually more concentrated to one side than the other. Your nose is bloody, sometimes stuffy. I had enough that I was trained on [the meaning of] yellow boogers.”

His symptoms weren’t just an occasional nuisance–they were constant.

“I basically had a perpetual sinus infection,” Chris said. “I’d get medicine, feel better for a couple of weeks, and then it would come right back.”

No matter what he tried, the congestion never fully went away. 

“At night, I’d lie in bed trying to clear my nose, but it wasn’t congestion—it was inflammation,” he said. “I kept trying to blow my nose, but nothing actually came out.”

His mother, Collette, watched as her son cycled through medication, each round offering temporary relief before another infection took hold. “It was frustrating,” she recalled. “Doctors kept prescribing [pills], but it never worked. We had to keep moving to stronger and stronger [pills].”

The impact stretched beyond just feeling sick. Chris struggled to sleep, spending nights trying to clear his nose before he could drift off. Even when he did manage to fall asleep, he’d have to rely on mouth breathing, and he’d wake up feeling just as tired as the night before. Sinus infections were relentless, forcing him to miss school and cycle through doctor’s appointments.

Collette wasn’t just watching her son suffer—she was living with the same misery. Chronic congestion and sinus infections had been part of her life for as long as she could remember. Nights were spent tossing and turning, flipping from side to side as the congestion shifted. No matter what she tried, deep, restful sleep felt impossible. And just like Chris, she was stuck in a cycle of temporary fixes that never truly solved the problem.

Finding relief by fixing the root cause

During yet another visit to the doctor, Collette and Chris realized they couldn’t keep going in circles. Enough was enough. After consulting with ADVENT, Collette learned that both she and Chris had nearly identical sinus issues. Their CT scans showed the same blockages, the same nasal inflammation—the same reason neither of them could breathe well.

Collette decided to seek treatment for herself and her son. “I remember thinking, ‘Let’s just take care of this,’” Collette said. On the same day, they underwent a balloon sinuplasty to open their nasal passages and restore proper airflow. 

Life after chronic sinusitis treatment

Chris and Collette remember breathing easier following their procedure. “It was like—whoa, this is great,” Chris said. The pressure was gone, and for the first time, he could take a deep breath without struggling. For Chris, the change was undeniable. His constant congestion was gone, and sinus infections no longer controlled his life.

Collette felt the difference, too. Breathing got easier and sleep became more restful with the blockages resolved. Waking up tired, fighting to stay awake while driving–dangerous challenges that Collette thought were part of life–became a thing of the past. “I don’t suffer from those things anymore. So having the procedures at ADVENT was great. It helped my life tremendously.”

Chris and Collette’s lives are completely different today. Chris, once the kid who struggled to breathe through gym class, now runs every day and has completed multiple half marathons. Collette no longer fights through daily exhaustion. And the best part? They no longer live in fear of the next sinus infection.

Stop living with daily sinus struggles

For years, Chris and Collette accepted their chronic sinusitis symptoms as part of life. But they didn’t have to be. Once they took action, they found a real, lasting solution they’re still grateful for ten years later.

If you’re tired of chronic sinus infections, constant congestion, or poor sleep, it’s time to fix the problem at its source. ADVENT offers simple in-office solutions to open your nasal passages and restore proper airflow. Schedule your Breathing Triangle® evaluation today and start breathing well.