For Erin McKenzie, what began as chronic sinus infections in 2008 spiraled into a 15-year battle that threatened her life. Today, she is thriving thanks to the specialized care she received from Nebraska Medicine’s unique multidisciplinary clinic combining ENT and allergy expertise.

From sinus infections to the ER

McKenzie’s health crisis started suddenly in June 2008 with recurring sinus infections. That October, she experienced her first asthma attack and was rushed to the emergency room. What she didn’t know then was that nasal polyps were growing throughout her sinuses, blocking airways and setting the stage for years of hospitalizations.

“It felt like I had a sinus infection every day of my life,” McKenzie says. “There were times I’d go to the hospital and be there for a week.” Unfortunately, in addition to her severe sinus disease with nasal polyps, her asthma was worsening requiring multiple hospitalizations.

McKenzie couldn’t smell or taste for over five years and struggled to breathe through her nose. The constant pain and inflammation made it hard to work, maintain relationships or enjoy simple pleasures like eating. 

“It affects everything in life,” McKenzie says. “I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. On my days off, I just wanted to rest because I forced myself to get through the days at work.”

A complex diagnosis requires specialized care

After two sinus surgeries with a community ENT practice, McKenzie’s previous doctor felt she needed more specialized treatment. He referred her to Christie Barnes, MD, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at Nebraska Medicine.

“When we first met, Erin was tearful, miserable and very negatively impacted by this disease,” Dr. Barnes says. “She had already had a pretty dramatic history of both upper and lower airway problems.”

Dr. Barnes recognized McKenzie’s complex condition – severe asthma in the setting of sinus disease with nasal polyps – required additional expertise. She sent her to Sara May, MD, an allergy and immunology specialist.

Dr. May identified McKenzie as having aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), one of the most severe causes of nasal polyps. The disease combines aggressive nasal polyps and poorly controlled asthma with sensitivity to over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

“The year I met Erin, she had six courses of systemic steroids for asthma exacerbations – four of these required urgent care visits and two led to hospitalizations,” Dr. May says. “When she needed EpiPen for an allergic reaction to an over-the-counter pain med, we finally had the answer to why her asthma had become so severe over the last eight years.”

The AERD diagnosis fit McKenzie’s asthma history and severe sinus history – and warranted specialized treatment. “I knew immediately she was a perfect fit for our multispecialty clinic,” Dr. May says.

Two specialists working together

Dr. Barnes and Dr. May collaborated closely on McKenzie’s care through a clinic where they jointly see complex patients.

The collaborative approach made all the difference. Dr. Barnes and Dr. May met with McKenzie together, discussing her treatment plan in real time and bouncing ideas off each other.

“It’s so much easier when they’re working together versus two completely different entities,” McKenzie says. “The collaboration of care has really helped me.”

Dr. May began aspirin desensitization therapy, which involved taking gradually higher doses of aspirin. 

“AERD is a severe, complex disease and requires a multiprong treatment program,” she says. “I modified her asthma treatment so she was safe to proceed to surgery. After Dr. Barnes performed sinus surgery, I performed an aspirin desensitization that improves this disease’s outcomes. However, Erin continued to need more advanced treatment.”

Surgery and breakthrough medications

Dr. Barnes performed three sinus surgeries on McKenzie, including drilling out the frontal sinuses to create more space and allow better delivery of medications. But surgery alone wasn’t the answer.

“What we’ve learned in the last 20 years is that surgery is an adjunct to medical therapy; it’s not a cure for polyps,” Dr. Barnes says. “Someone like Erin might have 10 or 12 surgeries in the course of her life for polyps.”

The real breakthrough came from biologic medications. McKenzie now takes Dupixent, which helps prevent nasal polyp growth, and Xolair, which helps control her asthma. The combination, along with continued aspirin therapy, has been transformative.

“We went from discussing another sinus surgery to not discussing a sinus surgery,” McKenzie says. “It shrunk the polyps.”

A new lease on life

In December 2024, McKenzie had an unusual experience when trying to refill her prescriptions. The system told her she needed to see her doctors first because it had been too long since her last visit.

“I couldn’t believe it,” McKenzie says. “For me to go a whole year without coming regularly – that just didn’t happen.”

The change in her quality of life has been dramatic. She can breathe through her nose, her sense of smell is gradually returning and, when she does get sick, she recovers normally instead of ending up in the hospital.

“She’s really gotten a new lease on life,” Dr. Barnes says. 

Hope for others

McKenzie’s journey illustrates the importance of specialized care for complex sinus conditions. Dr. Barnes notes that her and Dr. May’s multidisciplinary clinic is unique in the region, allowing them to combine surgical expertise with cutting-edge immunology treatments.

Today, McKenzie sees her doctors about once a year for routine checkups instead of monthly emergency visits. While she knows she’ll always need to manage her condition, she trusts the team that helped her reclaim her life.

“I’m so thankful,” McKenzie says. “I have a support group and a team of doctors that are willing to try new things until we get what we need.“

If you experience chronic sinus problems, we're here to help. Book an appointment online or call 800.922.0000 to connect with our team of specialists.