Amanda Hageman couldn’t breathe through her nose.
“Not only could I not breathe through my nose, I couldn’t taste or smell anything,” Amanda said. “Everyone said it was because I was pregnant and that once I had my baby, things would improve. But that didn’t happen after my baby was born. I was miserable and it was affecting the quality of my life.”
After a visit to her primary care provider, Amanda was referred to Dr. David Wexler, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist at Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer.
A DEVIATED SEPTUM
A visit to Dr. Wexler revealed Amanda’s problem. She had a deviated septum, which resulted in chronic sinus infections.
"The nasal passages are separated into two sides by your nasal septum, but often the septum is misaligned. This condition is known as a deviated septum, and may cause unbalanced or obstructed nasal airflow. Some people aren’t aware they have this issue or can only tell when they have a cold that there is a problem," Dr. Wexler said.
A deviated septum can also contribute to recurrent sinus pressure, nosebleeds, headaches and in some cases sleep apnea. Dr. Wexler noted that sometimes symptoms of a deviated septum can be relieved with medications.
CELEBRATING THE SENSE OF SMELL
“Having my deviated septum surgically repaired, was the best decision I ever made,” Amanda said.
She now spends everyday celebrating the sense of smell and the gift of being able to breathe through her nose.
“My mom and I still laugh about the way I reacted when I first experienced the smells associated with changing my daughter’s diaper,” she said.
ABOUT DR. WEXLER
Dr. Wexler has been serving the community for more than a decade. He is a graduate of Stanford Medical School and completed a residency at the University of Iowa in its highly-regarded Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery program.
After specialty training he entered military service, where he attained the rank of major and was appointed Chief of Otolaryngology at the R.L. Thompson Strategic Hospital in Texas.
Dr. Wexler is a diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology, which covers the full span of ear, nose and throat medical and surgical care in patients of all ages.
At various points in his career, Dr. Wexler has researched sleep physiology, nasal airflow dynamics and vestibular disorders. He spent time in the Department of Otolaryngology at University of California, San Diego, to develop his special interest in management of the nose and sinuses.
Dr. Wexler combines these varied experiences to bring thorough and customized care to patients in the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic at Baystate Wing Hospital. The services include comprehensive general diagnostics for disorders of the ears, nose and throat as well as surgical treatments in selected cases.
He also works closely with the Baystate Wing Hospital’s Audiology and Hearing Improvement Centers, located at Baystate Wing and at Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware to link patients to the care they provide. This includes routine hearing tests, specialized audiological testing and tests for middle ear function and inner ear imbalance, as well as hearing aid evaluations, demonstrations, purchases, fittings, adjustments and cleanings.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Dr. Wexler is currently accepting new patients at the Baystate Health and Wellness Center located at 21 Dwight St. in Longmeadow and at the Palmer Medical Center located at Baystate Wing Hospital, 40 Wright St. in Palmer.
For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Wexler, call 413-370-5131.