does surgery for deviated septum help?

Thank you, again!

I just had my pre-op phone interview with the surgery center. The nurse was really helpful and even shared some personal experience (her husband has had the same surgery there, with the same surgeon). It seems like this surgeon is extremely thorough (not to mention, very good); she said most patients do really well with him (compared to other surgeons who practice there, who are also quite good), and that he follows up very meticulously with his patients. I think I'll be alright, but you can never be cautious enough.

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 2:21 pm

you can never be cautious enough

You've been near the edge.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 4:48 pm

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Fri May 24, 2019 2:21 pm

you can never be cautious enough

You've been near the edge.

Well, I think you should be able to find it in yourself to allow one more person to live there!
McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Sun May 26, 2019 2:31 pm

Well, I think you should be able to find it in yourself to allow one more person to live there!
McSleepy

Just don't try to get any closer than the third row, and I might be able to tolerate you.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sun May 26, 2019 4:29 pm

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Sun May 26, 2019 2:31 pm

Well, I think you should be able to find it in yourself to allow one more person to live there!
McSleepy

Just don't try to get any closer than the third row, and I might be able to tolerate you.

I never go outside my own row, so you should be safe.

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Sun May 26, 2019 10:03 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Sun May 26, 2019 4:29 pm

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Sun May 26, 2019 2:31 pm

Well, I think you should be able to find it in yourself to allow one more person to live there!
McSleepy

Just don't try to get any closer than the third row, and I might be able to tolerate you.

I never go outside my own row, so you should be safe.

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Thu May 23, 2019 3:08 pm

riversong wrote: ↑

Wed May 22, 2019 8:23 am

I had packing the first three days and that was pretty horrible. It's hard to breathe (even with the straws) and I slept sitting up in a chair for those days. The first week after I was pretty lightheaded after they took the packing out because I was getting so much air. It was like a firehose of air hitting me in the face when I took a breath. I basically had to learn to breathe again. After the first week it was the irrigation and dissolving stitches. You get some pretty gnarly stuff coming out for the first couple of weeks. After about two weeks it was just not being able to blow my nose for another six. Two months out it was great. No issues. The worst part is that first three days. After that everything is easier.

Thank you, so much, for sharing! My surgeon said he will not be packing my nose after the surgery, but if something goes wrong after that (like me bumping the septum), then he'd have to do packing. Needless to say, I'll be tiptoeing around my nose I irrigate my nose twice a day, anyway; any tips on doing that post-surgery? Any other tips about caring for the surgery site that you can think of?

McSleepy

I'm sorry I've been out of town! Washing your face can be a bit rough. I used facial wipes to wash it for the first week because my nose was really sore. Other than that, it really wasn't bad. You'll need to irrigate if you feel like you need to blow your nose for a while. That's really the only other thing I can think of. Good luck!

riversong wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 05, 2019 6:34 am

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Thu May 23, 2019 3:08 pm

riversong wrote: ↑

Wed May 22, 2019 8:23 am

I had packing the first three days and that was pretty horrible. It's hard to breathe (even with the straws) and I slept sitting up in a chair for those days. The first week after I was pretty lightheaded after they took the packing out because I was getting so much air. It was like a firehose of air hitting me in the face when I took a breath. I basically had to learn to breathe again. After the first week it was the irrigation and dissolving stitches. You get some pretty gnarly stuff coming out for the first couple of weeks. After about two weeks it was just not being able to blow my nose for another six. Two months out it was great. No issues. The worst part is that first three days. After that everything is easier.

Thank you, so much, for sharing! My surgeon said he will not be packing my nose after the surgery, but if something goes wrong after that (like me bumping the septum), then he'd have to do packing. Needless to say, I'll be tiptoeing around my nose I irrigate my nose twice a day, anyway; any tips on doing that post-surgery? Any other tips about caring for the surgery site that you can think of?

McSleepy

I'm sorry I've been out of town! Washing your face can be a bit rough. I used facial wipes to wash it for the first week because my nose was really sore. Other than that, it really wasn't bad. You'll need to irrigate if you feel like you need to blow your nose for a while. That's really the only other thing I can think of. Good luck!

Thank you, so much! I'm on my 6th day now and I'm managing quite alright. The inability to breathe is the only issue so far; I'm surprised by the lack of pain. I was able to use my oral mask on the second night and it has allowed me to get some sleep. Of course, I rest quite a bit, although I couldn't help but work pretty much throughout (from home) . Regular rinses, steam inhalation, softening the skin with lanolin, hydration, and infection prevention (topical and oral antibiotics) has been doing the job. It seems like the swelling behind the splints is causing the congestion. My post-op appointment is tomorrow afternoon, and I think the surgeon will be taking the splints out, so we'll see how it goes. Oh, only yesterday I thought of pseudoephedrine and today the doctor said it was alright, so I took it and it's much better. I wonder how it'll be before I'm able to use a nasal mask again, and which kind.

Funny thing, the splints are sewn in to my septum with some rough-looking stitches that don't seem to be dissolving much yet:
_ (Sorry for the bad quality: I'm using a cheap endoscope to take the photos and it has a fixed-focus lens.)

I wonder how it'll go tomorrow, if he's going to take them out! No wonder he said "you might want to take some pain killers before you come for the appointment!" I'll post an update after that happens.

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:25 pm

I wonder how it'll go tomorrow, if he's going to take them out! No wonder he said "you might want to take some pain killers before you come for the appointment!"

Gramps says it was just a little tickle when his came out.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:30 pm

Gramps says it was just a little tickle when his came out.

Exactly, my experience. And I'm a gramps too.

Loved it when they came out, didn't mind the feel of them coming out, barely felt it.

Especially loved the improved breathing I felt immediately upon them coming out.

Thank you, both! I hate painkillers, so based on your experience I may decide not to take any, after all.

McSleepy

I agree about the lack of pain when the splints come out. My post op instructions said to take my pain medication before coming for my follow up appointment, but I found out I really didn't need it. I felt a very slight tug when the stitches were removed, and nothing when the splints came out. However, I was really surprised at how long they actually were. I had no idea there was that much room in there.

Thank you, too!

I had the appointment a couple of hours ago. The surgeon was very hype - "this is a great day for you!", alluding to the ability to breathe after removal of the splints - so hype, it took me a while to figure out what he was talking about ("did I win a lottery, or something?") The removal was easy - he cut the suture seen on the second photo above and pulled it out - I did not feel anything. Then, he pulled the other side and it tickled quite a bit, I guess, from the pulling of the suture through the septum. And then.. he asked me to blow my nose! And again, and again - with all the goo coming out. I can't say the newfound breathing ability was greater than before, but I'm still very swollen, so it'll get better. My problem was the little room for swelling causing obstruction too easily. I think this will take care of it, but it'll take some time to know for sure. He said I can resume normal physical activities a week from now, but no pressure on the nose for another 3 months; I showed him my masks (Breeze, Dreamware, Nasal Aire) and he said "better not". I think as soft the Dreamware is, I should be able to use it, as long as I lay on my back, propped up, and - thus - with much lower pressure(auto, min EPAP 7, max IPAP 14, PS 5), allowing for loose headgear. The problem is that the oral mask, besides the fact that it dries my mouth and condensation is uncontrollable, actually pushes a bit on the base of the nose, too, so I'm not too eager to keep trying to make it work. I'll see how it goes. But, I can breathe through my nose now, so that's big progress!

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 06, 2019 6:31 pm

But, I can breathe through my nose now, so that's big progress!

McSleepy, Can you explain "inability to breathe"? Were you mouth breathing the whole time? Anyway, kudos to you for going through this trouble, hopefully you'll tell us it was worth it in a month or so.