Deviated septum surgery helping tolerate CPAP

Some have said deviated septum surgery helps them tolerate CPAP better. Have others had that experience? Two ENTs told me I need that surgery. I can hardly breathe out of my right side. When I first put the mask on I always lie on my back because if I turn on my side I can't breathe. I ALWAYS take the mask off in the night and I wonder if it's because I just can't breathe in any position except lying on my back.

I had already had my nose "fixed" when I began cpap therapy. So I cannot tell you exactly what you are asking. Not exactly, but I will tell you this.

Do NOT put off the surgery if you cannot breathe through one side of your nose! I had to push my nose to the right to get ANY air through my right nostril. The difference the surgery made was significant. I had put up with this for decades. Didn't realize what I was missing. Yes, the first 2-3 days are unpleasant. But the feeling driving home after they remove the packing is simply marvelous!!!

I don't know if I could have used a pillow type mask or not without the surgery. But I do know the pillow type mask has made it very much easier to accept cpap and actually embrace it compared to a the full face mask they put me on initially.

If you are having problems not getting air when you turn on your side, two things come to mine. First is the type mask you use. Some are a LOT more tolerant of being pushed into a pillow. The Nuance Pro, Bravida, P10, N30,P30i all do rather well when laying the side of your head into the pillow. Second is the pillow. I LOVE me a down pillow. But they don't make it easy to use the cpap, so I have learned to use a softer foam type pillow. Makes all the difference as it allows the mask to bed into the pillow a bit instead of pushing it out of place.

I've actually had an ENT tell me that I need that surgery, but my pulmonologist told me that his patients haven't had great success with those surgeries. My mother and uncle and cousins who have gotten that surgery told me that their deviated septums came back (my cousin even got it twice). I've had a friend tell me that it did help him and his daughter a lot. So...I dont know what the right answer is. I cant use the nasal pillows either so I switched to the full face mask. You may want to try that.

I had the surgery long before I went on cpap but it helped me breath much better and sleep better.

Like the others, I would definitely have the surgery done. You will be able to breath much easier. I had mine done about 20 years ago along with UPPP and turbinate reduction surgery at the same time. If you have enlarged turbinates, it would not add much to the surgery to correct them at the same time. These surgeries will make breathing through your nose much easier.

I am another who had the surgery for deviated septum and turbinate reduction before CPAP, about 5 months. What a blessed relief! My surgeon did not use packing, he used nasal splints instead, for about a week. Even immediately after surgery, with the splints in I could breathe better than in decades! Prior to surgery, I had to pull on my face/nose to allow enough airflow to fall asleep. Then I would wake up once I relaxed and let go and the airflow stopped. Once the splints were out, it almost hurt I had so much air coming in and out my nose! It was amazing. It's been 2-1/2 years and I am still VERY happy I did it!

Had the surgery about 25 years ago and went on the hose 20 years ago. Successful and breathe well through both nostrils.