Investigations pre septoplasty

How is it decided that you need a septoplasty, turbinate reduction etc?

My nose is nearly always "stuffy", is that enough to ask my doc for an ENT referral?

I guess they need to do more than peer up your nose. Xrays?

Moby wrote:How is it decided that you need a septoplasty, turbinate reduction etc?

My nose is nearly always "stuffy", is that enough to ask my doc for an ENT referral?

I guess they need to do more than peer up your nose. Xrays?

In my case they did an endoscopy. It was very quick and easy and quite revealing.

The doc put me in an examining chair with a monitor in front of me so I could view everything. There was a second monitor over my left shoulder that he watched to guide the scope.

He shot a combination spray of Afrin and a local anesthetic up each nostril and waited 20 seconds. Then in went the scope. I could see the large turbinates and he showed me an ess curve in my septum. He went all the way down to the vocal cords and had me say "heeee" and "cookie". Those darn little cords vibrate like crazy in different directions according to what is being said.

He scoped both nostrils and it was over in a minute or two with only a little discomfort and no gagging. I had a slight sore throat for 24 hours. I don't know if this was the result of something being rubbed by the scope or irritation from the nasal spray.

I highly recommend that you seek this type of examination. It was very revealing and a bit of fun (Yeah, I lead a dull life).

rooster wrote:
I highly recommend that you seek this type of examination. It was very revealing and a bit of fun (Yeah, I lead a dull life).

LOL

Thanks, Rooster!