Anyone here have Septoplasty or sinus surgery?

[Seattleboy49]

Just curious because I was told that since I have mild sleep apnea surgery would fix the apnea itself and possibly also releave my sinusitis. From what I have been told everyone has a deviated septum to a certain degree, but according to my ENT, mine is particularly crooked.

I have been on the CPAP for 3 weeks now and though it has helped in regards to snoring I am still getting hit pretty hard by my usual fall/winter round of sinusitis and I am thinking maybe surgery is the only way to correct that. The only thing that gives me pause is that I actually know a decent amount of people who have had this surgery and it seems like it really helps some and others it did not. I am of the "don't get surgery unless absolutely necessary" variety so I am torn.

anyone with experience have any opinions on this?

thanks,

Kyle

[Rustsmith]

I had septoplasty 20 years ago and the improvements were dramatic. The deviation in my septum was so severe that I could not take an entire breath through my nose, now I can breath "normally". I was 40 yrs old before I really realized what everyone was talking about when they said breath through your nose, because that was simply not possible for me.

However, the surgery did not completely address my sleep problems (I have UARS) and the improvements to my sinusitis from year round allergies were minimal.

But then again, without the surgery, treatment with xPAP to address the rest of my UARS issues would not have been possible.

Therefore, I think that it is simply a matter of what you stand to gain. My potential for improvement was tremendous, but that will not be the case for everyone.

[chunkyfrog]

Since your doc has indicated the septum in unusually deviated, that sounds like a good idea.
Some surgeons try to talk the patient into additional "procedures" at the same time.
It is in your best interests to decline all but the septum fix; then give that and your cpap time to do its work.
Being conservative may be your best move, as you may not need additional cutting.
Make it clear on any consent form that you do NOT consent to any additional surgery.

[Seattleboy49]

Ok, thanks for the advice. What I really want to find out is what the effects of the surgery on my sinusitis would be because if just mimimal I would rather just suck it up and let the CPAP do it's job in regards to the mild apnea.

[sluzynski]

When I had a severely deviated septum repaired, the doc took the opportunity to scrape massive amounts of scar tissue (caused by recurring sinus infections) out of my sinuses as well. Totally worth it.

[CarpeNoctum]

Seattleboy,
One way that a deviated septum causes problems is that most of the air goes in the open nares. That dries out the mucus membranes and the body, in an effort to compensate, increases mucus production. So that can result in chronic congestion.

So if you have difficulty breathing through your nose and chronic congestion...the surgery should help.

Now sinusitis is a different thing. If it's a true bacterial sinus infection requiring heavy antibiotics, then you should have an mri before the sinus surgery so the ent guy can evaluate sinus problems and fix that while doing the septoplasty.

If it's just sinus congestion with no fever...the septoplasty should improve that too.
Good luck,
CN

[LSAT]

I had the septoplasty along with polyp removal about 2 years ago. Truthfully I didn't notice any difference in breathing and it made no difference in my
CPAP use. My pressures remained the same. I really had the surgery to get the polyps removed and the deviated septum was a side issue.

[McSleepy]

Coincidentally, I was just thinking yesterday of posting a topic about this, but I'll post here, instead. My question is more specific: how long did it take those who've had septoplasty lately (in "modern times") to resume use of their CPAP? Like many (if not most) of you, I can't even think of going to bed without my machine on, but after this surgery, your nose would be very sensitive and often completely blocked (splints or just from the swelling) and you'd be unable to breathe through your nose for some time. My question is: how many nights you had to forgo your machine and how did you deal with it? I have multiple aggravating factors, such as, I can't breathe through my mouth and I can only sleep prone (so, no recliners and the like). I'd appreciate sharing your experiences.
McSleepy

[dannah00]

I had septoplasty and turbinectomy done in 2009 to fix a moderately deviated septum as well as to reduce the size of the turbinates in hopes of helping with chronic sinusitis. I would say that I probably went 2-4 weeks without using CPAP but the time frame may be different depending on the type of mask you use. I used nasal pillows and those would absolutely put too much pressure on the nose despite the fact that your nose will be swollen and fill with scabs so you really can't breath through your nose anyway. When the scabs were removed, I had never felt such a deep breath through my nose. I feel like the surgery helped but has in no way affected my chronic sinusitis neither did it affect my CPAP pressure. I believe that for surgery to fix the sinusitis, at least for me, the sinus openings would need to be enlarged. Mine are too small making drainage difficult.

Anyway, like others have said, the effects of the surgery are going to be different for each person. Decision should probably be based on how you feel. If you feel like nothing else has helped then the surgery may be worth it. Otherwise maybe just give the CPAP therapy some time and put the surgery off awhile.

[Seattleboy49]

I appreciate all the responses. I don't necessarily want to have the surgery unless I know the odds are at least pretty good that it will reverse my sinus issues. But the majority of the people who say they have sinusits seem to still have it after the surgery. If that is the case then I would just continue with the CPAP.

In regards to my sinusitis symptoms, I do not get a fever usually, but I do get the post nasal drip, which really makes me feel lethargic and just plain out of it. in any given year I usually end up on anti-biotics for a sinus infection 1-2 times, usually in January and then again in August.

Though the barometric pressure change gets me I think food might have something to do with it as well as anytime I eat something unhealthy I get really congested. I know, I know, all the more reason to eat healthy.

[McSleepy]

In regards to my sinusitis symptoms, I do not get a fever usually, but I do get the post nasal drip, which really makes me feel lethargic and just plain out of it. in any given year I usually end up on anti-biotics for a sinus infection 1-2 times, usually in January and then again in August.

Have you tried nasal washes (sinus rinse)? Since I started doing those (in various forms), I've never had any sinusitis episodes and never really had any congestion. I also don't do it the way it's listed on the box: I dissolve one packet (NeilMed) and then use a syringe to spray about 7cc of the solution in each nostril twice per session, then I do that mornings and nights. I used to have severe sinusitis when I was young - to the point where I had to use IR radiation to alleviate the acute pain, while waiting for the antibiotics to kick in. I must say, those were largely gone by the time I started using the nasal wash, but it shows how prone I was to sinus infections.
McSleepy

[McSleepy]

I would say that I probably went 2-4 weeks without using CPAP but the time frame may be different depending on the type of mask you use. I used nasal pillows and those would absolutely put too much pressure on the nose despite the fact that your nose will be swollen and fill with scabs so you really can't breath through your nose anyway.

I use nasal pillows, too, and my IPAP is at least 16 cm H2O. Unless medicine makes more progress in this regard, I don't think septoplasty is my future.
McSleepy

[Seattleboy49]

McSleepy, I have tried some of the nasal rinses and I can't say I have noticed a huge difference. I just bought this device though and am hoping I will experience more results with it though so far it hasn't worked wonders for me.

http://www.amazon.com/SinuPulse-Elite-A ... ion+system

I have also been diagnosed with non-allergic rhinitis so I am never sure if I am experiencing sinusitis symptoms or the non-allergic rhinitis. either way, it seems like there is no magic bullet for these conditions

[StuUnderPressure]

I just bought this device though and am hoping I will experience more results with it though so far it hasn't worked wonders for me.

http://www.amazon.com/SinuPulse-Elite-A ... ion+system

When my wife had sinus surgery about 10 years ago, her ENT sold her a $3 head that fits on any "Water Pik" type machine. Seems to do exactly what your machine does, except she didn't have to buy the machine.

I am not exactly sure of what exact surgery my wife had, but it has lasted those 10 years. Back then, they told her it would probably only last 5 years or so. She is double that now. She would have it done again in a heartbeat if the need arises again.

[Seattleboy49]

That is good to know. what kind of surgery did she have exactly? sinus surgery? fixing a deviated septum?