does surgery for deviated septum help?

[Pugsy]

If someone wishes to delete their post and they no longer have the delete button available to them because someone has replied after their reply...

Go in and edit your post and just say "pugsy...please remove this post"...then send me a link to it so that I won't miss it.
Then I will remove it for you.

[Dog Slobber]

If someone wishes to delete their post and they no longer have the delete button available to them because someone has replied after their reply...

Go in and edit your post and just say "pugsy...please remove this post"...then send me a link to it so that I won't miss it.
Then I will remove it for you.

In the past, I've just reported my own duplicate post with the ! button. Unsure which is the more convenient for you?

[chunkyfrog]

Thank you, Pugsy.
I have edited past unwanted posts to just a period--but this is better.
Sometimes a period is a statement--or in context it seems to be.

[McSleepy]

I didn't mean to cause this flurry of activity, but I can guarantee you, I didn't hit the "quote" button three times. And, the "delete" button is only there when in "edit" mode; and it was there at least two of the times. It was definitely some transient bug; it's happened before - something I've done many times that suddenly doesn't quite work the same way. I'll report back if it happens again.

McSleepy

[berbej03]

It didn't help me

[riversong]

I had surgery 18 months ago for a severely deviated septum and bone spur further blocking my nasal passage on one side. I was having sinus infections 6-8 times a year and at first they thought that was the cause of my inability to sleep as well. As it turns out once I had surgery the sinus infections went away, but I still wasn't sleeping. Ended up getting diagnosed with sleep apnea. I had a great outcome, and I haven't had a single sinus infection since I had the surgery. No issues with recovery, though the first week was rough. If you're having issues I would recommend it, if you're not you might want to leave well enough alone. It was no fun, but I have no regrets.

[McSleepy]

It didn't help me

In what way? Did it not open the airways, or did not help with your sleep, as you expected? Or something else?

McSleepy

[McSleepy]

I had surgery 18 months ago for a severely deviated septum and bone spur further blocking my nasal passage on one side. I was having sinus infections 6-8 times a year and at first they thought that was the cause of my inability to sleep as well. As it turns out once I had surgery the sinus infections went away, but I still wasn't sleeping. Ended up getting diagnosed with sleep apnea. I had a great outcome, and I haven't had a single sinus infection since I had the surgery. No issues with recovery, though the first week was rough. If you're having issues I would recommend it, if you're not you might want to leave well enough alone. It was no fun, but I have no regrets.

Thank you for your feedback! Yes, I've been having multiple issues from it: frequent obstruction at night, to the point where I wake up gasping for air, and the smallest swelling makes it difficult to breath even during the day. This despite all efforts: antihistamines (even though I'm not allergic, the ENT prescribed them for their decongestive side effects), corticosteroids, decongestive stimulants, saline nasal rinses and gels, and so on. And I really hope to be able to reduce the high pressures I have to use on my CPAP machine, which may also allow me to use other masks (i.e., not my Frankenstein mod). If the worse that can happen (with a probability higher than normal-life accidents), is to not have a significant benefit, I guess, I'm prepared to go through the pain (figurative and literal). What was the worst part of recovery for you?

McSleepy

[riversong]

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.

[McSleepy]

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

[ChicagoGranny]

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?

The surgeon will send you home with care instructions.

[McSleepy]

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?

The surgeon will send you home with care instructions.

I know. But my surgeon has never had septoplasty himself, so I wouldn't mind also hearing the patient's perspective . All of my surgeons have been very caring and attentive (as much as a surgeon can be), but I have learned quite a bit from my other surgeries so that I could give some precious advice to those who undergo the same procedures. Collecting information - to those who know how to process it properly - is always a good thing.

McSleepy

[Dog Slobber]

Some things come two mind during my recovery:

• Don't blow your nose while the splints are in, and when you can blow your nose, blow gently.
• Avoid any kind of pressure to nasal area, no heavy lifting, try not to bend over.

You don't want to blow a gasket up there and run the risk of an emergency trip to the E.R., or a perforated septum.

[McSleepy]

Some things come two mind during my recovery:

• Don't blow your nose while the splints are in, and when you can blow your nose, blow gently.
• Avoid any kind of pressure to nasal area, no heavy lifting, try not to bend over.

You don't want to blow a gasket up there and run the risk of an emergency trip to the E.R., or a perforated septum.

Thank you! That seems to be the number one point everyone makes, so its importance is now well registered in my mind. How about speaking? I wonder if I'd still be able to attend work meetings (I have one the Monday after the surgery that I could teleconference to from home). Also, how much mucus did you have and how did you deal with it? That is, was irrigation sufficient or did you have to resort to other techniques, such as Q-tips? My surgeon said that if the splints get clogged up, there is no unclogging them, so I need to be very thorough in keeping it clean and open.

McSleepy

[Dog Slobber]

Some things come two mind during my recovery:

• Don't blow your nose while the splints are in, and when you can blow your nose, blow gently.
• Avoid any kind of pressure to nasal area, no heavy lifting, try not to bend over.

You don't want to blow a gasket up there and run the risk of an emergency trip to the E.R., or a perforated septum.

Thank you! That seems to be the number one point everyone makes, so its importance is now well registered in my mind. How about speaking? I wonder if I'd still be able to attend work meetings (I have one the Monday after the surgery that I could teleconference to from home). Also, how much mucus did you have and how did you deal with it? That is, was irrigation sufficient or did you have to resort to other techniques, such as Q-tips? My surgeon said that if the splints get clogged up, there is no unclogging them, so I need to be very thorough in keeping it clean and open.

McSleepy

I'm retired, but I would not have wanted to work while the splints were in.

The mucas was definitely an irritant. I found myself often having to resort to mouth breathing. one of the most uncomfortable aspects.