septoplasty update...stents are gone!!!

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:47 pm

frapilu wrote:'ll see if that Neilmed rinse is available in Canada. I don't remember having ever seen it before.

Yep they are. I got mine (the sinus rinse) at the local Pharmasave.

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:50 pm

Thanks James. I'll check it out. I definitely want to put everything I can on my side.

France

Scottczech · Post by **Scottczech** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:33 pm

Hi Everyone - This is great. Something I can contribute to.

I have also had the sinus surgery along with correcting a deviated septum. I had my surgery before in December of 2004 - well before I was diagnosed with apnea. My sinuses were clogged up such that breathing through my nose was like having a cigarette butt stuck up each one. I, of course, compensated by learning to breath through my mouth. This is why I always had my mouth open as a kid and was called "duck" through my school years. No doctor EVER picked up on what was going on until I was about 40.

During my surgery recovery my doctor recommended the NeilMed sinus rinse for me and it is great. I don't use their bottle - I actually use a turkey baster. Works great. Just have to clean it with betadine each time before I use it. I still use it to this day. I don't do it daily any more, but I often wish I did. It really works well to keep your sinuses flushed of all the cr@# that is filtered through there during the day. It also helps keep your sinuses from getting dried out. During the cold winter months when you need the heat cranked up and it gets real dry a daily rinse will do wonders for you.

I am actually finding it now in more and more pharmacys. Most Walgreens carry it, my local Publix pharmacy carries it, and I saw it the other day at a Target pharmacy. I pay about $11 or $12 for a box of 100 packets. You mix a packet with 8 ounces of DISTILLED water. I know that you pappers know of the importance of DW.

Glad to hear you are doing better Sharon. Having the surgery you had most definitely makes a difference once you recover fully. However - I still breath through my mouth most of the time unless I think about it. It is just what comes naturally for me since I did it for so many years. That's also part of what spooks me a bit about putting tape over my mouth.

Best wishes to all...

Snorin' and still strugglin' Scottczech

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erik67 · Post by **erik67** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:53 pm

frapilu wrote:Thanks Erik67. I'll see if that Neilmed rinse is available in Canada. I don't remember having ever seen it before. I've just looked on the web and found:
http://www.unimedprod.com/

Is this it? The "sinus rinse" or the "NasaMist Saline Spray" shown lower? Looks like it's available here.

France

It's the sinus rinse. Make sure you use gentle pressure on the bottle (follow instructions).

So when is your surgery?

Erik

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:02 pm

April 30th. I've been waiting so long!!! Mind you, it's given me lots of time to read how others have managed and to learn as much as I can.

But now I want to get it over with.

France

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:11 pm

Secaris is ringing a vague bell but remind me, what is it? And why do you have to wait so long before using it again?

france
this is the nasal lubricant i use in my nostrils and on my nares every night before hooking up...she wants me to wait because she says it'll interfere with the nasal lining healing properly...and by the way, that saline rinse you were asking about is available at shopper's drug mart

france said:
April 30th. I've been waiting so long!!! Mind you, it's given me lots of time to read how others have managed and to learn as much as I can.
But now I want to get it over with.
France

i hear ya, france...and you are very prepared, so there should be no surprises coming your way...and i'm here for you, just like you have been for me

so, i'm going to wait at least a couple of days to a week to go back on cpap...i feel a thousand times better, but i have to say that the inside of my nose is very sore and dry and feels kind of scabby (sorry to be so graphic) and the tissue that the stents were stitched to is exremely painful, no way i want to have my nasal pillows pushing on that yet...it's ok, i'm just glad to be at this stage and i can persevere a little longer, this is nothing compared to those damn stents

thanks everyone who has wished me well today...and for the last two weeks...what a drama this turned out to be! (attention seeker?! moi?)

still breathing through my nose...good sign!

going to bed...i'm exhausted and i have to go back to work tomorrow

sweet dreams, everyone!
sharon

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:47 am

Sharon,

How are you? How's going back to work? Have you been able to use your cpap yet?

My ENT's office just called me to tell me my surgery has been bumped by an urgent cancer case so I'll only be operated June 18

Oh well, such is life.
France

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:09 am

FRANCE!!!!
that is terrible news...you have been waiting so long and i know you were feeling like you just wanted to get it over with! i feel so bad for you

back to work is ok...i'm a little spacey and find myself saying really dumb things and not processing very well...i guess i really need to get back on that hose...my nose is still quite tender, especially on one side, so i'm holding off on cpap for a few more days

thanks for asking...i'm so sorry about your disappointing news

sharon

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:09 am

I'm SOOOOOOOOO disappointed.

What even more annoying is that a couple of hours after my surgery was rescheduled for June 18, I received an email invitation to attend a regional forum at work being held by our president (I work for Canada Post). Our new president is into having forums in each area to meet with and discuss with various people who work for our company. The forum is for June 21st. I don't know what to do I already know from my ENT's office that the other alternative to June 18 was August

Poor you about feeling so spacey at work. I don't know why she sent you back to work if you couldn't use your cpap. Hopefully you'll be able to get on it soon.

France

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:54 pm

france

what did you decide to do about your surgery date?

s

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:52 pm

Hi Shaaron,

I really want to attend that presidential forum so I called the ENT's office and asked for another date. August 20 I asked her if I could be called if there are any cancellations. She's been a bit of a b**** since day 1 and confirmed it by telling me "No, you're too complicated. You have sleep apnea so you have to be kept overnight. You have diabetes so you have to be scheduled in the morning. You're too complicated so you're staying with August 20 and I'm not calling you for a cancellation". I felt like apologising for being complicated and having bothered her with my complications. Oh well, Aug 20 it is. Thanks for asking.

How are you doing? Are you able to use your cpap yet? Are you feeling better? Are you finding you're breathing better?

France

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sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:54 pm

oh, france

who wants to be treated with disdain on top of all the other s..t you're dealing with!?...she's poopy

well, i guess you have the event to look forward to, but august 20 (day after my birthday, btw) is a long way off...also poopy

i'm still holding off on cpap, the inside of my nose is very tender and sore (and i've discovered a stitch hanging around in there, need to call and see if it's dissolvable, or if she just forgot it ) and for that matter, the outside of my schnozz is kinda sore, too...i'll manage for a few more days...i got through my thankfully short work week (tues,wed,thurs) with no major malfunctions, so just a couple more days and i'll be back on the hose

again, france, sorry to hear about the new snafu...
take care
sharon

frapilu · Post by **frapilu** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 3:58 am

Sharon,

I hope it's a dissolvable stitch so that you don't have to go back to be poked at.

My brother's birthday is Aug 21st so he's close to yours. Mine is July 17th so it's not that far. Hubby & I are on vacation the 2 weeks after Labour Day so it'll be like surgery on Aug 20th, stents out Aug 27 and return to work Aug 28 then work 4 days and be off 2 weeks. Aug 20th is a long way off but I guess I'll just have to live with it.

Take care,
France

sharon1965 · Post by **sharon1965** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:43 am

erik67 said:

Sharon, wishing you a speedy healing - I am 2 months out from my septoplasty, and am fully healed; however, the tip of my nose is still a bit tender, but not at all bothersome.

erik
did it take as long as 2 months to feel like you were fully healed? how long did you have pain? i have some aching still and of course, like you said, the tip of my nose is extremely tender...also i have a couple of stitches in there that the ENT didn't mention to me and i'm wondering how long they'll take to dissolve, as they're VERY annoying...
all in all i feel really good after 3 weeks, just wondering how long to expect the residual pain to last, and my ENT app't to get the stents out was all of 5 minutes--no chance to ask questions, and it's impossible to get through to their office on the phone

thanks erik!
sharon

septoplasty update...stents are gone!!!

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