cpap after nasal surgery

[dreamin]

My doctor said I can only use an oral mask for 2 weeks following the surgery. I saw him today, he took out the splints and packing and he said I can resume the nasal mask in 1 week. I am not using the oral mask, I cannot tolerate it. I have tried and failed. I have not slept for a week. I am considering using the nasal mask tonight. Does anyone have thoughts about this? I've read about other people that have used cpap a day after septoplasty. I suspect my doctor is just playing it safe because he doesn't know if the cpap pressure would cause any damage to the new surgery or not. I really want to sleep... I'm so tired... what do you think?

[Julie]

Two wks is the standard soonest time for starting cpap after nasal surg. You don't want to mess up what you had done and you easily could. I know you're tired now, but... try sleeping in a recliner as upright as you can, wear a small soft cervical collar to keep your head up a bit, don't be in a warm room and just tell yourself you have to manage... you'll be sorry if you don't.

[49er]

My doctor said I can only use an oral mask for 2 weeks following the surgery. I saw him today, he took out the splints and packing and he said I can resume the nasal mask in 1 week. I am not using the oral mask, I cannot tolerate it. I have tried and failed. I have not slept for a week. I am considering using the nasal mask tonight. Does anyone have thoughts about this? I've read about other people that have used cpap a day after septoplasty. I suspect my doctor is just playing it safe because he doesn't know if the cpap pressure would cause any damage to the new surgery or not. I really want to sleep... I'm so tired... what do you think?

Hi dreamin,

What about asking the ENT if he would allow you to use a full face mask like the Fit Life Total Face Mask since it isn't touching the nose? Then again, it might be a pressure and not a mask issue.

I understand your impatience. My ENT also told me I would be possibly be banned from using the cpap machine for two weeks after my surgery next week. That didn't appeal to me but I know I have to be patient.

The people you read about using the machine after their septoplasty didn't have packing or splints. There was one person who had splints and used his cpap right away even though the doctor told him him not to. Nothing happened but I am not willing to take that chance.

Hang in there.

49er

[LSAT]

I have mentioned this before...I had the septoplasty and some polyps remover several years ago. My instructions were "no CPAP for 7 days". For 5 nights I slept partially sitting up in a recliner and then I resumed my FF mask at a lower pressure. I also could not tolerate the Oracle mask.

[dreamin]

My ENT did say that a full face mask might be OK if I am breathing through my mouth and it seems like most of the pressure is going through my mouth not my nose. Yes, he said "might" and was very non-committal. However, I do not have a full face mask. I have a nasal mask, nasal pillows, and an oral mask. I am leaving town tomorrow and need to be well rested for a very important interview on Friday.

[49er]

My ENT did say that a full face mask might be OK if I am breathing through my mouth and it seems like most of the pressure is going through my mouth not my nose. Yes, he said "might" and was very non-committal. However, I do not have a full face mask. I have a nasal mask, nasal pillows, and an oral mask. I am leaving town tomorrow and need to be well rested for a very important interview on Friday.

You're in a tough position dreamin. I am not telling you what to do but if I were in your position, I would be tempted to use the nasal mask at a lower pressure just on Thursday night.

But I am speaking from the heart and I might not be telling you the wisest thing. So take it for what it is worth.

LSAT, I thought about the oral mask as a possible option but I decided it would be hard for me to tolerate.

49er

[dreamin]

I'm going to try the oral mask once more now that the packing is out of my nose and see if it works any better. Part of the problem I had was blocking off the nose with packing in there plus the pain from the oral mast pushing against the gauze. I'll also turn the pressure down tonight and see how things go. I need to drive a ways tomorrow too -- without falling asleep of course.

[49er]

I'm going to try the oral mask once more now that the packing is out of my nose and see if it works any better. Part of the problem I had was blocking off the nose with packing in there plus the pain from the oral mast pushing against the gauze. I'll also turn the pressure down tonight and see how things go. I need to drive a ways tomorrow too -- without falling asleep of course.

Good luck dreamin with the oral mask.

Arrgh, having to drive a distance without being on the cpap. That is tough.

49er

[dreamin]

Everything has an odor. Who knew?

A few hours after getting the packing/splints out of my nose I started thinking "why haven't I noticed that smell in the car before?" then "Huh, this Subway smell different." And just now... "wow, the chicken coop really needs to be cleaned out, who knew?"

[49er]

Everything has an odor. Who knew?

A few hours after getting the packing/splints out of my nose I started thinking "why haven't I noticed that smell in the car before?" then "Huh, this Subway smell different." And just now... "wow, the chicken coop really needs to be cleaned out, who knew?"

I know this sounds strange but I so hope I experience that after not being able to smell anything for years. Then again, I am sure I will be pretty horrified at some smells for obvious reasons.

49er

[Gparr]

Everything has an odor. Who knew?

A few hours after getting the packing/splints out of my nose I started thinking "why haven't I noticed that smell in the car before?" then "Huh, this Subway smell different." And just now... "wow, the chicken coop really needs to be cleaned out, who knew?"

I know this sounds strange but I so hope I experience that after not being able to smell anything for years. Then again, I am sure I will be pretty horrified at some smells for obvious reasons.

49er

You so will!!! But be careful what you ask for...just remember that bad smells will be BAD!

You will appreciate the "new" smells and tastes!!!

Good luck!

[49er]

Everything has an odor. Who knew?

A few hours after getting the packing/splints out of my nose I started thinking "why haven't I noticed that smell in the car before?" then "Huh, this Subway smell different." And just now... "wow, the chicken coop really needs to be cleaned out, who knew?"

I know this sounds strange but I so hope I experience that after not being able to smell anything for years. Then again, I am sure I will be pretty horrified at some smells for obvious reasons.

49er

You so will!!! But be careful what you ask for...just remember that bad smells will be BAD!

You will appreciate the "new" smells and tastes!!!

Good luck!

Thank GParr, LOL!.

As an FYI, I have postponed the surgery for various reasons so those new smells will have to wait awhile. Not because I am afraid to have the surgery but for other reasons.

49er

[SleepGuy]

I had septoplasty 2 years ago this March and I wish I had done it sooner! It changed my life. My AHI is 0.1. Yup. But that first week after the procedure was really miserable because I don't tolerate a FFM. Just do your best. My doc did not pack my nose so I had some open airway. I remember setting up my cpap on my nightstand next to my reclining chair because I could not lay down all the way. Then I started getting real sleep night after night. It took like a month to emerge from Zombie Mode--that was quite unexpected. Best thing ever!

[49er]

I had septoplasty 2 years ago this March and I wish I had done it sooner! It changed my life. My AHI is 0.1. Yup. But that first week after the procedure was really miserable because I don't tolerate a FFM. Just do your best. My doc did not pack my nose so I had some open airway. I remember setting up my cpap on my nightstand next to my reclining chair because I could not lay down all the way. Then I started getting real sleep night after night. It took like a month to emerge from Zombie Mode--that was quite unexpected. Best thing ever!

Glad it helped you SleepGuy.

And I look forward to joining the ranks. Just have to dot all my p's and q's.

49er

[Snufflewrinkle]

I had to have my nose operated before I could experience the benefits of CPAP as my nose so blocked I couldn't breath it. I was referred to ent dr and the gave turbinate reduction to clear my clogged up air ways, gee. Breathing thru my nose for first was a amazing feeling to me.

Now I use the CPAP with nasal pillows and I like it. But the operation cost me sense of smell, but that's small price to pay to breath properly again