deviated septum getting worse

My septum is slightly deviated, but since I have been on Cpap for the last year it seems to be getting worse. I have used 3 different masks, swift, breeze, and now the activa. I have gotten all but the breeze to fit well, so I don't use it anymore. I love my activa, and I really don't think I could I get a better fitting mask. So I guess my questions are does anyone else have this problem? What is better for your septum nasal pillows or nasal mask? I suppose it is all subjective, but I just thought I would ask to see if anyone could relate.

While I know that nasal surg. for a DS would be considered 'cosmetic' and not covered under normal circumstances, but if it's impacting your life medically as it seems to be, I wonder if you or your MD could talk to your insce. co. re having it paid for, because it's minor surg. at most with a very quick recovery time.

Hi, I have a deviated septum, and was told that I get very little air through and that if I had it corrected it would help that situation. I mainly use Breeze, medium pillows altho' I find that the deviated side does not leak, or leaks less, if I use a large on that side - however I can only do this for 2 nights then it starts to hurt and feels as if it is crammed against my septum. I have no trouble with the med size CL2 and have slightly less leaks.
I was told that the nose is plugged after the op, I forget how long for, and that you cannot use your CPAP during the 2 week recover period, so unless I would have a big improvement I will not bother, however, it will be worth doing some research about it.
Why would that op be considered cosmetic? guess I should check if my nose is crooked??

i also have a deviated septum and so cannot use either nasal mask or pillows. i find breathe-rite strips very helpful under my full-face mask, although i recently tried the new improved cvs version, and they, unfortunately, are not nearly as good. someone here once recommended the wal-mart equivalent for lower cost. i'd be surprised if a septoplasty was viewed as cosmetic and therefore insurance won't pay--a deviated septum can be responsible for all sorts of nasal maladies. if i were not so hospital-averse, i would have one myself.

caroline

I'm not sure it is the deviated septum that is worse-it is probably something else going on that adds to the effect of the DS-allergies or something causing some inflammation/swelling of the nasal membranes. Have you seen an ENT? If the DS is adding to your OSA & hindering treatment it shouldn't be considered cosmetic to get it fixed-the docs know how to word things if they believe it needs to be repaired. If it doesn't they will tell you.

Anonymous wrote:My septum is slightly deviated, but since I have been on Cpap for the last year it seems to be getting worse. I have used 3 different masks, swift, breeze, and now the activa. I have gotten all but the breeze to fit well, so I don't use it anymore. I love my activa, and I really don't think I could I get a better fitting mask. So I guess my questions are does anyone else have this problem? What is better for your septum nasal pillows or nasal mask? I suppose it is all subjective, but I just thought I would ask to see if anyone could relate.

I have a deviated septum too. More than likely a very high percentage of others do also. Sometimes it bothers me more, and other times less. I get decent relief from BreatheRight strips ( and btw, it's smart to stick with the brand name), and saline nasal rinses. Personally, I don't think I would want to ever go for a surgical procedure, but that's just me. My wife works in an operating room, and I've heard that the procedure is not fun. But it's like any other medical treatment, if it's really going to improve the quality of life, you may want to consider it.
I get tired of saying it....BUT, I too love my Activa! However, just today I received a HybridMask for those really bad stuffy nose nights. I don't expect to use it a lot, but I could be surprised.

Go see a good ENT and get the deviated septum fixed. There will be a few days of discomfort, but you'll be much better off in the long run.

Julie wrote:While I know that nasal surg. for a DS would be considered 'cosmetic' and not covered under normal circumstances, but if it's impacting your life medically as it seems to be, I wonder if you or your MD could talk to your insce. co. re having it paid for, because it's minor surg. at most with a very quick recovery time.

YES!!!!!!!!!! Insurance will pay for DS surgery if an ENT states it is medically necesary.

MINE DID:) I had septo-rhinoplasty done.(I even got a straight nose as a bonus!!!!) And CPAP not only works much better.... but my nose doesn't clog up and I am also on a AutoCPAP and the surgery resulted in not only the CPAP working better but also at much lower presure. Pior to surgery I was on about 10-12, After, 6-8!!!!!!!!

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Anonymous wrote:My septum is slightly deviated, but since I have been on Cpap for the last year it seems to be getting worse. I have used 3 different masks, swift, breeze, and now the activa. I have gotten all but the breeze to fit well, so I don't use it anymore. I love my activa, and I really don't think I could I get a better fitting mask. So I guess my questions are does anyone else have this problem? What is better for your septum nasal pillows or nasal mask? I suppose it is all subjective, but I just thought I would ask to see if anyone could relate.

After giving your original post (quoted above) a second thought, it occured to me that you never really did ask anyone, "should I, or shouldn't I" get septum corrective surgery. Of course, there have been replies in that regard, but if I were you and was ever even contemplating the surgery, I don't think I would weigh too heavily on advice from non-professionals (meaning: 'most of us')
It's great to know what others have experienced, but I think most importantly, you would have to discuss a question as serious as that with a Doctor that you feel you can easily talk with, and trust. I don't think ANY surgical procedure should be taken lightly.

Yeah, you probably knew all that but, just my two cents, anyway.....

Vader, I will probably make an appointment with a ENT doc and see what he has to say. If he says that surgery would be a good idea then I will go get a second opinion to make sure it is. I agree with you that any kind of surgery should not be taken lightly, and I have had more than a few.

Thanks all for the replies.

Good decision. Yes, see the ENT. And he will tell you if the procedure is correct thing to do. And getting a second opinion is always a good idea.

(I didn't do that in my case.... that is got a second opinion. From the CT scan it was pretty obvious in my case that I needed to have the procedure. Additionally, my nose has(had) always been crooked. Not real bad... but bad enough that I have had more than a few people over the years ask if I had broken my nose. And I had not. So, the added BONUS of getting my nose straighten during the septo-rhinoplasty was also something I had sort of wanted done anyway.

My ENT did an EXCELLANT job. I breathe much better. Even awake I can tell a BIG difference. And as for the cosmetic straightening.... he got that one right to. It is straight as an arrow!!!!

Even my friends that did know I had it done were very impressed at the results. They all have said they wouldn't have ever known I had a nose job done.(except for now being straight.)

My ENT also did the procedure through the nostrils with no external scaring.

I think I was lucky though. First to have a good ENT. Second, I healed fairly quick and only had a headache for a few days as a result.