Question to those who have had successful rhinoseptoplasty

My main question is how bad you had it before the surgery, trying to gauge the degree of improvement. How obstructed was your airway because of the deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, and possibly bone spurs? Were you generally able to breathe just fine when awake, and only had the obstruction while laying down? Was there another reason for the surgery, like chronic sinus infections, nose bleeds? Finally, how much do you feel your breathing improved, and for how long have you had the improvement?

I've seen multiple ENT and they cannot agree if the risks outweigh the benefits in my situation - obstruction only, and only while in bed - so I'm trying to collect some additional personal observations (already have a few from other sources).

McSleepy

Prior to surgery, I could never breathe out of both sides of my nose at the same time. At night, I had to find out which side was clogged and then sleep on the opposite side. Prior to the surgery, sinus infections two or three times a year was the norm. Now, I seldom have sinus infections (less than once a year). It is easier to breathe during the day as well as at night.

This past spring/summer, for some reason my deviated septum became a problem. I still don't know why.

Anyway, my ability to breathe through my nose started shutting down and by the end of the summer, I wasn't able to breathe through my nose at all.

I had a Septoplasty/Turbinate reduction in August.

Because my Septum was so malformed, my ENT cautioned me not to expect 100% breathing ability again. The difference was remarkable. While I still don't have the ability to breath like I had before the problem, it's considerably better.

I am able to use CPAP with Nasal pillows. Every one I know who has had a Septoplasty/Turbinate reduction swears by it.

Okie bipap wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 1:45 pm

Prior to surgery, I could never breathe out of both sides of my nose at the same time. At night, I had to find out which side was clogged and then sleep on the opposite side. Prior to the surgery, sinus infections two or three times a year was the norm. Now, I seldom have sinus infections (less than once a year). It is easier to breathe during the day as well as at night.

Thank you, very much! If it's not too much trouble, at what age did you have the surgery (approximately) and how long has it been since?

McSleepy

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:01 pm

This past spring/summer, for some reason my deviated septum became a problem. I still don't know why.

Anyway, my ability to breathe through my nose started shutting down and by the end of the summer, I wasn't able to breathe through my nose at all.

I had a Septoplasty/Turbinate reduction in August.

Because my Septum was so malformed, my ENT cautioned me not to expect 100% breathing ability again. The difference was remarkable. While I still don't have the ability to breath like I had before the problem, it's considerably better.

I am able to use CPAP with Nasal pillows. Every one I know who has had a Septoplasty/Turbinate reduction swears by it.

Thank you! I hope it lasts for you! I must be quite unfortunate because the three cases that I know of have had a bad experience (no improvement/recurrence/worsening). And the ENTs I've seen feel that since I'm not obstructed during the day, I may not see much improvement. I appreciate the feedback!

McSleepy

Turbinate reduction, and proper medication during allergy season, was effective for me. Better able to breathe out of my nose and less sinus infections. I used to get them 2x a year.

sleepy-programmer wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:13 pm

Turbinate reduction, and proper medication during allergy season, was effective for me. Better able to breathe out of my nose and less sinus infections. I used to get them 2x a year.

Thank you! Did you do the turbinate reduction in-office (e.g., cold ablation), or was it surgery? How long has it been since? I've done the in-office three times and it's come back to fill the cavity pretty quickly each time. I'm also on corticosteroids, antihistamines, and decongestants, not to mention the sinus rinses and saline gels, just to have a chance.

McSleepy

McSleepy wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 3:10 pm

sleepy-programmer wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 2:13 pm

Turbinate reduction, and proper medication during allergy season, was effective for me. Better able to breathe out of my nose and less sinus infections. I used to get them 2x a year.

Thank you! Did you do the turbinate reduction in-office (e.g., cold ablation), or was it surgery? How long has it been since? I've done the in-office three times and it's come back to fill the cavity pretty quickly each time. I'm also on corticosteroids, antihistamines, and decongestants, not to mention the sinus rinses and saline gels, just to have a chance.

McSleepy

It was ablation and my turbinates have grown since then but my sinus issues remain stable. I take rhinocort daily, azelastine for my tree allergy in the spring. I’m also allergic to dust and have dust covers on my mattress and pillows.

I had my surgery done about 22 years ago. I would have been 54 when I had it done. I also had other things done at the same time (UPPP surgery) which impacted my recovery time. They took the splints out of my nose about a week after the surgery and I have had no problems since then other than almost hyperventilating when they first removed the splints. I had never moved that much air through my nose in my life.

DELETE

My septoplasty was done 28 yrs ago. ( Has to be even better surgery outcomes now!) Before surgery one side of my nose was almost always blocked. I had to adapt my swimming style to accommodate- some funny stuff happened there

After surgery, was able to learn to scuba with no problems at all. Now I've had good results using cpap for the past 8 yrs with the help of the hoseheads here.

As Okie said "I had never moved that much air through my nose in my life".
Amazing what a difference it made

Good luck to you

Thank you, so much, guys and gals!

McSleepy

It was of no value to me at all.

The only difference I noticed was that when I shower now water can run down the back of my nasal passage and it never did before.
However, the volume of air I can get through my nose has NOT changed. Unless I am calm, ...if I am in anyway short of breath, then I cannot breath in through my nose and out through my mouth successfully - not enough air.. need oxygen.. gasp!

.. and 6 years after the nasal surgery to enlarge the nasal passageways.. I am definitely saying: It didn't work for me.

Caveat: there are millions of different noses, you may well have a successful experience.

I had a septoplasty/turbinate reduction in August 2017. Best thing I ever did. I'm only sorry I waited so long.

Before, I could only breathe through one side. It had gotten so bad, I had to pull on my face to stretch out my nasal passages when trying to sleep to be able to get enough airflow. After surgery, I was stunned at the airflow, even with splints in--the difference was amazing!

Three months later, I was finally/formally diagnosed with OSA, and started on APAP in Jan 2018.

Okie bipap wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 14, 2019 1:45 pm

Prior to surgery, I could never breathe out of both sides of my nose at the same time. At night, I had to find out which side was clogged and then sleep on the opposite side. Prior to the surgery, sinus infections two or three times a year was the norm. Now, I seldom have sinus infections (less than once a year). It is easier to breathe during the day as well as at night.

This is precisely where I sit, I have an appointment coming up with a surgeon and I know it can get better if I go under the knife.

Sorry for intruding on this thread, just don’t often find someone that shares the exact same symptoms.