Septoplasty surgery - recovery?

[mantysk8coach]

Anyone here have experience with this kind of surgery? I had it yesterday, along with turbanate reduction (I think thats what it is called) and I am just miserable. Not so much from the pain - that's under control, but I am just SO congested. I feel like I have a really, really bad cold, but am not allowed to blow my nose. I am supposed to start sinus rinsing which I will do later. Am I going to be this miserable until the splints come out?

 

[lovetoscrap]

I had mine done the end of October and I am sorry that I can't pass on any good news based on my experience. The week that the splints were in was absolute hell. I was beyond miserable. Just as you said, not because of the pain but because the congestion and splints are just awful. Do you have humidifiers running? I set 2 up as close to me as I could to help keep my mouth and throat a little moist and drank lots of little sips water all the time. The dryness made it impossible to sleep and be comfortable.

I had told my family not to expect to see me for that week and I literally just stayed in bed the entire time. It was hard to sleep because of the congestion and drainage so I slept in small cat naps around the clock and watched a lot of TV and internet surfed and called my dr every bad name I could think of. I didn't leave my bedroom until it was time to go to the appt to have them removed. In the interest of full disclosure I am a huge baby and don't take pain and suffering well so YMMV.

HOWEVER

I am REALLY, REALLY glad that I had it done. I am still healing so am not 100% yet but in just the few days after the splints were removed I could tell a huge difference. I breathe so much better day and night and didn't get my annual Christmas Sinus infection. One week of misery for a lifetime of relief was definitely worth it.

I am sorry that I can't offer any short term hope but hang in there. Take it easy and the rinses will help some too. Do you have the "nose diaper" for drainage? That was a big help to me even though it looked awful. But hey, I was in my bedroom so no one could see me unless they wanted to.

Hang in there. It will be over soon.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Our ds 20 had it done last summer.

He was also miserable for days. He just layed on the couch and drank ice water and lived on the pain killers. He couldnt swallow any food. He also was spitting up alot of blood constantly.

The sinus rinses helped alot. He just wanted to be quiet and still.

I think he actually had some stitches or maybe part of the splint come out itself. The surgeon said that was o.k.

Honestly I dont think the surgery helped him all that well. He has asthma and I see he still breathes through his mouth but he could not breathe through any nostril and now he says he can breathe a little through one.

I hope your healing goes well. Feel better. Hang in there!!

 

[pieper]

I had sinus surgery last week and have been miserable since. No bleeding or draining, just headaches and conjested. Was hoping the dr would remove the splints today but no luck, said next wed. I about lost it, thought I was tell feel better not worse. But he promises I will once they come out. Good news I can blow my nose so maybe that will help. The predisone he put me on made me sick and a nervous wreak stopped taking it. Trying the Mucenex, need soemthing more than Tynenol but dont want the effects of the pain pills for the headaches. Hope to God this gets better soon.

 

[Parkers_girl]

I had this done last Feb, I had the ballon sinuplasty, septum correction and the turbinate reduction. I was MISERABLE for at least the first 4 days, My head felt so swollen, I couldn't sleep from the blood draining down my throat and I couldn't bring myself to eat anything. I started feeling better as soon as I was able to rinse my sinuses out, which I believe was about 3 or 4 days later. After about a week I thought I was okay to return to normal activity, well I guess I strained myself too hard playing tug-o-war with my dog and I had a major nosebleed that would not stop for about 20 minutes. I had nosebleeds on and off for about for about a month if I did strenous activities. Nothing really helped me feel better during those first few days, I just laid in bed doped by the pain meds. I hope you feel better soon! I know how miserable those first few days are, but you will get through it and will feel sooo much better in the end!

 

[arminnie]

It's the septoplasty part that is so awful. I ended up not breathing through my nose for 6 months and finally had to switch doctors.

I had major sinus surgery 12 years ago - scraped out sinuses, opened "windows" (still don't know what that is) and turbinate reduction after a sinus infection lasted seven months. It was a piece of cake. No pain ever. I was so surprised when I told my doctor that he just said "If it's done right you shouldn't have major pain".

Funniest part of my sinus stuff when my sinus surgeon (world renowned at Stanford) asked if some visiting physicians could observe one of my exams. They were all from Asia. I guess Asians are known for having large turbinates as I remember him saying "Look how large those turbinates are - I've never seen them that big in a non-Asian."

 

[dejr_8]

Anyone here have experience with this kind of surgery? I had it yesterday, along with turbanate reduction (I think thats what it is called) and I am just miserable. Not so much from the pain - that's under control, but I am just SO congested. I feel like I have a really, really bad cold, but am not allowed to blow my nose. I am supposed to start sinus rinsing which I will do later. Am I going to be this miserable until the splints come out?

I had mine yesterday and I was worried after reading your post. So far I am having no congestion issues. I hope you feel better.

 

[dejr_8]

. I guess Asians are known for having large turbinates as I remember him saying "Look how large those turbinates are - I've never seen them that big in a non-Asian."

They were ogling your large turbinates

Were you offended or flattered?

 

[travelbug]

I had this surgery a year ago. The first few days of recovery were indeed miserable. Once I got the splints out, I felt quite a bit better. I went back to work 9 days after the surgery. I continued to have congestion and headaches for about another month, and then that finally went away too. It was not a pleasant experience, but I'm glad I had it done.

Have the splints been removed yet? Good luck as you continue to recover!

 

[mantysk8coach]

Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone!

The splints come out on Tuesday...can't wait! I'm feeling better except for that. I have had very little pain whatsoever, just the stuffiness. I can't wait to see what it feels like without them. My nose feels really dry now too, which is kind of annoying. Taste and smell is coming back a bit too.

I go back to work on Monday, and then splints come out on Tuesday.

Glad to have this almost behind me!

Thanks again everyone!

 

[pieper]

Had the surgery on dec 21st but he won't remove the splints till this coming Wed. and go back to work on Thurs. Cant wait to get these removed,that is the worst part now. I can blow my nose and at night have to get up at least 2 times to rinse and blow so I can breath. Wish the splints would come out when I blow but they are not moving. Have been taking Mucenex and does wonders for my headaches and stuffiness to get me through till Wed.

 

[mantysk8coach]

Had the surgery on dec 21st but he won't remove the splints till this coming Wed. and go back to work on Thurs. Cant wait to get these removed,that is the worst part now. I can blow my nose and at night have to get up at least 2 times to rinse and blow so I can breath. Wish the splints would come out when I blow but they are not moving. Have been taking Mucenex and does wonders for my headaches and stuffiness to get me through till Wed.

The Mucinex works? I thought about trying that, but didn't think it would work since the stuffiness isn't technicallly due to illness...I kind of figured as long as the splints were there, nothing would help. Might have to try that!

 

[browneyes106]

Had the surgery on dec 21st but he won't remove the splints till this coming Wed. and go back to work on Thurs. Cant wait to get these removed,that is the worst part now. I can blow my nose and at night have to get up at least 2 times to rinse and blow so I can breath. Wish the splints would come out when I blow but they are not moving. Have been taking Mucenex and does wonders for my headaches and stuffiness to get me through till Wed.

The splints are likely stitched in. I had the surgery almost two years ago and my surgeon told me that the splints would be stitched in. I also had my splints in for two weeks.

 

[pieper]

The splints are likely stitched in. I had the surgery almost two years ago and my surgeon told me that the splints would be stitched in. I also had my splints in for two weeks.

That's what I thought cause when I blow they are not moving. Can't wait to get them out so I can finally be able to breath without something trying to block the air. Yes Mucenex has work bigtime for me and the icepack,I took a clean tube sock and filled with rice and keep it in the freezer so when my cheekbones or jaw starts to hurt and I get it out.

 

[browneyes106]

That's what I thought cause when I blow they are not moving. Can't wait to get them out so I can finally be able to breath without something trying to block the air. Yes Mucenex has work bigtime for me and the icepack,I took a clean tube sock and filled with rice and keep it in the freezer so when my cheekbones or jaw starts to hurt and I get it out.

The splints I had a tubes on them that allowed some air flow but they were still uncomfortable.

 

[dejr_8]

I just got my splints out today (5 days post surgery). Instantly I felt much better.

 

[pieper]

Was to get my splints out today but on Monday I was cleaning my nose and pulled on what I tought was mucus but was a string attached to the splints and it came out. So much better. So I worked on the other one and got it out. Finally able to breath. Called the nurse to see if I still needed to come in today and she laughed "So you took them out yourself" Well kindof yes. Didn't have to go in today but a followup on the 26th. Back to work tomorrow.