Turbinate Reduction before trip...

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I have trouble breathing out of my nose and they want to do turbinate reduction surgery.... I have it set for October 25th and i leave for Disney on Nov 29th (we are flying)

Has anyone had this surgery and can tell me anything??

 

[clanmcculloch]

I had my turbinates reduced in the same surgery in which my deviated septum was fixed. It was a VERY easy recovery. I felt like I could have gone back to work the next day but my doctor has said I should take at least 2 days after the surgery off work so I did (yeah I'm a martyr LOL). The only difficulty I had during my recovery was when my then toddler head butted me in the nose. OUCH!!

I am VERY glad that I got the surgery. Being able to breathe through my nose made a huge difference in my overall energy level because I could sleep properly. Prior to the surgery I was a mouth breather which would result in partially waking up plenty of times through the night (according to my sleep studies; I don't remember it) which resulted in fatigue that mirrored narcolepsy. It didn't cure my fatigue since I had other issues also contributing but it did make it more manageable to where I no longer felt as though I was struggling to stay awake when driving.

I had no reason to fly after the surgery so I can't comment on flying after it. I would ask your doctor about it. I don't know if changes in air pressure involved in flying could be a problem or not. I would think that a month after the surgery you'd be completely healed so it wouldn't be a problem but I'd still confirm with the doctor to be sure.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Ive have been "sick" since last June, over a year. ive seen so many doctors and i finally went to a new ENT that my friend told me about and he put a hose up there was bam! I had answers! Ive had breaking issues, sinus/ear problems.

I wish i would of changed doctors sooner. I trust the other doctors and boy did i learn my lesson!~ I seen the new doctor all of 10 mins and he was GREAT!!

I did tell them if i couldnt travel i dont want the surgery until after Disney!

 

[olive]

Just one other perspective - I had that, too, but got an infection following and was actually pretty sick. Still, I was back to work in a week, so with one month you should be perfectly fine. It might even improve your flying experience!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I am just reallyyy worried about bloodly noses, runny noses, leaking. i dont know what to expect

 

[clanmcculloch]

Something my doctor did NOT tell me was to have Afrin on hand after the surgery. My bleeding got heavier maybe 12 hours after the surgery. I called the doctor's service in a panic and when he called me he told me that all I needed to do was use some Afrin to slow down the bleeding. Sure would have saved me some panic.

Follow the doctor's post-op directions to the letter. My doc had me use a saline/peroxide mixture every couple of hours if I remember correctly. I think this was to help not only keep the area moist but to also help prevent infection. My recovery really was very smooth.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Something my doctor did NOT tell me was to have Afrin on hand after the surgery. My bleeding got heavier maybe 12 hours after the surgery. I called the doctor's service in a panic and when he called me he told me that all I needed to do was use some Afrin to slow down the bleeding. Sure would have saved me some panic.

Follow the doctor's post-op directions to the letter. My doc had me use a saline/peroxide mixture every couple of hours if I remember correctly. I think this was to help not only keep the area moist but to also help prevent infection. My recovery really was very smooth.

He did give me some kind of nose spray but it wasnt Afrin. Do know know the name of the kind he told you to get? there site has about 5 different ones.

thanks for your help

 

[clanmcculloch]

He did give me some kind of nose spray but it wasnt Afrin. Do know know the name of the kind he told you to get? there site has about 5 different ones.

thanks for your help

He just had me buy some regular saline nose spray (I think he mentioned Ocean but that's just a name brand and any will work) and a bottle of I think it was hydrogen peroxide, any store brand was fine. I had to mix them together 50/50. I wouldn't suggest just going off my memory on the hydrogen peroxide as it's been 8 or 9 years.

What did your doctor tell you to get?

Afrin is just a name brand of a nasal decongestant spray. Generic is also fine as long as the active ingredients are the same.

 

[mommyrants]

I had this surgery. Was back at work in 6 days. You should be fine to fly in a month. I had lots of sea spray and some menthol drops for my nose my doc recommended (along with some heavy duty pain meds and antibiotics.

BTW - i had many people try and talk me out of it, but it has been amazing. No infection for the last 18 months. (After 4 - 5 a year)

My surgery was CT guided by a great ENT at Northwestern. I recommend making sure you have a Board certified ENT.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Well the has turned in to a NIGHTMARE. My regular doctors office wouldn't fill out the one paperwork and i had to cancel the surgery because i couldn't get the one test in time

i am really thinking about waiting until after Disney to do this. Its becoming very stressful for me.

See my regular doctors office is more like a clinic so they only take walk ins. I cant take off work and sit there all day and hope to see him and then i have to get blood work done too.

I am trying to find a more regular doctor but its just been a mess.

UPDATE

So the ENT office called today and said after dealing with the other office and them being so clueless they are going to do the test i need.

So my new surgery date is 11-8!

 

[chell]

Good luck! You'll have 3 weeks to recover. Since I had the turbinate reduction and septum straightened I had to stay out of work for 2 weeks. My surgery was in August. Another reason I had to be out of work 2 weeks is because my immune system is a little out of whack too. You should be fine. When I first went back to work I was beyond exhausted, but that may be because of my Fibro and other issues. The pain was extremely manageable.

You don't have to worry about draining, bleeding, etc after the first few days; well you shouldn't if all goes well. The first day I had a lot of draining/bleeding. Within about 24 hours of being home after the surgery I was able to remove my nose "diaper".

My doctor said I had to keep a saline nasal spray and use it often. He said you had to keep the nose from drying out. He told me to use it several times an hour. This worked great for me and my nose didn't get dry.

The only time I freaked out during this whole process was when they removed the shunts. Those things are larger than you expect them to be. It didn't hurt because he had sprayed me with lidocaine. Just feeling the pressure freaked me out.

Being able to breathe now is AMAZING! I'm even sleeping better! Just last week I was released from the ENT. This surgery has been so easy and made such a difference for me.

 

[clanmcculloch]

The mention of the shuts brought back the part that freaked me out the most. After removing those shunts, the doctor kind of vaccumed out my sinuses and that hose he used seem to go in REALLY far. I was watching him push it farther and farther in and it seemed like he was sucking out my brains. LOL!! He used an anesthetic nose spray first so I didn't feel a thing, but that perception of that hose going in so far was WEIRD!

Wow! 2 weeks! I had my deviated septum fixed at the same time as well and I was only out for 3 days total including the day of my surgery. The extra precaution must have been due to your fibro and other issues.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

eww ill close my eyes!!! when he was doing my exam he put a LONG tube down my nose and that freaked me out haha. and make me cry a little cause it burned. its so tight in my nose he really had to push it.

nov 8th is the big day. ill be sure to update and let everyone know how it goes.

 

[conwrightnie]

I just had this surgery on the 13th of September. They actually had to do it to remove a brain tumor (yes, through my nose), so it was a bit more intense than just a resection of the turbinate. At any rate I was in the hospital for a week, just because of some complications with the tumor area. If I had not had those complications, they said I should have been driving the weekend after my surgery. My instructions were not to fly within 5 days after the surgery, just because of the pressure.
I experienced some dizziness and nausea before the removal of the packing material. After they removed the packing that went away over the period of a few weeks.
Yes, the surgery is inconvenient, and the removal of the packing is a little traumatic with the sounds and suction, but it is well worth it. I have never been able to breathe through my nose and now I can!
Just leave yourself some down time and don't push things too much. And, ask your doctor about the flight.

 

[chell]

I just had this surgery on the 13th of September. They actually had to do it to remove a brain tumor (yes, through my nose), so it was a bit more intense than just a resection of the turbinate. At any rate I was in the hospital for a week, just because of some complications with the tumor area. If I had not had those complications, they said I should have been driving the weekend after my surgery. My instructions were not to fly within 5 days after the surgery, just because of the pressure.
I experienced some dizziness and nausea before the removal of the packing material. After they removed the packing that went away over the period of a few weeks.
Yes, the surgery is inconvenient, and the removal of the packing is a little traumatic with the sounds and suction, but it is well worth it. I have never been able to breathe through my nose and now I can!
Just leave yourself some down time and don't push things too much. And, ask your doctor about the flight.

Was it a pituitary tumor? Glad you are doing so well! Hope the recovery process continues to go great.

 

[chell]

eww ill close my eyes!!! when he was doing my exam he put a LONG tube down my nose and that freaked me out haha. and make me cry a little cause it burned. its so tight in my nose he really had to push it.

nov 8th is the big day. ill be sure to update and let everyone know how it goes.

Ewww! The main thing was that I could NOT get hot for 2 weeks. Do not over do in Florida, even though the temps shouldn't be too bad when you go. Like others said, take Afrin! If you start bleeding use the Afrin right away and get to the First Aid station. Make sure you use the saline spray if your doctor orders it. Use it all the time! Don't let your nose get dry while on vacation.

 

[chell]

Years ago I had my face vacuumed out and it felt great afterwards. It was a bit odd while it was going on but my head felt so much lighter after.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I just had this surgery on the 13th of September. They actually had to do it to remove a brain tumor (yes, through my nose), so it was a bit more intense than just a resection of the turbinate. At any rate I was in the hospital for a week, just because of some complications with the tumor area. If I had not had those complications, they said I should have been driving the weekend after my surgery. My instructions were not to fly within 5 days after the surgery, just because of the pressure.
I experienced some dizziness and nausea before the removal of the packing material. After they removed the packing that went away over the period of a few weeks.
Yes, the surgery is inconvenient, and the removal of the packing is a little traumatic with the sounds and suction, but it is well worth it. I have never been able to breathe through my nose and now I can!
Just leave yourself some down time and don't push things too much. And, ask your doctor about the flight.

Will i hope your doing ok today!!!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Ewww! The main thing was that I could NOT get hot for 2 weeks. Do not over do in Florida, even though the temps shouldn't be too bad when you go. Like others said, take Afrin! If you start bleeding use the Afrin right away and get to the First Aid station. Make sure you use the saline spray if your doctor orders it. Use it all the time! Don't let your nose get dry while on vacation.

He did mention Afrin and sea salt spray. So they will be in my purse or the plane that's for sure!

He did give me some stuff to irrigate with? Its not as bad as i thought and just doing that i can breath better!

What kind of Afrin did you use? there are many different ones according to there site.

 

[chell]

He did mention Afrin and sea salt spray. So they will be in my purse or the plane that's for sure!

He did give me some stuff to irrigate with? Its not as bad as i thought and just doing that i can breath better!

What kind of Afrin did you use? there are many different ones according to there site.

The irrigation is weird at first. If you have to still irrigate while you are in Fl make sure you buy a bottle of distilled water there.

We just bought the 12 hr Afrin. Thankfully I never had to use it. It is still unopened.