Hi Everyone,

I also had this surgery on March 16 and although at first I was not sure if it was worth it, I feel now that it was worth every second.  The reason I went to the nose doc in the first place was to get my nose corrected (I broke it when I was young and now have the means to get it fixed).  After visiting the doctor, I found that my deviated septum was the cause of a host of other issues that I never associated with my nose (headaches all day (which I thought were from sitting in front of a computer all day or my wisdom teeth), having issues breathing (thinking I was out of shape although I work out all the time), never sleep through the night and always wake up with dry mouth, and always having my mouth slightly open (not realizing I don't use my nose at all to breathe)).  I have been doing these things my whole life (or least since I graduated college where I just thought it was normal).  The surgery has now corrected every single thing, and I can breathe like I didn't know was even possible.  Now I highly recommend the surgery if you have one or more of the above issues.

The surgery itself was perfectly fine, I am a very paranoid/hypochondriac/hate needles type person but the only discomfort for me was having a cast on my nose (not sure if that was just because I had slight corrective surgery for the bump that came from the frisbee that hit my face when I was young) but that was the most uncomfortable part.  The first day I was on the pain meds every four hours without fail but was off of them by the next day.  Its uncomfortable to sleep because you are sleeping almost upright and the "gunk" that collects in your nose can be painful (especially if stuck to a stitch).  But if you keep irrigating and don't touch your nose, it WILL go away.  

Splints - this was the absolute WORST part of the whole process.  I had a lot of "gunk" in my nose from having a cast on my nose and not being able to irrigate properly.  The splint got stuck and I immediately turned green and wanted to vomit (which you can't do because vomit comes out of your nose sometimes).  I was forced to lie down immediately and then she pulled it out and I survived.  But then the most amazing thing happened - I felt air flowing in and out of my nose and it was crazy!  I walked the whole way home (I live in Manhattan) breathing through my nose and keeping my mouth closed the whole way.

My sleep is more sound and my headaches are gone.  These little annoyances that I had were creating huge health issues I never thought about and now they are all gone and its such a relief.  The thing I hated more than anything was getting those splints out, but it was 30 seconds of my life to be able to breathe and not have headaches, it was worth it.

If you have any questions for me, I'd be glad to help and show pictures if interested.

ID

Great post nycid,  

Sorry your splints got "stuck".  I was lucky, but even with a little pain it is well worth it!

Frodo


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...zzz...zzz...zzz... ___...gasp...snort...cough...zzz...zzz...___....gasp...snort...cough...
Successful Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction surgery?saline irrigation...continuing cpap trial for pressure settings...

Hey Nycid,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful, insightful story about your septoplasty experience.  I´m just sitting here with a smile on my face and a feeling of hope.  I´ve been battling sinus issues forever and it´s just gotten to the point where I´ve got to do something.  As you said, all this time you just thought ¨This is the way life is.¨  But I know there´s something better out there (as you apparently knew as well to get the surgery done in the first place).   Sitting here, I could ¨feel¨ what it was like for you to walk all the way home breathing air through your nose.  God, I hope I get that feeling when mine´s all done with.  

While I´m tempted to see the photos you mention, they might scare me a little if there´s any swelling or blood and such.  I´m not all that keen on needles, blood, and scalpels either but I´m as prepared and committed mentally as I can be to accept whatever they throw at me.   Oh, they did use a scalpel correct?  I´ve heard some use lasers, but I´m pretty sure my doc is a scalpel guy.   Thanks again for your account of your experience.

Hi, I was wondering if anybody stop snoring after they had deviated septum surgery? I was also wondering if anyboby feels less tired since they got the surgery? thanks

yes--i am much better--however I had my nose fixed,adnoids removed,turbinoid reduction and upp--it was totally worth it for me--i wish i would have done it sooner!!!

Hello everyone - My surgery is scheduled for June 6th.  I will be having under-developed sinus cavities cleaned out, having a huge fourth turbinite removed and my deviated septum set straight.  I was so happy to read all the posts from those who said their surgeries were well worth it.  

Frodo had sent me some wonderful information already and those of you who replied positively just cemented all those good words of wisdom.  Tomorrow is my pre-surgical exam and does anyone have any advise on what types of questions I should be asking?  I do have a list ready but I feel like I am missing something...

Thanks, Junebug

Hi JuneBug,
It sounds like you´re in a similar situation as I am, only my surgery is on June 29th.  I´m anxious to hear how yours goes.  Please let us know on this thread will you?  

As far as questions go, a few that I have of my own are as follows:  
1) How long can I expect to take to recover?
2) How will I know if the surgery is a success?
3) Will the doctor know if the surgery is a success immediately after the surgery based on his experience and the job he feels he did?
4) What are the odds of me breathing well again and avoiding sinus infections in the future?
5)  Will the doctor be taking cartilege out of both sides or only one side of the nose?  

Those are my questions. Maybe you can post the ones you´ve written down.  It´s up to you.  I´m a bit curious.

Thanks for the questions LittleMoreAwakeG1.  Those are excellent questions and not ones I had come up with yet.  Mine are:

1.  Do you plan to use packing in the nose?  If so, how am I to breathe since I have OSA?
2.  Will you be placing splints in the nostrils after the surgery?  If so, how long until they are removed?
3.  What pain medications will be used post-surgically?
4.  I have heard from multiple sources that laying down is very uncomfortable following this type  of surgery.  Many people sleep in recliners for the first week in order to avoid that feeling of being suffocated.  Is the surgery I am going to be having going to produce similar feelings?
5.  How many days should I anticipate being off work?  
6.  Am I to bring myCPAP machine & mask to the hospital since I have to be admitted and spend the night?
7.  Will it be painful to wear the mask following surgery?  To me, it seems like it would be very painful to blow the air onto the surgical site.

That's what I have so far.  I had the choice of scheduling my pre-surgical exam with my MD or the ENT surgeon who will be performing the surgery.  It made sense to me to meet with the surgeon since I had gone to see him expecting to leave his office with a script for a new antibiotic and instead left his office with a surgery date.  Needless to say, my head was reeling.  It was the last thing I had expected.  However, reading the other posts, I was so happy to see that so many people had a positive result.  I work with a woman who is taking a great deal of pleasure telling me how horrific it was for her.  She accidentally got hit in the nose on the 5th day after surgery.  Her septum was again deviated from the hit and she now refuses to return to have it corrected.  I am so sorry I ever mentioned my upcoming surgery to her.  She now seeks me out to spout grisly details.  At this point, I know she is embellishing her issues and for some perverse reason, she is enjoying reliving details.  What an odd person.  I will do my best to avoid her for the next 10 days!!!

 

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delayed reply - I forgot I posted something on here!  My pictures are NOT scary at all - its just the before and after shot - its AMAZING how exact my doctor got to what she said she would be able to do (thank goodness with technology today, doctors can show you what they think they can do with your nose).  This is the "corrective" / aesthetic part of the surgery.  I also have pictures from when I had the cast on, but even my colleagues say it doesnt look so bad - just a lot of swelling around my eyes from the cast, but it lasted only one day.   Surprisingly, its not bad at all.  No scars and swelling anymore, I'm back to normal with a nice, new nose =).

Regarding feeling more energetic - I'm not sure if its the warm weather approaching or my surgery that has left me so much more energized.  I think its both - the fact that I can sleep much better through the night is helping me wake up in the morning.  Also, being able to breathe through my nose is also helping my work out schedule (ie, I dont feel out of breath as fast when doing cardio which I think is helping with the energy factor).  

Snoring - I heard this surgery is supposed to cure (or at least help) snoring.

LittleMoreAwake - with regards to your questions:
1.  My surgery sounds a little different than everyone else's since I had the bump on my nose removed as well.  I was back at work within a week because I had a cast on my nose for a week.  If I didn't have that, I would think you would be up and running in a few days.  Only the first two days were "embarrassing" for me in that I was swollen and didn't really want to go out in public.
2.  Your doctor will tell you if its successful or not!  Just kidding - besides that, once you get the splints/dressing removed from your nose, you should be able to tell almost immediately that you can breathe, and it gets better and better as you get used to breathing through your nose.
3.  The doctor will know immediately if the surgery was successful.  Its a pretty straightforward, common surgery with few complications.
4.  I think you will 100% be able to breathe better again.  I know I no longer have sinus headaches, but my doctor told me that was not guaranteed.  I really think breathing and my headaches were correlated, so you may have the same results.
5.  Cartilege - you should ask your doctor this.  Honestly, I did not ask too many questions prior to the surgery regarding the actual surgery because I was too scared that if I knew the details, I would chicken out.  But the only "pain" (I put that in quotes because it was never actually painful) was the part they shaved down on my nose for the bump.  I never felt any pain or discomfort where the septum or turbinates surgery occured.

You should ask your doctor about post-op - what will they do if its not 100% successful?  What if something bumps your nose during the recovery?  

If you have any other questions let me know!

I met with the surgeon today and went through my list of questions.  Here are the responses I received.  

My recovery for a return to work will be 5-7 days and full healing will be 6 weeks.

He states he will know if the surgery is successful right away but full confirmation will not take place for at least 6 weeks, or until fully healed.

He states I will breathe better and the sinus infection occurance will be lessened.

Very little cartilage will be removed bilaterally but there will be some bone removal to get the septum seated where it belongs.

He does not plan to pack the nose with guaze or cotton unless absolutely necessary, especially due to the apnea.

He does plan to place splints into the nasal cavity and they will remain for 5-7 days.

He plans to prescribe Vicoden as the post-surgical pain medication.

He does recommend using a recliner for the first week or so due to the swelling.

He does anticipate a return to work in 5-7 days, dependent upon healing.

As I am not currenlty using the CPAP machine due to these sinus issues, he does not see a need to bring it to the hospital.  

He did agree that it would be painful to use the mask immediately after surgery and said to use it when I was ready.

The surgery should not take more than one hour.

He will use radio frequency waves to shrink the swollen turbanites.

I am not sure about prescribing Vicodin to sleep apnea patients. Does it cause respiratory depression?  Or maybe that's still the best option regardless? I have read that people w/sleep apnea are supposed to avoid narcotic (opioid) pain medications which can lead to hypoxia (low oxygen), even in patients with mild sleep apnea.

i was given liquid vicodin after i had my tonsils and adenoids out, they also carved out part of my throat, i had that procedure done specifically to help ease my sleep apnea.
i didnt have any issues with it.
but once all that stuff in my throat was gone i could breath way better anyways.

My husband said he will spend the night of surgery in the hospital with me so I can go to sleep feeling comfortable that I will wake in the a.m..  I have spoken with my DME and they are willing to again exchange my most recent mask attempt.  I continue to hope and hope and hope that one of these days I will find the combination that works for me.

Stay tuned for post-surgical info.

Hi
I had surgury on may25th it has been 10 days since
I smell every thing different and I have been sleeping way better
I dont feel that grogy feeling that i used to every morning because of my sleep apnea
my nose is very dry though and I am doing the steaming , douching and applying the ointment prescribed
Do I think it is a great idea Yes although I was one of those ones who postponed it as long as I could

Hi R in BC,
Congratulations on your septum surgery.  In what way is your sense of smell ¨different¨?  Is it better?  I´m glad you´re sleeping better too.  I so hope that´s the case after I get mine done end of June.  I can´t wait to do it.