Having Septoplasty and Tube Reduction soon the doctor has told me that I will have splints put in that will help me breathe has other people had splints and were you able to breathe with them in.   NEED HELP.

stuffy girl wrote:

I am scheduled for surgery this friday 5/2/08, I am a little nervous but cannot wait to see how it is to really breath normally. I have severe allergies and I am always stuffy it is to the point where people cannot understand me when I speak! I have a deviated septum and also having my turbinates reduced. The only thing that really concerns me is bruising? I received a call from the hospital today regarding post op instructions and was told I would definetly will have two black eyes??? I have read several stories and a lot have said they did not bruise at all?? I normally bruise very easily anyway so I am thinking the worst! I would hate to go back to work with two black eyes. Has anyone who had this surgery left with two black eyes?

I had absolutely NO bruising or black eyes. You couldn't even tell I had it done expect my nose was wide when the packing was in. I usually bruise easy too.

I dont have the best insurance, and I was wondering about cost?  Has anyone paid out of their pockets without any insurance?   anyone know how much the insurance companies were actually billed?  I know there are many factors to cost, local or general anesthesia, etc...  but just looking for a ballpark figure.

thanks!

i hope to breathe someday!

Miami1: I had splints and I could breathe through the small holes in the splints "a little".  The splints were removed after 6 days and then I have really seen an improvement.  It was a good decision for me.  I breathe so good now.

Hi all.  I had surgery for a deviated septum surgery 3 days ago and I actually unlike most of the readers fell still pretty groggy.  The main problem I have is sleeping.  Because my nose is still block (from the splints) I believed,  I cannot fall asleep because of the problem I have breathing.  Is that a common problem.  I go see the surgeon on Thursday and could someone explained what he will do.  My nose feels like there is two basketballs up there.  Any advice would be appreciated.  As previously stated I must be a wimp because I feel pretty terribe.  Cheers and best regards.

Hi Marcus and all, I understand about the stuffy nose, pressure from the splints and sleeping problem.  I found sleeping upright in a recliner with a neck pillow (travel type) after taking my pain pills was the best chance of sleep.  Also, frequent irrigation with saline rinses through the openings of the splints help keep them clear and help some with breathing.  Most of the breathing is through the mouth. Hold on, because it will get so much better when you go back to your doctor. More than likely it is to get the splints removed, which is not really uncomfortable, and after removal you will feel so much better.  The worst of the experience is with the presence of the splints which are used (according to my dr) to keep the newly aligned septum straight until healing is established.  I had my surgery 4/17 and I am almost completely healed and breathing wonderfully.  My nose is still a little tender at the base under my nose. I still irrigate everyday and I am so happy I had the surgery now.  You will be also.

kygirl47 wrote:

Hi Marcus and all, I understand about the stuffy nose, pressure from the splints and sleeping problem.  I found sleeping upright in a recliner with a neck pillow (travel type) after taking my pain pills was the best chance of sleep.  Also, frequent irrigation with saline rinses through the openings of the splints help keep them clear and help some with breathing.  Most of the breathing is through the mouth. Hold on, because it will get so much better when you go back to your doctor. More than likely it is to get the splints removed, which is not really uncomfortable, and after removal you will feel so much better.  The worst of the experience is with the presence of the splints which are used (according to my dr) to keep the newly aligned septum straight until healing is established.  I had my surgery 4/17 and I am almost completely healed and breathing wonderfully.  My nose is still a little tender at the base under my nose. I still irrigate everyday and I am so happy I had the surgery now.  You will be also.

THanks for the reply Kygirl47.  It is slowly getting better.

Cheers.

Marcus

Hi, I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow 5/8 and I'm a wreck. My concern is not the surgery, it's the packing afterward. I'm already feeling anxiety. Am I going to feel like I am suffocating. I also have claustrophobia. Has anyone felt this way.

I would do it all agian!  The only real discomfort I experienced was the stints, other than that I can breathe again and it is wonderful!!!!!

Well after the two months of waiting and being terrified of having the DS surgery along with other procedures, I finally did it this past Tuesday.
I am on day 4 post-op and this is the first day I am feeling able to be on my computer and eat a bit more.
I went in early Tuesday morning, 6:am, and was in surgery around 8am. I was supposed to be in by 7:30am but they had issues trying to get the IV into me.
The nurses stuck me 8 times before getting a veing that wouldn't collapse and not take the catheter for the IV. That was the most pain I had the day of surgery.
When I woke up I remember them telling me to breathe and stop coughing and I had morphine because I kept complaining of a headache.
Waking up felt like I had a migraine and I was nauseaus. They didn't give me pains meds for another hour because they had to give me anti-nausea meds first and I ate 1/2 a graham cracker. I was counting down the mins to get vicodin or anything.
The procedures I had done were the devisated septum (septoplasty), reduction of the interior turbinates, hypertrophy (which were overgrowths over my sinus openings that needed to be removed), my sinus openings were widened and both lower sinus cavities were cleaned out. The whole operation took about 2 hours.
I went in at 6am and was home at 3pm. Tuesday, day of surgery was not too bad, just uncomfortable with the nausea and the swelling hadn't started yet much.
Weds - day 1 post-op - was the worst day for me. I was uncomfortable and the vicodin didn't work longer than an hour for me so I was going 1 hour ok and 3 in pain until I could take it again. We called the dr and they said I could try taking percocet and see if it worked. I took that Weds & Thurs and the pain wasn't unbearable but the stints were so uncomfortable that we made an appt to follow up on Friday morning to see if there was a problem with the one side of my nose. It was all clogged up with blood and no air was getting in or out and there was no drainage. Plus my nose was so swollen it was near my eye and it kept watering really bad.
I went in Friday, scared to death for the dr to touch the tubes up there and was thinking he would just be cleaning around them bit. He ended up taking the tubes out of both nostrils. I have to say, as scared as I was, there was no pain removing them. The eyes watered a bit and it was such relief! The one nostril came out right away and it felt weird but no pain. The left side where I had the pressure took them a few tries to get it out because there was blood clot wrapped around the tube and in the tube as well. The took out the stint but the pressure remained. The dr then went back in there and removed a blood clot that was blocking the drainage and was so gross. It was almost 5 inches long, longer than the tube in there. When they pulled that clot out, the relief was immediate! I felt so much better.
Today is Saturday and I am on day 4 post-op and my nose is stuffy like I have a cold but I can breathe a little bit through bpth sides. There is drainage mostly down my throat but some comes out when I use the saline rinse. It doesn't have the pressure like with the tubes but it still hurts like I've been punched or something. I've never been punched so I am making a guess lol.
Monday I go in for another visit and for my dr/surgeon to clean the nose out more. I had one stitch come out of my nose this morning from the front end with some blood clots but no more bleeding really. I have lost 14 lbs (although would never recommend this kind of weight loss) and feel tired and weak and still have a headache. I did sleep last night in the recliner for 6 hours straight which is a HUGE improvement. I have been sleeping about 1-2 hrs at a time but feel I have turned the corner on the sleeping issue now. I am looking forward to getting back to my king size bed this week after my appt on Monday, hopefully.
Drink lots of fluids is my suggestion and use an ice pack for headaches (on your head not your nose) and take the meds as directed. After a few days you will start to feel better and things improve, even if it sucks at the moment, it does pass!
I'll update after my next appt. Time for a nap for me.
~ Lisa

Hello,
I am scheduled to have my deviated septum corrected May 22.  A bit apprehensive yet I just want it over already!  Read some great things from thos site so, thanks!  I just know (and hpe) that i'll be able to stick my finger up my right nostril without any encumbrances!  Gross but it is the truth!  Hoping and knowing for the best.

thanks and any support or words of wisdom I would appreciate.

Shannon

Hey everyone - I have really enjoyed reading all of the informaton on this Post.  I have just been informed that I have a deviated septum and need a Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction and it will be performed on June 10th.  I am anxious and excited.  Thanks to everyone for the information.  A couple things I wanted to point out or share with all of you.

I have never been able to breathe through my nose.  I am 24 years old and have always had issues with allergies, headaches, mouth breathing etc.  Additionally lately I have had a very early onset of Periodental disease (advanced gingivitus) even though I have "excellent" oral hygene according to my dentist. Mouth breathing causes gums to swell. This is what led me to realise that my mouth breathing was a problem ($400 dollars after insurance worth of dental work later).  I couldnt breathe through my nose for the duration of the procedure and my dentist urged me to see an ENT.  My ENT said (with no guarentees of course) that this procedure should all but eliminate my headaches, allergy symptoms, gum inflimation and cronic fatigue.  

I was conserned about insurance covering the procedure.  I have a HMO and have heard people say that it is not covered by insurance because it is sometimes used as a front for a rinoplasty.  I spoke with my doctor and my insurance about this consern and was told by both that it is covered by insurance with an Out Patient CoPay ($150 for me and our co-pays tend to be kinda high).  So in short SEPTOPLASTY is covered by insurance because it is necessary and there is nothing cosmetic involved.  RHINOPLASTY is not.  If you have RINOPLASTY and SEPTOPLASTY at the same time, it is often not covered by insurance as well because it becomes a cosmetic procedure.  Obviously this is different based on your insurance but this is how it was explained to me.  I wanted to make sure because believe me if I was shelling out 3000 - 5000 for a procedure I better get the nose I want along with it, but fo $150 instead of that amount, i'll forgo the vanity and shoot only for the solution to the problem at hand.  

I'll keep everyone posted on how things go, as I know that helped me and I hope to return the favor.  

A question I do have though is about time off from work.  My company requires us to take medical leave (and let them know in advance if we are out for 5+ consecutive work days.  I'm having my surgery on a Tuesday is it safe to say by Monday I'll be back in the office?  What are other's experiences?

All and all I can't wait...its going to be amazing to be able to breathe and sleep!

Had surgery last wednesday to fix a badly deviated septum and coblation. The surgery was supposed to take 1 to 1-1/2 hours. It took over 3 hours. The doctor said it went very rough, worst one had had to date. Because of the sleep apnea, they kept me in the hospital for about 24 hours total. I went to the doctor's office at 4pm the day I was released to take out the packing. He said he couldn't leave it in because of the apnea. His biggest concerns appeared to be my pain and risk of infection. He was adiment about taking the antibiotics. He also gave my percocet for the pain. He stressed I was not to do anything until I came back to see him. Just sit in the chair and watch TV. He had me on on cold, soft diet. The pain was bad, felt like I took a shovel to the face. I went for about a day without the pain pills, but finally gave in. The pain has eased up finally but the mess in my nose is so sore. It still is running, no blood, just liquid. Still have a headache on one side. I go back to see him this afternoon. I really hope he can clean out whatever mess is there or take out stitches. There is quite a bit of gunk or scabs up there. I hope the final situtation is worth the cure.

I had FESS, Septoplasty, polyps and turbinate reduction done 2 weeks ago tomorrow.  Went for my first post op on Tuesday expecting to get my splents out and my ENT told me 2 more weeks.  I think that's cruel.  

After reading every post on this forum, I am starting to get worried.  I have no clots, no scab tissue, nothing.  I am lucky if I can blow my nose.  Is there anyone out there who didn't have any of this?  When I first had the surgery, for almost 8 days, I needed to use the bandaid under the nose.  I still have to wear it at night because when I wake up there is still some mucous and blood.  I wonder if I had a very good surgeon or everything is building inside my sinuses.  Hope it's the surgeon!!!!!!

I had a septoplasty and turbinate reduction.  I wore splints for 6 days. I irrigated several times a day with saline rinse.  I don't know why your surgeon is having you wait about the splint removal.  Every case is different and what I would suggest is a open discussion with the doctor about this and be honest about how you feel and the concerns you have.  He/she should welcome your desire to get the information you need and provide it in a way that you can understand. I feel for you because the worse of my surgery were those days with the splints.  I feel great now.  I had my surgery on 4/17.