I go to have the splints removed tommorrow and I have to say I am ready for sure.  There really is no pain and I can breathe a little through the openings in the splints, but they are annoying.  I use the saline rinses several times a day and the saline spray when I feel stuffy.  I still sleep in the recliner with my neck pillow for support.  I drink a lot of water and other fluids because the breathing through my mouth makes me feel dry.  Just relaxing and watching a lot of TV.  Hope everyone else is doing OK.

This thread sure has a lot of steam.  I just wanted to say that although deviated septum surgery can sure help you breathe better during the day, it is as I understand it very rare that it will "cure" sleep apnea.  I´ve benefited greatly in the way the surgery has allowed me to gain better efficiency with CPAP.  But in terms of a cure for apnea, don´t expect this surgery to fill that purpose.  With that said, I would recommend septum surgery to anyone who has problems breathing through their nose due to a deviation.  For me it was well worth it.   I also highly recommend nasal irrigation using a Neti Pot.  Love it.

Hi everybody I have a question I am having nasal surgery soon Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction what is the most comfortable way of packing the nose. One doctor has said he would do a complete packing the other say that the packing would have a tube/straw that would allow me to breathe but other doctors say that the since the turbinates are blocked and that the air is not humidified that this would not help. I have even read that some surgens use stients. I really need some help. Is packing a nose after surgery outdated?

kygirl47 wrote:

I go to have the splints removed tommorrow and I have to say I am ready for sure.  There really is no pain and I can breathe a little through the openings in the splints, but they are annoying.  I use the saline rinses several times a day and the saline spray when I feel stuffy.  I still sleep in the recliner with my neck pillow for support.  I drink a lot of water and other fluids because the breathing through my mouth makes me feel dry.  Just relaxing and watching a lot of TV.  Hope everyone else is doing OK.

With having the surgery have you been able to ge outside or has the surgery left you tired?

I had the splints removed today and I can breathe through my nose again! It's wonderful.  I have a watery discharge as with a allergy attack but that is improving with time.  The dr told me the splints help the septum heal straight and he said I really did well wearing them for the week.  He said some of his patients would request they be removed early because they couldn't tolerate the presence of the splints and the need to mouthbreath.  I tried to just think of each day in small parts and not look at the length of a week and that is how I did it along with the saline irrigations for comfort.  I am happy I di this surgery!  I feel like the rest of the recovery will be easy compared to the first week.  I look forward to a good night's sleep tonight.

kygirl47 wrote:

I had the splints removed today and I can breathe through my nose again! It's wonderful.  I have a watery discharge as with a allergy attack but that is improving with time.  The dr told me the splints help the septum heal straight and he said I really did well wearing them for the week.  He said some of his patients would request they be removed early because they couldn't tolerate the presence of the splints and the need to mouthbreath.  I tried to just think of each day in small parts and not look at the length of a week and that is how I did it along with the saline irrigations for comfort.  I am happy I di this surgery!  I feel like the rest of the recovery will be easy compared to the first week.  I look forward to a good night's sleep tonight.

How much air could you get through the splints?

In response:  I could get a small amount of air through the holes in the splints, but did use mouth breathing too. At times, I would feel less air movement and I used saline irrigation to help clear the builtin airways in the splints. It is not a pleasant feeling (having the splints in) but I can see the benefit to keep the newly aligned septum in place till healing is established.

miami1 wrote:

Hi everybody I have a question I am having nasal surgery soon Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction what is the most comfortable way of packing the nose. One doctor has said he would do a complete packing the other say that the packing would have a tube/straw that would allow me to breathe but other doctors say that the since the turbinates are blocked and that the air is not humidified that this would not help. I have even read that some surgens use stients. I really need some help. Is packing a nose after surgery outdated?

Seems that is in queston... My doctor used no packing or splints....  he is a very modern day surgeon . I was told by him 99% of the time he uses no packing or splints .


_________________
Steve

HI all iam 16 yrs old china And i am expected to have my Deveated Septum surgery. Iam a little scared but i think it will be worth it for me . i have sinusious on top of all of that. I have been on med after med and they kida just stop working. My alergerist told me that it would depend on how server my simptioms were , to determine if i wanted to hace the surgery. Illl let you guy knw what iam goin to do. I can deff say i will have it. Does it hurt ?? and does your nose look funny afterwards.     

voyager1 wrote:

miami1 wrote:

Hi everybody I have a question I am having nasal surgery soon Septoplasty/Turbinate Reduction what is the most comfortable way of packing the nose. One doctor has said he would do a complete packing the other say that the packing would have a tube/straw that would allow me to breathe but other doctors say that the since the turbinates are blocked and that the air is not humidified that this would not help. I have even read that some surgens use stients. I really need some help. Is packing a nose after surgery outdated?

Seems that is in queston... My doctor used no packing or splints....  he is a very modern day surgeon . I was told by him 99% of the time he uses no packing or splints .

This is how I feel I went to a doctor today and he said that packing or stints were not needed he would just have an extra stitch put in. On by the way when you had you surgery were you able to breathe out the nose and if so what would you say was the amount of air that you could get through and how long was there congestion?

LittleMoreAwakeG1 wrote:

Hi All,
Since I and some of us on this board have had or are considering deviated septum surgery (in my case, I´m considering it), I wanted to start a fresh thread to see what the experiences have been.  Although I understand correcting a deviated septum doesn´t necessarily cure most sleep apnea, I am wondering if the surgery was worth it or not worth it and how improved your breathing has become as a result.  Some insight to the procedure and recovery would be interesting to hear about as well.  Thanks very much.

I had it done about 12 years ago. Catscan showed I had very little oxygen going in and bad enough to require surgery. I had chronic sinus infections and migrane headaches all the time. I had the surgery. Was not too painful. I hated the tubes sticking out of my nose for 3 days and the cleaning of the nose every day and the spitting up of blood clots for a few days but after all was healed, I breathed so good, I was elated. However NOW I am back the same way I was before. I go next week to see if I need it done again. My allergies are so bad, my voice sounds like a man and I struggle to breathe. I hate to go through it again but I'll have no choice.

I had deviated septum surgery along with a turbinate reduction, reduction of the soft palatte and a tongue laser reduction on March 20th for my obstructive sleep apnea. Since then Ive been really sick twice-once with a sinus infection and now with a upper respitory infection. Ive never been a sickly person and was wondering if this is normal or if anyone had any suggestions.

I am doing very well since my septoplasty and turbinate reduction on the 17th.  My nose is still healing and the irrigations with saline help. I am breathing so much better and I am happy with the results.  It was rough for the week with the splints but I feel good now.

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 very little bruising.  My upper lip was swollen and bruised.  Otherwise, none.  I am feeling better every day. I sleep all night and breathe well.  Still irrigate and remove blood clots and crusts and feel dry in my nares upon awakening. I am happy with the outcome I have experienced.