Kygirl:  I know it sound simple enough to just talk to your doctor but in this case , my ENT has the bed manner of a gnat.  The last time I saw her, she was such a grouch that I hesitate to ask her anything or to question anything she has to say.  I am not looking forward to seeing her in 2 weeks because she was so grumpy.  I am trying to be nice about this woman so you get my drift of what I'm really saying.  She is not very approachable.

I have read every post and know that 4 weeks with stents is very unusual.  Oh well, it could be worse, it could be 6 weeks.  I'm glad you're feeling much better.  On the whole I do too.  I still can't breath through my nose most of the time but every once in a while, I can.  I am getting use to it and in the morning  I run for water and coffee.  I also am getting a hint of taste every once in a while so that is very hopeful.  It's been so long!!!!!!

Guest; I sure hope you feel better soon and it does sound like you are improving.  Your doctor should have to have splints in her nose for 4 weeks or so...smile.  In the end, I feel you will be fine and will be breathing so much better.  I sure am and I wish I had mine sooner.  It was miserable always having a stuffed up feeling, headache and face pain.  I havent had any face pain and I sleep like a baby since my surgery. Stay in touch.  

Hello All - Been a long time since I posted here (on pages 15,16 and so on of this forum thread)

A quick recap - I had surgery in November of '07 to fix a deviated septum and have polyps removed. Things were going so/so for a while after. Then in January went in to see my ENT and they found scarring in my nose. That required a second surgery to remove the tissue and 'other stuff by my eye' as my doctor put it. Yeah...that's great...I love hearing 'stuff' from someone who has operated on me and makes 10 times more $$$ that I do. Anyway....weeks go by and I continued to have severe pain in my forehead. I decided to talk with my ENT and he said he didnt see any scarring or infection and told me to see a Neurologist. I was like...no...they are not headaches. I believed my frontal sinus was the problem. So I then decided to get a second opinion from another ENT. He put a camera up my nose and didnt see infection or scarring. But he decided a CT Scan would tell us for sure what is going on. A couple days go by and I get the results from him. The scan showed my frontal sinus completely blocked and infected and the doc said I would be a good candidate for Sinuplasty. I couldn't believe this would be my THIRD surgery since last November. The pain has been absolutely HORRIBLE. The new doc didnt even give me pain killers or anitbiotics. Whatever...I endured the pain until this morning when I went in for my third operation. The procedure was to only last anywhere from 15 mins to an hour. It lasted over 2 hours. The reason: They couldn't get the balloon up through my nose and up into my frontal sinus because it was so swollen/infected shut. So guess what they did guys and gals? I now have 6 stitches above my left eyebrow because they had to go from the outside in! I was informed prior to surgery that this may be an option if the doc couldn't get the balloon in. I am actually not bothered by this at all though it may sound like it. I've been through hell with the deviated septum, polyps, scarring, and now frontal sinus. I will say that I actually feel pretty good and I am very confident this mornings surgery will be the one that finally settles the score. I am a little upset that they only gave me 5/500 Vicodin though. What kind of !@#! is THAT? I might call them tomorrow and get an upgrade. They drill through my forehead and I get weak Vicodin. And it is generic too (hospital filled the scrip).

Anyway - I hope you all have better luck than what I have had so far.

Hello, first time poster, but i read through a few pages here and there of this thread.
I had the similiar surgeries as most of you done, DS and turbinate, 4 days ago.
My doctor didnt use packing or splints however as it seems alot of you have had.  
One of the things im curious about is that I am not in any pain whatsoever, and barely felt any pain after the surgery, only some irritation from having that tube in my throat.  I was eating normal food the second day and was up and moving about.  I'm still groggy as all hell from the anitbotics I think, but otherwise just tired in general.
I bled quite a bit during the first and second day, but now i mostly just drain some mucus I guess.  I still cant breathe at all from either nostril, which is what bothers me as alot of people have said they can breathe a bit at this point.  Anyone with similiar experiences? My post-op is tomorrow.

It has been awhile since I posted here but thought I'd toss an update out.

My original surgery was on 1/24 and I had a deviated septum, turbinate reduction, and RFA of the tongue performed.  At post-op follow-ups with my surgeon, he wasn't entirely happy with the way the septum was healing up.  He felt there should be better airflow and recommended a 2nd procedure to "clean up" more cartiledge.

I had that procedure done yesterday - local anesthetic only and wide-awake and joking with the surgeon in the OR during the whole thing.  Other than the shots to numb my nose up, it didn't really hurt.  Since this was less invasive and it was only work on the cartiledge, so far the recovery has been pretty easy compared to last January.

Hopefully this will do the trick!

MeanJoe


_________________
"I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way." -- John Paul Jones.

I also just started on cpap, about 2 months.  I have a severly deviated septum, and have had sinus problems most of my life.  when I was in my early teens I had severe nose bleeds often, both sleeping and awake, and now only rarely have nose bleeds, nose has been broke at least three times that i can remember.. would the surgery be worth it


_________________
Danny
ResMed
C-Series Tango
Opus nasal pillows
12cm

Hello all, I just found this site after finding out that I have a deviated septum on both sides, this resulted from being hit in the face with a basket ball/volly ball when I was about 12 at school. I have since then suffered a excruciating, debilitating sharp pain in my nose occasionally and only for a minute or so, even though I never knew what it was, It was my septum moving as I was getting older, I am 36 now and had trouble breathing lately when I went to sleep, so I went to a Dr and he told me I have allergies, I have never had any allergies in my life but was open to the idea as I know things change when you get older, so I took the prescribed telfast and nose spray (like rhinocourt) for the prescribed period, it did not get any better, so then in thinking it was a nose cancer as family members on my dads and moms side both died from some form of it. I went and had a cat scan where they saw a concha bullosa which is a growth in my nose, so thinking it was that and wanting to get it removed in the simple surgery, I went to the ENT for a referral to hospital, well he found out yes indeed I have a concha bullosa but my septum on both sides is also deviated. So I have booked into hospital to get the deviated septum straightened and the concha bullosa removed in a months time.  If i put my fingers up my nose the plate on both sides is bent into a sharp point on the left and the right its just not flat.  

Any thoughts?

Regards,
Natasha

day 10
still have nasal drip leaking out occasionally and stuffed up.  still cant breathe.  doc gave me cortozone to reduce swelling, might have helped a little
worried the surgery didnt help..

Like the subject states, I just had the septoplasty - the surgery to straighten the septum - on 5/28/08.  I am a 52 year old male and noticed that my right nostril was about 80% blocked by what looked like a red membrane. The opening was more closed and cylindrical vs round and unnoticeable like my "good" side. Saw an ENT and was on the table 2 weeks later. Three days after the surgery, I just now feel OK to sit up for any length of time.  I get the nasal splints out tomorrow - yes!

I would like to share what I have learned for this surgery. This will be mostly the before and right after the actual surgery that I have experienced.  More to come as I recover and discover my new ability to breathe.

Here's what I have learned:
(1) Do not research the actual procedure before the surgery! Probably a truism for any surgery. Actually knowing the surgery may scare you, not what you want before the surgery. Trust that your ENT surgeon knows what he/she are doing and that they have done this many times.
(2) Prepare for the "no stooping" part of recovery. When the say no stooping, they are not kidding. Anything more vertical than your laid-back recliner in full recline mode will cause your sinuses to stop up in a heartbeat. Have everything arranged in your recovery area so that you will not have to bend over.  Get clothes ready, towels in the bathroom. food high up in refrigerator and cupboard, etc. etc.
(3) Hand in hand with #2, do NOT plan on lifting, pushing, pulling, (probably s e x as well, sorry!) etc. as these will stress the area of the surgery.  Even though you can not see them, or image how the ENT put them there, but there are sutures to hold the splints in your nose following surgery. You would not want to pull them out!
(4) Have at least 3 pillows for your bed. This to keep you at a 45 degree angle. You will not be able to toss and turn, so maybe one one each side would be helpful too.
(5) As Froto pointed out, get plenty of liquids for post-surgery recovery. You will be thirsty following the surgery. This goes with #2 above, have your liquids before surgery day. Cold Powerade and Gatorade will taste awesome to you.
(6) Get soup or easy to eat foods. You will be able to chew and swallow, but every time you take a bite for the first few days, you will feel a discomfort in the area of the surgery as you compress and contract the affected nasal area as you open your mouth and chew. I noticed that sandwiches did NOT work well!
(7) If possible, have the surgery in Fall or Spring. Winter is too dry, unless you can control your recovery environment with a humidifier. Summer is too hot and miserable, unless you can maintain a comfortable temperature in your house. If you go out in the heat, you will feel it.
(8) Which brings me to the next point, you are going to be on antibiotics. These make you more sensitive to sunlight. Your skin will burn easier. I'm not sure if it makes your eyes more sensitive either, but sneezing is not allowed. So make plans to be inside for 3 or 4 days following surgery.
(9) Get off of aspirin or blood thinners, as allowed or suggested by your doctors, before surgery. This will keep the bleeding in you nose to a minimum. Consult your doctor!
(10) If the doctor will allow, make arrangements to pick up your antibiotic and/or pain killer prescriptions before surgery.  I had a miserable 1 hour wait for my prescription to be filled.  Time better spent in bed right after the surgery.
(11) If your sinuses do stop up beyond the ability to breathe through your nose, relax and lay down with your 2 or 3 pillows under your head. It will drain relatively quickly and with a little help by snorting.
(12) Check with your ENT about using a saline nose spray to keep your nose moist. This is NOT a 12 hour nasal congestion spray - it is simply a saline solution to moisten the inside of your nose.
(13) You will not feel like talking much for a couple of days. Every word uttered resonates through area affected by the surgery and is not comfortable.
(14) Similarly, be prepared to shut your phone off. It will inevitably ring right when your nasal passages are clear and you are getting good sleep. It also keeps you from bending over to answer it. Try texting or email instead.
(15) You will not be able to blow your nose. Believe me, nothing outside of a trickle of blood will get past the nasal splints and to the nostrils. The mucous will flow backward and down your throat, but will not come out of your nose. There will be times when the socially-accepted non-snorting behavioral protocol will have to be ignored to help move some of the blood and mucous buildup.
(16) Some ENT surgeons use a smooth plastic splint in the nose to assist in post-surgery recovery. While this not overly comfortable, it is necessary.  Others use gauze or cotton packing instead! Check with your ENT - I think I prefer the idea of the plastic splints as it at least allows moisture spray in to give you some relief.
(17) It goes without saying, but read the information on your prescriptions. I'm 52 and still learned from it.
(18)  You may experience a little fever in the first day or two, but watch for fever above 101.
(19) Get the phone number for the oncall doctor should something go wrong. Watch for excessive swelling, excessive bleeding, infection/foul odor, etc. Have this phone number readily available during your recovery.
(20) Do not drink alcohol - it impairs some antibiotics and is downright ugly with others.
(21) Do not drive. You would be surprised how many times you have to turn your head quickly as part of normal driving practice. This will stress the surgery.  And, you will be surprised how unstable you still are from the surgery and post-op prescriptions.
(22) This goes without saying as well, but it is worth repeating.  Arrange for a ride home after the surgery. Most surgical centers and hospitals will not even start the procedure until you have someone standing there to be your designated driver and care-taker.  A taxi is not allowed either at most places.

I'm sure that there are more helpful hints, but that is all I can remember for now. I am looking forward to my full recovery and wish to thank all the ENTs out there for your medical knowledge and for making our lives better!!

Virgo123      I couldn't agree with you more.  Every point you made was good.  I went through it 5 weeks ago and just got the splents out yesterday.  I think the  thing that surprised me the most was not being able to sleep for such a long time.  I think it was the 5th night when I finally took some sleep aids that I finallly slept.  And the less I slept, the worse I felt.  So it goes hand in hand.  

My ENT wanted the stents in for 4 weeks.  That was very difficult.  It ended up being 5 weeks but the thing is, I CAN BREATH.  My taste and smell were with me this morning but aren't here tonight.   I got my favorite stuff for dinner and I can't taste.  A little disappointing.  Oh well, there's tomorrow.
..

I have read all of the posts and do so appreciate both the sponsor of this site and the people who took the time to post.  I also appreciate some of the earlier posts of MeanJoe and Voyager1 who added some real humor to this site.    I am very anxious right now but I had to laugh out loud and that made me feel better so thanks, guys. I appreciate all the input and all of the real emotions, too, people.   And all of those nice people who stick around to help others. Would that we had more sites like this one!  Such great friends.

My ENT has suggested that I have my deviated septum corrected along with polyp removal.  And ... he has suggested that I have something done in the sinus area that he says contains polyp roots which have never been gotten to before in the four previous polyp surgeries I have had.  (all with packing ... this one is supposed to be dissolving stuff.)  However, he also said this can be dangerous due to the position of the sinuses.  I am older and do not have a family support system so I don't know if I can go thru with all of this after reading all of the posts.  I have had a total of ten various surgeries so far and the effects of the drugs were the worst!  My ability to sleep was awful, too.  So I am not eager to go through with another one, but I am not eager to stay the way I am, either.  The doctor has left the choice of all or any up to me.  My questions are:

What are turbinators?
Has anyone had their sinuses cleaned out - perhaps from polyps?  Any problems?
Has anyone had polyp removal along with deviated septum work and sinus work?
If so, how long was the recovery?
Unfortunately, my polyps seem to grow back a lot and so the surgery only helps for a few years.  Has anyone had previous surgeries?
And finally ... for some of you ... what caused the scar tissue?
Thanks in advance for any replies.

Lavender Lilac:

You have a lot of questions.  I had deviated septum, polyps, turbinate reduction and FESS done 5 weeks ago.  I think that the recovery time was just a few days.  Once I started sleeping I felt great so that is the most important thing.  Get to sleep as soon as possible.  Polyp removal not a big deal at all.  Turbinate reduction was no big deal at all.  That is when they scrape the cheek bones for disease and infection.  I just took tylenol extra strength for the duration and it was fine.  Had no problem with it.  Took percacet the first day and I was just about crazy.  Didn't like it at all.  I didn't mind the surgery at all.  Would I do it again, I don't know.  It wasn't the pain and it wasn't the inconvenience.  Today I can breath.  Yesterday I finally got the stents out and that was five weeks with them in.  Not pleasant.  That's what I don't know about.  

As far as I know, they don't do packing anymore.  From what I read, only the older doctors do the packing, but I won't swear to that.  I had no packing and people who have stents usually get them out within a week.  I think the packing is tough and it comes out within two days so that wouldn't be bad.  No matter what, you won't be breathing through your nose for a few days or weeks depending on what they do after.

This is my first surgery on my sinuses.  I am 56 years old and probably should have had this done years ago.  I was back to the gym in three weeks.  Really not a big deal.  I've read horror stories for this surgery but I really don't get it.  Nothing was a problem.  My ENt said the reason to keep the stents in for 4 weeks was to prevent scar tissue from forming.  We will see.  She is very young and I'm hoping has the latest techniques available to her.  

Don't be afraid of the surgery Lavender.  Just be prepared and open.  No big deal at all!!!
   

"Just be prepared and stay open."  
That's funny considering the surgery!

Thanks, Nano for the info.  Almost everybody on this board is so positive!  I had this one surgery where the packing (which is the worst!) was supposed to come out the next day.  But my nose bled when the doc took it out and he had to go on a ski vacation so he decided to leave me in the hospital with the packing for a week!  That was really bad.  I wouldn't want to go thru that again.  This doc said the stents have to be in for a week ... but some people on this board had them in longer.  Ugh! I'm a very active person and don't like anything holding me down.  Funny, cause when I read the posts, I could feel the inner pain and the uncomfortability of people.  I guess all surgeries have that.  All of mine did.  But different people have different tolerance levels.  I also suffer from claustrophobia and even tho I can breathe thru my mouth as I have been doing for a long time, knowing that the nasal passages are still freely opened and not stuffed with something is a real comfort.  I just don't know yet if I want to go thru with all of this ... maybe just having the polyps removed.  I keep putting off calling the doctor's office back!  

So glad to hear, tho, that you are happy and well and survived it all with little fear, complications, or unhappiness.  May you live long and breathe freely!

Hi Everyone,

I had tonsilectomy and deviated septum/sinus cleaning surgery one month ago. Sometimes my throat feels like it swells. Anyone experience this? Sometimes it makes it hard to swollow. Also, I still can't breath out of my left nostral. anyone experience this? I thought maybe there is is some swelling and in time i'll breath better, but everyone else seems to have had relief right away is that right?

i had my surgery 4 weeks ago.  i still feel clogged up like the surgery didnt help much... but sometimes when i sneeze i get something like the following picture.  is this normal?  warning it's pretty gross....

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1720/picture003mediumsy7.jpg