British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi had septoplasty and turbinates operated on one week ago.
Hospital were brilliant. My only issue has been bleeding and dry throat, nose wouldn't stop bleeding (wasn't loads) just constant, hos were not concerned and discharged me as per norm, but bleeding has continued all week albeit is hardly anything now.

Throat well no one warned me about this! Thankfully I discovered Difflam spray last year and made mother in law go buy me some, it numbs your throat, so you can ignore the dryness and get at least 2-4hours uninterrupted sleep before needing water and a respray....Recommend this to everyone!!

I mixed the salt and soda solution and started using from day two, three times a day and it definitely helps. Nose looks a little smaller to me but no one else can see it, but I'm happy with the slight change.

I had a Septoplasty and Turbinate reduction 3 weeks ago, I still feel very stuffy and also have a job to breathe through my nose as it is still seeming swollen. I am doing sinus rinses everyday. I had constant sinus infections before the surgery and was continually on antibiotics. My sinuses were so full of mucus that it caused my ears to bung up and get tinnitus, this is still present after my surgery. I am hoping this will clear up when things have settled down and I am breathing better.
I was wondering if anyone else has experienced sinus tinnitus and also how long before I can breathe clearer through my nose. Many thanks.

Hi. I had a septoplasty early in November 2012. For brief moments get a sense of clear breathing, but on the whole my breathing is about as bad as it was before. Though I am still very bunged up and cold like. The blockage seems way down in my sinuses, and is very hard to clear. SICK but a relief, I have sneezed on occasions and fired out hard ball of mucus about 5mm (ouch) from left nostril, remains 50% blocked. Right remains blocked 90% at a guess at all times.
After the first week of opp I got a weird cheesey smell present deep in my nasal. It went away a few weeks back, but has reared it's head again over last few days.
I am getting a little dis heartened with it all. Any advise from people a few months on from their ops.

Kind regards.

I Had my septoplasty & Mucosa reduction done on the 11/12/2012, I had disolvable packing & stiches. The first week was horrible. I couldnt get any air through my nose so when ever I ate or drank my ears felt like they were popping once the most of the packing had dissolved it wasn't too bad. If I'm honest after the first week I could breath ok through my nose.

during my second week I sneezed and I think it must have been some packing or a clot came loose it was discussing but my Dr said there was nothing to worry about.

I had 3 weeks off from work (2 weeks sick 1 week Xmas leave lol) my nose is still tender if its knocked, but in general its ok.

The pain wasn't too bad, the first few days it hurt but after that it was just uncomfortable for a week. I used Stérimar Nasal hygiene spray to help the packing & stitches dissolve & also to help keep my nose clean. A small bottle is like £5 but it does have roughly 150 doses & defiantly beats trying to snort salt water (which my Dr did not recommend given the procedure I had just undergone)

I would say to anyone having a septoplasty to use stérimar spray, stock up on tissues & make sure you have ibuprofen available (it helps with the swelling as well as the pain)

And Suse I Hope your daughters fella was ok for he's birthday. I think everyone recovers differently. I mean I felt fine by the Monday after my op but my Dr didn't recommend me going back to work till the 24th (mainly coz of all the dust)

Happy New Year all

I had a septoplasty & bilateral turbinate reduction on Dec. 18th. The first few days were HELL but I'm on day 8. No pain or real blockage but my nostrils feel a bit dry. I've been using a salin nasal rinse pretty frequently and that helps a lot! My left side *problem side* still has some swelling that I hoe will go away in time. I'm a singer and I got this surgery hoping it would improve my nasal resonance and breathing. I'm anxious to see the full benefits.

In 1992, I was living in an apartment in Kansas City whereby they hadn't cleaned the air filter in a very long time. I hadn't had any nasal problems up to that point. Upon turning on the air conditioning that spring, I came down with a bad case of bronchitis, and, within a few day, I found my nose, permanently, swollen to where I was steaming it with hot tea until midnight just to get 4-6 hours of sleep! I was told to get surgery, but the doctors wouldn't tell me what was involved with this surgery and why. Finally, in 2000, this surgeon was supposed to correct a deviated septum I never even knew I had, as well as "trim the turbinates." I STILL! had breathing problems after the surgery! He told me it was all alergies! I couldn't get any doctor to listen to me that I felt that surgeon didn't trim the turbinates down they way he was supposed to. The same surgeon made me go through a sleep apnea study and have sleep apnea surgery five months later - even though my only complaint was that my nose was, constantly, swollen. Finally, in 2002, a different surgeon did a cat scan in sections, and found where, if I didn't have a deviated septum before, I had one now! I went through surgery again! STILL COULD NOT BREATHE! I reiterated that I thought the first surgeon didn't get the turbinates trimmed down, but was told it was all allergies. This doctor forced me to spend hours getting shots! FINALLY! in Dec. 2008, I went to a Dr. Lee in Topeka, KS, who did another catscan in sections. I was filled with infection, and only getting 4-6 hours of sleep a night. I had been taking round the clock Sudafed, as well as steroid pills five times a year. My blood pressure was going sky high! Dr. Lee then corrected the deviated septum again only for me to say my nasal passages were STILL swollen! He then said, "Oh! That's due to the turbinates needing trimming. I'm sorry! I'm having to do a revision of a prior surgery!" SO I WAS RIGHT AND THOSE DOCTORS HAD BEEN WRONG! THAT FIRST SURGEON HADN'T DONE HIS JOB! So in Mar. 2009, Dr. Lee trimmed the turbinates - and, upon waking up, I COULD BREATHE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIXTEEN YEARS! I admit I had about thirty huge scabs about the size of a quarter and a nickel come out of my nose over the course of the next year - but I felt great! I have no need for any allergy pills or pills of any kind. The only problem is that the natural drainage goes into my throat, as there's been so much surgery, my nose can't drain naturally. I continue to wash my nose twice a day - not with a neti pot, as that only gets to the bridge of the nose - but, rather a BULB SYRINGE with either salt and soda water or Alcholol. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND TO THIS DAY WHY ONLY DR. LEE COULD CATCH THAT FIRST SURGEON'S MISTAKES!

I had Septoplasty done about a month ago. It wasnt painful except for the intial recovery from being under anesthesia. Caused a bit of severe headache and vomiting. But things were fine right after some five six hours. Had that bandage on my nose for two days. Did nt have any bleeding from nose even on the day of operation. Guess, the packing for stopping the bleeding was perfect.The discharge from nose ,though not blood is irritating at times. Otherwise, I would say it isnt a very painful surgery to undergo.
People planning a Septoplasty, dont worry. It is a very minor surgery. No scars, No shape changes.

Beckles,

Firstly good luck with the Op. My daughter's boyfriend had a septoplasty and sinus clear out done on Monday afternoon. He's still high as a kite on the meds and swollen and dripping occasionally and I doubt he's going to be good to go for a wee while in terms of work. I'll keep you posted though. He is hoping to be totally back together by the 24th which is his birthday, but I'm not so sure. I guess we'll really get a true pic in the next week and as he comes off all the meds!

Suse

I'm having my septoplasty & turbinate reduction on the 11th December, I was surprised at how quickly the appointment came through. I was referred at the end of August/beginning of September.

I've been advised that I need to take two weeks off work however my work doesn't think I need that much time off. Will the Dr sign me off after the surgery?

I have read a lot of the threads on here and judging by the post op symptoms others have had it sounds like I will be needing that time off.

Hi everyone
I posted a few months ago
Ive finally seen my consultant 2day after have quite a few scans

Hes decided he will do Nasal Airwaysplasty and also septorhinoplasty done at the same time.
He says he will need to take some cartlidge from behind my ear 2 put in my nose.
Im really scared and worried that my ear will then look different to the other

Has anyone had this done?

My operation is booked for the end off November.
I would really appreciate some feedback
Thank you in advance

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Hi, im on day 2 following septoplasty to treat a deviated septum causing chronic post nasal drip. Generally feeling worse as time goes on but the bleeding has slowed. I also have an irritating sensation in my top teeth... Almost like they are being pushed apart and pushed together at the same time! My pallett and gums are aching almost to the point of itchiness.

I've found ice packs on the bridge of my nose are a huge relief but painkillers are wearing off on the 4 hour mark.

Sorry to hear that your previous surgeries didn't pan out. While I never had the type of surgery your contemplating, I was given that option. To straighten the bones, they will basically take a chisel to your nose and break it. That is going to cause substantial bruising to the nose, cheek and eyes. Your definitely in for a much longer recovery, and to be quite honest, more painful. With that said, given your previous failed procedures, it is probably your best bet...perhaps your only bet. I got lucky, I guess. I had about 90% blockage on the right side, but chose to get the septum fixed first and see how that worked before going all the way, so to speak. I also have a spreader graft on the right side to help keep it opened up. I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Its now a little over 3 weeks since I had my surgery and I completely healed. No pain, scabs, drainage, etc., whatsoever associated with my nose and my breathing has never been better. I can grab it, wiggle it, etc., with no pain. The right side is now almost as good as the left. I'd say probaby 60/40 as far which side breathes best but i never expected it to be perfect. The only way they could have made it perfect was to go the route your talking about but when breathing normally, I cannot tell the difference. The only thing that ticks me off about the whole thing is that I put up with my breathing problems for 12 yrs before doing something about it. I wish you the best of luck.

Hi everyone

Ive had 2 septoplasty surgeries done 1 back in 09 and 1 in 10
both havent worked im still constantly have a blocked nose with no smell and constant headaches

I saw my consultant yesterday who said he would do a 3rd operation
he said he would atempet to straighten the bones in my nose again he would make the airways alot bigger than they are and he would clean all my sinuses out

i was just woundering if anyone has had the same problems and had the operation i mensiond

i really scared about it as i did recover well from the second op i had done and this one is going to be much bigger

any info would be great

Thanx

Just like to share my experience real quick. I just had septoplasty surgery on Wednesday. I don't think I have experienced any pain throughout the whole process. Some discomfort yes, but the whole healing process has felt almost entirely like having a bad sinus cold. No headaches or throbbing to speak of though. Just really plugged up, initially, with slight drainage. Nose is sensitive to touch but I never bruised at all. My surgery was a little more complicated too because they inserted a spreader graft on my right side to help keep it open over the long haul. My septum was also detached in one spot, which was fixed during the procedure. So, given all that, I feel extremely pleased with the whole process. I could not breathe out of the right side prior to this surgery. As I am typing this, my breathing is clear, the only obstruction I can feel are the splints in each nostril, holding the septum in place while it heals. Breathing on the right slide is almost as good as the left. One hell of an improvement. I am very pleased.