British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hope you soon feel the benefits, and please keep us posted. All good wishes, Alsa xx

I can feel the bend in mine. Been a few months now and feels exactly the same as it was before. Breathing through my nose is terrible.

Hiya i had a septoplasty 3 weeks ago, my healing has be fine until today i scratched my upper lip and stretched it at the same time and feels like i pulled somethin inside my noise just above my lip on the septum. Could this be a stitch its not immense pain but im just abit worried as to why its hurting slightly

hi guys
had a septoplasty this morning,about 10hrs ago
with me it was my left nostril that was nearly closed up from a childhhood bump
i was packed,they removed this just before i left,i have a bandage across bottom of nose as light bleeding,my nose is swollen,no obvious bruising and not exeriencing any pain yet,gave me morphine pills =2 after i came round,
took some difine now as gonna try and sleep soon
i can see all the dried blood on left nostril,,to be expected
looking forward to healing process and to be able to breathe properly out of both nostrils,,at 38yrs old
hope anyone having this op heals well and gets the benefits from it
regards to all and big thank you to the Irish health service
Paddy [url][/url]

hi guys, well nearly 7mth on from my original panicky post i'm now 2 days post op and can.t believe the fuss i made. Yes the anaesthetic made me sick - but i'm still here - and since the packing came out yest morn i'v had very little pain, tho i have got tylex on standby as this seems too good to be true! Bit of a scare this morn when i started with green mucousy discharge but a quick call to the hosp soon informed me that this is normal following smd. Just feel as if i have the worst cold in the world but then i've lived like that for years. Eating and drinking is a nightmare, although i have discovered that sticking your fingers in your ears as you swallow makes it easier! The straws are a must - i even resorted to my nephews tommee tippee cup at one point - as the bolsters are a right pain. Still pretty woozy from the anaesthetic - one minute i think i'm fine then the next i'm asleep - but i'm only getting about 2hrs at the most b4 my dry mouth wakes me up. I'm off work for about 2wks, check up in 4 and joy of joys no splints to remove. Really glad i had it done and the only downside , so far , is that i'm in quarantine for valentines and my bday... To anyone reading this pre-op, all i can say is go for it, i wish i had done sooner. And finally a gr8 big thank you to all the staff at fairfield hospital who were absolutely fantastic , including the anaethetist who said i wasn't dying on his shift!

I had Septoplasty and Turbinoplasty on both sides 6 days ago.

The procedure took just an hour including the recovery to consciousness.

I had a gauze bandage around my nose that night and had to get used to breathing through my mouth. With the latest procedures, in most cases, no stents are used and neither is packing...just an application of cream and the gauze strip taped below your nose.

There is always the initial panic of feeling like choking as your nose is cut off, but it quickly passes. They key is to distract yourself with a book or something else. The first night is the worst as sleeping is difficult - can't turn freely without feeling some pain and the stuffed nose and breathing through the mouth constantly keep waking you up. But that's the low point...after the first night, the only way is up...and fairly quickly.

Since day 2, I have not worn a bandage and merely dabbed every once in a while the fluid and blood that kept seeping out. When you first remove the bandage, there's a whole load of blood and mucous...but after that the discharge is no different from a day with a bad cold....and with each day it gets less.

By day 3, one nostril had opened up and stopped leaking.

Today - Day 6, both nostrils have stopped leaking. I am breathing freely through one nostril and I can just about feel the other one beginning to open.

Haven't had any painkillers, not even paracetemol since Day 2.

So you guys considering surgery....the first 24 hours is CRAP....but it's all the way up and rapidly from then on. I wish you the best of luck and will be delighted to answer questions.

Hi all,

Well 7 month on from my original post I'm now a week post op. I did post on Saturday 13th but for some reason that didn't appear, so apologies if it does at some point and I find I'm repeating myself.

Despite my absolute terror over the anaesthetic, surgery went well, and I have nothing but praise for the staff at Fairfield. I went down to theatre at 2 and was back on the ward by 4.15. I've been surprised by the low level of pain. The worst night was definately last Thursday and I suspect this was mainly because of the packing, which was removed expertly and with very little trouble at 7am on Friday. Luckily I have no splints and the worst part of the whole experience was my reaction to the anaesthetic and the sickness that followed, but even this was eased by a simple injection. I was discharged with the obligatory supply of bolsters and painkillers and advised to commence steam inhalations and otrivine about day 4 - which do seem to be helping. Had a little scare on Saturday when i started with a disgusting green discharge, but a call to the hospital reassured me that this was not the infection I suspected but a common occurence after SMD. At the moment I feel as though I have a really bad head cold, which was to be expected, but at times - usually whilst doing the steam inhalations - I feel as though I can breathe through both nostrils and that I'm getting enough oxygen to avoid passing out (something that hasn't happened with nose breathing in a very long time!!!) so at the moment things are looking promising.

I'm still getting the occasional numbness in my jaw, teeth and upper lip, but this is easing, and all of the external swelling has gone. Sleeping sat up helped - last night was the first night I didn't and I can really feel the difference today, so that will continue for a while longer. The advice to have straws on standby was invaluable - I even resorted to using my nephew's Tommee Tippee cup at one point! - as my mouth and throat were exceptionally dry, but this too is easing. I'm still feeling tired, and having a nap during the day, but I'm just going with the flow - although having to stay in and avoid people is annoying, particularly as it meant staying home for valentine's and my birthday was a pain.

The tempation to blow (and pick) my nose has been unbelievable, but I have resisted, not least because I'm scared of dislodging the stitches - one of which is really really tickling the inside but there we go.

Deciding to have the septoplasty was hard, mainly because of my fear of anaesthetic - although the anaethetist did tell me I wasn't dying on his shift - but I'm glad I went ahead and would urge anyone reading this pre-op to have it done. Sure I won't find out for a while how successful it's been and it won't be a cure for my allergies, but if it only stops the post nasal drip it will have been worth it.

Well i'm now day 10 post op and feeling really good. Still getting a little congestion in the morning - so i'm still sleeping slightly elevated - but this soon clears following the steam inhalation and the majority of discharge is now clear. More than anything i'm left with an over-riding sense of heaviness, but i'm attributing this, and the odd occasional tingling area or numb tooth, to the residual swelling that either remains or is easing and gradually releasing nerves. The most annoying thing at the moment is the scabby area inside my left nostril - annoyingly the one that was not blocked - but i'm resisting picking and am letting the steam do its work.

Had a totally blonde moment of panic yesterday when i suddenly thought "i'm not breathing!!!". What i'd actually realised that i wasn't breathing with my mouth open. Yippee!!! Althought the minute i thought about it and breathing through my nose became a conscious action i did feel as though i wasn't getting enough oxygen. I'm sure half of this is psychological but its a step in the right direction.

I'm still paranoid about something going wrong - infection, perforated septum that will suddenly rear its head, my septum moving back - but that's just me and we'll cross any or all of those bridges if it comes to it.

I'm slowly getting back to normal and didn't need a lunchtime nap for the past 2 days, but i'm getting really frustrated at the lack of social contact, particularly as my mum has a cold so i haven't seen her since before the op.

All in all i'm really pleased i decided to go ahead and i'll update more once i've seen the consultant again - which is still 2 n half weeks off and seems a long time but he's the professional...

Regards to all

Kerry

Hi. Can someone give me some answers?
I had a septoplasty and reduction of tubinates on 11th Feb - 10 days ago. I have used the rinses and otravine for the first week and my left nostril has opened up, although intermittently. The right nostril has only opened up very slightly - just enough to get some of the rinse in. This is the side where the septum was bent towards, blocking my sinus apparently, although I had never had any problems with nasal breathing - my problem was post nasal drip. Is it normal for one nostril to open up more than the other first? Also when I look in a mirror up my nose, it looks as if something is blocking the right nostril. Could the septum have bent again, or will it just be swelling? I am still having problems sleeping at night as I can't get enough air in the right nostril, so I end up mouth breathing, so waking up for water every 30 minutes.
Also for those who are looking at this wondering whether to have the operation, I can say that I have had absolutely no pain. I have had no painkillers since the operation, no packing or splints were used, and I was realy scared beforehand. So if you're worrying, please don't. If you discuss you fears with your surgeon beforehand, they will explain everything to you, and they don't use packing or splints unless absolutely necessary.

I just got home after an overnight stay in hospital after having a septoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery and an adenotonsillectomy. My throat is causing me quite a bit of pain so have been put on tramadol, codeine, ibuprofen and paracetemol. My nose isn't causing me any pain, just discomfort because it won't stop bleeding so have some gauze underneath to try and stop it. I had to spend an hour and a half in the recovery suite after surgery unlike most people who were only in there for half an hour being pumped full of morphine, paracetemol and codeine. This morning I managed to eat some toast because the nurse said it would be quite helpful and last night I struggled to eat jelly but eating seems to make my nose bleed and any movement makes me cough up blood.. The pain is ok unless i try to swallow and then its quite painful but from what I've read it will be worth it. My face is quite swollen, particularily around my neck and eyes but hopefully this will go down.

well its now 17 days post op and back to work for me 2moro. Things are going really well, most days both nostrils are clear and i'm managing to breathe through my nose more frequently. Had an impromptu check up on thurs as i had more suspicious discharge which the consultant wanted to check out but it turned out to be (and apologies to those with weak stomachs) the cauterised lining of my nose and sinuses which was not clearing easily and had blocked one nostril. Apparantly this is quite common after SMD and was cleared by a very tickly hoover! Consultant did say he was very impressed with the rate of healing so those 2wks i spent avoiding the world obviously did some good. Still feel as though there is swelling and/or congestion at times but even then i still have some airflow. All in all i'm really pleased with the outcome and hopefully things will continue to improve. Next check up is 11th march so more then. Kx

Hi, anyone who has posted on here - a big thank you as my son[25] had this done yesterday and I have been concerned [read a nervous wreck] . He doesn't have sleep apnoea but chronic alergic rhinitus. He had the septoplasty with turbinate reduction and polywhatnot!

It has been a great help to read your posts. One question I wanted to ask, the surgeon said a week off work and I'm thinking this is not long enough? Anyone advise please?

well i'm now just over 5 wks post op and still glad i went ahead. Saw the consultant last week and he said my nose has healed beautifully, the airway is fantastic and he's really pleased with it. I'm still getting the odd bit of pain and sensation of heaviness, but he did say that could last for up to 4 mth yet. I did have a bit of a set back with a heavy cold and still feel congested from that, but even then i could breathe clearly. The only odd thing at the mo is when i lie down - lie on my left and that side feels blocked, lie on the right and so on...more of a swollen sensation than anything and otrivine seems to help. i'm also sterimar but there were no instructions in the box so i'm not sure i'm using it correctly. All in all tho doing well, and certainly sleeping a heck of a lot better!.

That's good news private snorer, I realise it is no easy fix. However, he does seem to be getting some air through his nose although no taste as such yet. I would think that is normal for 5 days post op.

hi tess i was told a minimum of 2wks because of the high risk of infection, and i stayed off for that time - in fact stayed in the whole time - and i think that is considered the norm. I know of people staying off longer - 4wk in the case of a friend who worked in a dusty environment - but never less. If your son has any concerns he is probably best speaking to his consultant again and getting clarification. I hope the surgery helps him: i too suffer from allergic rhinitis and although the septoplasty isn't a cure for it, even 5 weeks post-op i can tell that the improved airflow is making a great difference. Stock up on straws, dvds and magazines and wish him well from me - and try not to worry!