British Snoring & Sleep Apnoea Association

Hi,

I am having a septoplasty done in just over a weeks time and wanted to ask a few questions. I realise that there has been a thread on this before and that was very useful. From what I read it seems to be quite a successful and relatively painless operation.

I just wanted to know how much swelling there is likely to be to begin with. Am I likely to look like a panda or could I go to a social event a couple of days after the operation.

I would also like to know whether or not it is advisable to fly within a month of the operation.

I know these might seem trivial or in the case of the former even vain questions, but any responses would be greatly appreciated.

hi,

having just had a septoplasty i can tell you that theres no panda effect at all, maybe a little puffiness, but no one could tell i'd had anything done, i was advised not to do any exercise for 6 weeks but with regards tp flying i've got no idea, expect a bit of bleeding and having to snort salty water 6 times a day (this really helps remove the scabs etc, advse you to buy a 5ml syringe works very well at cleaning the nose out) your face might ache a little, mine dones 7 weeks on, but back at work and no problems,
however if you're having a rhinoplasty as well expect major swelling and a 10 rounds with mike tyson look!, had this done twice and looked and felt completely terrible afterwards. After the septoplasty i was really suprised not to have the same experience, hope this helps and good look!!

Chemus,

Thanks for that. The reason I asked the questions is I have a 40th birthday party and hopefully an interview coming up in the next couple of weeks and really did not want to go to either looking like I had just done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, so that is reassuring to know.

I will take up your advice re the syringe although I don't much fancy the idea of snorting salty water 6 times a day. A little bit of bleeding I can live with.

Thankfully, I am not having a rhinoplasty as I know how painful that can be.

Thanks again

hi

I had this op in November last year and found it very painfull although i had 3 ops in 1 so some of the pain may have came from the other sites It will take a couple of months to get over completely and i found that my top jaw under my nose was very sensitive for quite a while after almost like you got a sensitive tooth but like chamus said their is no bruising which surprised me because i was expecting it but just had some slight swelling which soon went down I dont now how long your be in hospital because i was in for 2 weeks due to the amount of surgery i had but i wouldnt recommend flying soon after because it may cause bleeding but i think your party may be ok as long as you dont dance to much

It is deffinitaly worth having done i couldnt breath through my nose at all before i had it done but now i came breath freely down both sides but im yet to find out if it has helped my apnea it will take along time for all the swelling to go down I seeing my apnea consultant in september for a sleep assessment so will find out then it its helped

If you us a cpap machine you may fine that you cant use it for a few days because of the discomfort i had to us oxygen because my sats were going down and was monitered every night

Hope some of this helps and i havent scared you off having it done but i am tones better than i was before

best of luck

tas

Thanks Taz,

As far as I know I will only be in overnight and then off for at least two weeks. No worries about dancing too much as I have two left feet!

It certainly has not put me off as virtually every post I have seen states that it has helped, so I can live with a bit of pain and discomfort if the benefits are going to be big.

Thanks again for the advice.

Hi,

I just thought I would post to let you know how I got on with my septoplasty operation.

I went in to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on Thursday afternoon and spent a quiet night in there as they did all the pre-op checks and I saw the consultant and registrar who was going to do the operation. They were very good at explaining everything in a very clear and straightforward way. I have to admit though that I was not too happy about being woken by the SHO at midnight as he had lost the original blood sample and wanted to take another one, hey ho these things happen.

On Friday morning I saw the anaestheist who explained that it was not necessary to use my CPAP machine to bring me round. I was then left to put on the gown and anti-embelism stockings and learned how not to put these on (back to front), but that is me all round. If there is a right and a wrong way to do something, then I will choose the wrong way. I was then taken into the anaesthetic room and they gave me the painkillers etc.

The next thing I remember was coming round in the recovery room and I actually asked the nurse if they had done anything as I could not feel any pain at all.

About 5pm the effects of the operation really began to kick in. My nose started to bleed heavily and after going through several tissues in quick succession, the nurse put a bolster on my nose. I then suffered flu like symptoms from about 5pm to 8pm and my heart rate increased slightly, but I managed to get a few hours sleep and by 10pm felt much better. My nose though continued to bleed all night.

On Saturday morning I saw the registrar and she said that I could go home and to expect some bleeding for the rest of the day and perhaps Sunday. She also told me to have two weeks complete rest and that as they had put splints in my nose they they would need to see me again in two weeks time. They also gave me a 20ml syringe and told me to rinse out my nose using salty water 2 or 3 times a day.

One major tip. Do not go home by public transport! My nose bled constantly on the coach on the way home and to cap it all there was a researcher on board trying to conduct an interview with me!

It is now Tuesday and apart from feeling as though I have a heavy cold I feel fine. I have not as yet tried to use my CPAP machine as the consultant recommended that I took a week's "holiday" from it.

So, all in all a relatively quick, painless and from what I can feel so far successful operation. The doctors and nursing staff at Ninewells were superb and I have nothing but the utmost respect for them.

I will let you know how I am getting on later in the week once I have tried my CPAP machine again and once I have been to get the splints taken out.

Hopefully my rather long post will help anybody who is about to undergo this operation.

Hi,

One week in and tried my CPAP machine for the first time last night. WOW what a difference! I could actually feel the air going up my nostrils, instead of the usual mouthful of air I usually get. It really makes you appreciate what a difference your CPAP machine makes, especally if you have not used it for a day or so. It almost goes without saying that I feel much more energised than before.

The nose is no longer bleeding nor does it feel sore in any way. The cold is almost gone as well, so all in all everything seems to be going fine. I am still rinsing my nose out with salt and bicarb of soda mixed in water. This is really working well at removing any scar tissue and freeing up the passages.

I will post again at the end of my second week when I get splints out and let you know what the doctors say then.

Well done Tony for your perseverance - and for keeping us updated. Here's hoping you go from strength to strength.

Alsa xxx

Hi,

I went back to Ninewells hospital yesterday to have my splints removed. Although my appointment was for 2.30pm, I was not seen until 3.45pm. I was a bit annoyed about this as people who had arrived after me were being seen before me. I suspect the hospital may have made a mistake with my appointment time.

The registrar took a quick look at my nose and told me that everything was fine. He proceeded to take the left splint out first while I was sitting in the chair opposite him. This duly came out along with a lot of mucus and gunge. I have to admit that the shock of actually having completely free nasal passages for the first time in years was quite something and the poor doctor and nurse were quite convinced that I was about to faint or something.

After convincing them that I was not about to faint, the doctor removed the right splint, again complete with mucus and gunge. I was then told to come back in 3 months time for a routine check up.

The trip back down the road by public transport was much better this time helped enormously by a fantastic meal in a little pasta place in Glasgow. Although this is not a compulsory part of the treatment, it made me feel a heck of a lot better

So all in all I feel great and I am looking forward to visting my sister and her family for the weekend before summoning up the energy to go back to work

I will post again in 3 months time just to finish off the story. I do hope my posts have given anybody who is about to undergo this operation an insight into what is involved. If anybody out there is unsure about having this operation done, I would simply say go for it as it has certainly benefitted me.

Forgot to say that I flew down to Stanstead with Ryanair last weekend and the nose was fine.

If it can withstand a Ryanair flight and my mate going crazy at a football match then it can withstand anything

So if anybody is thinking of flying after having this done, it is probably best to follow the official advice from CAA and wait a fortnight before flying again.

Hi,

I went for my check up yesterday and thought you might like to know what happened.

After poking around in my nose the doctor informed me that I have a very interesting nose. Apparently the left side of my nose and the septum is ok, but the right side of my septum is still slightly bent. He also said that he had found a small perforation in my septum.

He stated that it might cause me no problems at all or that it might feel like I have a permanently stuffy nose, cause crusting, possible bleeding or that I might start to whistle while I breathe (I suppose I will have to learn some new tunes, Colonel Bogie anyone! ). He did ask how I thought things had been and I have to say that it is causing me no problems at all and that I feel that my breathing is much better.

He also stated that my turbinates are also a bit bulky. He stated that there was no need to rush into doing further surgery, and he did suggest that I could try some nasal steriod sprays if I wanted or I could leave it for 3 months and we would have another check-up then.

We agreed that we would give it another 3 months and if everything was fine then we would leave it as it is, otherwise we would then discuss our options.

I will therefore let you know how it goes in 3 months time.

Hi,

I just wanted to update you on the situation. I saw the consultant yesterday for a further check-up and he confirmed that everything was fine.

He stated that while the septum was not completely straightened, it was certainly not causing any obstructions and therefore he was satisfied that he could sign me off as having been treated successfully.

So, that is one less problem to worry about and it certainly has made a big difference to my breathing.

All in all, a very quick easy and relatively pain free way to ensure a vast improvement in my nasal breathing.

If anybody is in any doubt as to whether to have this operation, I would definitely say go for it as it will make a big difference.

Hi Tony,

Just read through your series of posts as I was told on Tuesday that I need the same surgery to correct a crooked septum. It was a bit of a shock as I had gone to ENT to be investigated for nasal polyps !! Apparantly I don't have polyps but I do have acute Rhinitis and the afore-mentioned crooked septum. So I'm now waiting for my date, but your story has helped me understand what I'm about to go through.

Many thanks

Rob.

Hi all,

Well, at 10:00am yesterday, I went under the knife and had my Septoplasty and reduction of turbinates. I had the surgery done privately through my company health insurance and attended the Nuffield Hospital in Bury St. Edmunds. They were fully aware of my OSA and took necessary precautions during surgery, keeping my airways clear. The surgery took 90 minutes and I woke up about 11:45am, feeling as if nothing had been done !

I couldn't believe how quickly I came round and how well I felt. I had a wedge of gauze taped under my nostrils but no packing, as my surgeon tries to not use it wherever possible to aid comfort and recovery. To be honest, the internal swelling was such that packing or not, I wasn't going to be breathing through my nose anytime soon. Basically, it felt like having a very bad cold and blocked nose, but without the other symptoms.

I was placed in the High Dependency Unit and had my blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitored every 15 minutes, then 30 minutes and finally, twice hourly intervals as the day progressed, but I was sat up in bed by 12:15pm and having a ham omelette for my lunch. I spent the rest of the day with a nurse by my side, either in the HDU or in my own room so I could watch TV.

About midnight, I felt like I might attempt to sleep, so I was hooked back up and the BP and O2 sats were set on automatic. Sadly, everytime I actually "dropped off", I woke back up about a minute later when an apnoea occured This pattern went on throughout the night, interspersed with frequent trips to the loo, as I was drinking jug after jug of water or tea because my mouth was bone dry, being the only inlet for breathing. At about 5:00am, I got up and gave up trying to sleep and went back to my own room to watch TV.

After a hearty breakfast, a visit from my consultant and a delivery of drugs (Voltarol, Cocodamol & Nasal drops), I was discharged at 11:00am this morning and feel as well as can be expected. My nose is still congested, but the drops have improved that greatly. the end of my nose is uncomfortable but totally bearable and I can't wait till the swelling goes down and I can reap the benefits of a clearer nasal passage.

Ultimately, I am intrigued to see how this affects my OSA and the delivery of CPAP.

I now have just over 2 weeks off work to recover and an outpatients appointment in 11 days time to check everything is ok.

All in all, I feel good progress has been made,

If anyone reads this because they are having a similar procedure or think they may need it, take reassurance from me that it is nothing to fear.

Thanks Roberto for telling us about your experiences. I hope that you recuperate quickly and start to find life 'a breeze'. Congratulations on staying the course - you're braver than I would be in the same position!