Septorhinoplasty
Discussion
So far nobody seems to have mentioned this on PH, so I'll start!
Had the op on Monday to free up a blocked nostril and straighten my wonky nose. The anaesthetic sleep was just wonderful, and I felt pretty good the rest of the day. Left hospital the next morning, and although my face was a bit uncomfortable, and coughing some bloody lumps (sorry) I was still feeling good. Wednesday even better, no more drippy blood from my hooter, and even washed the car to use up some energy! Wednesday night however, and into Thursday, I'm going downhill! I imagine the anaesthetic is now completely worn off, the swelling is getting worse, the pain is more apparent, and I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself!
Back to the hospital to remove the dressing tomorrow, so hopefully I'll start feeling better and appreciating my new ability to breathe properly soon. I can see that my nose still glances to the left a bit, but certainly looks better than it did!
Anyone else done/doing this?
Had the op on Monday to free up a blocked nostril and straighten my wonky nose. The anaesthetic sleep was just wonderful, and I felt pretty good the rest of the day. Left hospital the next morning, and although my face was a bit uncomfortable, and coughing some bloody lumps (sorry) I was still feeling good. Wednesday even better, no more drippy blood from my hooter, and even washed the car to use up some energy! Wednesday night however, and into Thursday, I'm going downhill! I imagine the anaesthetic is now completely worn off, the swelling is getting worse, the pain is more apparent, and I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself!
Back to the hospital to remove the dressing tomorrow, so hopefully I'll start feeling better and appreciating my new ability to breathe properly soon. I can see that my nose still glances to the left a bit, but certainly looks better than it did!
Anyone else done/doing this?
Is this something that's done on the NHS or is it considered non-essential and therefore private?
For as long as I can remember I've had problems breathing through my nose, and if I've got even the slightest cold or hayfever, I'm reaching for the Vicks sinex spray just to be able to breathe.
I asked a GP about it when I was in my early teens, who had a look and agreed that the airways inside my nose were very small, but he didn't offer any solutions, and definitely no surgery.
Is it worth trying my current GP?
For as long as I can remember I've had problems breathing through my nose, and if I've got even the slightest cold or hayfever, I'm reaching for the Vicks sinex spray just to be able to breathe.
I asked a GP about it when I was in my early teens, who had a look and agreed that the airways inside my nose were very small, but he didn't offer any solutions, and definitely no surgery.
Is it worth trying my current GP?
parapaul said:
Is this something that's done on the NHS or is it considered non-essential and therefore private?
For as long as I can remember I've had problems breathing through my nose, and if I've got even the slightest cold or hayfever, I'm reaching for the Vicks sinex spray just to be able to breathe.
I asked a GP about it when I was in my early teens, who had a look and agreed that the airways inside my nose were very small, but he didn't offer any solutions, and definitely no surgery.
Is it worth trying my current GP?
Definitely go and talk to your GP especially if this is interfering with your sleep. Also, if when you breathe in sharply through your nose your nostrils "suck in" on one or both sides try some Breatheright nasal strips, they really work.For as long as I can remember I've had problems breathing through my nose, and if I've got even the slightest cold or hayfever, I'm reaching for the Vicks sinex spray just to be able to breathe.
I asked a GP about it when I was in my early teens, who had a look and agreed that the airways inside my nose were very small, but he didn't offer any solutions, and definitely no surgery.
Is it worth trying my current GP?
parapaul said:
Thanks, I'll try the GP - it definitely interferes with my sleep - and the OH's.
I've tried the breatheright strips, and the snoregem folded-paperclip jobby, but my problem seems not to be with collapsing nostrils, but more internal - IYSWIM.
Yep, absolutely. You may well have over-developed inferior turbinates. They are fleshy/boney areas inside the nose that swell up in the presence of dust etc and reduce the size of the nasal passages temporarily. Unfotunately this is often worse at night so interferes with sleep.I've tried the breatheright strips, and the snoregem folded-paperclip jobby, but my problem seems not to be with collapsing nostrils, but more internal - IYSWIM.
Dry air from radiators can trigger this as well. I always keep a couple of glass jars full of water on top of the radiator in the bedroom and this humidifies the air-helps a lot.
I had Septoplasty and Turbinate reduction on December 13th.
My septum had been deviated since primary school and it got gradually worse. I started to use Sinex occasionally to ease my breathing in my early twenties and I finally got to the point where I would use it all day every day and couldn't really function without it.
I tried steroid sprays for a month over that period, but my nose lining had become used to the Sinex and so didn't really react. Without the Sinex I couldn't breathe through my nose and it would really affect my quality of life.
Anyhoo, I had the op and for the first few days it was awkward, but manageable and I got some sleep mostly due to the painkillers. Like you I hit a wall on days 4 to 5 and I didn't really sleep at all and it was really uncomfortable. I couldn't stop thinking about breathing through my nose and it drove me nuts.
After about 2 weeks my nose started to open up and I could breathe through it again. It didn't feel as good as before when I was using Sinex all the time, but it felt a bit better than when I didn't use it. The improvement has been slow and gradual. I'm determined not to use Sinex, but sometimes I really want to. I'm having to learn to breathe through my nose again which is a strange feeling. I still get a dry mouth when I wake up because I think that my brain has been subconsciously programmed to not use my nose when I'm asleep.
There are still moments when one nostril blocks up a bit, but I use saline sprays now which you can get from Boots. Another thing that helped was NeilMed Sinus Rinse which is a luke warm solution made from sachets. You pour it up one nostril and it comes down the other. It's quite a nice feeling actually.
My breathing still isn't perfect and I understood from my initial consultation that the operation may not be entirely successful. I've prepared myself for that and if I'm still not happy in a year then I'll have a further operation on my turbinates. I'm definitely not going back to the Sinex dependency.
One final thing, my surgeon used dissolvable packing up my nose which, from what I've read, is a hell of a lot nicer than the stuff they used to pull out after a couple of days.
My septum had been deviated since primary school and it got gradually worse. I started to use Sinex occasionally to ease my breathing in my early twenties and I finally got to the point where I would use it all day every day and couldn't really function without it.
I tried steroid sprays for a month over that period, but my nose lining had become used to the Sinex and so didn't really react. Without the Sinex I couldn't breathe through my nose and it would really affect my quality of life.
Anyhoo, I had the op and for the first few days it was awkward, but manageable and I got some sleep mostly due to the painkillers. Like you I hit a wall on days 4 to 5 and I didn't really sleep at all and it was really uncomfortable. I couldn't stop thinking about breathing through my nose and it drove me nuts.
After about 2 weeks my nose started to open up and I could breathe through it again. It didn't feel as good as before when I was using Sinex all the time, but it felt a bit better than when I didn't use it. The improvement has been slow and gradual. I'm determined not to use Sinex, but sometimes I really want to. I'm having to learn to breathe through my nose again which is a strange feeling. I still get a dry mouth when I wake up because I think that my brain has been subconsciously programmed to not use my nose when I'm asleep.
There are still moments when one nostril blocks up a bit, but I use saline sprays now which you can get from Boots. Another thing that helped was NeilMed Sinus Rinse which is a luke warm solution made from sachets. You pour it up one nostril and it comes down the other. It's quite a nice feeling actually.
My breathing still isn't perfect and I understood from my initial consultation that the operation may not be entirely successful. I've prepared myself for that and if I'm still not happy in a year then I'll have a further operation on my turbinates. I'm definitely not going back to the Sinex dependency.
One final thing, my surgeon used dissolvable packing up my nose which, from what I've read, is a hell of a lot nicer than the stuff they used to pull out after a couple of days.
On the funding, I went to the doctor about my breathing years ago, and although he was to refer me, the process seemed to just fizzle out and I never chased it up. This time, however, I decided to go private (strike whilst the iron was hot!) as I have healthcare through my employer.
Went back to the surgeon yesterday to have the dressing removed. He said that there was no internal packing, and that the reason I still couldn't breathe through the nose was because of the swelling. Relieved at that, as I was getting nervous about him pulling packing out! Face is bruised and nose/eyes still tender, but feels better to have the dressing out of the way, and helps to be outside in cool fresh air.
I asked him to describe the operation process. He said the septum was sliced away either side (like the bread of a sandwich!) and the inner bit (the filling!) trimmed to reduce the 'twisting', and then the outer bits sewn back in place with dissolvable thread. The bridge of the nose was then broken with a hammer and chisel via a couple of small incisions either side of the bridge, and reset to straighten it. Amazing stuff really. Nose is still slightly wonky, so it'll be interesting to see if it straightens or bends once the swelling goes down in a couple of weeks.
Went back to the surgeon yesterday to have the dressing removed. He said that there was no internal packing, and that the reason I still couldn't breathe through the nose was because of the swelling. Relieved at that, as I was getting nervous about him pulling packing out! Face is bruised and nose/eyes still tender, but feels better to have the dressing out of the way, and helps to be outside in cool fresh air.
I asked him to describe the operation process. He said the septum was sliced away either side (like the bread of a sandwich!) and the inner bit (the filling!) trimmed to reduce the 'twisting', and then the outer bits sewn back in place with dissolvable thread. The bridge of the nose was then broken with a hammer and chisel via a couple of small incisions either side of the bridge, and reset to straighten it. Amazing stuff really. Nose is still slightly wonky, so it'll be interesting to see if it straightens or bends once the swelling goes down in a couple of weeks.
tobeee said:
On the funding, I went to the doctor about my breathing years ago, and although he was to refer me, the process seemed to just fizzle out and I never chased it up. This time, however, I decided to go private (strike whilst the iron was hot!) as I have healthcare through my employer.
Went back to the surgeon yesterday to have the dressing removed. He said that there was no internal packing, and that the reason I still couldn't breathe through the nose was because of the swelling. Relieved at that, as I was getting nervous about him pulling packing out! Face is bruised and nose/eyes still tender, but feels better to have the dressing out of the way, and helps to be outside in cool fresh air.
I asked him to describe the operation process. He said the septum was sliced away either side (like the bread of a sandwich!) and the inner bit (the filling!) trimmed to reduce the 'twisting', and then the outer bits sewn back in place with dissolvable thread. The bridge of the nose was then broken with a hammer and chisel via a couple of small incisions either side of the bridge, and reset to straighten it. Amazing stuff really. Nose is still slightly wonky, so it'll be interesting to see if it straightens or bends once the swelling goes down in a couple of weeks.
Hi Tobee, any update how you are now getting on since this op? I have to have it done myself in a couple of weeks. Are you happy with the resultsWent back to the surgeon yesterday to have the dressing removed. He said that there was no internal packing, and that the reason I still couldn't breathe through the nose was because of the swelling. Relieved at that, as I was getting nervous about him pulling packing out! Face is bruised and nose/eyes still tender, but feels better to have the dressing out of the way, and helps to be outside in cool fresh air.
I asked him to describe the operation process. He said the septum was sliced away either side (like the bread of a sandwich!) and the inner bit (the filling!) trimmed to reduce the 'twisting', and then the outer bits sewn back in place with dissolvable thread. The bridge of the nose was then broken with a hammer and chisel via a couple of small incisions either side of the bridge, and reset to straighten it. Amazing stuff really. Nose is still slightly wonky, so it'll be interesting to see if it straightens or bends once the swelling goes down in a couple of weeks.
aero93 said:
Hi Tobee, any update how you are now getting on since this op? I have to have it done myself in a couple of weeks. Are you happy with the results
All healed very well, and my nose is now straight, which is good! Much clearer for breathing, though I did have an infection for a while, treated with some cream for a couple of weeks. I think that might have come back a bit, but I'll monitor for a while. Anyway, I'm pleased and relieved I finally had my nose sorted after all these years! Hope yours goes well!tobeee said:
All healed very well, and my nose is now straight, which is good! Much clearer for breathing, though I did have an infection for a while, treated with some cream for a couple of weeks. I think that might have come back a bit, but I'll monitor for a while. Anyway, I'm pleased and relieved I finally had my nose sorted after all these years! Hope yours goes well!
Thats great, thanks for the info! Can I also ask if you were happy with the cosmetic part of the OP and did you sit down with your surgeon and discuss the change in appearance beforehand? I am just a little concerned as I am having the OP for medical reasons but also having a bump from the bridge removed.aero93 said:
Thats great, thanks for the info! Can I also ask if you were happy with the cosmetic part of the OP and did you sit down with your surgeon and discuss the change in appearance beforehand? I am just a little concerned as I am having the OP for medical reasons but also having a bump from the bridge removed.
Mine was primarily to clear the blockage, but it was straightened as part of that process. The health insurance application was made on medical, rather than aesthetic, reasons, though I was obviously interested in improving appearance too. However, I was just happy that the surgeon said he should be able to make it straight, and didn't push for more detail. He did make it 99.9%straight (looks straight to me but he can see a slight wonkiness still!).Hi Gary
I couldn't feel any pain at all for a couple of days, as the anaesthetic seems to stay in the system for a while. After that I just felt very slight discomfort (though I was able to provoke pain if I prodded it a bit!). On the third day I suffered terrible flu-like symptoms, which I did wonder might have been a delayed reaction. For a couple of weeks it was painful when out in the cold, which was an odd sensation!
I had a great sleep during the operation, and enjoyed that so much I went back for another operation on another bit of me a few months later!
Notice you're South East - are you being done at Spire Harpenden? If so, who is your surgeon.
Cheers, Toby
I couldn't feel any pain at all for a couple of days, as the anaesthetic seems to stay in the system for a while. After that I just felt very slight discomfort (though I was able to provoke pain if I prodded it a bit!). On the third day I suffered terrible flu-like symptoms, which I did wonder might have been a delayed reaction. For a couple of weeks it was painful when out in the cold, which was an odd sensation!
I had a great sleep during the operation, and enjoyed that so much I went back for another operation on another bit of me a few months later!
Notice you're South East - are you being done at Spire Harpenden? If so, who is your surgeon.
Cheers, Toby
grazer15 said:
Im going in monday for a Septoplasty and was just looking on here to see what I have got to look forward to. Is it going to be that painful?
I had it done last year and apart from a 24 hours nose bleed and blocked nostrils for a few days it wasn't too bad, felt like crap for a few days but it goes!Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff