What will it be like after nasal surgery?

October 27, 2006 7:46 PM

I'm booked for surgery for a deviated septum on November 27th. My wife has heard 'horror stories' and now my choice is to cancel the surgery and live the rest of my life continuing not to be able to breath through my nose properly, or have the surgery and *allegedly* needing my wife to 'take care of me' for a week and *allegedly* not being allowed to let our baby near my face for more than a month.

I'd like to be able to breath properly and exercise without only mouth-breathing. I'd also like to be able to be up on my feet and working almost immediately and hold my daughter without too much concern.

Anyone else who has had nose surgery, can you either quell my wife's fears or give substance to them, so that I can decide either way? Also, if you had a breathing-enabling surgery, how much of a life difference did it make?

posted by Kickstart70 to health & fitness (29 comments total)

I'm considering having this done as well. I too am interested in the responses - let's hope people start posting them ;) I'm by no means a medical professional - just a fellow researcher on the topic.

There have been threads on here about getting the septum fixed. Are you getting a septoplasty or something else more complicated? Has your doctor said how severe your case is - chronic sinusitis etc.? Have you do research on the proceedure? A good site like WebMD says "you will receive local or general anesthesia for the 60- to 90-minute operation, which is usually done in an outpatient surgery center" - the local and outpatient clinic make it sound like it's not the most serious type of operation and is fairly easy to recover from. Operations under general can have complications, but with a local much less so.

I don't know if you'll be able to be up on your feet per se, but I'm inclined to think the benefits outweight a week or two of direct discomfort and messiness. Sure, we all hear horror stories, but I think the procedure is relatively routine now. The bit about your kid not being near you sounds pretty bizarre. Anyway, here's hoping more folks weigh in!
posted by rmm at 8:20 PM on October 27, 2006

Feel free to flag and delete this if it's totally off-base: Y'all just had your first baby in June? Could your wife be freaking out not due to the actual surgery per se, but simply be feeling overwhelmed given the new baby and now the possibility that you're going to be out of commission--and so, presumably, *all* work, including any extra work caring for you no matter how minor, is about to be dumped completely in her lap? Her complaints sound like she's more worried that you're going to beg off baby duty for the next month, honestly.

I say this only because arguing with her based on anecdote or data may be less helpful at this point in time than finding out what her actual concerns are and addressing those, or at least reassuring her that you're not trying to evade house/baby/husband work by having surgery right now (and then making good on that, in whatever way you can).
posted by occhiblu at 8:32 PM on October 27, 2006 [1 favorite]

OK, I've actually had this surgery twice, though I was young at the time (about 14 or 15).

The first time, I had it done when my eardrum was being repaired after perforating while SCUBA diving. It was, all in all, an unpleasant experience, but mostly because of having my nose packed and my ear also packed. It was under general anasthesia, and I am apparently quite sensitive, so I felt awful for a couple of days.

The second time (my cartiledge moved back, so they had to remove more), they used less general anesthesia, and it was done in a doctor's office (he had a surgical suite) rather than an outpatient center. I remember feeling fine within a couple of days.

All in all, the recovery is not a pleasant experience, but you can't really expect a good time after any surgery. I wouldn't plan on running a marathon the next week or two, but you won't likely be a complete invalid. You'll likely have a couple of black eyes, and you'll want to make sure your kid doesn't hit you, etc. But, being able to breath out of your nose is a wonderful experience.
posted by JMOZ at 8:32 PM on October 27, 2006

There are horror stories for just about any type of surgery. I put off getting a vasectomy because of this. People get their tonsils out and have a terrible time.

My point being just about every operation has some horror stories attached to it.
posted by DieHipsterDie at 8:34 PM on October 27, 2006

I had my sinus polyps removed as an extra "bonus" to upper jaw surgery almost two years ago. It's made a huge difference -- I get far fewer colds (I think I've one cold since the surgery, compared to the 2 or 3 colds and sinus infections I'd get every year), it's easier to exercise and do yoga, I snore less (mention that to your wife!), and can't remember the last time I had a sinus headache.

I won't post too much about my recovery because it was A) nightmarish, and B) isn't directly related to your situation at all. I will say that even with all I went through, I'd still do it all over again, and that being out of commission for a week and being careful with your daughter for a month strikes me as a relatively small price to pay in the short run for the potential of a lifetime of increased well-being. I agree with occhiblu's thought that your wife may be concerned about being overwhelmed with taking care of both you and your baby during your recovery, which is a natural concern. Would it be possible for a family member or close friend to come help out for the week (or at least the first 3-4 days) you'd be out of it?
posted by scody at 8:40 PM on October 27, 2006

I've had it done.
1. Boy did it hurt. Took about two weeks to recover, and they were all spent in bed, moaning.
2. It worked really, really well. Not long afterwards, I was striding about hoovering in air like I was in the Alps.
3. It wore off. As it did for everyone else I know who has had it done. But it's not nearly as bad as before -- I figure it's now just a bit worse than average. It's certainly not so bad I'd need surgery again.
4. I'd do it again, probably.
5. No baby would get within a million miles of my face for those weeks. Looking funny at my nose would make it hurt. It's not as long as a month, though.
6. It's a pretty major operation. They're working close to the brain, after all, under general anaesthetic.


I think you should go for it. Oh, and since this is Ask Metafilter ... if your wife's concern is that she'll have to look after you for a week, dump her :)
posted by bonaldi at 8:41 PM on October 27, 2006 [1 favorite]

My husband just had surgery done for his deviated septum a few weeks ago. I was also very concerned, because awhile ago I had heard a horror story or two, but this was years and years ago.

I'm sharing a few details of my husband's surgery in case they help your case. If you have any other questions, please feel free to drop me a line.

I had him ask all of the doctors he spoke to (his GP, ENT) and we also asked everyone we know who had ever had the procedure done (turns out a lot of people we know have), and the verdict was that he would be fine in a week, if not two. And that it's a very minor procedure.

I must have spoke firsthand to at least 5 people who have had a septoplasty in the past few years, and all of them rave about how wonderful it is to breathe.

In fact, the horror stories I'd heard were mostly about having gauze packing up your nose, etc, and they didn't even do that for my husband. Basically, I took him into the hospital that morning, they did the surgery between 9:30 am and 10:30 am, let him wake up from anesthesia for awhile and then let me come sit with him. He wore this funny band around his head to hold gauze under his nose, but he said it didn't really hurt at all. It bled a lot the first day, a little bit the next day, and by the third day he was able to go without the gauze under his nose.

They gave him a prescription for Tylenol w/ coedine for the pain, which he only had to take twice, at night, because it only bothered him when he was trying to sleep. He took regular tylenol during the day. Thus, he wasn't even wonky from drugs after the anesthesia wore off.

The first day I had to take care of him because he was wonky, and I wanted to change his gauze for him lest he bleed all over everything in his wonky state, but after that, he was fine on his own. So, I do not think you'd be a huge burden on your wife. Basically, you'd just be out of her hair for a few days while you're laying down and resting.

The decision is up to you & your wife, and maybe you might consider scheduling the surgery for a time when another relative or friend can stay with you and help her and you out to relieve her stress, but I think that the risk of becoming a horror story is small, as is the risk of you becoming a huge burden on her.

Good luck!
posted by tastybrains at 8:46 PM on October 27, 2006

Also, I wanted to note that this is just a plain & simple septoplasty my husband had - no nose-breaking involved. If that's necessary for you, then your recovery is going to suck a lot worse.

He had no packing or splints necessary in his nose either - a lot of the nightmares I have heard stemmed from that. He didn't like having to sleep on his back and breathe through his mouth for 3 nights, but by the fourth night he was able to sleep normally and breathe through his nose (albeit with an annoying whistle, but that lasted for about another two days, and I certainly wasn't going to complain since it was better than mouth-breathing related snoring).

It sounds like a lot of the people here who have had bad times recovering from nasal surgery have had more done than just a septoplasty. It also sounds like they may have had it done before doctors started using packing that dissolves and some doctors use no packing at all. So talk to your doctor about all that - the less stuff they keep up there, the more comfortable you will have to be.

You will have to do saline sinus flushes twice a day for four weeks. Apparently it's gross but it's not uncomfortable. do it in the shower, not over a sink
posted by tastybrains at 8:51 PM on October 27, 2006

I had my septum corrected - along with my turbinates adjusted - exactly three weeks ago today. The doctor said I'd feel like I had a "really bad cold" for three or four days.

That was very optimistic. The first two or three days were the worst. Tons of gunk coming out my nose, very tired, in pain, and the upright position that's required kept me from sleeping. The pain killers made me constipated, and believe me, you don't want to be straining at this particular moment. The first 72 hours, I definitely needed somebody to take care of me.

Things got better the next five days, but I was still in pain, still very congested, but I was sleeping a little bit better. After my followup (eight days post surgery) the doctor said I could do whatever I wanted. I began exercising again, but got fatigued pretty easily. The gunk level really amazed me - it was almost comic, who knew a nose could hold so much. This was almost the "really bad cold" that my doc predicted, but it was accompanied by more and more specific pain.

That brings us to the past week. I am still very stuffy, and gunk still comes out of my nose every once in a while. The stuffiness makes me uncomfortable, but for the most part, I feel fine and very close to back to normal. My sense of smell and taste, which were diminished severely post-op, are back to normal, and I am having very few headaches. I still take a couple of Tylenol a day (you can ONLY take Tylenol or the prescription pain reliever your doctor sends you home with - any other kind of OTC pain reliever will thin your blood and make it much more likely that that thinned blood will shoot out your nose at a very inopportune time.)

Here's the good news: within five days of the surgery, I had a sense that my nose breathing was improved. I was clogged, so I wasn't getting much air through there, but I really felt like once the healing was complete, I'd be able to nose breathe for the first time in my life. Over the past few days, that surmise has borne out, and I'm breathing very well.

Here are some questions to ask your doctor:

1) Do they plan to pack, split, or stitch your nose? If so, you may want to get a second opinion, as many times this is no longer neccessary. My old girlfriend had the packing procedure done when she had the surgery about ten years ago. It was a nightmare for her.

2) What kind of after-care should you be doing? I did a lot of research, and surprisingly, there is no consensus on what you need to do after the surgery. Some doctors say use neosporin, some say irrigate, some say don't irrigate, some say wait two days to blow your nose, some saw a month. The thing that helped - and continues to help - the most was a nasal saline irrigator; not one of those little spray bottles, but the Neilmed Sinus Rinse, which costs about $15 at Walgreens. (http://www.neilmed.com/) I used it twice a day and it cleared as astonishing amount of stuff out of my nose.

GOOD LUCK! Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
posted by soulbarn at 8:55 PM on October 27, 2006

FWIW, my mother had this exact surgery over 10 years ago and everything worked out just dandy for her and presumably techniques have improved since then.
posted by greta simone at 8:57 PM on October 27, 2006

sorry, I meant "splint" your nose.
posted by soulbarn at 8:59 PM on October 27, 2006

My college roommate had this done not that long ago. She recovered very quickly and really didn't have a problem at all, but she is also has it stupid-easy in the "able to recover from surgery" department. Sinus infections and colds have been reduced to nearly nothing for her, down from a level we shall call "constant."

I'm not sure why you shouldn't be able to be near/with your baby - it's not as if you will become a large infected hive as long as you follow your aftercare instructions correctly. I would be interested to know why this is supposed to be a problem, because honestly, having it done is such a quality of life issue that I can't see why it would be something you'd consider cancelling.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:59 PM on October 27, 2006

Medieval Maven: Cos babies grab at the face a lot. And that will hurt.
posted by bonaldi at 9:02 PM on October 27, 2006

As a glasses wearer, which babies like to grab at, I think it should not be too hard to hold the baby and prevent him/her from pinching your nose, as long as you've got both hands and your senses. Just don't hold the baby right up at your face.
posted by tastybrains at 9:20 PM on October 27, 2006

I haven't had this surgery, but I know someone who has. He was in pain for a few days afterward. As I said, I haven't had the surgery -- but I am a mom of a toddler. And I can say that any sort of big event in your life will put more stress on your wife. Even if it's just for a few days, it may take a couple of weeks or more for things to start running smoothly again. If it's medically necessary to have the surgery right now, perhaps you could consider hiring a doula, housecleaner and other support people to help your wife during the first week -- unless you have family close by. I don't mean round-the-clock support. However, if your baby is still young and your wife is still adjusting to her new role, there's a huge amount of responsibility on her shoulders.
posted by acoutu at 10:53 PM on October 27, 2006

I had a septoplasty with reduction of the turbinates late last year, and it really wasn't that bad. You'll have general anaesthesia, so you'll be pretty groggy for a few hours afterwards. You'll have gauze packed into your nose and sinuses for a couple of days, and you'll have a fantastic amount of congealed blood and mucous up there for a week or so. It's not much like having a cold, it's just like having your sinuses full of gummy red crap. If you visit your surgeon while it's up there, he can vacuum it all out which is a big help.

It's all seriously worth it though, to be able to breath easily through your nose. You won't really need to be "taken care of" for more than a day, but I can see how I wouldn't have wanted to hold a wriggling baby for at least a few weeks - getting whacked on the nose would have really sucked.
posted by nicwolff at 11:01 PM on October 27, 2006

I've had a turbinectomy, it's just a few days of discomfort plus a lot of blood from the nose. It was well worth it because I could breathe again afterwards!
posted by kenchie at 1:21 AM on October 28, 2006

Septoplasty, December 2001. I had the full packing in my head for three days, and I didn't enjoy it one bit, no sir. The less said about that period, the better. When it was finally removed, which was pretty much exactly like the tracking-device-extraction scene in Total Recall, my breathing ability felt great. Now, though, there doesn't seem to be much difference from before the surgery, and I'm taking medication for sleep apnea. I'm relieved to hear that the procedure has also "worn off" in other people-- I thought it was my fault somehow.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:59 AM on October 28, 2006

I had the surgery and it wasn't too bad. I was in pain for maybe two days. Be prepared for some ghastly bloody boogers. I didn't know they existed before my surgery, but I found and ate a lot of microwavable mashed potatoes. You may want a milkshake or smoothie, but be careful with the suction on a straw.
posted by Frank Grimes at 6:17 AM on October 28, 2006

I had it done in 1990 following a severely broken nose that healed all wrong and had caused sinus damage that was not detected on intial exam. I had the surgery about three months after the initial nose busting. The pain upon awaking after the surgery was like no other. It was easily managed with tylenol w/codeine but that first eye opening, groggy moment was like a board to the face. I had it done in a Catholic hospital and my first words were "Ohhhh fsck!!!". I focused my eyes and saw a nun standing over me. I apologized profusely and she said she heard that a lot.

I had packing but did not know it until they came in to remove it the next day. Having it removed was weird but not painful. They can shove an amazing amount of gauze up your nose and just knowing that would probably freak a lot of people out. Like I said, I didn't know. Ignorance is bliss.

I was sent home looking like I'd taken a board to the face. This made my friends very uncomfortable as they thought I was surely in a lot of pain. It wasn't that bad if I stayed on top the pain meds that first week. I was told not to blow or pick my nose, no matter how bad the urge to do so. At first, there was no air moving at all. This drove me nuts as I can't stand a stuffed up nose. After about four days, it started to loosen and rattle around. On day six I thought "hmmmmm, maybe if I just blow reallly soft". I tried that and blew stitches out into the kleenex. Didn't know about those either so totally flipped out. Called the doctor and as soon as he got on the line he said "You blew out your stitches, didnt you?" and laughed. They are probably better nowadays about explaining all of these things beforehand.

I don't know the procedure now but then they sent me home with this odd contraption to squirt mineral oil up my nose. Very important to do that. Also having a small vaporizer running near me as I recovered helped tremendously.

About a month after the surgery, I was scratching my forehead and just barely grazed my wedding ring on the bridge of my nose. For a moment, it felt like someone yanked my nose off my face and must have done something to the alignment as I now have a bump that I didn't have previously. I would guess things like that would be why you shouldn't have a baby near your face. However, even all these years after my surgery, I have a natural instinct to protect my nose/face from things that are coming at it such as baby hands.

In short, I'd have the surgery again. It does make a huge difference with breathing. The only downside is that if they work over your turbinates, you lose some of the natural warming and filtering of air through the nose. That can hurt the sinuses some on a really cold day.
posted by justlisa at 7:09 AM on October 28, 2006

I have to concur with occhiblu, this may very well be the reaction of an already overwhelmed-with-infant mom staring at two weeks to a month's worth of all, unaided childcare on top of all, unaided you-care.

Your baby is pretty new- can you postpone the surgery a couple of months? You make it sound like it's now or never; is this a singular opportunity or are you just frustrated at her resistance to something you know will make you feel better?
posted by headspace at 7:32 AM on October 28, 2006

Ugh, I hit enter, sorry. I'm sure she does want you to feel better, but she also doesn't know how she'll manage taking care of you both. I was in a very similar position when my husband had a terrible accident at work. I love both child and husband and wanted to make sure both were happy and healthy, but there were also nights when I cried because it was so much to handle all at once.

At the very least, try talking with her; the great physical information you've collected here might help alleviate her fears that you will be completely out of commission for a long period of time.
posted by headspace at 7:36 AM on October 28, 2006

I should also point out that I didn't really need anyone to take care of me. You will feel woozy but to me that only indicates someone should be with you, not necessarily taking care of you. My first night home from the hospital I went to the bowling alley to show off my lovely face to my friends. After that I mostly laid on the couch for the first day or two. Just keep water and snacks close by you and you shouldn't needed waited on too much.
posted by justlisa at 9:15 AM on October 28, 2006

Here's the deal, get the surgery because you need it to make the rest of your life comfortable. To facilitate this, find out, as mentioned above, what specific concerns your wife has about this event. They are valid, and you know it.

It is possible that you may be unable to hold the baby for a month. You do need to plan for someone to come in and help your family. Someone to clean and do laundry for a few days or even a month, someone who will cook and most importantly, a babysitter to spend a few hours a day (or however much time you and your wife are comfortable with) with the child and give you both some quiet time without a pile of work to do.

And get your wife to the office to discuss this procedure with you and your surgeon. Make sure she is getting all of the information the doctor is giving you. Sometimes not knowing is really the scariest part. And even moreso, feeling like there is something being withheld about a stressful situation is terrible. So let her ask the doc as many questions as she wants. And if the doc won't answer and be at least the tiniest bit comforting, pick a different surgeon!

Also, if you're going ahead with the surgery, arrange with the florist that you use to send your wife some flowers, (either at home, at work, or both) throughout and after your expected recovery time. Fill out the cards yourself at the shop and have them filed for delivery on the dates you want. They can handle it, and I'm willing to bet htat she will appreciate that you, uh, sent flowers, love her, and are looking forward to being a nose breather.
posted by bilabial at 2:55 PM on October 28, 2006

I had laser septoplasty and turbinate reduction in August. First couple days of recovery were rough - but I did not need my wife to care for me. My nose was sensitive to touch for about 30 days. No regrets. After 30+ years of roughly 90% blockage - it feels great to breathe!
posted by Sagres at 6:10 PM on October 28, 2006

I don't know if anybody linked to this recent thread on the topic, but here's my reply in it - basically, I wouldn't do it again, and it really sucked.
posted by sluggo at 6:14 PM on October 28, 2006

My nose was broken in an accident when I was 2. Scans showed that the septum was so badly bent that it actually touched the other side of my nostril.
I had a septolasty, turbinectomy & partial palatoplasty in May 2004. It was well worth the time, money and effort (pain). The most painful bit was apparently the palatoplasty. I had 2 weeks off work, most of which was spent on the couch with my daughter & partner looking after me. I was doped up to the eyeballs on painkillers, and really don't remember much about the recovery other than having to do the saline irrigations and the incredible amounts of gunk. I had splints - having them removed was quite the bizarre experience.

I gather you won't be in anywhere near as much pain with just a septoplasty(/turbinectomy?). You ought to be able to shuffle around and get yourself food & beverages, etc without much problem for you or your wife. Keep little baby fingers away from your face though. Was that the only concern in regards to holding your daughter? That she'd grab at your face?

Oh, the joy of being able to BREATHE - I *frequently* feel thankful that I had the surgery. My quality of life has improved markedly. Yay for oxygen!
posted by goshling at 1:53 AM on October 29, 2006

I had a rhinoplasty to improve airflow when I was 19 or 20, and had my sinuses packed with gauze after the operation. I don't remember any pain, though I do remember discomfort.

Having the packing removed was a very intense experience. i do remember that. My tear ducts gushed until they were empty. But it didn't hurt.

One unpleasant bit was having to apply an antiseptic cream to my nose for several weeks. It didn't have a smell, but it changed the smell of everything. Boy was I glad to have that part end.

But it did work. The ability to breathe clearly through my nose again was a wonderful thing.
posted by jimfl at 8:12 AM on October 29, 2006

I had nasal surgery to remove polyps a few years ago. When I came to, I was able to breath better, even with the new scabs and cotton packing in my sinuses than I had in months.

Echoing goshling on a lot of things, I used the Neilmed Sinus Flush every day after the surgery, and I still use it when my allergies get bad. I find doing a daily rinse really cuts down on colds and general sinus problems.

The most discomforting experience were the MRI's and the precursors, not knowing what is going on and having something foreign growing inside of my head, right before leaving for college. I suppose the rhinoscopy tube wasn't pleasant either.

In terms of the surgery, I tired easily for about two weeks and I didn't really feel like much strenous physical activity, but I moved all my stuff to a college a state away a week or so after my surgery and didn't have any real problems.

The doctors told me not to eat anything solid for a few days afterwards, but I love food way too much for something like that!

My email is in my profile.
posted by adamwolf at 6:51 PM on October 29, 2006