So, after two or so years of horrible chronic ear and sinus infections, I finally saw an ENT. The constant congestion on the right side of my nose (where I always get infections) is caused by a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates. The ENT wants to do a septoplasty to correct the septum and give the turbinates some room for air passage. I have talked to a couple of people who have this done, with mixed reviews. For some it worked, others say it didn't
Ironically, in the last few days, things seemed to have gotten better on that side. I have longer periods where I can actually breathe through that side. So now I am wondering if I really need all this done at all and am consdering postponing. But I know as a soon as I do this, it will get worse again and another infection will come...It won't be cheap, even with insurance. So there's that, too. What to do, what to do...
So my questions- Has anyone had this done? What was your recovery like and did it fix your breathing problems? Was it worth it? Thanks!
Thank you so much for responding. I am going think about this over the weekend and try to come to decision. Thanks again!
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/septoplasty/MY00703/
Give it a read.
My husband had it done twice and unfortunately this is one of those procedures that has no guarantees due to it's slow healing process. It can take up to a year to fully heal. In my husbands case, it worked the 2nd time around. Weigh out the pros and cons and decide. Good Luck!
I recommend that you get a second opinion with an ENT surgeon who does 3 dimensional CT scans. Also, tell your surgeon NOT to open up your maxillary sinuses (ie, make them larger). I had to have sinus surgery and I found out that one of the things that can happen if your surgeon makes your maxillary sinuses larger is that it makes you sound "stuffed up", like you have a small cold. Maybe it won't bother you, but it bothers me a great deal because I'm a singer. It IS better, almost 3 years later, so at least there's that, but I still wish I had known beforehand so that at least my ENT and I could have talked about it.
I considered my health, which was a real issue, MD. But I should have found a doctor who does surgery on singers. That's what I really regret, or at least knowing about the issue of not opening up the maxillaries.
One thing that you might want to talk about is the issue of sleeping. Some deviated septums can cause sleep apnea, and that can really affect your health a lot. I'd rather fix that than end up having to use a c-pap machine. The older you get, the more possibility of sleep apnea.
Good luck on deciding this. Sinus surgery isn't for the faint of heart.
I had this done in 1990.
I had some very narrow breathing passages.
I developed a dependance on nose spray for 10 years to try to keep my nose open so I could breath through it at all.
I went to an ENT who put me on a steroid to get me off the nose spray and when we were finished I said "Is that it? Because first bit of dust or pollen and I won't be able to breathe all over again.".
So I had my turbinates trimmed and septum straightened.
The first 24 hrs after surgery with all the packing up my nose was pretty miserable - I had to mouth breathe to get through that.
No one told me that my throat would be a little sore (they use a tube to vaccum out debris during surgery) so I could only breathe through my mouth but I thought my throat was closing up (it didn't).
I spent the night at home propped upright on the couch - didn't really sleep much).
After that the packing was removed in the Dr's office (that was pretty disgusting - all snotty and bloody).
The only time I ever got light headed and almost fainted in my life was about 20 min after the packing was removed but I got over it quickly.
I was back to work in 5 days.
I was very careful of my nose for about a year (I had an irrational fear that a door would open suddenly and whack me in the nose).
It worked beautifully!
I can always breathe through my nose.
I still get a sinus infection every once in a great while but I can always breathe no matter what - after swimming, with a cold, through hay fever season, etc (all those things use to cause me such trouble).
I can rinse my nose with saline with ease and no more nose spray ever again for me.
That first 24 hrs after surgery with the packing up my nose was the hardest part to get through but it was totally worth it and I'm glad I had it done.
Just get it done and over with as soon as you can.
My hubby had it done and it was successful. Dr. Houk did it at OU Health Science Center and it was pretty easy. It was uncomfortable of course, nothing like having a tampon shoved in your sinuses...lol. But when he took it out hubby could breath again. He uses a C-PAP now but he's able to breath and if he does get a sinus infection it's pretty easy to clear up.
Maybe the techniques are greatly improved? My hubs had his deviated septum surgically repaired 30 years ago, and he IS. THE. WORST. SNORER. I hate it.
But I love him, so if it take Valerian before he gets into bed, I've learned to sleep through the night.
Sorry, that's not more helpful.
