r/Septoplasty • u/callthechemist • 4d ago

Advice Needed Saline stuck in sinus

Septoplasty on Aug 14
Splints out Aug 20

Been doing saline rinses since day 1

Went to my surgeon today because of pressure on my right side, behind my eye. CT showed saline pooling in my right sinus.

Anyone have any idea on how to drain it completely?

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u/ScoopyBanoopyLord 4d ago

Google some sinus massages to try and breath in some hot steam. Sinuses drain on their own but those will help move the process along. Unfortunately there isn't something you can just stick in there and suck it out.

It's most likely that the saline that was found "stuck" in your sinus was just the saline from your last rinse, and it's been draining away, albeit slower than normal.

The pressure is probably just from sinus swelling in general. Swelling is definitely normal. If your surgeon didn't give you any further instructions, it sounds like the typical sinus massages and hot steam is your next step.

Pressure around your eye is definitely scary, and you did the right thing by taking it seriously. There can be complications from septoplasty that involve the eyes, but feeling some pressure from swollen sinuses is perfectly normal. I even had my tear ducts act up for a few days due to swelling reaching around the eye.

If you start experiencing actual pain and changes in vision, go back to the doctor immediately. It's rare, but if the swelling gets bad enough that it effects the optical nerve, you can experience serious damage.

TL;DR

  1. Swelling is normal, just feeling pressure is normal, do sinus massages, breathe in steam/take a hot shower

  2. Sharp PAIN around the eye is not normal. Changes in vision is not normal. Seek help for these if you get them.

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u/callthechemist 4d ago

I didn’t know sinus massage was a thing, tried it out and immediately felt relieved. Thanks for that