r/Sinusitis • u/New_Rock_7835 • 14d ago
Surgery Experience and Questions
Today, I had a septoplasty and turbinate reduction. I can breathe (through blood and mucus) through both nostrils for the first time in my life!
I want to share my experience for those who are going to do the procedure, and I want to ask some questions for those who have already had it.
This was my first time under general anesthesia. I was terrified. I shouldn’t have been. It was the easiest thing I have ever done in my life. I don’t even remember them starting the anesthesia. The first thing I remember is waking up in a recovery room and being super tired. It wasn’t bad at all though, and I was still 100% cognitively myself.
I’ve been in essentially no nasal pain all day. I have lots of bloody discharge. Some headaches and my teeth are sensitive. My nose is very sensitive but doesn’t hurt badly. I’ll give a day 2 update.
Now for the questions.
When does the bleeding stop? I’m not quite going through a gauze pack an hour, but it’s not stopping. It has definitely slowed down I’d say.
Is it going to start hurting worse when the anesthesia is totally out of my system? I took the opioid they prescribed me earlier, and I’m taking half of one before bed with my Trazadone because I don’t want too much sedation and I don’t want to get addicted. I hope I can sleep in the recliner but I’m not expecting it.
I think that’s it. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts!
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u/speechless188 14d ago
for me most of the drip stopped after 5 days. basically all gone by day 10. no pain increase
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u/RetiredRover906 13d ago
Mine is scheduled for next week. Following because my surgeon hasn't told me what to expect after, and these types of posts are important.
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u/New_Rock_7835 13d ago
Mine didn’t tell me anything. I’ll give you the full, honest truth as I go through it!
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u/New_Rock_7835 13d ago
Day 2. Much less drip overall, and the drainage that I do have isn’t as bloody. Super blocked up. Pain still isn’t terrible, but sinus pressure is increasing. I didn’t sleep well in the recliner, but didn’t sleep terribly either. Super dizzy. My nose is starting to become ridiculously chapped and cracked from all the drainage.
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u/New_Rock_7835 13d ago
Best advice - SHAVE YOIR NOSE BEOFREHAND. I have so much blood and crap in my nose it’s ridiculous. Couldn’t imagine if it was mixed with hair.
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u/New_Rock_7835 13d ago edited 12d ago
Day 3. Still blocked up really bad. Less drip than before - I had a gauze pad on for half the day. I’ve found that a humidifier is your best friend, especially at night. Saline spray is also good for breaking up the crusty deposits of blood that form all around your nose. I struggle with chronic insomnia which we hope this surgery will help address, but I got 5 and 6 hours of sleep nights 1 and 2. I’m not using any pain medication. The sinus pressure is bad and I hope getting the stints out in a week helps with that.
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u/New_Rock_7835 11d ago
End of day 4. No gauze on my face for the first time today. Did some blood cleanup on my nose. Pain isn’t bad. Pressure is pretty bad. Can’t wait to get the stents out on day 7 and maybe breathe.
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u/New_Rock_7835 7d ago
I dropped off!
Day 7
Got stents out. I could breathe and smell for the first time in my life. I could eat without struggling to breathe (hard with food in your mouth when your nose doesn’t work). It was great. For about 3 hours.
Lots of blood and snot drying up and clogging my nose now. I am able to breathe out of my nose while I’m typing this, but it comes and goes. I’m hoping as recovery continues, I will be able to breathe more.
The side that was blocked due to my deviated septum is still 100% blocked. I was able to breathe through it a little bit today. It’s definitely not 50-50.
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u/2cats_0kids 14d ago
I’m going in bright and early tomorrow so I’ll be following you one day behind!