Before the surgery, I had 3-4 knock-down bacterial sinus infections each year. Now, I get about 1 sinus infection each year and it's typically viral. It's a huge improvement.

Also, the septoplasty and the rhinoplasty are two completely different things.

I was worse. I now get on average 3-4 sinus infections a year, but I know when I am sick and I immediately get to the doctor and get it cleared up. Before my surgery, I was always sick. It was horrible.

honeychile-my nose didn't change any, but the surgery was so worth it. Just get in to a ENT.

Okay, dreading the surgery tomorrow. I'll take y'all's word on how it improved your lives! The doctor is my daughter's boss...surely a Chi O doctor won't hurt another Greek!

The doctor has mentioned splints so maybe no tampons? and some deal with a strap under the nose so maybe no tape.

A friend told me she went back to work a few days after her septoplasty and leaned over to hand back a customer's credit card and fluid poured out of her nose all over the card. I wonder if the woman kept it.

good luck!

good luck carnation!! my son had sinus surgery a couple of years back-gosh 4 years actually! Be sure to use your pain meds., sit propped up in a comfortable recliner and LET OTHERS WAIT ON YOU!!!! no bending or lifting.

I did wear tape for 5 days but trimmed it so that it didn't cover my face. I didn't have the "tampons" but did have a splint which they removed after one week.

I wore the strap under my nose for 1 day but one of my friends wore it for several days. My friend did what your friend did and it bled because she kept tilting her head down. I think mine didn't bleed because I did sit and sleep upright.

Good Luck!

I had broken my nose 2 times by the time I was 16 (softball and lacrosse) and it was a little crooked. I also suffered from horrible allergies and would get very bad sinus infections every time I caught a cold.

I ended up having sinus surgery while in college: polyps removed and my sinuses cleared with a laser and my septum fixed all at the same time. I won't lie - the first two days after the surgery were horrible. I was fully packed, had gotten sick from the anesthetic, wasn't eating and couldn't sleep very long and had the worst headache known to man. After the packing was removed, I was much better and could rest and eat. My nose and face were still very sore and I looked pretty beat up. After about a week I think I was 100%.

A lot of people thought I had plastic surgery, but mainly my nose wasn't crooked anymore and my voice kind of changed too - I didn't sound as nasal as I used to.

Since then I've had very few sinus infections (used to get them constantly). I still have bad allergies, but they are much more tolerable now. I broke my nose once after the surgery (car accident - airbag deployed and broke it), but the Drs said it healed ok.

Carnation, I wanted to wish you luck tomorrow. I had sinus surgery last October. If you care to hear the recovery story, I can send it, but your surgery seems to be straight-forward Septoplasty (am I correct?). I had several additional procedures done (Septoplasty, Ethmoidectomy, Removal of the middle and inferior turbinates, removal of polyps). Even with so much work, my packing was minimal; most of it disintegrated. The most important thing to do do during recovery is to use the saline rinse at least until you are healed inside.

Well, it wasn't easy but it wasn't awful.

Good--I haven't had much pain.

Bad--I hate not being able to breathe through my nose! I have splints, which she'll take out on Wednesday, and one of those gauze pad holders across my face. How long did any of y'all have to wear them? Just one day like BenzGirl, I hope?

I sent you a message with my story. I wore the gauze pad for three days, but again, I had several procedures. I didn't feel much surgical pain, but had aching/throbbing in my head/nose/teeth.

I hope that you recover quickly and have good results. Get as much rest as you can and stay hydrated.

Hope you have a quick recovery, but in the meantime get some R&R!

Y'all tell me again how this is going to be worth it once I get the splints out. :(

I promise you, I thought that I made a mistake for a long time. It takes months for the mucous membranes to heal. I pray that you will find relief at some point. Once the splints come out, the pressure will go away. Right now, they're supporting the work that the surgeon did. Relax if you can, sleep (helps you heal), watch tv and let yourself heal. Ibuprofen is great for the aching (if it hit you yet).

Feel free to pm me if you need to vent. Hugs!!

Awww..... :( I'm glad to hear that the procedure went well and pray that everything heals up nice (and quick!).


.....Kelly :)

When DS had the surgery in December he wore the pad holder until the drainage stopped which in his case was about a week. He had quite a bit of work done-- goes along with all the other problems he has had since he was born with quite a bit of midline injury. He had never been able to smell until after the surgery. He gets so excited about smells now which is fun to see since he is 20 and just finding out how good food can smell.

Hope you have a very quick and easy recovery, Carnation

DaffyKD