Square & Compas

Last Thursday I had sinus surgery. Had a deviated septum corrected, a couple of the sinus chambers opened up more, a spur removed and come to find out apparently had a broken nose when I was younger that left a hollow space devoid of cartilage that had to be replaced. I do not remember an impact ot my nose causing it to break, but I was told by my mom I tumbled down some steps and did a face plant when I was 3 or 4 yrs, old. The injury/hollow space looked pretty old.

I am recovering fine and getting better. I am able to sleep in my bed now, not at an angle in the recliner, I have not needed to hydrcodone since last Sat. night. Tylonel has worked fine for any pain control. The dull headache/head cold feeling is getting better. I am breathign through my nose better and better every day. I can tell the absorbable packing gell stuff the dr. used is gettin gless and less and I have not had a lot of bleeding at all.

The worst part of this whole thing is I am off the bike per dr's. orders. The doctor who did the surgery is a friend of mine through the bike club. We have ridden together on many occasions, bought each other a beer, etc. so I know and trust him well, which I requested that he be my specialist for this. He know how much I love riding bike and knows I want to get back on it. But he made it clear that if I do start riding too early it can cause major problems because of the increase in pressure in the head and face during physical activity. So I'll be off the bike at least through part of next week.

Anyone else every have sinus surgery done? How was your recovery? How long were you off the bike?

Siu Blue Wind

I am supposed to have the surgery but my thing was having to sit there with the packing stuff in your nose for so long after the surgery. Knowing me, I'd wake up in the middle of the night freaked that I couldn't breathe!

One week won't be so long, just try to enjoy your time resting and know that once it's all good and healed you will be able to probably ride better because of the freedom to breathe in a normal way.

Square & Compas

Most ear, nose and throat specialists do not use the gauze packing any more. They use an absorbable gel that will absorb and dissolve over time and you will clear some of it out as you gently blow your nose after the surgery. As far as breathing, you will naturally breath through your mouth, especially when you sleep, just like when you have a bad head cold. It is not impossible to breathe through your nose, just difficult. Your body will naturally switch to breathing through your mouth as a matter of instinct.

I use a CPAP to sleep at night, part of what this surgery is doing is to either reduce the pressure I need from my CPAP or eliminate it's use completely. I normally use a nasal mask only, it just covers my nose and that is how I breath with using the machine. Because of the surgery I had to get a full face mask, it covers both my mouth and nose and it worked fine. Half way through last night I woke up and switched to the nasal mask because my sinuses are becoming more and more clear. One of the things I was instructed to do is use Afrin spray. The Afrin does 2 things. I t relevies sinus congestion and the first couple of days after the surgery I used it to control the post surgery bleeding. The drainage is normal and ok. but if it is too red with more or mostly blood that is not a good thing. I guess you can also use Afrin if you ever get a bloody nose to slow it down and stop it. There is something in it that restricts the blood vessels and helps them clsoe if they rupture and you have a bloody nose. Too much Afrin use can cause what is called rebound and cause sinus congestion.

This is part one of the surgery I need. Part 2 will be in about 6 months to remove my tonsils and trim the area in the back of my throat. Again this is to reduce or eliminate the use of the CPAP. That surgery will be very painful after. From what I understand I will not be able to eat anything solid for about 10 days.

Rogue Leader

I haver to have this done possibly later this year or early next year due to my exposure in the WTC.... I'm not looking forward to it, however from what you have said so far it doesn't sound THAT bad....

Square & Compas

My experience with it is not that bad. Yours could be differant. Truth be told the worst part about the recovery for me was last Fri. and Sat. My neck, back and arms ached really bad from laying on the operating table and from being moved from the table to the gurney I was on in recovery. It felt like someone had beaten me with a baseball bat. It was really bad when I had to cough because of the congestion and my back and abdomine hurt. The actual post surgery recovery with my sinuses on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the best, 10 being the worst, including pain, discomfort, congestion, pressure, etc. Thurs. and Fri. were 9 to 10. Sat. and Sun. were 8 to 9. Mon. was about a 7 and today is about a 6. because it is progressively getting better and I can control it with regular off the shelf Tylenol and Afrin I have requested and have been granted permission to go back to work for half days this Thurs. and Fri. and full time next Mon. Because I had cartilage replaced in the hollow cavity from the injury I suffered as a child I have a splint in place that has to be removed in Oct. This will affect my sinuses somewaht until then. The biggest concern right now is everything coming lose and dislodged which is why I have to be off the bike and no major physical exertion until at least sometime late next week, it needs to be given time to heal. My recovery would not be as long if I did not need the cartilage repalced and the spint put in to hold it. This was not discovered until he was in there working. If you do not need this done then your recovery will likely be better and quicker, but again your experience may be differant.

BTW the doctor who worked on me was a flight surgeon in the Air Force.

Siu Blue Wind

Thanks for the info about the gel and your detailed explanation. I might have to talk to someone about that again.

Good luck with the second surgery, it would be nice not to depend upon the mask.

Nermal

I had surgery for a deviated septum, decades ago. They were still using gauze packing back then. By the time I had recovered from surgery, the cartlige grew back. I've known people with better luck.

Square & Compas

Stil recovering but doing very well.
1. Have been sleeping in my bed since last Tuesday. The first few nights you need to sleep at an angle, so I slept in my La-Z-Boy recliner.
2. Switched back to the nasal mask from the full face mask for my CPAP last Monday night.
3. The last time I used the narcotic, Hydrocodone pain reliever was the Sunday night after the surgery. Have not needed it since and I am not using as much Tylenol either. Instead of 8 a day I am down to about 4 day. But I still have some sinus pain.
4. Been back to work since last Thursday for half day, last Thurs. nad Fri. and went back to full days this past Mon. I asked my doctor for clearance to go back to work. I was getting bored at home.
5. Been cleared to ride bike, mow the lawn, etc. rode for the first time ni 2 week today. Feel pretty wiped out. Doc. did tel lme to ease back into it because I am not yet at 100% and I will feel exhausted if I do too much at one time. I should have listened because he was right. No major pain or congestion, a little, but mainly feel exhausted.
6. Still have splint in because of cartilage. Will be removed in a couple of weeks. This is still causing sinus congestion and a bit of pressure and sometimes a dull headache.
7. Chest congestion, body aches and sore throat are all gone.
8. Absorbable packing material is either been cleared out or has absorbed in. The congestion is because of the splint.
9. When I am not congested I am breathing better and my sinuses feel better. If it is this good with the splint in, I can't until it is removed.

If there are others, I know some have indicated they need the surgery, who need this type of surgery I recommend it. Especially if it will benefit you. But, don't be afraid to ask your ear, nose and throat specialist questions. After my initial exam by mine we sat there for about 45 min. with me asking and him answering questions about this. The questions took longer then the exam.

Perhaps I have been fortunate with my recovery and maybe yours will not go as well. But all of us are differant.

Square & Compas

One other piece of advice. when the anesthesiologist come in to speak with you prior to the surgery the day of ask questions and set an expectation of communication while you're in the OR, before they put you under.

Here is why. I have only been under general anesthesia twice. This most recent and when I was 17 or 18 and still in high school. When I was younger I had same day foot surgery. I went back to the OR, got on the table. No one, and I mean no one talked to me while I was in there. I know they were busy getting ready for my surgery, but I wasn't even told we are putting you under now. I was never told to breath take deep breaths or anything like that, in fact I was never given any O2 before I was put under. Before I knew it I had a funny taste in my mouth and I was out. When I woke up in recovery it was a miserable and frustrating experience. I had an upset stomach, and felt hung over and it was very noisy. I don't mean just the sound of machines and normal voices. I heard and remember shouting and yelling. On top of that I was hot and cold at the same time. It was so unpleasent I tried to get off of the gurney cause all I wanted to do was get the hell away from the stressful situation. The nurses didn't think that was too good of an idea. But I did manage to sit up before they got to me. When they tried to lay me back down I said no, I want to get dressed and get out of here. They let me sit there as they removed the IV. Made me drink warm 7-UP, which I threw up. They made me drink more until I did not throw it up and I never could, I kept throwing up. I told them to bring me something cold. They wouldn't. I made it understood I am getting dressed and going home. They tried to stop me, because I had to prove I could keep something in my stomach. I said I can if it is cold. They finally brought me some cold water, which was fine. I got dressed and got the hell out of there.

The surgery for my sinuses was a whole better with the anesthesia after I explained the horror I went through with the first one. They communicated with me the whole way until I went under. They told me they were starting the drug to put me to sleep, they told me there would be a breathing tube in me after I was out and it would be removed before I woke up and I could expect a sore throat and an achy bloated feeling from it. They had me breath deeply with the O2 mask. When I woke up in recovery all I heard was the normal noise from the machines and normal talking voices, one of which was a very pretty nurse standing over me asking me questions. I actually smiled at her and answered. They took me back to the bay where I started, helped me into the recliner chair. Brought me cold Sprite and ice chips. Felt and tasted great. I did not get sick because of the anti-nausia drug they used when they put me under. I had to use the restroom and thought I'd have to use a wheel chair. They wanted me to walk the short distance and helped me. I guess this helps someone recover from the anesthesia. They did let me use the bathroom by myself though, thankfully. I then got dressed and they wheeled me out and I went home. It was a lot better experience then the first time I had general anesthesia.

So do not be afraid to ask questions and express concerns or any bad experiences you had in the past. The key is communication.