Before and after a septum operation
I've been dealing with breathing issues for several years now. A specialist advised a septum operation because it was apparently not straight, but because it would take ages for the operation to come, and I needed help breathing at that moment, I went to another specialist. He advised medication. If it worked, the operation would not be necessary. It sort of worked and I was happy not going through with the operation (wish I had, but there you go). It turned out that the medicine while it helped, it did not help permanently. So I was looking at using that spray for the rest of my life. My primary physician recommended going back to the surgeon. The surgeon (who had not thought to give me the medicine even to overcome the months till the surgery) was more reluctant to operate this time, but given that the medicine didn't help permanently and even the other specialist had said to operate if the medicine didn't help enough, I did get the operation.
Now what they don't tell you about operations is that your body needs time to recuperate after. They only told me about that when I went for a check up and was having trouble. At the time the trouble was that after a few months there was still blood coming out of my nose. I had stopped using the saline solution they'd recommended flushing the nose with, because they said (or I had understood) it would only be necessary for a bit. But now I was told to go back to using it. I wanted to know how long to use it. The doctor didn't know - I pressed him and he said for a few weeks. I should not have pressed him. I should just have continued using it for as long as I felt it was necessary.
Anyhow, this lens is a collection of the things I've learned dealing with the medical system and my body all these years. I'm focusing on the post operation part because that's the part where the doctors really don't seem to know what to do.
[The picture is of a deviated septum, which is pretty common and for which I had surgery. From wikipedia. ]
Now what they don't tell you about operations is that your body needs time to recuperate after. They only told me about that when I went for a check up and was having trouble. At the time the trouble was that after a few months there was still blood coming out of my nose. I had stopped using the saline solution they'd recommended flushing the nose with, because they said (or I had understood) it would only be necessary for a bit. But now I was told to go back to using it. I wanted to know how long to use it. The doctor didn't know - I pressed him and he said for a few weeks. I should not have pressed him. I should just have continued using it for as long as I felt it was necessary.
Anyhow, this lens is a collection of the things I've learned dealing with the medical system and my body all these years. I'm focusing on the post operation part because that's the part where the doctors really don't seem to know what to do.
[The picture is of a deviated septum, which is pretty common and for which I had surgery. From wikipedia. ]
Disclaimer: I'm NOT a doctor
Don't use this lens as anything more than complementary advice. It is meant as a collection of tips to help you cope, alongside medical advice.
The issues described here are serious and you should have a doctor check the following, aside from any symptoms you may have with the eyes (teary? or no sleep dust?), ears (pain?), nose (breathing, pain, blood) etc.:
I'll go into the second part below. Infections are difficult to deal with. I've had infections in my ear, my nose and even my lymph node all connected with my nose problems. Each type of infection comes with different symptoms and medication.
The issues described here are serious and you should have a doctor check the following, aside from any symptoms you may have with the eyes (teary? or no sleep dust?), ears (pain?), nose (breathing, pain, blood) etc.:
- Are you allergic to anything? (there are tests and there is medicine that will help even if you're allergic to something not tested for)
- Is there an infection?
I'll go into the second part below. Infections are difficult to deal with. I've had infections in my ear, my nose and even my lymph node all connected with my nose problems. Each type of infection comes with different symptoms and medication.
Nose wash
Cleaning the nose is essential
You will need to clean your nose out a LOT after surgery. That's just how it is. Your nose should be able to do that on it's own 6 months after the surgery, but don't count on it managing before. I'm at 6 months myself now and am still using this occasionally, in addition to medicine to keep my nose open (sort of open anyhow).
There are several ways to make the saline solution and get it into your nose. I've found a few options for you below.
The thing to watch out for is:
There are several ways to make the saline solution and get it into your nose. I've found a few options for you below.
The thing to watch out for is:
- The nasal solution should have the right concentration of salt. Too much is not good, but too little is not good either. (There are online recipes to do this cheaply, but I haven't had much luck trying that way).
- Hygiene.
Health Solutions SinuAir EZ Squeeze Bottle
A cheap squeeze bottle to get the nasal solution into your nose.
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 12/22/2009) 
New Neti Pot Nasal Wash / Sinus Irrigation System by Nasopure with 4 ounce bottle
A nasal wash bottle that is formed to make it easier to get the fluid into your nose.
Comes with salt packages to easily make the saline solution.
Amazon Price: $19.98 (as of 12/22/2009)
SinuCleanse Squeeze Nasal Wash Kit
Squeeze bottle to get the nasal solution into your nose. I do like the squeeze part. It gets higher into your nose with less effort.
Comes with salt packages to easily make the saline solution.
Amazon Price: $8.68 (as of 12/22/2009)
Symptoms to watch out for
Ear Aches
An ear ache that has a sharp pain is a sure sign you need to go to the doctor TODAY. Chances are you are at the brink of an infection that will punch a hole in your ear and get fluid coming out of it. If you're quick you can get ear drops that will prevent the whole problem.
Flu like symptoms that just won't go away
These days it's pretty obvious that if you have flu like symptoms that just won't go away, you need to see a doctor because it might be the 'Mexican flu'. But even if that epidemic is over, flu like symptoms that last longer than a week or so may be a sign of an infection in the nose or throat area. And while most such infections will be battled by the body fine, if it lasts longer than a week it is time to go to the doctor. He will check for signs the infection has spread to other places in the body. If it has, it's time for serious medication.
An ear ache that has a sharp pain is a sure sign you need to go to the doctor TODAY. Chances are you are at the brink of an infection that will punch a hole in your ear and get fluid coming out of it. If you're quick you can get ear drops that will prevent the whole problem.
Flu like symptoms that just won't go away
These days it's pretty obvious that if you have flu like symptoms that just won't go away, you need to see a doctor because it might be the 'Mexican flu'. But even if that epidemic is over, flu like symptoms that last longer than a week or so may be a sign of an infection in the nose or throat area. And while most such infections will be battled by the body fine, if it lasts longer than a week it is time to go to the doctor. He will check for signs the infection has spread to other places in the body. If it has, it's time for serious medication.
An extra pillow at night helps breath
This is one of the first things I learned when I first had trouble breathing: that an extra pillow or two at night would make the breathing easier. One of the hardest things about not being able to breath well through the nose is sleeping. Getting the head higher will help keep the nasal passages open enough to breath through at night. Opening the nasal passages to the ear
What you can do yourself
MMMMM
I'm saying you should hum. Humming is a good way to find out if the passages to your ears are blocked. It's also effective as a way to help your nasal passages clean themselves. Depending on how things are going I will hum several times a day.
Humming will not only help you diagnose whether your passages are open, it will also open them up for a bit. This is important because one of the causes of ear infections can be that the nasal passages aren't aired enough.
Blowing with your mouth closed
This is what my doctor taught me to do to check whether the passages to the ears are open: close your mouth and blow. I don't know why air doesn't go out the nose when you do this, but for me it doesn't. The point is: if you do this and you hear your ears pop, the nasal passages to your ears are blocked. If this lasts, it's again a sign to go to the doctor.
However this method of checking is not very good for your eardrums. Doing it too often may loosen them up and cause loss of hearing. Which is why for everyday use, I recommend the humming.
Eating bubblegum
I think it's the chewing that does it. My doctor recommended this one.
I'm saying you should hum. Humming is a good way to find out if the passages to your ears are blocked. It's also effective as a way to help your nasal passages clean themselves. Depending on how things are going I will hum several times a day.
Humming will not only help you diagnose whether your passages are open, it will also open them up for a bit. This is important because one of the causes of ear infections can be that the nasal passages aren't aired enough.
Blowing with your mouth closed
This is what my doctor taught me to do to check whether the passages to the ears are open: close your mouth and blow. I don't know why air doesn't go out the nose when you do this, but for me it doesn't. The point is: if you do this and you hear your ears pop, the nasal passages to your ears are blocked. If this lasts, it's again a sign to go to the doctor.
However this method of checking is not very good for your eardrums. Doing it too often may loosen them up and cause loss of hearing. Which is why for everyday use, I recommend the humming.
Eating bubblegum
I think it's the chewing that does it. My doctor recommended this one.
Yoga exercise that will clean your nose
One way I check whether my nose is clean inside is making a face (see the video below):
And the hardest part to describe, and hardly in the video below, is to make an 'uch' sound. It's the Dutch G prolonged if you will or the CH in the Scottish Loch Ness. It should really get things vibrating in the back of your throat. I do the whole shebang described here, but I'm convinced it's the sound that does it. The vibration loosens the fluids in the nose which will come into the mouth.
If those fluids taste yucky, do flush your nose with a saline solution.
I was taught this exercise BEFORE my operation, but it didn't do anything. But after my operation it did. (Which is one of the reasons I think I'm still going through post opp recovery)
- tong out
- frown
- looking up
And the hardest part to describe, and hardly in the video below, is to make an 'uch' sound. It's the Dutch G prolonged if you will or the CH in the Scottish Loch Ness. It should really get things vibrating in the back of your throat. I do the whole shebang described here, but I'm convinced it's the sound that does it. The vibration loosens the fluids in the nose which will come into the mouth.
If those fluids taste yucky, do flush your nose with a saline solution.
I was taught this exercise BEFORE my operation, but it didn't do anything. But after my operation it did. (Which is one of the reasons I think I'm still going through post opp recovery)
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Did that help? What are your tips?
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- Kate-Phizackerley Kate-Phizackerley Dec 18, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
- I own up to having had rhinoplasty, and was the envy of many of my female friends who disliked their noses as well. It was a very unpleasant experience - not painful but the breathing discomfort. Not sure my friends would have been so envious had the realised fully what I went through.
Blessed.
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- spirituality spirituality Dec 19, 2009 @ 3:31 am
- How long did that trouble last? I've been on medication to help my breathing for a year since the surgery - and it's looking like I will keep needing it for a while longer.
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- spirituality spirituality Aug 2, 2009 @ 12:39 am | in reply to JaguarJulie
- My nose surgeon explained, AFTER the operation mind, that the inner tissue in the nose takes ages to recover.
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Reply
- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Aug 1, 2009 @ 4:59 pm
- We have a friend Joy who has had several nose surgeries -- mostly to repair a botched nose job -- to hear her tell it, her nose is still not right!
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Reply
- BigGirlBlue BigGirlBlue Jul 17, 2009 @ 1:12 am
- wow, I had no idea. I haven't had the surgery but I may practise a little mouth yoga. :D
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