Sinus Surgery and Reconstruction…OUCH!

[Craig T]

Thursday I underwent a complete septum reconstruction and turbinate removal surgery. You wouldn't think a fairly common sinus surgery would be so uncomfortable….at least for the first 48 hours.

Anybody been through this? Was it a good outcome? Eventually glad you did it?


P.S. I thought I was such a badass making the 3rd Air Force USAFE Base boxing team at 20. 36 years later I'm paying for the broken noses in spades.

[Rick Lee]

My dad had it done when I was really little, like around 1976. It was the first time I ever saw him without a mustache, as he had to shave it. They gave him a very painful injection in the tip of his nose before breaking it. He had a cast on his nose for a while. I think it was pretty rough, but he said it was well worth it.

[GH85Carrera]

The worst part for my nasal and sinus surgery was the 20 pounds of packing they shoved up my nose. It is hard to eat or drink anything and just breathing is tedious. When they filled up a trash can with the packing I thought he was trying to do the on stage magic act like a clown.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Craig T

P.S. I thought I was such a badass making the 3rd Air Force USAFE Base boxing team at 20. 36 years later I'm paying for the broken noses in spades.

I was always told to keep my hands up

I looked it up, for sure worth getting done, but that's nasty.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The worst part for my nasal and sinus surgery was the 20 pounds of packing they shoved up my nose. It is hard to eat or drink anything and just breathing is tedious. When they filled up a trash can with the packing I thought he was trying to do the on stage magic act like a clown.

They don't pack it anymore. They let it drain now. I just have a gauze patch taped under my nose that I change about 10 times per day. Its supposed to slow down after 5-7 days.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

I was always told to keep my hands up

Needless to say...I never proved to be a good defensive fighter.

[porsche4life]

No tampons up the nose anymore?



Sorry to hear it Craig. Go hold the grandbaby and chill to relax. Bonus that you can't smell stinky diapers!

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Sorry to hear it Craig. Go hold the grandbaby and chill to relax. Bonus that you can't smell stinky diapers!

Ha! That is a smell I'm not missing.

[mreid]

Hope you heal quick. However, you're better off than this guy!

http://youtu.be/UI3CAyd5dhM

[vash]

my coworker went thru it a couple years ago.

for him, it didnt work. he is full time stuffy, or partially blocked. before and after the surgery..very minor improvement.

i wish you luck.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Craig T

They don't pack it anymore. They let it drain now. I just have a gauze patch taped under my nose that I change about 10 times per day. Its supposed to slow down after 5-7 days.

NOW they change it.

It was a horrible experience for me and I am glad it was long ago so the memories have faded. Before the surgery even at my best I only had one nostril providing air. Often I had almost no air going through my nose. Now I can sit and breath like a normal person. If I get into much exertion I still have to breath through my mouth.

[Tobra]

When they pulled the packing on mine, it felt like they were trying to turn my head inside out. They used this smooth plastic deal that maintained the shape of the sinus as it was healing. I wonder what they do to keep it the right shape now.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Tobra

When they pulled the packing on mine, it felt like they were trying to turn my head inside out. They used this smooth plastic deal that maintained the shape of the sinus as it was healing. I wonder what they do to keep it the right shape now.

They used a couple permanent stitches to keep my septom the right shape while healing. One of my employees just had it done and his surgeon used hollow stints that had to be pulled out after 7 days. In both cases, no packing and left open to drain.

Day three and I'm off the vicadin (Norco). Not much pain left. Just some pressure and a lot of draining.

[GH85Carrera]

I still VIVIDLY remember the needle used for the first injection. I swear it was 18 inches of stainless steel needle.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

The worst part for my nasal and sinus surgery was the 20 pounds of packing they shoved up my nose. It is hard to eat or drink anything and just breathing is tedious. When they filled up a trash can with the packing I thought he was trying to do the on stage magic act like a clown.

This is my most memorable experience - when I went to the Dr to get the packing removed, he pulled out the packing from both nostrils at the same time. Upon removal, I thought someone who have to scrape me off the ceiling. I'm glad he did both cuz if he did one at a time, I will still have the remaining packing in my nose.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by jcommin

This is my most memorable experience - when I went to the Dr to get the packing removed, he pulled out the packing from both nostrils at the same time. Upon removal, I thought someone who have to scrape me off the ceiling. I'm glad he did both cuz if he did one at a time, I will still have the remaining packing in my nose.

Why do you think he did them at the same time? He did them one at a time on a guy and then got kicked square in the balls!