Just had a septoplasty and partial turbinectomy . . .

[jkvato]

Hello, everyone!

I've been a long time visitor, but this is my first post. I'd first like to thank you all for all the great explanations and tips you have posted here over time. Although I hand't really found occasion to actually post to this forum before, I've learned pretty much everything I've needed to know about sleep apnea and CPAP treatment since I started six months ago.

Five days ago, on thursday Aug. 25, I had a surgery to repair my deviated septum and to trim the turbinates in my nose. Since my septum was really twisted, my ENT/surgeon had me keep the packing in my nose a full five days to make sure the septum was set. The packing was removed a couple hours ago, and wow, what a difference! The first thing that comes to mind regarding my new nose is sensory overload! I'm not used to having that much air enter my nose, and it's almost a burning sensation as I get all that airflow going through there now. I know that once I'm adjusted to this new nose that I'll love it.

I do have some questions, however. My surgeon wasn't very clear on some stuff even after I tried getting detailed answers from him, so I'd like to run these questions past some of you who have experienced the same thing that I'm experiencing.

First off, he said to not blow my nose for about two weeks. I was expecting this, so no problem there. Then he said that if I want to clean out my nose sometime, to use a saline spray. I was expecting instructions for routine washings, but he made it sound like I should only worry about it when I'm feeling stuffy. Since I've never done saline washes before, I asked him how to do it. He said just spray the saline in the nose, suck it back and spit it out. Now here's where my questions come in: by sucking back, is this akin to sniffing, or is it ok to turn loose and snort and hock up lugies? After several days of packing, I have tons of stuff I need to clean out of my sinuses, and I'd love to hock it all up any which way I can; but should I be more delicate? And if so, how can you delicately get all that stuff out of your nose and sinus cavities? I'm nervous about this part because I'd hate to mess up any of the great work that has taken place inside my nose.

On a similar note -- without CPAP treatment, I'll be back to my old snoring (of the snorting sort) which is very lound and obnoxious. Is my nose up to that sort of thing?

Also, with saline washes, is there any way to get rid of the burning salty sensation in the sinuses after a wash? This sort of thing is completely new to me, and I find it quite uncomfortable. (The wash itself is uncomfortable, but I don't mind that as much -- it's the after effects I'm concerned with here).

Anyway, my ENT/surgeon said I would have to be off CPAP for about six weeks until the nose is completely healed. Is this how long the rest of you have had to go after similar procedures?

The last time I saw my sleep doctor, I told him that I'd be having a septoplasty + partial turbinectomy, and I asked if I'd need another sleep study afterwards, and he said no, that we'll just play it by ear. The ENT suggested a new sleep study once I'm healed, and I tend to agree with him. How about the rest of you? Did any of you have new sleep studies and/or lower your pressure after procedures like these?

I know I rambled a bit and threw out a lot of questions, but I'd really appreciate hearing from those of you who have experience in this area.

Lots of thanks in advance,

John

[dizzy]

You don't want to blow your nose, as for saline wash, since you have incisions you should only use distilled or sterile water to make your saline solution with to prevent any infection. If the salt is irritating you, you need to switch to "uniodized" salt, it comes in the same dark blue Morton salt container but it says uniodized salt on the container.

The mixture is: 1/4 teaspoon of this uniodized salt in 8oz glass of warm water (I nuke mine for 30 seconds to warm it, don't make it too hot). To the salt & water you add a pinch of Arm & Hammer baking soda to the mix.

A pinch is just that, amount held between index finger and thumb. The baking soda helps break up dried mucosa and will flush things out easier. Stir it up, put your head over the sink and use an ear aspirator to gently squirt the solution into one nare, water should run out the other side. You can also use a ceramic netti pot, this is the same as what yoga folks use.

[snork1]

I was using CPAP the same night after my surgery and that was after a 3 hour procedure, so its hard to believe you have to be without CPAP for 6 weeks.

Hard to believe you are only supposed to do a saline spritz, and not a true rinse, if I am reading this correctly. My doc had be doing the salt and baking soda in boiled water (warm) with a blue squeeze bulb and an incredible amount of clots and junk came out day after day. I STILL do the saline rinse because it does such a good job of keeping my allergies down and keeping me healthy. I never have really gotten the solution to go in one nostril and out the other, even after surgery.

I did get retitrated with a new sleep study after I recovered. My pressure went from 10-14cm to 5-10cm and CPAP finally WORKS after a year of futile struggle with a plugged nose.

[ozij]

I read in a chat transcript that the amount is a 1/4 to 16 oz. You might want to try that first if you're sensitive to the burning sensation.

The "in one nare out the other" technique is shown in a video on this site: http://www.sinucleanse.com. I don't know the product, have never used it, but the video itself was a godsend.

O.

[jkvato]

Thank you, dizzy and snork, for your informative replies.

I just tried a true flush, and got lots of blood out, but I still didn't manage to get all the junk out of one side even after going through a bottle of saline. Worse still, I have burning sensations at the very back of my nasal cavaties near where they dump into the throat (but the burning is not in the throat, it's in the nasal passages). I suspect I have some saline solution up in there that is trapped, and I haven't been able to get rid of it.

Any suggestions?

I'm definitely calling my doctor in the morning, but for now I am quite miserable.

Thank you,

John

[jkvato]

Thanks for the link, ozij. I shall check it out.

John

[snork1]

Don't push it too hard on the flushes, since that is why you do the flush once or twice a day, to get some more next time. But using a cute little spritzing spray bottle would indeed empty a bottle in one time.

I squeeze AT LEAST a full blue bulb worth of solution up my nose each time. (using the ear irrigator or "baby bulb" bulbs)

The way I get all the solution out of my nose is to do the yoga position "salute the sun" with "downward dog" in between each knee going forward. For some reason the movements just empty out my nose. Nothing else really seems to work.

I do recommend checking with your doctor though, especially at the early stages after surgery. I would not presume to outguess your particular situation, but can only relate my own experiences, since I am NOT a doctor.

[jkvato]

Thanks again to dizzy, snork and ozij:

Your input was excatly what I needed to do these flushes properly. My problem was that I wasn't able to find a new blue bulb for a couple of days and I had resorted to those store-bought "cutsie spriters" until I found a new bulb today. Getting enough fluid in the right places was getting too complicated with the nasal spray bottles, and the solution it came with was too potent to start with. That's why I was getting the burning sensations and not enough drainage.

Now that I've got the right stuff and the right formula, I'm noticing much more junk coming out of my sinuses with much less hassle. If I were to have to go through my first ordeal daily, I'd have thought it impossible; but now that I understand what to do, I can see myself doing these flushes 2-3 times daily with little inconvenience and great benefit.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. It has helped a great deal.

John

[RickRed]

John,
Here's my suggestion. I take you went through these surgeries with the hope of either curing your apnea or lowering your pressure. What if I told you there is a very strong possibility you could get off CPAP, would you be interested?

Here's my suggestion, once you've healed from surgery, find a sleep dentist, get fitted for a dental appliance, then have another sleep study. The TAPII can be titrated during a study and your RDI brought to zero.

If you are interested in this possibility, visit the dental forum and ask some questions.
As a former CPAP user I can say this without hesitation, my worst day with a dental appliance is better than my best day with CPAP.
Rick-A former CPAP patient

[Luis5150]

Hi there,i too had septoplasty,etmodectomy and partial middle turbinectomy performed on my nose,i just wonder how do you feel right now,are you breathing enough air or do you feel that you could be breathing better than now.I am having lots of complications on my left side of the nose precisely where the partial turbinectomy took place,and i feel that i ain´t getting enough air in my lungs.Please tell me how you do!