Has anyone here had a deviated septum repaired?

[Anonymous]

How painful was it and how long did it take to recover? I may also have a subtle nose job done at the same time. If I did, would it change the recovery timeframe much?

[Anonymous]

It hurt like a MF.

[Anonymous]

Very, very, very painful. I had to sleep sitting up for a week maybe. They packed my nose with what must have been 100 feet of gauze. I looked like a pig. I had it done when I was a senior in college, so I didn't have anyone else to take care of or work to go to.
I clearly remember asking the people I knew who had had it "why didn't you tell me it would be so bad"? They said because we didn't want to scare you. If you have ever given birth and had a third degree tear and weren't at all prepared for how that recovery would be, it was worse than that. If I'd known it would be so bad, I never would have done it.

[Anonymous]

I had mine fixed due to chronic sinus infections. The recovery was awful. Like the previous poster, no laying down for a week. Prescription pain meds would only dull the pain for about an hour (for a reference point, after my c-sections I only took ibuprofen, so I'm not sensitive to pain).

I'm glad I did it because it completely eliminated my twice-month infections, but I would never do it again for anything less.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I had this odne 15 years ago and was in very little pain. I had my deviated septum repaired and a sinusotomy. the worst part of the whole thing was when they took the packing out. Other than that it was a piece of cake. But so was my C-Section. You people are wussies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I had this odne 15 years ago and was in very little pain. I had my deviated septum repaired and a sinusotomy. the worst part of the whole thing was when they took the packing out. Other than that it was a piece of cake. But so was my C-Section. You people are wussies.

I don't think so, I vaginally birthed 2 ten pound babies, that was easy and relaxing. I also had lipo, easy again.
The nose was a damn nightmare. My eyes were nearly swollen shut. I had to have the surgery repeated, it was even worse that time.

[Anonymous]

DH has had two. Apparently the old way of doing it - it's not uncommon for it to "fail" and need another fix. He had it done again 2 years ago and they didn't use the packing this time, just some straws in there for drainige and some splints I think - much easier recovery. But he said the whole thing was awful even the second time. The only reason he did it again was because his breathing was truly labored with only 20% open (or whatever they call it) on one side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I had this odne 15 years ago and was in very little pain. I had my deviated septum repaired and a sinusotomy. the worst part of the whole thing was when they took the packing out. Other than that it was a piece of cake. But so was my C-Section. You people are wussies.

You are an idiot.

OP - the recovery was much, much tougher than I expected. I wondered at the time how anyone has elective surgery on their nose.

[Anonymous]

A colleague a work had it done a few years ago and said it was like having a bad cold. I think the older way of doing it with lots of packing was much more painful.

[Anonymous]

What were PPs symptoms that led to surgery? I have chronic nasal congestion and sinus headaches but I have been managing okay. Sounds like the surgery might not be worth it.

[Anonymous]

I also had it done and didn't experience too much pain. The packing was annoying, but I only remember a dayish of this (I was in my early 30s at the time). I could sleep laying down - slightly elevated. Then a couple more days and after that fine. Pain wasn't a problem, don't remember being on meds that were very strong either. Same with C-section #1 though. No post-meds needed. C-section #2 was another story (2 weeks of drugs).

But, I didn't think it was that bad. And compared with not ever being able to breathe through my nose, way better. But after that I also had more nose/throat infections, which led to me getting my tonsils out. Don't know if it had to do with anything at all, just a note.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What were PPs symptoms that led to surgery? I have chronic nasal congestion and sinus headaches but I have been managing okay. Sounds like the surgery might not be worth it.

I am second PP. I had chronic sinus headaches and the septum was pressing on a nerve. The surgery definitely wasn't worth it. Maybe it's different now as I had it done almost 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH has had two. Apparently the old way of doing it - it's not uncommon for it to "fail" and need another fix. He had it done again 2 years ago and they didn't use the packing this time, just some straws in there for drainige and some splints I think - much easier recovery. But he said the whole thing was awful even the second time. The only reason he did it again was because his breathing was truly labored with only 20% open (or whatever they call it) on one side.

New poster. This is what I've been wondering - whether there have been advances that make the surgery somewhat less painful than it was when I first looked into it 25 years ago. Sounds like yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What were PPs symptoms that led to surgery? I have chronic nasal congestion and sinus headaches but I have been managing okay. Sounds like the surgery might not be worth it.

19:07 here. After years of chronic nasal congestion and sinus headaches that PCPs, Minute Clinics, etc., kept telling me were allergies, I went to an ENT because nothing was improving the situation. It took him about 30 seconds looking in my nose to say he was 95% certain I didn't have allergies, and 100% certain I had a raging sinus infection. Treated that, but it kept coming back, and after the better part of a year trying different tests and treatments, and still being back in the office twice a month for new infections, we decided to try surgery. Fixed a deviated septum and enlarged turbinates, and it truly was life-changing. I hadn't realized how much the chronic headaches were taking out of me, how bad I was sleeping due to the restricted airflow, etc. If you're not finding relief for your symptoms, I would highly recommend getting it checked out to see what can be done for you. Surgery for that was worth it, but I wouldn't do it for purely cosmetic reasons.

[Anonymous]

Does a deviated septum contribute to sleep apnea?