Recovering from septoplasty surgery

Thommo here (cant log in stupid system wants my email address to reset my password and it says it's wrong! No it aint!!). Anyway glad youre going well Paul.

Went back to my surgeon/specialist for the first time last Monday 28/5. Surgery was 1/5. 4 weeks and it's been damn easy. Told him it was painless from the recovery ward until today. He mentioned that it was rare for there to be much pain. His aim at surgery is to be little to no blood and same with the pain. He uses a mild amount of cocaine I heard, also (read up on this).

Discussed various web sites with the specialist and why some people experienced big pain. He mentioned that Australian and New Zealand docs actually do a different procedure in relation to re-using some of the septum (I think it was the septum or was it the turbinates??), as it aids in less blood, less pain and quicker healing. He said we were world leaders in this aspect. Perhaps this is why a few of us have experienced almost none, to no pain. Of course there are dozens of variables as to why patient X's pain is different to Y's. Nonetheless, reading the horror stories on here (100% are non aussies!) certainly had me concerned and for nothing, it appeared. Of course this only MY experience. Pauls too it appears.

Food for thought.

Thommo, how are you feeling at the moment? Do you think the surgery was worth it? When were you able to start breathing through your nose? My biggest fear i guess which is normal is the question, is surgery going to do anything for me?? Cheers for reply.

Thommo: Hi Paul. Feeling better than I ever have. Have been breathing normally through both nostrils for about 2 weeks. Initially after a few days when I gave up using the 3 pillows (which also, like the other Paul above, is bloody painful and uncomfortable) and went back to my normal pillow I kept mouth breathing of course, but every now and then you would hear crackling and popping sounds and I could breathe through one nostril and sometimes partially the other. Specialist said my L nostril had more work done, so this side has taken longer to fully open. Even in its less fully open state it is better than it was pre op! Douching your nostrils with the saline unit they give you has helped considerably. Still doing it twice a day (due to work constraints). Doc said to wean it off and see if it gets too dry and crunchy. If so squirt some more up there. I reckon I could stop it now, but am continuing as it's hardly inconvenient and has helped a lot.

I too asked the question over and over about what's the point (pre op)? I can breathe fantastic after I squirt Sinex (insert whatever product you care to mention), up my nose, so why would I want to go through the horror stories Ive read on here, when a little $7 product does the job??!! Albeit using it 3 or 4 times a day for 36 years (read my earlier stories). Reason? It was a piece of cake to do so and Im already breathing better than ever and it's only been 4 weeks. After 2.5 weeks (I think it was) I was probably 90% completely clear and now Id call it 99%. So I can breathe better than I ever had and I dont need drugs to make it so.

Not knowing your exact issues no doubt youve been to a specialist and he reckons you need surgery? If unsure get another opinion, but if both agree, then it's really up to you. No-one can MAKE you undertake surgery, you have to weigh up the surgery with the very real and almost certain possibility that you'll breathe better for the rest of your life. Really a no brainer isnt it. However as I was almost 99% blocked in each nostril it was easier for me to make that decision. But I did think why go through hell when I can spray this stuff up my nose? mmmm. Dilemna isn't it. I chamged my mind a dozen times until it was almost the day before surgery! lol.

Bumped into my mechanic a few days beforehand and he was the only one Id ever heard have these procedures. He said it was a walk in the park too. So I decided to do it. He said in a few months you'll come in here and shake my hand. I'm 100% certain that will be the case. I have shaken it already, its been that good! lol. Good luck with your decision Paul. GT

Thommo I had the surgery but your response wAs very helpful. It seems to all be going ok and I hope I feel as good as you in 4 weeks breathing wise. I will let you know how I go. Please keep me updated as to your full recovery. Very curious to know. Cheers. Paul

I had mine done here in the good old U S of A. Under our unfair market-driven system, mine cost me $220. I am sure that once we get the Obama socialized system fully up and running, we will be able to pay much more. BTW: Canadians come to America for care, not the other way around. Americans went to Canada for drugs until recently. That seems to have been a fad, because I don't hear of it any more.

John wrote:

Thommo wrote:

Thommo here. Im from Gosford NSW. 1hr North of Sydney. Didn't cost me a cent. Im with NIB in a family package (pretty basic, no extras etc) and they meet all the costs......almost. Surgeon was free. Anesthaeseologist will be about 3 to $400 they told me. Other than that, and some after surgery meds (about $60 worth), nothing else. For lets say $500 you can get all this done. I was in Gosford Private hospital also so not your local hospital. Excellent care and I have some doctor friends and they said my doc is the one people come to see for this type of surgery. He was a Thomson also (name sake!). Cost me about $230 to see him initially and I got back about $150 I think. Obviously talk to your specialist and see what they charge. Not a lot of money to free up your breathing for the rest of your life!! I pity the US people on here as I see and hear what they [pay. $10,000 type figures are not unusual. Yay Australia and its great medical system. I see why US citizens go across the border to Canada for care!

Not all US people pay $10,000 I have insurance and the total price, with surgery office visits and meds, was $100.

I was fully covered by my insurance and paid a 35.00$ us dollar fee. I don't know why you think Americans have to pay full price for any surgery. the majority of Americans do have health insurance and are covered.U.S. citizens do not cross the border for healthcare as a matter of fact my maternal family is Canadian, and they come across the border for American health care because Canada's health care system is horrible . My cousin in Canada with terminal cancer was on an MRI waiting list for a year and a half. I love our healthcare system.

Thommo:- Yep youre all correct and I obviously had it wrong.The many TV shows 'I've seen with people hit with 200K bills for heart surgery etc etc must have been wrong. The travel agencies and Govt web sites here and overseas that strongly recommend medical insurance for the same reason, must also have it wrong. The friends of mine that said they paid $500 to see a doctor must also have it wrong. The stories about patients that wont be given their drugs unless they put some more $$ into the hospitals bank account are all wrong too of course. Thanks for letting me know what actually is happening there.The 3 peoplehere saying the contrary arent supported by the stories on the web where thousands say the opposite to you. Need medical attention here? Free! Yes the US has a health system that is the envy of the world (rolls eyes), except not us. Try googling what I read/heard. Zillions of matches supporting what I wrote. Even Sarah Palin admits she goes to Canada for health care. I know she's not the smartest person in your country but there's an example supporting what Ive read/heard! Anyhow back to the main topic. How's your nose?

So Guys, im thinking about getting septoplasty surgery.i cant remember the last time i could actually breath right ..i go to bed most night with tissue in one nostril and other nights i just cant sleep at all from this.It goes back and forth nostrils but its mostly just in the one..i was sappose to get this done like 4 years ago but never went ahead with it ..bone needs to be moved half an inch. After reading some of the comments im kind of scared...I would enjoy lots of feed back on this please.. my nose gets really runny at times but dont unstuff at all ..

Had my surgery yesterday, last night was not bad but today I am leaking like a sieve and my sinuses are killing me

Well, I had the polyps removed 2 weeks ago. It was much better than my first surgery and not as evasive. No pain at all but a lot of bleeding and congestion. I can now sleep through the night breathing through one nostril or the other. I've been instructed for now to use only saline spray. Seeing the Doctor next Monday. I will probably get a steroid spray due to sever allergies. I have read the polyps may grow back. Lucky me , Karan

I agree. I had the surgery yesterday. After reading these posts I was expecting immense pain - but it was fine! I didn't feel pain until I had to lie down & sleep for the 1st time (night of the day of surgery). The nurses only gave me paracetamol as a pain killer, my nose was blocked & bleeding, face & head were aching, but, while annoying being awake all night, it wasn't too much of a biggie. (I wasn't sleeping well before the surgery due to this deviated septum anyway) and the pain was sharp or throbbing - just aching.

It's now the day after surgery, the doc took bandages out of my nose this morning, I came back home & slept. Still have only had paracetamol & an anti-swelling drug. Been told I can use a sea salt nasal spray I want to but my nose is blocked with scabs - obviously, so I'll leave it for a bit. I'll see the doc again in a week so he can clean the areas out. No probs really. This has been the easiest surgery I've ever had.

Thommo: I was advised (and seems to be std for Australia) to use the saline 3 times a day at least for as long as you can. I used it for the 4 weeks up until I saw the surgeon again! The nurses and he (when I saw him at the hospital) said it's crucial to start it asap. I did it the first hour I got home from hospital and 3 to 4 times aday for 4 weeks. Continued a week or so afterwards as the doc said that was fine. It all helps.

* Update: So it's been 2 months since the op and all is good. Other than my previous discussions about blockages, lack of pain and douching my nose (fun but the blood clots and blobs are lovely lol), it has been a walk in the park. If I hit my nose front on it still hurts a bit, but I can wiggle it with my fingers, scratch it etc. The whole range of normal things one does with a nose. It's great never having to grab nose spray again! Highly recommended that you do this op. As Ive said before, it's hard to compare apples with apples to gauge whether the exact same op with the same conditions resulted in different pain. Tooooooo many variables (as Ive discussed before). Mine? No pain from moment one. Just blocked up obviously. Douching really helped with clearing it.

Good luck all

Fairy_goddess,



I had my septoplasty done yesterday and am also experiencing quite a bit of pain. The first two times I changed my bandage, I also experienced a tremendous hot flash followed by cold sweats and a near fainting episode. I just attributed it to the fact that I'm a 34 year old wuss. LOL. I have not experienced the blinds or headaches yet and hopefully will not anytime soon! Hopefully after a years time, you feel better having had the surgery.

it won't hurt that much. it'll take 4 days to heel and a week for the swelling to go down. be strong!!!

I had done septoplasty before two months but there is numness in my upper teeth, and my right side nose is still not cured completely some times i sneeze badly and bleed