Posted: 2/18/2005 9:28:06 AM EDT
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Anyone here ever have it? Did it help? How long were you down? PAIN? |
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Depends on the type of surgery. I had drainage window drilled into my sinuses over 25 years ago. I don't remember how painful it was...I was about 8 at the time. Back then, I spent 3 days in the hospital, but I am sure that now it is a much simpler and easier procedure. Did it help? Who the F*ck knows...My sinuses and ears have always been and probably always will be FUBAR. |
yes, I have allergies, but the bone structure in my face is wrong causing the plumbing to clog up. Pretty evident on the MRI I too have the infections that gravitate towards my ears and make me dizzy as hell. I guess, I should brace myself for the pain>>>>Yikes!!!!!!!! |
| i have had it done four times(chronic sinus problems). polyps(sp?) removed and several sinus problems(hit by a car when i was 8) i had the last one done a several years ago for the deviated septum and polyps(sp?) to be removed, i was like 23 or so now 35 and i WOULD NOT do it again unless the procedure has been changed. i was down for a week or so and the pain the first two days was almost unbearable then just went to serious discomfort with the packing up your nose the two most visceral experiences in your life when they pull it out. complete and totally pain and complete and total relief all at the exact same moment. |
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Had sinus surgery four years ago. Even with meds the pain was something I didn't think humans could experience. I didn't sleep for 48 hours after the surgery. There were minutes and hours that I thought I was going to go insane from the intensity of it. The only thing that got me through was prayer, and the hope that it would get better eventually. Only the narcotic pain meds would put a dent in the pain, so two weeks after the surgery I got to experience the joy of withdrawl... I spent about two days feeling like I was dying, and wishing I could. All in all, those were the worst two weeks of my life, bar none. The singularly worst part was the fact that the pain was in my head, so there was no way to rub the area, or apply heat or cold, like you can with injuries to your extremeties. You just have to sit there and endure it. I'm glad I had it done, as my quality of life is MUCH better now. But DAMN! Nobody told me that the pain would be that bad. I was shock sensetive for months afterwards; commuting was a real trial, as every little acceleration, deceleration, turn and bump, made my nose and head hurt. I still get shooting pain in my septum if my nose gets bonked by the odd hand movement, or if I'm wrestling with my son and he happens to whack me. Oh ya... About week two or three, the blood clots will start to come out. You suddenly get this overwhelming desire to blow your nose, and out comes this, well, THING. And the smell; good grief, the smell is, well, truly unique. If I was to ever get to a point of being in chronic sinus pain again, I doubt you could get me back on the table to go through it again. I dunno. Maybe yes, maybe no. |
I had DR.Holzen here in Nashville perform a sinus surgery + window cut outs in both of my sinuses last June. That is a complete Roto-Rooter w/cutting new space (windows ) in the cavities out. I had 75% blockage in the left and 95% in the right before surgery, due to allergies. Pain was not too bad after first day. Just constant headache and tightness. The worst feeling was not being able to breath out of my nose for 1 month and the return visits for the cleaning. You will not believe the amount of STUFF they will pull out of your nose.  You will be told to get a Water Pick and they will give you an attachment to irrigate your sinuses after about two weeks. It will be your best friend. My overall outlook on the procedure is I would do it again ,if needed. Now when my allergies (pollen) are not acting up I can smell a mouse fart from about two miles out. 
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Had a deviated septum fixed when I was 18 right after high school graduation. Won't lie to you it hurts. Took about 3 weeks for me to feel somewhat normal. Before that I had a constant problem with nose bleeds and sinus infections. It was really effecting my health. At high school graduation I weighed 142 lbs and I'm 6'1". By Fall I was at 192lbs and in top physical shape. I could really push myself and work out without fear of nosebleeds. |
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I must have been lucky. I never really hurt that bad. I quit taking the pain med after a couple days and some of that was at only a half dose. What almost drove me insane was the packing. That was the worst part of the whole deal to me. If you don't understand what is involved, go get two tampons. Then have one completley up each side of your nose. This was a horrible feeling for a few days. Then come time to remove the packing. Imagine them full of blood, snot, ect and pulled out through each nostil. ARRG!!! The doctor told me to be careful and use the nose spray, because if I started bleeding he would have to put the packing back in. I was thinkng to myself while he was saying this, only if you have five or six guys mean and bad enough to hold me down while it was done against my will, and even then there was going to be a hell of a fight! Added: This was in May '98 and my sinuses never got as good as they were before they messed up but also have stayed much better than they were before the surgury, so all in all it was a plus. I would hate to have to make that decision now though, knowing what I know now about how bad the packing was. |
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I have had 16 operations. Some minor, some major. The sinus operation would be considered minor in my book. That being said it was by far the most painful operation I have had to date. I was 14 years of age when I had the operation due to a deviated septum. (spelling?) The whole deal under the knife lasted 4 hours and took a week before I could remove that God awfull splint off my nose. Then they pulled 2 long pieces of cotton gauze/rope from each nostril. Man that hurt like a bitch. It has help my sinus infections greatly. I had really bad migrain headaches from my sinus problems so even though it was painful it was worth it to do away with most of my headaches. |
It sounds like you have what I had fixed. A deviated septum. Mine was day surgery and the only "pain" I felt was in the middle of my chest from the surgeons elbow. He normally took the packing out in the afternoon but because "I bled like a stuck pig" (his words) he left it in until Sunday. I had the operation Friday morning. I had minimal swelling, no black eyes and my face wasn't real sore. If you are on any kind of blood thinners (aspirin) you better let them know. Also.I got this bit of advice from my sister who is an ER nurse. Just before he removes the packing..grab ahold of your nuts and hang on tight! Believe me..when he pulled it out it felt like it was tied to them. I suffered from cronic sinus infections for a few years and since I had the surgery approx 9 years ago I've never had another bad one. I still get sinus infections if I get a cold but they drain like they are suppose to. NO build up of pressure or the pain. Good luck and you won't regret it. |
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I had a deviated septum fixed a few years ago. It was quite an unpleasant recovery. Lot of nausea. Throwing up with the packing in was hell. When they pulled the packing out I had no idea they could cram that much stuff up a nose. It sucked. Just imagine a full length tube sock up each nostril. I later had sinus surgery and the recovery was not that bad. I was on my back for a while but no packing. I think now a days they have the technology and the tools to really hit the places you need without messing you up too bad. I still have allergies but my incidences of sinus infections has decreased. One of the things that I still do several times a day is irrigate my sinuses with salt water (canning salt). I highly recommend it if you have sinus problems. I have a waterpik that has a sinus attachment and I stick that in one nostril and turn on the machine over the sink. The water goes in one side and out the other with all of the crap. It is really weird the 1st few tiimes you do it but it feels great afterward. They also sell something called a Neti Pot that does the same thing. |
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You guys are scaring the shit out of me. I've had rhinitis for at least 10-15 years. Sometimes I have a sore throat from Nov.- May. NO allergies whatsoever. Constant drainage down the back of my throat. Neither nostril is ever open more than 50%. I've had MRIs, steroids, antitbiotics etc. No ENT (I've seen at least half a dozen) gives me the feeling that what they will do will help. Plus, more than half the people I talk to say the surgery didn't help them. Also, I've heard there is a way to do the surgery without the packing. I went through the packing snaching when I was 18 and that was easily in the top 10 of my painful experiences. I should have killed that psychotic, sadistic bastard! Now what??? I'm tired of being sick all winter. I'm having a steam shower installled in the new house. I'm gonna cook whatever is up there like a well-done clam. If that doesn't help I'm going under the knife. 
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My girlfriend had the roto-rooter twice for severe sinus polyps and infection. The first time, about 10 years ago, by hand. When they pulled the packing, she sprung a leak and "same day" turned into 8 days on "the good stuff" (they used cocaine to control the bleeding apparently). Within 6 months the polyps were growing back. The second time was last summer, and things HAVE changed. This time they MRI scanned her beforehand and laid out the path of the woodchipper with a computer. This clears more of the bad stuff with less risk to the good stuff. Recovery was 3 or so days of misery, followed by a few weeks of PITA. She made 3-4 debridement visits after the surgery, and like was said.. The stuff they pulled out of there was incredible. Since the surgery she's had followups every few months. The polyps haven't returned, and her sinuses (the best of which was 95% open before surgery) are 100% clear. After surgery she spent a long time on big doses of steroids and was a complete psycho. She's done with those, and the doc is talking about taking her off advair and singulair as well. The most important part is to find a good surgeon. I would recommend her doctor highly to anyone in the NJ area contemplating this surgery. When I met this woman, she couldn't smell. She most certainly can now, which is not always a good thing  ETA- the second surgery did not involve packing. |
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Had my nose broken in a fight when on active duty about 25 years ago - could only breathe through one side. Had septoplasty 4 years ago to fix deviated septum. Hurt like +1 on the packing of gauze and removal of said gauze 2 days later. Holy Jebezowitz that shit hurt. Thought he was pulling my brains out my nose. You asked. Wouldn't lie to you. |
Same reason I live with a twice-broken nose. Aint worth the money. So what if I sleep with my mouth open and snore? (so long as no "alternative lifestyle" types are sleeping in the same area. ) |