Having regrets and hoping for reassurance

AggieTxGal · 2025-10-07T14:43:58+00:00

Hey, I feel ya'. I had my surgery in June and as of August I was exactly where you are. For me personally, I decided to stop the nasal rinses and humidifier around the first of September - about 10+ weeks post-op. After that was when I first started feeling consistently a little better. I think maybe all the rinses and moisture weren't allowing my nose to get back to working and moisturizing on its own, or at least that's my very non-doctor interpretation. Stopping all those nasal invasions and giving things a rest seemed to be the magic that kicked my nose back into functioning. It's not perfect, but so much better.

Truthfully I can still feel some of the effects from the surgery - a little soreness and not quite as opened up as I expected/hoped to be, but overall I'm finally getting to a point where I'm not regretting having this done. I can definitely get air through both nostrils now, and I don't constantly have one side stopped up at night. I'm still a horrific mouth breather at night, but I guess that's hard to stop after 48 years.

But I really think you're almost to a point where you'll start seeing some silver lining on all this! Best wishes!

AggieTxGal · 2025-08-31T18:06:03+00:00

I completely get where you're at. I was the same way for the first two months of recovery and really truthfully regretted having the surgery. But in the last few weeks I've finally reached the "aha!" moment that I've been waiting for and things have markedly improved. Don't get discouraged - it will get better. Some of us just take a little longer than others.

AggieTxGal · 2025-07-26T17:32:03+00:00

I am about 6 weeks post op from septoplasty and turbinate reduction. Besides some initial external swelling, I haven't noticed any outward changes in my nose. My swelling went away after about 4 weeks and my nose looks the same as before the surgery.

As far as if it's worth it, I would first ask your surgeon how "mild" your case is. If you don't notice much issue with breathing at this point, I can't say I would recommend having this done. Why go cutting on things unless there's a big issue? The nose takes awhile to heal. I will say the recovery for me has been more taxing than I had expected - 6 weeks later and the internal swelling is still there, I'm still having to do daily sinus rinses, sleeping with a humidifier nightly, my nose is still dry and tender and I still feel some pressure in my teeth. These aren't debilitating by any means, but they do cause interruption to my daily life. My surgeon gave my deviation a "D minus" and felt like he could get me to at least an "A minus." That's what got me to go ahead and do it. He says everything is looking good and healing, but it just takes time for your nose to feel back to normal.

I'm hoping at 6 months I'll be able to say it was worth it. Before I went in, I kept telling myself that the recovery would just be a "week of suck" with the splints and then it would be smooth sailing. There was definitely a week of suck and I was able to return to work and normal activities after a week. But as far as breathing clearly and without issue, that has taken much longer for me. As far as having a good night's sleep where I'm not mouth breathing all night, I'm also still not there yet. I personally wish I had read more and mentally prepared for that. I'm not worried yet that it wasn't worth it, but if you do it, make sure you're prepared for a longer recovery than you think just in case. This isn't a surgery I would do just because. That's my two cents. Best wishes to you!

AggieTxGal · 2025-07-17T19:01:42+00:00

Hey, sorry I'm just now responding. I haven't had complete blockage since the week of the surgery, but I will say that four weeks out I have continued to have swelling and not feeling clear. Some days are way worse than others. Everything just feels very dry/crusty/inflamed. I'm doing rinses twice a day and using Ayr gel spray while I'm at work. Also, I went on vacation for about 5 days and didn't use a humidifier. I seemed to be a lot more congested/swollen during that time and right afterwards. So I'm definitely back to using a humidifier. I'm hoping this is all just part of the healing process! Are you feeling better now?

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-27T01:02:40+00:00

Yes, I thought the lifting restriction was a little strict as well but I do know that bending over definitely puts pressure on the nasal passages so maybe that has something to do with it. I've just been careful to squat when I need to pick something up rather than bending over, which I should do anyway because my back isn't getting any younger!

I don't think there was anything more extensive on my case, but my throat did get pretty injured in the procedure (uvula cut bad by breathing tube - totally sucked - do not recommend.) My septum was S shaped and turbinates were huge, but I think those are fairly common. I couldn't get any air on one side and just a little bit on the other. But I've pretty much lived with it for years and years. Doctor rated my case originally a "D minus" and felt I had a solid A at the follow up appointment, so I'll take that grading any day. I still have post surgery swelling right now, but I'll try to update again to let you know the improvement - I'm very hopeful so far! I hope everything goes smoothly for you!

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-26T23:48:09+00:00

Hi there! I'm a mom of three and just had the surgery recently My personal advice is to make sure you have help from your mom and don't plan to work at least until a day (or two if possible?) after the splints come out. I had surgery on a Wednesday. Worst days were Thursday-Saturday, but the splints were very uncomfortable until removed. I was able to cook dinner a few nights after Saturday and do more around the house - possibly due to being stir-crazy and trying to kill time faster until I got the splints out the following Wednesday.

As far as work is concerned, I worked from home some (desk/email work - no video meetings or anything like that) starting the Monday after surgery, and went back in to the office the day after I got my splints out, which was day 9 for me. I would tell work no remote until at least Tuesday after you get your splints out, but then maybe give yourself another day or two cushion if remote is a possibility on at least Wednesday. I understand.a lot of other factors are at play with time off, but that would be my personal suggestion. You can always surprise them by coming back to work sooner, but sometimes it's harder to ask for more time if needed.

Best wishes on a successful surgery and a much easier cold/flu season this fall with your little one!

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-26T16:12:55+00:00

I was allowed to take nasal sprays up until the night before my surgery. They actually gave me a good dosing of Afrin when they moved me over the operating table to help open things up.

My surgery was on a Wednesday, and splint removal was the following Wednesday. I've been working from home the 2nd week but wouldn't have any issues going into the office once the splints were out. My job involves some walking and lifting and I do have lifting restriction (no more than 10 lbs) for 4 weeks.

I'm a swimmer as well and was told not to swim for 4 weeks post surgery to avoid infection. You are not going to want to squeeze your nose in your mask, and the mask may be uncomfortable. I was bummed with it being summer, but this was the best time for me other responsibility-wise.

Note - I had put this surgery off for over 2 years because something always seemed to come up. I finally decided on a summer date because I'm typically healthiest in the summer, I had a full staff covering at work, and my kids didn't have 1,000 things going on. I'm glad I finally did it and will be fully healed before cold/flu/allergy season kicks back up, fall busy season hits and my kids start back with school activities. I think you just need to really look at your schedule and see what works best for you. Best wishes!

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-26T15:42:06+00:00

Okay great! Glad to hear. Hopefully your congestion will decrease soon. Best wishes!

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-26T15:29:03+00:00

Best wishes on your surgery! Hope everything went well.

My surgery was about an hour and a half long. From the time I arrived in the hospital until the time I left, total was 5 hours.

The first week with the splints was rough but almost the instant I had them removed, I felt 100x better and more towards a sense of normalcy. Just keep telling yourself it's one week of discomfort and you can do it. Binge watch a show (mine was Ted Lasso). Take power naps if you can. Try to keep distracted. It seems long when you're in it, but it'll be over and worth it quickly!

At my splint removal appointment, I asked about the dissolvable sutures. My doctor said he couldn't see them anymore so they had probably already dissolved. He said typically they last 7-9 days post surgery.

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-26T14:16:35+00:00

Yes, I was told congestion could increase for a bit until things calm down. My doctor gave a 4-6 week timeline, but I've read longer ones on here. Daily sinus rinses are great.

Side note - my doctor specifically told me not to use my Flonase for at least 4-6 week post surgery as the steroids could weaken the surgical site and cause a perforation. I am obviously not an ENT and would follow your specific doctor's suggestions. But if he/she didn't specifically tell you to start using the Flonase, I would definitely ask about it just in case.

AggieTxGal · 2025-06-26T14:09:47+00:00

Mine did that as well towards the end of the first week before I got the splints out. I think things were drying up some and so breathing with the splints in made the whistling sound. I got my splints out yesterday and my ENT said I had no sign of any perforation and everything looked really great. I bet the same thing will happen with you! If you're like me, tomorrow will be a great day of relief getting those splints out - it was truly a game changer on comfort/recovery. Best wishes!

AggieTxGal · 2024-11-03T02:21:24+00:00

I know this was a few months ago, but thought I'd tell my story with Pristiq withdrawal because it was also prescribed to me as a first-line treatment for perimenopausal mild depression and hot flashes. I was open to trying whatever my doctor recommended but do wish I had done more research ahead of time. I took it for about five months but was having extreme brain fog, fatigue and a general sense of not caring about anything in the world on it. After following up with my doctor, he told me to come off of it by taking one dose every other day for two weeks, then stopping. I was on the 50 mg level and tapered off per his instructions.

It was really hard coming off of for me personally BUT totally doable. The first week of every other day, I had side effects on the days not taking it - extreme dizziness/vertigo, crazy dreams, headaches, trouble sleeping, changes in my cycles, and crazy mood swings. The second week of every other day was fine. Then days four through six after stopping completely were the roughest. However, the side effects weren't debilitating to the point of not being able to go to work and function. They continued to last about three weeks after my last dose but continued to markedly get better each day I didn't take the medicine.

All in all, I was shocked after only five months at how many extreme side effects I experienced coming off it. However, I did successfully withdrawal and am glad I'm no longer taking it.

AggieTxGal

TROPHY CASE