Sinusitis FAQ

Surgery went well

Question:

Just maybe, it hurts *her* to look at you, because it hurts *her* to see her *Mom* in distress——- Caring, and Love can show up in many varied ways—— Best— Ron "Judy Simon" <hurricane.j…@verizon.net> wrote in message

news:3E020F04.5040608@verizon.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Lee Babcock wrote: > > Judy Simon wrote: > >>Hi all, > >>I just want to let you know that I had the septoplasty and turbinectomy > >>yesterday and all went well.  The anesthesiologist took my sleep apnea > >>very seriously (though the ENT did not).  But anesthesiologist insisted > >>that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have > >>CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very > >>careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. > >>  So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the > >>local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to > >>ask to take home the full face mask (darn!) and I have the conventional > >>packing, so I am stuck breathing through my mouth, and I keep sipping > >>water because it is so drying.  But all in all, I’m okay.  Tomorrow the > >>ENT will take out the packing.  I am going to be sure to take a Tylenol > >>with codeine before I go to his office (I haven’t needed any today). > >>Thanks everyone for your support and valuable experience! > >>Judy > > Judy……. congrats on the surgery.  It has been my experience that the > > anesthesiologists are far more concerned about the sleep apnea than the > > surgeons are as well.  If you every need more surgery, they have general > > anesthetics that you wake up quickly from and leave no grogginess.  I’ve > > had them three times now and they are incredible. > > How long is the healing process for what you had done?  Sounds like it > > must be very uncomfortable. > > Regards > > Lee in Toronto > Lee, maybe I had the kind of general that doesn’t leave you groggy > because I was surprised at how alert I was after the surgery, nothing > like 25 years ago when I had my appendix out or 30 years ago when i had > my wisdom teeth out.  The ENT said I should feel much more comfortable > tomorrow after he takes the packing out.  He said he gave me a nice big > breathing airway and I should notice a difference right away but it will > take 6 weeks to achieve the full effect.  He said I can go back to work > in 5 or 6 days but I’m taking two weeks off.  The agency where I work is > closed next week for Christmas break anyway, so it’s an easy two weeks > for me to take.  My sons are all home from college between semesters now > too, so I have a lot of "go-fers."  Interesting, my sons and my husband > are not grossed out at all by the surgery and have been very helpful but > my sixteen year old daughter can’t stand to look at me with the puffy, > leaky nose and the bandage so she won’t come near me.  I guess she’s not > cut out to be a nurse! > Judy

Response:

Hi Judy. I have had the same surgery but done two different ways. The first time I had it, I had the packing without tubes. This was before my OSA was diagnosed. I was in the hospital only overnight and 2 hours after the packing was pulled out I was cleared to go home. Spent a week lying around the house and went back to week with just splints in my nose, which were removed another week later. That was done in 1993. I have severe allergies which dont respond to treatment, so the turbinectomy was done to stop the non-stop pouring of watery drainage from my nose. Now in feb of 2002, I went back for another try. This time my ENT said he wanted to do a less invasive procedure which involves going around the turbinates in a clock fashion and just cauterizing the tissues. After the swelling goes down, and the scar formation pulls under, my airway should be more patent and less drippy. Well, I cant say that its helped much. There was no packing this time and I could have gone home the same day but because of my OSA they kept me overnight and I had to use a mask instead of my nasal pillows.. NEVER AGAIN! Glad to hear all went well for you.. hope your recovery is speedy and no complications! Margaret C.

Response:

Haha, thanks Janet- I bet you were surprised  Now I don’t feel so annoyed at myself about forgetting the mask.  Thanks for your good wishes, and you have a wonderful holiday too. Judy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Janet wrote: > So glad that surgery went well for you…..I hope it has the effect you were > going for…..I just wanted to tell you not to "sweat not taking the > mask"…….I took mine and when I got home .. found out it was a "single > use mask" with no straps…….they keep the straps and the mask is meant to > be thrown away so you did not miss a thing………just thought you would > like to know……….Now, pay attention to all they tell you and get well > ..  and have a wonderful holiday…….   :O)   Janet > — > "Judy Simon" <hurricane.j…@verizon.net> wrote in message > news:3E01E41E.6050305@verizon.net… >>Hi all, >>I just want to let you know that I had the septoplasty and turbinectomy >>yesterday and all went well.  The anesthesiologist took my sleep apnea >>very seriously (though the ENT did not).  But anesthesiologist insisted >>that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have >>CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very >>careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. >>  So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the >>local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to >>ask to take home the full face mask (darn!) and I have the conventional >>packing, so I am stuck breathing through my mouth, and I keep sipping >>water because it is so drying.  But all in all, I’m okay.  Tomorrow the >>ENT will take out the packing.  I am going to be sure to take a Tylenol >>with codeine before I go to his office (I haven’t needed any today). >>Thanks everyone for your support and valuable experience! >>Judy

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -NormC wrote: > Judy Simon wrote: >>Thanks Bear!  I’m off the the ENT in an hour and a half to have the >>packing taken out.  I feel like I have a cold- sneezed a few times, >>gooey mucus oozing out around the packing (sorry, really gross), but not >>much blood anymore.  Hope it doesn’t complicate the recuperation.  I’m >>on antibiotics for a week so that should prevent any infection, but it >>does feel like I have a virus.  The antibiotic is hard on my gut, too. >>Oh well, it’s gonna be good to get the packing out.  I guess I’m lucky >>it’s a rainy, miserable day because at least there is a lot of moisture >>in the air. >>Judy >>The Somnolent Phantom wrote: >>>x-no-archive: yes >>>Judy Simon wrote: >>>>Hi all, >>>>I just want to let you know that I had the septoplasty and turbinectomy >>>>yesterday and all went well.  The anesthesiologist took my sleep apnea >>>>very seriously (though the ENT did not).  But anesthesiologist insisted >>>>that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have >>>>CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very >>>>careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. >>>> So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the >>>>local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to >>>>ask to take home the full face mask (darn!) and I have the conventional >>>>packing, so I am stuck breathing through my mouth, and I keep sipping >>>>water because it is so drying.  But all in all, I’m okay.  Tomorrow the >>>>ENT will take out the packing.  I am going to be sure to take a Tylenol >>>>with codeine before I go to his office (I haven’t needed any today). >>>>Thanks everyone for your support and valuable experience! >>>>Judy >>>Hi Judy, >>>I am glad all went well for you!  It has been my experience that >>>anesthesiologists know more about apnea than many of the so called "sleep >>>medicine" doctors. >>>Once the packing comes out tomorrow, you will feel MUCH better. Your doctor >>>will give you some specific instructions tomorrow when he removes the >>>packing regarding cleaning you nose and other things to avoid bleeding. Be >>>sure to follow them carefully. >>>You might want to try munching on some chipped ice to help the dry mouth. >>>Ice packs on the outside of you nose will help relieve the swelling and >>>pain. >>>Keep us posted on your progress. >>>Sweet Dreams, Bear > Judy – I like to let people know about things I learned the hard way.  Be aware > that you can get oral thrush from (too many) antibiotics.  It never happened to > me after just a week, but once I had to go three weeks with three different > antibiotics, plus an inhaler.  Then I had to use a prescription mouthwash for a > week to get rid of the thrush.  Just BE AWARE.

thanks; i will be aware.  so far, so good

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Judy Simon wrote: > Thanks Bear!  I’m off the the ENT in an hour and a half to have the > packing taken out.  I feel like I have a cold- sneezed a few times, > gooey mucus oozing out around the packing (sorry, really gross), but not > much blood anymore.  Hope it doesn’t complicate the recuperation.  I’m > on antibiotics for a week so that should prevent any infection, but it > does feel like I have a virus.  The antibiotic is hard on my gut, too. > Oh well, it’s gonna be good to get the packing out.  I guess I’m lucky > it’s a rainy, miserable day because at least there is a lot of moisture > in the air. > Judy > The Somnolent Phantom wrote: > > x-no-archive: yes > > Judy Simon wrote: > >>Hi all, > >>I just want to let you know that I had the septoplasty and turbinectomy > >>yesterday and all went well.  The anesthesiologist took my sleep apnea > >>very seriously (though the ENT did not).  But anesthesiologist insisted > >>that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have > >>CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very > >>careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. > >>  So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the > >>local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to > >>ask to take home the full face mask (darn!) and I have the conventional > >>packing, so I am stuck breathing through my mouth, and I keep sipping > >>water because it is so drying.  But all in all, I’m okay.  Tomorrow the > >>ENT will take out the packing.  I am going to be sure to take a Tylenol > >>with codeine before I go to his office (I haven’t needed any today). > >>Thanks everyone for your support and valuable experience! > >>Judy > > Hi Judy, > > I am glad all went well for you!  It has been my experience that > > anesthesiologists know more about apnea than many of the so called "sleep > > medicine" doctors. > > Once the packing comes out tomorrow, you will feel MUCH better. Your doctor > > will give you some specific instructions tomorrow when he removes the > > packing regarding cleaning you nose and other things to avoid bleeding. Be > > sure to follow them carefully. > > You might want to try munching on some chipped ice to help the dry mouth. > > Ice packs on the outside of you nose will help relieve the swelling and > > pain. > > Keep us posted on your progress. > > Sweet Dreams, Bear

Judy – I like to let people know about things I learned the hard way.  Be aware that you can get oral thrush from (too many) antibiotics.  It never happened to me after just a week, but once I had to go three weeks with three different antibiotics, plus an inhaler.  Then I had to use a prescription mouthwash for a week to get rid of the thrush.  Just BE AWARE. — Sleep well/eat well/be well Norm To email replace nospam with rr

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -NormC wrote: >>But anesthesiologist insisted >>that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have >>CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very >>careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. >>  So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the >>local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to >>ask to take home the full face mask >>(darn!) > Ditto.  Why-oh-why don’t they recognize that as something that is important to your well > being?  Why don’t you tell someone (who?) that you need it and were too out-of-it to think > for yourself.  They should be responsible.

I asked my husband, but he forgot too > Could you tell if it was a ‘regular’ mask or a lite-weight, single use design (if there is > such a thing)?

I couldn’t tell.  I know it had an opening, kind of like armor, which they separated to feed me sherbet. Judy

Response:

Thanks Bear!  I’m off the the ENT in an hour and a half to have the packing taken out.  I feel like I have a cold- sneezed a few times, gooey mucus oozing out around the packing (sorry, really gross), but not much blood anymore.  Hope it doesn’t complicate the recuperation.  I’m on antibiotics for a week so that should prevent any infection, but it does feel like I have a virus.  The antibiotic is hard on my gut, too. Oh well, it’s gonna be good to get the packing out.  I guess I’m lucky it’s a rainy, miserable day because at least there is a lot of moisture in the air. Judy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The Somnolent Phantom wrote: > x-no-archive: yes > Judy Simon wrote: >>Hi all, >>I just want to let you know that I had the septoplasty and turbinectomy >>yesterday and all went well.  The anesthesiologist took my sleep apnea >>very seriously (though the ENT did not).  But anesthesiologist insisted >>that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have >>CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very >>careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. >>  So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the >>local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to >>ask to take home the full face mask (darn!) and I have the conventional >>packing, so I am stuck breathing through my mouth, and I keep sipping >>water because it is so drying.  But all in all, I’m okay.  Tomorrow the >>ENT will take out the packing.  I am going to be sure to take a Tylenol >>with codeine before I go to his office (I haven’t needed any today). >>Thanks everyone for your support and valuable experience! >>Judy > Hi Judy, > I am glad all went well for you!  It has been my experience that > anesthesiologists know more about apnea than many of the so called "sleep > medicine" doctors. > Once the packing comes out tomorrow, you will feel MUCH better. Your doctor > will give you some specific instructions tomorrow when he removes the > packing regarding cleaning you nose and other things to avoid bleeding. Be > sure to follow them carefully. > You might want to try munching on some chipped ice to help the dry mouth. > Ice packs on the outside of you nose will help relieve the swelling and > pain. > Keep us posted on your progress. > Sweet Dreams, Bear

Response:

On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 15:21:59 GMT, Judy Simon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<hurricane.j…@verizon.net> wrote: > |  Hi all, > |  I just want to let you know that I had the septoplasty and turbinectomy > |  yesterday and all went well.  The anesthesiologist took my sleep apnea > |  very seriously (though the ENT did not).  But anesthesiologist insisted > |  that there is no such thing as "mild" sleep apnea, and that I must have > |  CPAP with full face mask.  Also, he explained that he had to be very > |  careful about the CO2 level and how high it gets before I take a breath. > |    So he kept the general anesthesia to a minimum and went heavy on the > |  local.  I think that’s why I feel as good as I do now!    I forgot to > |  ask to take home the full face mask (darn!) and I have the conventional > |  packing, so I am stuck breathing through my mouth, and I keep sipping > |  water because it is so drying.  But all in all, I’m okay.  Tomorrow the > |  ENT will take out the packing.  I am going to be sure to take a Tylenol > |  with codeine before I go to his office (I haven’t needed any today). > |  Thanks everyone for your support and valuable experience! > |  Judy > |  

Good to hear, Judy. I’m glad it all went well. You might want to check with your doctor about using a Grossans Sinus Irrigator later on down the line. I had one already and used it (very gently) as soon as I was able to breathe through my nose. I’m convinced that it sped up my recovery from my surgery by several weeks. You would not believe the stuff that came out. I mean, you truly would not believe it. Your daughter would run screaming down the road. But be sure to ask your doc as you would not want to mess up his handiwork by using it too early. —————————————————- "Trudy is Beauth, Beauth, Trudy"

Filed under: Nasal irrigation

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