Deviated septum and septoplasty surgery?

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Has anyone been through the surgery to fix a deviated septum in the nose? Did it restore your breathing back to normal? Did it impact your sense of smell at all?
 
I did it … helped somewhat … my ENT claimed he should of charged double since it made my nose straight … however allergies will still reduce airflow …
 
I went through it a couple years ago. It helped some. I was born with my nose crooked a little. I can breathe through my nose better but not completely. As long as I don't wear a dusk mask I seem to be O.K. Never did like painting cars for that reason.
 
Had mine done about twenty years ago. It really improved my breathing. It completely stopped the frequent sinus headaches I got .
 
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Had this done in the fall in addition to sinus surgery to address chronic sinus infections.

Took a good 6-8 weeks for smell and taste to return.
This was due to post surgery inflammation and slow healing.
Doctor said it can sometimes be longer.
Doctor also said that it can result in permanent smell and taste loss in rare instances.

Overall I'm very happy with the result.
Not too painful, but not fun.

Would do again.
 
ENT's are very quick to want to fix a deviated septum. I had a growth in my sinus and the ENT wanted to straighten the septum while he was removing the growth. I told him no to the former. Growth came back I had to go to a higher level ENT specialist, who never said a word about needing to fix the deviation.

It's probably not big deal to have done, but I'd ask if will really make a difference.

As far as sense of smell, it will be more likely to improve it. If you can open up the passage to the smell receptors, if anything it'll get better. They ended up taking the wall between my nasal passage and sinus and now I can smell things that others can't.
 
When I was young boy my nose was broken 3 times, I have triplet sisters 5 years older than me
lol.gif
. At 16 I had the deviated septum surgery done, that was 49 years ago. Back then the surgery was primitive by today's standards but eventually it helped a lot and I had no bad side effects. I would recommend having it done, it'll make your life a lot more enjoyable. And I'm sure the surgery today is a lot easier on the patient than it was 49 years ago.

Whimsey
 
Originally Posted by Burt
As far as sense of smell, it will be more likely to improve it. If you can open up the passage to the smell receptors, if anything it'll get better. They ended up taking the wall between my nasal passage and sinus and now I can smell things that others can't.

Terrible advice.
You have no idea about the OPs condition.
You have no place stating that their condition will improve or not.
Only their doctor can do that based on a full examination.

Please stop slinging medical advice on the internet.
 
I had nasal polyps in addition to the deviated septum. Sleeping, I couldn't breathe through my nose and breathed through my mouth, drying out my mouth and throat.

After the operation I had to sleep upright in the recliner for a week. At the first follow-up visit the Doctor pulled out 2' of bloody bloody gauze.

I'm glad I did it.

Choose the doctor carefully as some may enlarge the sinus cavities to drain and enlarge to much creating a train tunnel sound effect when you breathe. If so, after awhile you'll ask for a gun.
 
Originally Posted by JLawrence08648
I had nasal polyps in addition to the deviated septum. Sleeping, I couldn't breathe through my nose and breathed through my mouth, drying out my mouth and throat.

After the operation I had to sleep upright in the recliner for a week. At the first follow-up visit the Doctor pulled out 2' of bloody bloody gauze.

I'm glad I did it.

Choose the doctor carefully as some may enlarge the sinus cavities to drain and enlarge to much creating a train tunnel sound effect when you breathe. If so, after awhile you'll ask for a gun.


Same for me, but polyps only in one side. My nostrils are not even like they used to be after fixing the septum.

The gauze removal reminded me of the scene with Schwarzenegger in Total Recall. I had no idea that was in there!
 
Originally Posted by CorvairGeek

The gauze removal reminded me of the scene with Schwarzenegger in Total Recall. I had no idea that was in there!

Ugh yes, it really is that awful.....
 
Originally Posted by Imp4
Originally Posted by Burt
As far as sense of smell, it will be more likely to improve it. If you can open up the passage to the smell receptors, if anything it'll get better. They ended up taking the wall between my nasal passage and sinus and now I can smell things that others can't.

Terrible advice.
You have no idea about the OPs condition.
You have no place stating that their condition will improve or not.
Only their doctor can do that based on a full examination.

Please stop slinging medical advice on the internet.


Sir, he was asking for the benefit of experience which I have considerable personal experience in having numerous sinus procedures over many years by one of the top specialists in the area. It is not uncommon for people to share personal experiences or get second opinions (which vary) from doctors as I did. It is up to the reader to discern whether there is value to the range of responses.

Your doctor said there was a rare chance your sense of smell could get worse. Did you ask if there was a greater chance of improvement?

I'm not going to parse the difference between opinion and advice. You can criticize the OP for asking, but that is your opinion/advice. I was merely responding.

Last year, My cardiologist of 20 years said i needed heart valve surgery and the surgical facility he referred me to "never disagreed with his opinion". Well the surgeon did disagree and said that in his opinion I was a l-o-n-g way from needing open heart surgery. Doctors can and do disagree and recommend procedures that may not be necessary.
 
Originally Posted by JLawrence08648
Also had polyps on only one side, why is that?


I don't know and didn't get an answer, other than it was odd. My only theory is that the sinus cavity filled on the left side from predominately sleeping on my left side. Allergies and drainage causing the irritation and polyps?
 
I too had surgery to correct a deviated septum and a couple of other issues. I went from not being able to move sufficient air through my nose to support most activities other than sitting or waking to easily being able to handle most activities. My sense of smell improved, I got less sinus infections and less sinus drainage. That was 10 years ago and I still marvel some times at how nice it is to breath.
 
I'm starting to have doubts that I have a deviated septum. It seems to get "better" when I'm outside in cold weather or when I exercise.

This makes me think the swelling is tissue, and not bone.
 
I notified that too - at least about being in cool/cold weather. I know that I had a couple of issues other than the deviated septum so maybe you do too? At any rate my surgery fixed me up.


I know a few RNs and of course have some exposure to them when seeing the doc - ask them who is the surgeon to see. Depending on where you're at and how the surgeon does his thing (may travel from hospital to hospital to perform surgery) the nurses may have even worked with him and can give you an idea of his compotence. My ent surgeon was kind of a rock star so to speak. Everyone seemed to think he was really good and my results agree.

Hope you get all fixed up - it's a bit of annoyance to have done, but well worth it in the long run.
 
Originally Posted by Whimsey
When I was young boy my nose was broken 3 times, I have triplet sisters 5 years older than me
lol.gif
. At 16 I had the deviated septum surgery done, that was 49 years ago. Back then the surgery was primitive by today's standards but eventually it helped a lot and I had no bad side effects. I would recommend having it done, it'll make your life a lot more enjoyable. And I'm sure the surgery today is a lot easier on the patient than it was 49 years ago.

Whimsey

When my sister says jump I jump. Girls are really mean.
 
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