Nasal surgery to improve CPAP.

[richb]

I am recovering from recent surgery to correct a deviated septum and enlarged nasal turbinates. The surgery went well. I had splints in my nose for 6 days (now removed). Nose is still tender and a little swollen. I have been able to resume using my CPAP ASV machine and now can breathe a bit better than prior to the surgery. I expect to see considerable improvement over the next month so the surgery should be worth it. I consulted an ENT on the advise of my new Sleep Doc. She was concerned that I needed to use Afrin in order to get through a night of CPAP. I hope this works since the surgery was an ordeal. Anyone out there with experience with this?

Rich B

[PollCat]

I've had four surgeries over the last 25 years to remove polyps from my nasal passages. While this isn't the same surgery you had, it's similar. On my ENT's advice I now use a NeilMed nasal rinse every morning, and Nasonex every night at bedtime. (I learned the hard way that you do not want to use the spray after flushing your sinuses with the rinse.)

[HermannTheGerman]

I have had the same surgery about 10 years ago.
Before that I wasn´t able to sleep longer than 4 hours without spraying my nose.

The biggest improvement came immediately after they removed the splints.
The Nose was still swollen so there was aditional improvement during the following 5 or 6 days after the surgery.
Since then nothing has changed.
If your nose isn´t swollen now, why should there be any further improvement during the next month?

Herman

[richb]

I have had the same surgery about 10 years ago.
Before that I wasn´t able to sleep longer than 4 hours without spraying my nose.

The biggest improvement came immediately after they removed the splints.
The Nose was still swollen so there was aditional improvement during the following 5 or 6 days after the surgery.
Since then nothing has changed.
If your nose isn´t swollen now, why should there be any further improvement during the next month?

Herman

My septum is still swollen. I still have dissolvable stitches in my septum. Turbinates are still a bit swollen. Yet, I am continuing to improve. Now breathing better at night then prior to surgery.

Rich B

[2thepoint]

Hi Rich,
Past April had a deviated septum repaired, turbinates shaved down, septoplasty, and a permanent splint and strut implanted. My ENT says it takes about a year to fully heal. Prior to the procedures, both nostrils would collapse on inhalation. I was a mouth breather for 60 years. I hated cpap therapy so much I put the whole set up in the closet for months. Three sleep docs couldn't figure out why my cpap therapy wasn't effective. My ENT did so during the first exam. Bottom line is that although the healing has taken time, it was well worth it! Now I couldn't be happier with my Dreamstation & P10. My numbers are good to boot.
Good luck!

[richb]

Hi Rich,
Past April had a deviated septum repaired, turbinates shaved down, septoplasty, and a permanent splint and strut implanted. My ENT says it takes about a year to fully heal. Prior to the procedures, both nostrils would collapse on inhalation. I was a mouth breather for 60 years. I hated cpap therapy so much I put the whole set up in the closet for months. Three sleep docs couldn't figure out why my cpap therapy wasn't effective. My ENT did so during the first exam. Bottom line is that although the healing has taken time, it was well worth it! Now I couldn't be happier with my Dreamstation & P10. My numbers are good to boot.
Good luck!

Thanks for the encouragement. I finally got through a night with at least one nostril open. I think I might need a larger nasal mask. The one I have puts pressure on my nostrils. I have a lot of reading to do.

RichB