urbanbadger1 said:Here is what I’m looking to find out:
1. How long do they actually keep the packing in? Some clinic websites say 3-5 days, others say just two (like at Dr. Glusac's office), so I’m wondering how long you all had yours in and which surgeon you went to. I assume it depends on whether they used an open or closed technique....
2. Once the packing comes out, can you breathe again? Obviously, I know there’s still mucus and healing tissue in there, but I want to know if you can actually draw air through your nose, or if it feels totally blocked. Also, someone mentioned you shouldn't blow your nose—which makes sense—but I'm wondering if you can clean it slightly, very carefully and gently (I don't mean a full-blown blow, but maybe using a saline spray or rinse and then just a light sniff to clear things out)
Can anyone walk me through the stages in more detail?
a.) The first few days after surgery: People say the pain isn't that bad, though they give you painkillers that aren't always particularly effective. Is it worth taking them? My main concern is that immediately after surgery, the nose is swollen, and everything inside is inflamed and bloody. Add the packing into the mix, and you can't breathe through your nose for those 3-5 days. Is that a major issue when you're trying to sleep?
b.) And I'm curious about the pain levels and sleeping conditions from day three to day seven compared to those first couple of days.
c.) I read that the nose stays swollen for months or even half a year, which really spooked me, though most people seem to say it’s not that bad. Can someone clarify how much this actually shows visually and how much it hurts from week two onwards? It sounds like it might be tender to the touch. Specifically, did the tenderness interfere with sleeping on your side? Even if you aren't pressing your nose directly against the pillow, can you sleep on your side comfortably?
Basically, when does the nose pain finally stop? Can I expect to sleep normally and have minimal, manageable tenderness to the touch by the three-week mark?
Thanks so much for any info you can share.
Man, so many questions. It's like I'm looking at myself right before my own surgery. 😁
1. I had mine in for two days (it was a closed technique), but I saw a bunch of sites saying they take them out after 24 hours for cosmetic work and 48 hours for septoplasty. Honestly, your doctor will tell you what to expect.
2. You can breathe the moment the packing comes out. At least, I could. You will probably notice a strange smell, though—for me, it smelled like a mix of blood and disinfectant 😕. For cleaning, a simple saline spray or even just some water is plenty. Besides, everything tends to drip down the back of your throat anyway, so you won't feel much need to blow your nose 😁.
a) Maybe it just depends on the surgeon, but I honestly didn't feel any pain at all. They offered me meds, but I truly didn't need them. I didn't bother taking anything at home either because it wasn't hurting; it was just a weird sensation having those packs in. The hardest part is definitely adjusting to sleep, since you have to breathe through your mouth. Your mouth ends up feeling as dry as Gandhi's flip-flops every morning, but you get used to it. Oh, and eating is a bit of a chore—at least it was for me—because you can't open your mouth very wide. You either have to eat tiny bites or blend everything, and either way, it feels like it takes forever to eat, which gets old pretty fast.🙂
b) The pain is pretty much nonexistent now, just like it was right after the surgery (the stitches being removed stings a little, but it’s nothing major). You should sleep on your back, though I’ve actually started sleeping on my side now that I'm on day 9.
c) Your nose feels blunt—the tip itself is numb, and I get this weird, uncomfortable sensation whenever I run my finger over the tip (like tiny prickles, though I can't quite put my finger on it). It gets less swollen every single day; the tip stays swollen the longest, but it doesn't bother me, and everything is infinitely better than how it felt 😁.
Hopefully, that covers what you were looking for. Good luck! 😉