Just wanted to brag a bit—watched the Super Bowl today with a real American who actually shelled out for the pay-per-view. To make things even better, the guy’s a die-hard Richmond fan, and they finally pulled it off... champions after 37 years. 😁
Believe it or not, my throat actually hurt more than my nose. Everything was just draining from my nose straight down my throat, irritating it so bad I couldn't even handle sweet or salty foods... But once they pulled the tampons out (after 5 days), I could breathe like a dragon again, and my sense of smell and taste finally came back... For a few days after the tampons were removed, my nose kept running constantly, but that eventually phased out. My doctor recommended using plenty of Sterimar to rinse my nose, and I still use it occasionally when the air gets too dry since my membranes haven't fully recovered yet.
Don't sweat the pain too much, they'll give you meds, and a few people I was in the room with didn't take anything for it at all. Personally, I didn't feel intense pain, just some discomfort, maybe because of the tampon.
I quit using nasal drops about a year before my surgery. My doctor didn't even realize I was on them, though it didn't really matter since he could see the deviation right away. I had the procedure at Mayo Clinic; if you have supplemental insurance, it doesn't cost you a dime. You stay in the hospital for five days after the operation, then they pull the tampons out and you head home. From the outside, you can't tell I had anything done—zero bruising. The only thing still bothering me is the scabbing; sometimes they get pretty large and settle in deep, making them tough to blow out. After being discharged, I just used Maxitrol and Sterimar spray. Mucotomy is basically removing the mucosa, but I've no idea why they bother doing it.
I used to use Operil, but it’s been a long while since I last touched it. Assuming the nurse finished her job, I’m wondering how much recovery time she actually needs? It’s been about a month and a half since my surgery and my sense of smell and taste are pretty weak... just wondering if that's from the mucotomy or if it's just this cold, dry air.
I dealt with a deviated septum and faced the exact same issues. Using nasal sprays helped manage the cycle for a while. About six weeks ago, I finally went under the knife, and now my breathing is totally normal. I recently asked about mucotomy—which is what I actually had done—but didn't get an answer. I know what it is, just don't get why they perform it...