Undeviated Septum

June 30th, 2006

Last month I mentioned how I was diagnosed with a deviated septum. Well, on Wednesday I underwent surgery to correct this.

Nothing exciting about before the surgery–it is an out-patient procedure that takes less than an hour. No eating or drinking after midnight prior to surgery. A little general anesthesia, and then you wake up thinking you were just in a bar fight. You are groggy from the drugs, your nose burns, and a hammock of gauze is strung up between your ears to catch the drips of blood that seem to never stop. Whose idea was this again?

I was sent home with antibiotics to ward off any infection and Tylenol with codeine to deal with the pain from what was described as “chiseling”. No one used this word prior to surgery. I did not opt for any cosmetic enhancement of my schnoz, so there was not much external change except a bit of swelling. No black eyes or bandages — just a bloody gob of gauze strung up under my dripping nostrils.

I was anxious to try out my new nose–breathing wise, but alas some “packing” is kept in for a day to control the bleeding. It was hard to sleep propped up, in pain, and only able to suck air in through my mouth.

The next day, the dripping blood had nearly stopped. Time to go back to the doctor so he could remove the packing and restart the dripping of blood. At this point the pain was diminishing, but my ears were hurting from having the gauze harness strung between them.

The second night brought no better sleep, but much less pain. I ditched the gauze and now just walk around with a tissue stuck up my nose. And evidently there are still splints stuck up in my nose to be taken out six days after surgery. I can already feel that my breathing will be better, but there is still some healing to do before I think about trying too hard.

(Nasal Splints)

Other restrictions I need to worry about:

• No blowing my nose for two weeks
• No swimming for a month
• No vigorous activity for two weeks

All-in-all, it is a painful and bloody procedure. However, if my breathing is improved it will be well worth it… and I would recommend it for a friend.

Entry Filed under: Health

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