Septoplasty tomorrow. SO nervous I feel sick 🤢

[sha160528]

Hi,

It’s really sinking in for me that my Septoplasty is tomorrow and I feel sick thinking about the recovery.

I’m not overly squeamish (have had a C section) however, the thought of someone operating on my nose and the aftermath of it all really makes me feel so anxious.

I’m worried about the recovery, in particular the pain. I also have a 18 month old who my partner will be taking care of, but I feel anxious about how long before I’ll be ‘normal’ for her?

Can anyone offer some insight or tips?

Thanks,

Hopeful bump?

Just wanted to say good luck and hope all goes smoothly. 💐for a quick recovery

It's normal for you feel anxious, nervous and trepidatious about any operation, let alone a procedure affecting your face. So please know that most people would be feeling the same. Be very kind to yourself for these next few days, and perhaps occupy your mind today with preparation and planning.

I'm a great believer in 'hope for the best, plan for the worst'. So: pain relief. Maximise pain relief for at least the first few days. You can ask to see the pain nurse in hospital if necessary, although you should be discharged with a decent amount. Ask your DP to make sure that happens if you forget in the moment. Know how to contact your GP / where your nearest pharmacy is. Have you already got plenty of OTC painkillers in the house?

(Are you a day case or will you be admitted?)

DP: is he prepped, efficient and raring to go? If he needs to ask you anything, now's the time to do it, not when you're post-op zonked / in pain.

Food: you will need to eat and stay hydrated. Do you have shopping in with things you can eat easily with a sore face? Soups, pastas, fresh / frozen softer vegetables, fruits etc? My adult DD and I, in similar circumstances, become semi-dependent on Heinz tomato soup for some reason ...

You'll also need to sleep.

Sympathies and best of luck

I have had two septoplasties. The first time, the pain and swelling was pretty bad. I was kept in overnight but only because I ended up being done last on the list. It's VERY uncomfortable until the packing is taken out of your nose (although that's quite fun in a gruesome way seeing how much comes out of a single nostril!). once that's out, you should feel a lot better. I had codeine for pain relief for a week afterwards which was enough.
make sure you have a way of propping yourself up to sleep for the first couple of nights until things settle down.
I had young children at the time (3-4 years old), I can't remember exactly how long it was until I was back to fully normal - definitely no more than 2 weeks.

my second one (the first didn't work) was a breeze in comparison, I think it was more 'tinkering' rather than full on structural changes like the first one. Sadly I still need another as that one also didn't resolve the problem! I'm just living with it for now.

I've had one years ago. I was absolutely fine. Make sure they pull the packing out both together. I had to tell the nurse to change her gloves as she'd used the phone wearing the same gloves she was going to wear to remove my packing. The germs on a phone fgs.

Hey OP!

I've had a septoplasty and 3 subsequent sinus/nasal surgeries to correct a deviated septum/remove polyps & widen sinus channels.

You'll be absolutely fine- i would describe it as 'discomfort' rather than pain and if it makes you feel more comfortable/confident, just know that 2 hours after coming round from the 4th surgery i hurried up the discharge team, raced home, bathed and bedded my kids.

Ibuprofen & paracetamol and giving yourself some time to heal is all that's needed.

I found the worst part feeling like i had a really stuffy nose, which was more on an inconvenience than owt else.

Goodluck- enjoy some time to recover after! x

Years spent as an ENT nurse. Two types of packing can be used. There is dissolvable packing that stays in and the "two tampon" approach (most of the surgeons in my hospital rarely use them)

You'll feel stuffed up for a couple of weeks.

Don't shower with the spray hitting you in the face to prevent discomfort.

It's rare to need narcotics post op.

Avoid lifting for ten days.

Avoid contact sports until you get the all clear.

Avoid fatty foods for 24 hours, basically anaesthesia doesn't like fats.

Hope you got on ok. I had one about 10 years ago. Felt a bit ‘heady’ and bunged up but pretty much the same as my symptoms anyway.

Try and sleep upright as much as possible and get some cooling gel eye masks to relieve bruising/pressure.

You'll be fine. I had one about 6 years ago and the worst bit was the hunger afterwards - I thought i must have missed days worth of meals (it was one meal!). All the best!

How did you get on? My daughter has this booked in, due in three weeks. I am terrified for her. I know that she needs this operation but I am frightened.
She is taking it her stride, and does not even seem to be thinking about it.

May I ask how old she is? My DD has a deviated septum and really wants it operated on as the blocked nostril annoys her, but our ENT won’t do it till she is fully grown. I believe there is different thinking on this so wondering if you have found someone who will operate younger.

It will be fine. For me the worst bit was waking up and having a panic attack as my nose was blocked with the packing and I felt sick so was panicking about that. The recovery nurse was amazing and he sat and held my hand and talked me through my attack.

I made the mistake of trying to swallow paracetamol tablets that night at home and nearly chocked, so my advice would be to get some six plus in for the first few days.

I didn’t go ahead with it as my DD had been unwell over the weekend which she just started recovering from but now my partner is really unwell with Covid so I called them to rearrange it. I feel as though I’m also now coming down with something so I guess it’s for the best to have it rearranged

@minipie I was told the same thing. I’ve had this issue since I was like 10 ish and I was always told to wait until I was an adult … for me my symptoms got worse as an adult but I think for some people they can also get better

I’ve never had one but wishing you all the best….treat yourself to something nice when it’s all over & done…you’ll do great.

My son has had it done. He was fine.
It has made SUCH a difference to him

I've had a fair few operations and not been bothered but my recent hip replacement really freaked me out. I was so nervous I had palpitations.
It didn't turn out to be the horror I expected, I'm sure yours won't be either. Good luck x