I’m talking 1-2 weeks Post-op, splints removed. One I got the splints removed I definitely could eat more food once I got air back through my nose. But been having trouble swallowing large portions of food. Been having to keep eating small portions. Sometimes I have trouble swallowing even without eating anything. Anyone else have that issue?
So I’m currently 10 days Post-Op from Septoplasty with a Turb Reduction. I had my splints removed three days ago. Update: breathing has been quite nice. I used to not be able to sleep on my right side or on my back because nostrils would get completely clogged. Three nights of sleep in a row where my wife has said I’ve been snore-free for the first time in the 6 years we’ve known each other. Figured I’d share some helpful personal tips and advice I’ve found on this journey so far before and after splint removal. NOTE: Some of these may have already been shared on here.
Before splint removal (from surgery to 7 days Post-Op):
- This is the worst part no doubt, but worth it once you get through it
- If I could do it again, I’d just ask my ENT if I could have the shortest splint removal timeline, like 3-5 days.
- Saline Mist is your best friend (Arm & Hammer my fav)
- A humidifier while you sleep goes a long way
- Xylimelts while sleeping kept my throat from being sore the whole time mouth breathing
- Take stool softeners every day, the drugs Doc gives you will back up your system, so counteract that
- Drink ALL the water you can find, I was doing a bottle every other hour
- Don’t worry about being on a schedule, like awake during the day and sleep at night. Just sleep whenever you can or feel like it.
- Lastly, if you feel too clogged up and want a little relief, hit some saline mist to break up stuff, and back snort in down the throat and spit it out. (A good ole Hawk Tua)
- I thought I used way too much Saline Mist, like almost 16 cans, but turns out when I removed my splints my ENT said I had one of the cleanest healed noses ever lol
Post Splint Removal (Currently three days for me):
- Breathing feels amazing but now comes with a different set of challenges
- You’ll get lots of mucus randomly running down the back of your throat with those wide ole new nasals you got. Keep a spit bottle handy on you while on the go.
- Continue to drink lots of water because with all that new air you get in and spitting mucus out, your throat will get kinda dry
- Speaking of dry throat, get yourself some Halls Soothing Drops for your throat and suck on those often. Keeps your throat happy, I promise.
- Don’t stop using a humidifier and Xylimelts while you sleep. Helps you wake up refreshed.
- Lastly, that new beautiful nasal canal you got will still wake up with some mucus, though not a stuffy feeling. Just use a NeilMed rinse in the morning and it will free up all that mucus down the sink to start the day. I also rinse at night, sometimes for lunch but I rarely get clogged during the day.
This surgery surely had its ups and downs. The hardest challenge will never be pain, it’s all mental and discomfort. Surely challenges you mentally because it’s such a different feeling than what normal feels like. Always felt like breathing and eating was the two things I needed to survive and taking away one of those (kinda both) really challenged my mental state but I’m here to say, it’s gets better day by day. It’s rewarding. My clean eating habits, juicing and healthy soups along the way have cleaned my system out from old bad habits. All the water I drank revitalized my body (I maybe drank one or two bottles a day before). Just stick it out and keep your head up, you’ll be thanking your ENT and your body will be thanking you. Peace and Love!
I just had my 6 day post-op yesterday from septoplasy and turbinate reduction surgery, the splints were removed and I breathed better than I ever have. Later in the day I started developing ongoing ear pressure build up which has remain almost constant for 24 hours into today.
Anyone experienced this after a week of surgery and after splints were removed? Does the ear pressure kind of just go away on its own at a certain point?
I don’t remember having this ear pressure the first 6 days when I had my splints in and couldn’t breathe out my nose.