4 days septoplasty post-op and i cannot breathe
Septoplasty with Turbinate Reduction Surgery: basically an operation where they shave down these bony structures in your nose called "Turbinates", which are responsible for warming and cleaning incoming oxygen to your nose. Then after shaving those down, they open up the skin protecting your septum and remove some cartilage and bone from it, ultimately making the septum straighter. The end goal is that both your airways are unblocked and can BREATHE like a normal human being (although like 75-80% of people have some kind of deviation in their nose, but most can live with it).
It sounds like a really painful surgery, but with anesthesia, it wasn't. I haven't even needed the painkillers, Tylenol has been doing the job just fine this week. I wanted the procedure to fix my deviated septum, so I can breathe better without having to wear nasal strips when I sleep. I've dealt with a lack of airflow my entire life, and while it hasn't been super detrimental to my health, it was about that time to get it fixed. I can't hold my breath for very long and sometimes I stop breathing when I sleep (but don't quite have Sleep Apnea). So eventually, my airflow was probably going to become a problem.
The worst part about this whole operation is the week following. Right now as I type this, I have 2 giant pieces of plastic shoved up each of my nostrils holding my septum so that it heals straight. These plastic stents have a hole in them, so theoretically I'm supposed to be able to breathe out of my nose, but honestly the airflow is too little, so I've been mouth-breathing the past 4 days and will continue to until the stents get removed in another 3 days. I would not wish this on my greatest enemy.
I've been reading a lot of Reddit threads from other people documenting their experience, and most people say it changed their lives and all the suffering was worth it, so I'm looking forward to that. Here's a Reddit post that shows was the stents look like after they were removed. They are fucking massive.
Some other things that suck about the healing process is that I can't eat any spicy or hot foods because it will cause nose bleeds. I tried to have some tea and my nose started bleeding, so I didn't tempt eating Sriracha. Also, because of all the mouth-breathing, my teeth are starting to hurt and go numb. I can't focus on anything for more than a short period, so writing this blog post took a few days.
I started watching Mad Men and blew through 2 seasons.
Right now, my biggest fear is suffocating in my sleep, but this operation is very common and routine, so ultimately I know I'm being paranoid.
Hopefully, in a few weeks I can write about how much my breathing improved and how the surgery was all worth it, but right now it's complaining time. For any of my Septoplasty homies out there, hang in there.
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