@veganmom - I've not had sinus surgery - just a septoplasty to fix a deviated septum. I did not care for nose packing either - it felt challenging to breathe and settle down at night to sleep with all the stuff in my nose. I think my fears about being able to breathe with the packing were ultimately not rational, but it was not my most fun week till the packing was out, I'd say. Like what @jeanette527 and @mikepa said about their sinus polyp surgeries, I was ultimately pleased with my outcome, despite the discomfort, as I could breathe better on a day-to-day basis.

Do you have a surgery scheduled, @veganmom?

I think I only had the packing in for a couple of days. It was uncomfortable but worth it.
I could breath through my mouth just fine. It did make swallowing hard though.