Septoplasty/turbinate reduction surgery experience

@kellyb7 -

I can chime in here. I wouldn’t get so stuck on the term “empty nose syndrome”. It’s just a category name that has been placed upon post op complaints that ENTs don’t take responsibility for because there is no way to prove it exists. So they keep all complaints under that name.

•HOWEVER- as with ANY surgery.
Ortho, Neuro, etc…there can be consequences and negative outcomes. For whatever reason, ENT surgeons think they are exempt from causing harm to someone.
Understand ALL RISKS

•Advice I can give- be sure you have ruled out ALL possibilities to have the subjective feeling of nasal obstruction.

•ENTs can NOT “assign” blockage from an objective perspective. They can only go off what a patient tells them and match it up to what they learned in a txt book and med school. Breathing is a subjective experience. Let NO surgeon use a scope to look into your nose and tell YOU that you have blockage.

•For swollen turbinates.
There is a reason.
Allergies, physical/nutritional lifestyle, environment and medications.

•Be sure you have addressed EVERY area of this. And have utilized maximum medical therapy for a minimum of 6 months before ever moving forward with this surgery.

•Get a second, third opinion.

•Ask the technique being used

•Ask to go over ALL risks/side effects, not just the RARE side effects.

•Ask ENTs history and do NOT believe them when they say they’ve had 100% success rate.

•And lastly go with your gut intuition and do not feel rushed or pressured as these surgeries are only a quality of life surgery and not a life saving surgery.

•This surgery is only an ADJUNCT surgery and not any type of cure to your inflammation, congestion.

•Be mindful that these surgeries are the bread and butter of the ENT world, offered to almost every patient that steps foot in their clinic.

I had the same surgery one and a half years ago. I did have empty nose syndrome but its better now, the complaint i have is that it did something to a nerve or something in my right sinus area that i have had a steady flow of clear mucus since and its very bad. They said there is a baloon procedure to correct it but im on medicare and it dosent cover it. So i take mucus relief tablets and lots of nasal sprays but it just runs down my throat all the time. Its gross.

I had two ENT physicians diagnose me with a deviated septum, nasal valve collapse and sphenoidal sinusitis and prescribed septoplasty and turbinoplasty, endoscopy with balloon sinuplasty. My sinuses used to be chronically blocked to where it was interfering with my use of my CPAP, however for some unknown reason, my sinuses have been much more open. I’ve decided to hold off on the surgery especially given the stories I’ve heard or read from people. Reading reports of people’s experiences on this forum has really helped me think twice before making a decision. A very valuable resource.

@richielee

Smart- more people need to take their time and not be fooled by people in white coats who learned one area in med school. Health “care” industry is a billion dollar business for a reason.

The more educated and healthy people become, aka ownership. The less money goes into doctor’s pockets.

No patients = no business.

Always question why you have been recommended anything by a doctor.

That’s good to remember, thanks.