Nasal Surgery

[samdive]

As the next step in my ongoing "gunk" problem (sadly sniffing salt water only did SO much good....) my consultant wants me to go under the knife....

Apparently I have a very strange shaped nose on one side and its really tightly bent up round the top of the septum, which basically means half the nose isn't working properly and can't clear outself out of whatever nasty post viral junk is up there.....

However he also tells me he is amazed I can freedive with such a wonky nose and thinks this will make equalisation a lot easier (not that its ever really been a problem for me though)... and he says that a lot of divers have this septum-straightening op just to help them equalise.

Has anyone out there had it done? any thoughts?

[UK Spearo]

Thats wierd! I have to go under the knife for a similar reason, apparently I broke my nose playing football a few years ago, and although it fixed straight I have a bit that is blocking half my nose and I can't clear all the crap out. Anyone know if ops on the nose/sinus actually helps or makes things worse? So far I know of two people who have had nose/sinus ops and both now say things are worse - not better!!

[jome]

Hmm, I can't visualize right away why anything wrong in the nose would have anything to do with equalization. The openings of the e-tubes are further back(?) and the air to equalize comes from the lungs or the mouth...Or am I just missing something here completely?

Good luck with the surgery!

[jimdoe2you]

Sam, ask your doctor if this is commonly refered to as a "deviated septum". If it is, then by all means go through with the op without worry. The op can only do you good, and you may even notice other aspects of your life improving, ........like the quality of your sleeping.

Jim

[samdive]

yes it is a deviated septum - and not sleeping properly is one of my problems - so that's cool to hear! what I don't get is why this is a relatively new problem, surely you are either born with a wonky nose or not! the doc says it has slowly collapsed inwards and changed shape but seeing as I don't exactly have a Danielle Westbrook (UK readers will understand) lifestyle - I don't see why that would happen...

the knife... aaaaaargh.... scary (but 6 weeks out of the water is scarier!)

[Rémi]

maybe it is due to a nose squeeze

[Monkey Matt]

Sam,
I know two people who have had it done and both are very satisfied with the results. If you are feeling brave speak to Howard Jones as he had it done about 4 years ago.

[Michael]

Sam,

I had such a surgery about six years ago. I used to get sinus infections all the time. Also, I snored like a rhino. The surgery was, for me, hugely successful in resolving both problems. Plus I can smell better.

But it did take a couple months to fully recover. It was painful. I suggest getting good narcotics from your doctor.

Michael

[Tanya S]

Dear Sam,

After many years of playing a decent level of rugby and numerous broken noses I decided to have my nose fixed. My nose was pretty messed up and it took 2 surgeries to get it right but it was the best thing I ever did. I had no pain whatsoever, although I did have splints in the nose for 3 weeks which were annoying more than anything, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Best

Paul

[jimdoe2you]

Sam,

Don't you feel loved, and all warm and fuzzy right now? You'll be just fine.

[Haydn]

Hi Sam,

I had a nose job about two years ago. I had gone to see the doc because one ear always cleared sooner than the other and I wondered whether either of my tubes were faulty. I had a scan and they were fine, but he noticed on first inspection that my septum was in the wrong place, caused by a punch when I was 8. The fix (something .....plasty) did not make any difference to my equalising and they are / were hit and miss. My nose is slightly wider and straighter now. After the opp and before you wake up, they shove a tampon up each nostril. Quite unusual getting them out afterwards..............and then the stitches that make you feel like you have dry bogeys that wont come out for a week or so. Pretty yuk really, but well worth it if it works. Just make sure the opp is in the winter and you wont waste wa

[Jee]

Hi Sam,

a friend of mine had the same problem, he had made it, but strangly equalization didn't get better.. perhaps one more op would be needed.
He had problems with equalization of the frontal sinus and the maxillary sinus.

Jee

[samdive]

mmm interesting. I need it because I have chronic rhinitis (like a permanent cold) that makes my throat clog up and me cough a lot, especially at night...for me it is nothing to do with equalising, and from a diving point of view I have never noticed anything wrong.

I'm still not entirely sure this is the cause so I think I will go and get a second opinion... don't want to go through all that trauma (and out of the water time!) for nothing. I'm also getting my eyes lasered in January so I am going to be wiped out of dive time for months if I do both!!

[samdive]

OK I have been trying to avoid this surgery for about 2 years now - but all else has failed and my nose is still giving me a tough time : (

So, I'm on the waiting list..

Does anyone know how long you have to not dive for if you have a deviated septum fixed?

[Mr. X]

Originally Posted by samdive

OK I have been trying to avoid this surgery for about 2 years now - but all else has failed and my nose is still giving me a tough time : (

So, I'm on the waiting list..

Does anyone know how long you have to not dive for if you have a deviated septum fixed?

Good luck, let us know how you get on Sam (mind they don't trick you off the waiting list -- I've heard of this happening to 2 people I know recently). My nose streams but only when diving in the sea - I figure that's natural; my sense of smell was great coming back from the beach yesterday (passed an immaculately groomed older couple that smelt of soap!). However, I know a couple of people with chronic rhinitis - at least one of them has a deviated septum (pretty common apparently) - which can lead to other problems. I think it is usually associated with allergies (e.g. hayfever) - I expect your GP already looked into that.