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Small,
soft plastic tubes with openings about the size of drinking
straws are inserted in your nostrils during surgery.
Also, small tampons about half the size of a cigarette are
placed higher in the nose at the openings of the sinuses and
lower to the sides of the tubes to take the place of
packing. These allow you to breathe through your nose
and allow drainage to come out for greater comfort.
Breathe through your nose, don't blow it, you may clean the
openings of those tubes just inside of your nostrils with a
Q-tip dipped in Peroxide, then sniff until you can breathe
through them if your tubes get blocked.
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Use
a cool air vaporizer or humidifier to help keep the
secretions loose and to aid your breathing through your
nose. A saline solution spray (Ocean Spray, OTC) can
be used frequently during the day to keep the tubes clear,
and should be used frequently (every hour while awake) after
the tubes have been removed for the first few weeks.
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The
tubes and tampons are removed in 3-4 days after surgery in
the office. There is little discomfort associated with
their removal unlike the discomfort associated with the
removal of "packing" as done in the past. It
is OK to take a pain pill prior to coming to the office to
decrease the amount of anxiety which may be associated with
this removal.
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It
is normal to have some bleeding from your nose for 24-72
hours after surgery. There is a gauze drip pad under
your nose to contain this nasal drainage. You may
change this as needed or if the bleeding is more bothersome,
then simply reinforce it to allow a clot to form with
another gauze pad, and change both the next morning.
You may also use a cotton ball soaked in Afrin to place in
each nostril, then place the gauze pad, and last remove both in
the morning for control of light nose bleeds.
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Ice
compressed over the eyes or on the nose may also help to
lessen any excess bleeding or swelling around the eyes if
surgery to change the outside appearance of the nose
(Rhinoplasty) was performed.
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Keep
your head elevated at least 45-60 degrees all day by using
pillows or a recliner, sleeping in a recliner at a 30 degree
angle until the first office visit for tube removal will
also lessen the amount of swelling and drainage.
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If
you need to sneeze, do so with your mouth OPEN. DO NOT
SUPPRESS THE SNEEZE. Do not forcefully blow your nose
until after the second office visit, usually 10 days after
surgery.
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Avoid
bending, lifting anything heavy (over 10 pounds), or strenuous
exercise for 10-14 days. No flying for the first 14
days after surgery.
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Take
the pain medication prescribed as directed. Some pain
medications relieve pain but can cause drowsiness or
insomnia. No pain medicine can get rid of all of the
pain but you can expect the nasal and sinus pain to be
similar to the pain that you get with a sinus headache or
infection. About 90% of our post op surgical patients
will take the pain medicine regularly for the first 3-4 days
until the first office visit. Most patients find the
need to be much less or not needed at all after that.
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DO
NOT TAKE ANY ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN/NSAIDS CONTAINING PRODUCTS
OR VITAMIN E FOR 1 WEEK BEFORE OR 2 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY
SINCE THESE MAY ALL INCREASE BLEEDING.
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Do
not drive, operate machinery, or ingest alcoholic beverages
for 24 hours after surgery (or while taking pain
medications).
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It
usually takes from 8-24 hours for the effects of anesthesia
to subside. Nausea is common for 24 hours and may be
accompanied by vomiting. You will be given a
prescription for Phenergan Suppositories which may be filled
if you are prone to nausea or for your general comfort.
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Drink
plenty of fluids. Drinking fluids in small amounts over
longer periods of time, instead of gulping large amounts
less frequently may also help prevent nausea.
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Your
first post operative office visit has been made for you and
was given at your preoperative appointment. If you
forgot when this is, don't hesitate to call the office the
next day after your surgery.
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Begin
using the "nasal flushing" technique using a baby
bulb syringe and the "Salt Water Recipe" (1
teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces of warm water) after the first
post operative visit. This nasal flushing can be
repeated 3-5 times per day for the first 2 weeks after
surgery, or you can gently sniff warm water from the shower
or from the sink into your cupped hand as well (as often as
you are comfortable with).
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Diet:
you should stay with a liquid or soft diet for the first
8-12 hours after surgery or until the effects of the
anesthesia have worn off, then resume a normal diet.
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You
may experience some throat burning or pain for several hours
after surgery which is very common and can be caused by the
mucus or blood secretions from the surgery or from the
effects of the anesthetic tube that was placed in your thrat
at the time
of surgery. Cool liquids the first day should control
this or you can start some warm salt water gargles the day
after surgery if it is bothersome.
