After Your Sinus And Septoplasty Surgery

SUPPLY LIST:

• Saline spray (Ocean, Ayr, etc)
• Gauze pads
• Antibiotic ointment
• Bulb syringe, or irrigation kit
• Afrin nasal spray

BLEEDING: Oozing, not hemorrhage, for the first few days is normal. You will have a gauze pad under your nose, held in place with a sling. Changing the gauze every 30-40 minutes the first night is normal. You may remove the gauze and sling after the first day.

*If bleeding excessively (gushing or gauze is totally saturated more frequently than 30-40 minutes, choking on blood in throat) spray 2-3 sprays of Afrin in nose and call the office (day or night).

NASAL CONGESTION: Sleep with your head elevated for the first 48 hours. Swelling inside the nose lasts for about a week. Do not blow your nose until advised by your doctor that you may do so.

PACKING: There may or may not be packing in your nose. If packing is used, your doctor will instruct you about its removal.

SPLINTS: You may or may not have plastic splints stitched inside the nose. These will be removed at your post-op appointment. Apply antibiotic ointment to the wall inside nose twice a day. Do this with or without splints.

ACTIVITY: Avoid lifting and bending.

CLEANING: Spray your nose with saline spray every 30 to 60 minutes, the day of surgery. This will moisturize the nose and help decrease crusting.

The day after surgery, begin to irrigate your nose using a bulb syringe and a solution of ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon baking soda dissolved in eight ounces of fresh warm water. If you were given a saline kit, you may use this instead. This is usually done twice a day until your post op appointment. You may continue saline spray also if desired. If packing has been placed, the doctor will advise you regarding irrigating.

PAIN: You may have a headache or facial pain for approximately one week or so. The recovery time varies with the individual. Pain medication will be given for this.

PROBLEMS: If you develop a fever (above 101), sudden intense nasal pain or abnormal bleeding call the office.

You should have a post op appointment for 1 week after surgery.

For questions, problems or refills, call the office at (425) 775-6651.

Pain medications require a written prescription, so call for a refill before you run out of medication.

Medication or refill requests must be made during office hours.

There is always a doctor on call for emergent problems after office hours: (425) 775-6651