Nose-Deviated Septum?

[season]

]Does anyone have a deviated septum that a doctor has told you that you needed corrective surgery? If so, do you have a stuffy nose and congestion all the time?

Does anyone know if a deviated septum can cause ear problems?

Does anyone know what causes a deviated septum? The doctor told me I had taken a hard lick in the face at some point in time that I can't pinpoint unless it was a childhood accident (which I remember). That was so long ago, I don't know why that it took so long to cause problems now.

[Carolina]

Yes, season,

I have been recently told that my deviated septum could be the cause of my headaches.

I didn't KNOW I had a deviated septum until this year, when i turned 69.  Talk about a long wait to find out something might be a problem.

I'm debating the surgery.  But I am leery of any surgery, which is natural I think.

I use a nasal saline spray followed by Nasonex spray, twice a day.  So my nose hasn't been stuffy and my post nasal drip has been minimal.  But without those two sprays I plug up and have horrible post nasal drip constantly.

I rather doubt that I would be able to give up the sprays even with the surgery, since I think my problems are more due to chronic allergic type reactions than due to a physical blockage.

I don't know, of course.

Keep us posted on what you decide and how things are going.

Hugs

Elaine

[irish]

I had a deviated septum since in my 20's and when I was in my 50's (long before diagnosis) I had to have the septoplasty and turbinotomy or removal of some of the cartilage in my nose.

I will tell you that it was the roughish surgery I ever had. Because of my low t-cells (that I didn't know about then) I had a lot of infection which made it worse. However, it is intself a painful surgery. Yes, I was stuffy all the time before and it did help.

The past couple of years I have noticed that the other septum is starting to get smaller. No way will I go through that surgery again at my age. I can take a lot of pain post op and this was the worst. However, I did not take pain pills as they make me weird. I just took tylenol and alternated with ibuprofen and paced the floor a lot. I have found pacing to be a very good treatment for some pain. It must raise the endorphins some plus take your mind of your owie.

Also, I never had an injury to my nose. I think that the cartilage in your nose grows like a tree and sort of has a mind of its own. Just happens. My opinion. Irish

[aussie mum]

One of the ladies I used to work with had this surgery, she was really happy with the results but said that all the dressings in her nose straight after the operation was a bit uncomfortable.

Sadly, I've lost tough with her so I can't ask her for more detail.

[sewandsew]

I had the surgery 30 years ago and it wasn't bad.  Mouth-breathing for a couple nights was the only problem.  Yes, I was stuff and congested all the time and constantly sneezing.  What a blessing after the surgery to breath better too.  I think mine was caused from a dive off the high diving board.  Sometimes just blowing your nose too hard can be the issue.

[Patty]

I have a double-deviated septum. Sort of a Z-shaped thing. Lucky me! I have had sinus problems as long as I can remember. Can't have surgery because of the meds I am on and the risk of creating even more inflammation in my head. I believe it was from being hit in the nose by a softball as a kid.

I recently started using a saline wash thing which works the same as a netti pot. The results are AMAZING. I had been on two sinus pills and two sprays which helped some but not that much. I have gotten off two of these since starting the nasal irrigation and am going to try eliminating another soon. Best of all, I can breath through my nose for the first time in years.

Now I am really wondering why all these ENTs I have seen over the years did not suggest this, but just pushed more prescriptions at me and told me the only solution was surgery?

Give it a try if you haven't yet, maybe it will help you too.