I can't breathe

Warning: this is going to be a long post. I had an operation nine days ago, and i feel like shit, so allow me to vent....Any smartass comments and i'll f*%^ing ban you :twak:

Ever since i can remember i haven't been able to breathe perfectly through my nose. Doctors tried a whole bunch of treatments (mainly sprays) and it never worked. There would always be one nostril almost fully blocked. No mucus, it would just be blocked. The bewildering thing is that it would often swap over. One day i could breathe through my right nostril, the next through my left and so on... I forgot about it for a few years as it didnt really have an effect on my life...

A friend of mine had the same problem and recently had it fixed through a septoplasty. Encouraged, i saw a consultant, who advised me to have the op done. A septoplasty is a minor surgical procedure whereby the nasal septum (the part of your nose that separates your left cavity from right) is straightened. Mine was only slightly deviated, but the doctor said that fixing it should help with my breathing. So, i had the operation on the 13th (last Wed), it was under general anaesthetic and i was told it would leave me feeling groggy and tired for a few days. The second i woke up from after the operation i took a breath and my nose was so clear it felt incredible. It lasted for, oh, all of three minutes because before you knew it my nose was blocked up worse than ever (swelling, blood, mucus...). The nurse told me the op went very well and that i hadn't bled much at all. This would mean i would avoid the dreaded 'packing', where they basically stick a tampon up each nostril. Good. My friend told me that was the worst part. But, the downside would be that my nose would be still blocked for a few days. Ok, no problem, i can live with that.

Or so i thought. The first night's sleep was horrendous. It's not like having a really bad cold, or even a really, really bad cold, where you can blow your nose and relieve yourself even for a few seconds. You're not allowed to touch your nose. It looks the same on the outside (a little swollen) but going crazy on the inside, so no blowing your nose!

Usually the general anaesthetic makes you tired and knocks you out when you try to sleep later. Not me. I felt absolutely fine and had tons of energy. Good, but bad consequences...

I got about an hour's sleep that night. But I just couldnt stay asleep breathing through my mouth, and kept waking up feeling claustrophobic and with chronic dry-mouth. I called up the hospital the next day to ask whether there was anything i could take to help clear up my nose. A nurse said i could use "Otrivine", which is an over the counter nasal decongestant. I started to use it on Friday (day 3) and by God it worked wonders. I could breathe again through my nose. It lasted for 4 or 5 hours at a time but since you could take it 3 times a day, it made the days go by much better. God bless Otrivine.

Sleep still wasn't great, and my lips were so dry when i woke up they would be very painful, but at least i was getting to sleep breathing through my nose, which was definitely a plus. A few days later, i started blowing my nose gently - you're allowed to after a few days, but i won't tell you how gross the shit coming out of it was. Just trust me on this, it was gross. I also kept taking Otrivine to give me 4-5 hour bursts of being able to breathe, but i didn't really feel like the situation was improving, and the inside of my nose looked a little bit infected (great). Again, the lack of bleeding during the op which meant no 'packs' - a good thing - meant i got an infection. :disappoin

So, i made an appointment for today with my doctor. He said there was a small infection, no big deal at all, but that i should let my nose heal naturally. He said i shouldn't have been taking "Otrivine", as it slows the whole healing process down and makes the situation worse. SO WHY DID THE FUCKING ASSHOLES FROM THE SAME HOSPITAL TELL ME TO USE IT!?!? :mad: He also said i can't blow my nose (even though the leaflet they give you after the op says after 48 hours it's ok to do so) :rolleyes:

So here i am again, completely unable to breathe through my nose.

- How long until i can breathe through my nose, doc?
- "Oh, i'd say 10 days".

The Otrivine is a few inches from my hand as i type this. Instant relief is but a few seconds away and i'm desperately fighting the temptation to use it. It's talking to me. "Come on man, sniff me, you know you want to. I'm sooooo good." Now it's laughing at me: "you're pathetic, you know that? mwuahahahahahhaha"

Fucking Otrivine. This is what being a drug addict must be like: the shit makes you feel better, but it's bad for you :(

[/rant]

that sucks dude. Its a lot like when I had my arm in a full cast for 9 weeks. Went over my elbow,and fingers so I couldnt move anything but my fingertips. Its torture. I have the clogged nostril thing every once in a while too. I'd say I get clogged up for a few days a month it switches nostrils like you said. But hey look at it like this, Once the ten days are over you will breathe perfectly forever instead of like you were before.

I know how you feel, that's all i really can say without hijacking your thread. I'm sorry you have to go through all this bullshit, but just try to stay positive about it, it will get you through it quicker.

Thanks guys. I'm off to sleep now. Hopefully you won't see me back online in a few hours time like it happened on the first night.

On the plus side, Letterman is on, and he usually sends me to sleep :D

Me too, that gap in his teeth is like a drug.

Do you have a coke problem? Really?

I thought that just wore down the sinus cavities? I wouldn't think it would clog anything.

Do you have a coke problem? Really?
No.

Sounds like hell, Hope everything gets better soon.

- Kevin

I still have the problem you had before your surgery. Ever since I was born and up to this date, I have never had both of my nostrils clear simutaneously. Usually its one nostril or the other, but they usually block up when I sleep so I have to open up my mouth in order to breathe. Didn't really affect me much because I was used to it, but when I went camping all the roomates would complain because I snore so loud.

Anyways, back on topic. I hope that your nose heals up faster than you expect it to be.

p.s. If you really want to sleep easier, try going down to the library and getting a 2-inch thick book on...say the Roman History or something you ufind really boring. Read it at night and you might fall asleep. I fell asleep reading Wuthering Heights for English...never managed to finish more than 5 pages of the book. And I screwed up the quizzes for that book. Maybe thats why I only got a 76% in English.

Well fuck me that was quick. The right side of my nose is 50% clear now, it has been for the last few hours. I left the house for the first time in a while (apart from going to the hospital), and boy did i need that. it felt great to be outside...

I've always been a quick healer so i shouldn't really be too surprised by this. If i hadn't used Otrivine i'd probably have completely healed by now. The left side is still COMPLETELY blocked :dunno:

p.s. If you really want to sleep easier, try going down to the library and getting a 2-inch thick book on...say the Roman History or something you ufind really boring. Read it at night and you might fall asleep. I fell asleep reading Wuthering Heights for English...never managed to finish more than 5 pages of the book. And I screwed up the quizzes for that book. Maybe thats why I only got a 76% in English.
I'm reading an ethics book for an exam i have to take. Believe me when i say ethics is the most sleep-inducing read possible. Here's a short extract:

Directors and officers are fiduciaries who must follow the policies of the organisation. They may be bound by the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act, and therefore held to a standard of ordinary business care and prudence. This does not indicate that a fiduciary should act as a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :sleep:

Even that wasn't potent enough to get me to sleep the first few days :banghead:

I'm reading an ethics book for an exam i have to take. Believe me when i say ethics is the most sleep-inducing read possible. Here's a short extract:

Directors and officers are fiduciaries who must follow the policies of the organisation. They may be bound by the Uniform Management of Institutional Funds Act, and therefore held to a standard of ordinary business care and prudence. This does not indicate that a fiduciary should act as a zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :sleep:

Even that wasn't potent enough to get me to sleep the first few days :banghead:



I swear to god...i almost fell asleep reading that just now... no joke


It may have something to do with having worked on the drag car all day or something, but that definately almost put me out.

If you ever have trouble getting to sleep let me know and ill send over some extracts to you. All it takes is a couple of lines - not of coke, Oz :p

not being able to breathe through your nose = worse than liquid shit on a hot day.

I'm sorry to hear your troubles man, but 10 days apart from 10 years of it is no biggy.

I had an ingrown toenail, it was painful to walk on for over 3 months, then the doc said it had to be surgically removed, I wouldn't be able to walk for a week, and I can't get it wet. It was painful, having to sit on my arse for 8 days. I could "limp" but not far.

Well fuck me that was quick. The right side of my nose is 50% clear now, it has been for the last few hours. I left the house for the first time in a while (apart from going to the hospital), and boy did i need that. it felt great to be outside...

I've always been a quick healer so i shouldn't really be too surprised by this. If i hadn't used Otrivine i'd probably have completely healed by now. The left side is still COMPLETELY blocked :dunno:

I spoke early. Way too early. The right side is completely blocked again, same for the left. Just when i thought it was getting better... this shit messes with your mind :(

Sorry to hear that is still blocked jay. Btw make sure you consult again the doc to make sure its normal, also you might consider seeing another specialist for a second opnion. You cannot ever be to careful about stuff like this.

It's just depressing dude... And the doctor is impossible to get hold of :(

It's just depressing dude... And the doctor is impossible to get hold of :(


that is most certainly not proper form. A doctor should always leave contact info to its patients or at least forward them to another specialist if he is unavailable.


Anyway seriously ask around fo some recomendations and find a top notch expert and go to him. Its amazing how much knowlege difference is among doctors. Plus if there is a complication (knock on wood) time is a factor.


anyway good luck and keep us up to date.

You had surgery, it's not going to heal in a couple of days. Chill out, relax, and quit stressing over it.








If it's not better in 2 weeks, find and maim the doctor. It's simple.

Well it has been 12 days, and time is very much of the essence here... A lot of stressful things on my mind, and i may well be out of a job this time next week.

Yeah, but all that stuff means nothing to the inside of your nose, which will heal at its own rate....

You're right, i just hate being inactive...

Sux, but there's light @ the end of the tunnel. Couple days you'll be surprised.

Stop smoking.

I don't smoke.

Stop smoking anyway.

Just kidding man. Get well soon.

Be glad you didn't have a rhinoplasty surgery.

Speaking from experience? :D


I know i come across like a whinger, but it's just so frustrating. My nose was clear this morning (on one side) and now it's blocked again. Just weird.

I've got some sort of a head-cold and all stopped up from allergies. It sucks ass. I feel for ya jay.

Jay, sounds like it might be time to consult another doctor and get a second opinion.

in all though, I hope things do clear up for you soon, and you start feeling better.

and, I am sure, if you get desperate, taking that OTC meds, once in a while, and not consistently, shouldnt be too bad..... or so you might think.

The Otrivine is still right here on my desk but i told myself i wouldn't take it so i'm gonna stick to that.

If the situation doesn't get better by the end of this week i'll schedule an appointment with another doctor and give the first guy a piece of my mind :mad:

that sucks jay, i hope everything gets better for ya....

but did anybody else notice the title of the thread, and the opening lines of "sorry but i need to vent" ? O_o

It's 6.30 am and ive gotten about 45 minutes sleep tonight. :banghead:

:thinkerg: a secret that i use when i've got a bad cold (it may not work, but it wont hurt) breathe COLD air, the coldest you can find.

i use the freezer, or take a bag of frozen peas, and sit that under my nose and breathe the cooled air from it.
it's strange, but it works..... i think it's because cold air is less dense or something?

good luck, and get well soon.

^ thanks for the suggestion. my nose still feels very 'raw' when i breathe so i dont think inhaling very cold air would be the best idea.

I bought some herbal sleeping pills, hopefully ill get more sleep over the next few days. I'll need to, cos im back at work tomorrow :sly: