Post Septoplasty, Uppp, Tonsillectomy Survival Guide:

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Post Septoplasty, Uppp, Tonsillectomy Survival Guide:

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Posted by Bob Miller on September 04, 2000 at 16:48:25:
This surgery is not going to be for everybody. Your circumstances will guide you to making the decision that is best for you and you alone. Don't let anybody talk you into or out of this surgery. You need to make the decision based on as much information as you can get. Do your homework.
I'm 36. My major blockage was my tonsils and the excess tissue that surrounded my enlarged tonsils. The deviated septum added to the apnea problem. My apnea was one point from being severe. I was severely sleep deprived and knew it. I was prescribed a CPAP machine with a setting of 14. The mask was really bothering me and my travel schedule for work meant packing up the machine a few times a month. I did not like the open sore that the mask gave me on my nose. It took a lot of effort to get that under control. My ENT spent time with me to answer all of my questions about what the level of success was for me with this surgery. This will be different for everyone. I, like everyone who does this surgery, hope not to need the CPAP again. That is my hope.
Well, here's the surgery stuff…
Prescription medications that I was on:
Oxycoda/apap tablets - one every three hours for pain (used for 2 ½ days.) These things were huge. I crushed them up in one tbsp. of Jell-O chocolate pudding. Went down smooth.
Hydrocodone/apap liquid - one tbsp. every four hours for pain (used after above.)
Prednisone tablets - two tabs for three days, 1 ½ tabs for two days, 1 tab for one day and ½ tab for one day. They are small tablets, which makes them easy to take whole.
Cephalexin liquid - two teaspoonful every 12 hours for 7 days. (Antibiotic)(must be refrigerated.) The coolness of this made it easy to take.
Carafate liquid - one tbsp. four times a day. Leaves a chalky feeling in mouth.
Lidocaine solution - one teaspoonful four times a day for pain. Thick solution that numbs mouth and throat. (Good Stuff!) Always took this one last when medication time came near another.
I did not use my CPAP machine after surgery much. When I did, I had the mask very loose. I was mainly looking for the humidified air more than any thing else. The doctors will be checking your oxygenation level at the hospital and will be able to instruct you about the use of the CPAP machine. I was nervous about not using it, but everything went fine so far.
Non-prescription medications:
Cepacol sore throat lozenges (two boxes 36 tablets) for use in days one through four for throat pain in between medications. Helped to be able to drink water.
Nasal Saline Spray for dry nose. Especially needed for Septoplasty patients (like me.) Use often. Did I say use often……
Nasal Saline Gel for dry nose. Used this in conjunction with the spray. The gel lasts longer and seemed to work better. Put a small drop on your index finger and gently apply to inside of nose.
Water, water, water. Drink as much ice water as you can get down. I used a straw to make it a bit easier. Also, get a HUMIDIFIER. Cold water humidifier will do just fine. I ran this 24 hours a day and sat next to it all day long.

Food that was easy to eat:
Chicken broth (warm) with no additions for the first couple of days
Campbell's Chicken & Stars soup (warm) the little stars are pasta and go down rather easy.
Instant mashed potatoes made runny with the chicken soup. This was the lifesaver. Stars and all went into this.
Italian water ice was easy to eat because it was frozen. I only had one Popsicle the first week.
Poached egg, as long as the yoke is really soft.
CoCo Wheats warm cereal, this was okay but not a big deal. Needed a change of pace.
Boston Market Creamed Spinach, don't knock it till you've tried it. This goes down really smooth and offers a good change of food items. Eat it early in the day as it may start the acid production that comes with apnea. I never would have bought this item. My brother brought it over. Glad he did.
Jell-O Chocolate pudding was easy to swallow. Could not eat a lot of this but it was a welcome change.
I have not been in much pain. Had a couple of nights were it was hard to sleep. All in all as of today, I would do this again given my circumstances.

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Sleep Deprivation due to Sleep Apnea and insufficient sleep are common and can present as insomnia, narcolepsy, or idiopathic hypersomnia. In infants and children sleep problems commonly present themselves as ADD or ADHD.