Deviated Septum

Question: Deviated Septum? I have a deviated septum and my tonsils are enlarged...I am having my tonsils removed next month and the doctor wants to "fix" my septum as well by shrinking the turbinates - a septoplasty...has anyone ever had this done? any side effects? Im 28.

Answer: I posted an answer on this once before. If you're going to have your tonsils done, you may as well do the septoplasty while you're there. It'll help you breathe in the long-run.... HOWEVER, it will be murder for the first month or so after the procedure. I'll copy an excerpt: ---- The recovery is not going to be pretty though... The first week post surgery is murder. With septoplasty, you'll require general anesthesia. Your ENT will basically be "moving furniture" around in your nose. In some parts, they'll lift flaps of tissue... shave down some stuff, then put the flap of tissue back over. Following the surgery (and you'll need someone to drive you home), your nose will be packed solid... and you probably won't be able to breathe through your nose for the first week or so. You'll probably wake up with your tongue dry and nasty for the first few days. The second week is somewhat better, and you'll probably have decent function of your nose around this time. You'll have two or three follow-ups with your ENT physician following the surgery. There will be times when you'll regret having it done, but after a few months... perhaps a few years, you'll think back on it like a great investment. --- Here's the original question that came from: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;… Good luck.

Question: deviated septum? during a procedure to correct a deviated septum, while there fixing it will they take off a bump on the top of the nose that was due to the injury that caused the deviated septim? thanks :)

Answer: they will if you ask. mine was from a birth defect, but the doctor asked if i wanted to change anything else about my nose while they were doing it. best of luck to you

Question: Deviated septum? How come when a lot of people get nose jobs, they say they had a deviated septum? What IS a deviated septum??

Answer: It is the middle of the nose. I had a deviated septum (a bend in my nose) and I could not breath. If you hold your finger over one nostril and then breath, the inside of your nose will clamp it's self the the inside middle nostril and you will not be able to breath. The other side you will be able to take air up through.

Question: Can a deviated septum make your voice louder? I previously had a deviated septum before a sinus surgery in 2004. It seems that since my surgery I've lost the loudness I used to have to my voice. This is a big concern for me since I am a singer. Does anyone know if removing the deviated septum would result in a loss of volume in the singing/speaking voice?

Answer: Mine didn't

Question: Does a deviated septum affect how the nose looks to others? I have a friend who has a deviated septum. He says that it seems to be getting worse with age. Well, the bit of skin on the underside of his nose which separated his two nostrils has never been quite centered, but instead is a bit over to the right. It doesn't look freekish, just a bit unique. And kind of cute, really. Anyways, I'm wondering if the deviated septum is the reason that that bit of skin which separates his nostrils is off of center?

Answer: Yes, it most likely is. An ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) doctor site gives more info on the disorder: http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/sinus/d… As the bulk of the problem is inside the nose, only that small area you refer to would be noticeable to others. If your friend is feeling worse, I hope he has a doctor check it. I wonder if he has polyps or a sinus condition as well.

Question: Is a deviated septum considered a pre-existing condition for health insurance? I recently went to the doctor and was diagnosed with having a deviated septum and needing septoplasty. My insurance has a pre-existing condition waiting period through 04/2010. Since I've never been diagnosed for a deviated septum before, would this still be considered a pre-existing condition? My insurance told me that since it was my first diagnosis it should be covered, though they did not say this was 100% as they cannot guarantee coverage so it makes me a bit weary.

Answer: If you were born with it, it's preexisting. If it was deviated because someone just punched you in the nose, it's not preexisting. Do not confuse the term "preexisting" with "prediagnosed". I don't blame you for being weary - which, btw, means tired. But you should also be leery of the person who gave you that information, that it would be covered, as *I* believe it's incorrect

Question: What usually happens during a deviated septum consultation?? I am scheduled for a consultation due to my deviated septum. Does anyone have any idea on what I should expect? Thanks so much!

Answer: Among other things, the doctor will look up inside your nose with a flexible lighted wand to see how deviated it actually is. if you have had a CAT scan or MRI, he or she will look at those, too.

Question: Does deviated septum surgery change the look of your nose? I have to have my deviated septum fixed and I am very concerned that it will change the shape of my nose. Will it? I don't want it too.

Answer: it shouldnt. all they do during the surgery is fix the septum and put it in the correct place

Question: Is it possible to have grown a deviated septum over the years? Reposting! I have a deviated septum. I was looking at my childhood pictures and noticed that my nose now at 20 years old looks different from when I was like 9. I have never broken my nose or anything like that ever in my life. So is it possible to have grown a deviated septum over the years? Or am I just imagining things?

Answer: It is most frequently caused by impact trauma, such as by a blow to the face. It can also be a congenital disorder, caused by compression of the nose during childbirth. I do not believe, however, that it develops over time. Nothing I can find online points to that fact. I was born with a deviated septum. Hope that helps!

Question: How do you know if you have deviated septum? I think I may have a mild case of a deviated septum. I have sort of a nasal voice, and it's sort of diffuclt for me to breath through my nose. I sometimes feel like my nose is stuffed, but it really isn't? Could I have a deviated septum? Is it pretty obvious by looking at your nose that you have it? Like if you have a deviated septum, would your nose look lopsided? Also what kind of doctor would I have to go to see for this problem?

Answer: no a deviated septum cant show on the outside unless a broken nose caused you to have a deviated septum yes if it is hard to breathe through your nose it could mean that you have one go to a doctor, and you can get a simple xray, and that will tell you if your septum is deviated, and if you need surgery or not

Question: Is deviated septum surgery tax deductible on federal income taxes? I had surgery to fix my deviated septum. Can I deduct this expense on my federal income taxes? I got the surgery for breathing function and for appearance. How could I seperate the two since it is all in one procedure?

Answer: I believe so, because my friend deducted their eye surgery, and that was an elective surgery.

Question: What can happen if you have a deviated septum? Hey I have a deviated septum, i can breathe out of one nostril I was just wondering what happens if you dont treat a deviated septum?? Can you stop breathing a die? Any help would be great :)

Answer: No. You will end up having to get surgery to prevent that from happening. You will become further uncomfortable and may start using nasal spray to keep breath flowing. If you do, use a saline spray. I have a friend who has this and she had to have surgery and uses Afrin which is not good. I am attaching something for you to look at that may help. good luck.

Question: How does recovery feel after deviated septum surgery? I'm getting surgery for me deviated septum tomorrow and I want to know what it feels like after the surgery and what my nose will look like.

Answer: Very painful and you may get black eyes. There will be splints in your nose and you will have to wear the dressing for about a week. Be patient, any surgery is painful afterwards but take the meds they give you, even if you think you can tolerate the pain. Sometimes you think you don't need to take anymore until it completely wears off. Then you take your meds and have to wait longer for it to work.

Question: How do you know if you have a deviated septum? I took an allergy test and all i'm allergic to is mold and dustmites. So it's not allergies. My nose is contantly clogged and nothing comes out when I blow it. Even when i'm outside I cant breath through my nose. Do I have a deviated septum?

Answer: Yes, you have a deviated septum. Those are exactly the symptoms I had for 25 years prior to my surgery seven years ago. I cringed just reading your post. I remember those days all too well. Get your doctor to refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist ASAP.

Question: How Can A Deviated Septum Affect My Performance In Boxing? I've been boxing for some time now, and I can breathe in very little through my left nostril. But when I warm up and run it feels like it clears up a little bit and I can breathe a little better. How can a Deviated Septum affect me in the ring?

Answer: it will affect your breathing since the septum is part of the airway. if you have difficulty breathing, you will have problems with everything -including boxing. have your ENT discuss this with you so that you understand.

Question: Is getting your deviated septum corrected worth it? I've been suffering with horrible sinus problems and congestion for years and i get at least one nose bleed a day, i finally went to the ENT and he suggests i get my deviated septum corrected. I know it will help me breathe a whole lot better than i can now but will it help my sinus's? Also, how is the recovery process?

Answer: I had this surgery done 6 weeks ago. It was a breeze. I had basically zero pain and was up and around shopping the next day! DO IT!

Question: What do you know about a deviated septum? I have a larger nose, with a bump/hump on it. I am stuffy a lot of the time, I snore, and I often get headaches. Is this a deviated septum perhaps? Also, if I were to get my deviated septum fixed (if I have this) would my nose be straightened out? Thanks!

Answer: A deviated septum usually results in being able to breathe more easily through one side of your nose than the other, because the septum curves to the other side, partially blocking it. An easy test is to stick your little finger in each nostril. If it goes in farther or more easily in one side than the other, the septum is deviated. A deviated septum also can result in a nose that appears curved to the right or the left, or even where the whole nose is turned to the right or left. This is why some people, for photographic purposes, have a "good" side and a "bad" side. So, fixing the deviated septum would straighten out such a nose, and if it's not crooked, a similar operation would fix a humped nose which is otherwise straight as viewed from the front. The operation is done under a local anesthetic, with the patient sitting in a chair facing the surgeon. The surgeon will use a small hammer and chisel and pliers (I kid you not!) to break up the septum into small pieces, which he/she can then force into a straight line. Some pieces can be removed if necessary, especially in the "hump case". Then the two nostrils are tightly packed with absorbent material to keep the septum pieces aligned while the regrowth and healing take place, over a period of about two weeks. It is not a pleasant procedure, but if your appearance and/or physical well-being can benefit, it may be worth it.

Question: How do you know you have a deviated septum? What are typical signs that you may have a deviated septum and how does it get treated? Thank you:) and yes, I plan to go to see a specialist but I would like to know more from everyday people before hand. Thanks:)

Answer: The nasal septum is the wall between the nostrils that separates the two nasal passages. It supports the nose and directs airflow. The septum is made of thin bone in the back and cartilage in the front. A deviated septum occurs when the cartilage or bone is not straight. A crooked septum can make breathing difficult. The condition also can lead to snoring and sleep apnea. The septum can be deviated at birth (congenital) or because of injury, such as a broken nose. It also may bend to one side or the other as a result of aging. In most people, the septum is crooked to some degree. Septoplasty generally is necessary only when breathing problems or snoring do not get better without surgery. Surgery to straighten the septum is called septoplasty, submucous resection of the septum, or septal reconstruction. The surgery may be done along with other procedures to treat chronic sinusitis, inflammation, or bleeding, or to correct sleep apnea. Septoplasty also may be done to allow access into the nose to remove nasal polyps. For more information on surgery to treat chronic sinusitis, see the topic Sinusitis. Before surgery, the doctor may use a thin, lighted instrument (endoscope) to look at your nasal passages and to see the shape of your septum. In some cases, the endoscope may be used during surgery. You will receive local or general anesthesia for the 60- to 90-minute operation, which is usually done in an outpatient surgery center. The septum and nasal passages are lined with a layer of soft tissue called the nasal mucosa. To repair the septum, the surgeon works through the nostrils, making an incision to separate the mucosa from the underlying cartilage and bone. The doctor cuts off or straightens the bent cartilage and then replaces the mucosa over the cartilage and bone.

Question: Will getting surgery on a deviated septum reduce colds? A friend of mine wants to get her deviated septum fixed thinking that it will reduce the number of colds she gets. Would it really help? All the info i pulled of the internet mentions that it helps sleep problems and allgergies but not frequent colds. Does anybody know?

Answer: "Any narrowing of the nasal passageway that it causes will threaten the drainage of secretions from the sinuses, which mustpass through the nose. It is a general rule of medicine that when flow is obstructed, whether it is mucus fromthe sinuses or bile from the gall bladder, infection results. People with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) are atgreater risk of obstruction because their nasal passageways are already narrowed by the swollen membraneslining them. The result is sinusitis, which can be acute and severe or chronic and lingering"

Question: Does anyone know what causes a deviated septum to return to being deviated after surgery besides trauma? In other words, can a deviated septum become deviated once again even after surgery to correct it? I'm not talking about someone getting hit again, just the fact can a "fixed" septum become deviated on its own? I don't know because of the shape of one's face, head, etc.

Answer: I 'm not sure, my son had his fixed when he was about 7. He's 17 now and it seems to me his nose is crooked. He still doesn't snore or breathe loud, it's just crooked.