Question for people who have had a nasal polyp removed

AARRRGH

Hello

I am not looking for medical advice.

I am going to (probably) be getting a nasal polyp removed. I am just wondering what the procedure was like.

Did you have a local or general anesthetic? Was it a scary operation?

Thanks.

easyontheeye

my mother did. she was in hospital for 3 days. although hers were quite big. it changed her sense of taste and smell afterwards. took her about 1-2 weeks to recover, had severe bruising around the eyes.

AARRRGH

Thanks for the reply.

I think my issue is quite minor (hopefully!) so it should be an in and out operation... and not three days.

LegacyUser

My brother had some done, in and out, not much bruising but itchy/sensitive in the sinus cavity for a few days - he seemed to think it was no big deal.

His came back though - I think they came back after around 3 years, he got them done again, and hasnt mentioned it since (thats about 4 years ago now).

cantdecide

A little bit of coughing up blood afterward but not a particularly painful operation.

The difference it made to my quality of life was massive.

Plek Trum

Had a small polyp removed in Oct 08 (had problem breathing from one side and nose bleeds). Had it done under GA, one overnight. Woke up with two tampons inside each nose and a fetching earlooped sanitary pad underneath!

Fine operation, didnt even take a panadol, no bruising, home the following evening and had to steam the cavity a few times each day to help with clearing. Perect in a few weeks.. best thing I had done!

sunnyside

A friend had this done, the bruising was pretty bad so she hid in the house for about a week. I don't mean to be negative just wanting to make you aware that there could be bruising so that you can arrange a few extra days off work if you are too self conscious to go outside looking like someone had beaten you up. I don't think everyone would get bad bruising but you could.

If you do have bruising it's inconvenient but not a big deal and will clear up in a week or so. Short term pain for long term benefits.

Good luck.

AARRRGH

Thanks for the replies everyone!

Yeah, I have been tolerating breathing through one nostril for about a year now, and it's beginning to bother me.

My brothers ex-girlfriend was an anesthetist and the amount of horror stories she has told me about general anesthetics has me a bit worried! She told me at least one person died every week because of the general anesthetic. Uhhhh... So I would like to get it done with a local anesthetic, if possible.

Did any of you/your family have the option of a local anesthetic?

Cheers!

cowzerp

Sorry for the hijack but how long would you be waiting to get this job done, i've got them and am not on a waiting list or anything yet! and also how much does it cost? thanks..

Zaph

AARRRGH wrote: »

My brothers ex-girlfriend was an anesthetist and the amount of horror stories she has told me about general anesthetics has me a bit worried! She told me at least one person died every week because of the general anesthetic.

In percentage terms of the number of people who have operations every week I'd imagine that's a tiny number. I'd be interested to know how many of them had some sort of heart, lung or other condition before the operation that may have been a contributory factor. In the past 2 1/2 years I've had 4 operations under general anaesthetic, most recently 2 weeks ago, and I've lived to tell the tale. You do feel like crap afterwards, there's no denying that, but if the operation isn't possible under local don't put it off for fear that you may be this week's one. From the previous posts it would appear that it's definitely worth the risk.

AARRRGH

I have health insurance so it will be free, although my consultation with the consultant will cost €200, €125 of which I can claim back. Again, because I have health insurance and I'll be going to a private hospital I would imagine there isn't really any waiting list.

I have no idea how long you would have to wait without health insurance, sorry.

username123

AARRRGH wrote: »

Yeah, I have been tolerating breathing through one nostril for about a year now, and it's beginning to bother me.

Yikes - sounds like me - am seeing GP next week to get referral to specialist, history of them in the family too so Ive probably got them. How do they diagnose it - I have visions of them putting a bot up my nose like in Total Recall.

AARRRGH wrote: »

My brothers ex-girlfriend was an anesthetist and the amount of horror stories she has told me about general anesthetics has me a bit worried! She told me at least one person died every week because of the general anesthetic. Uhhhh... So I would like to get it done with a local anesthetic, if possible.

Ah anyone in the biz is gonna have horror stories that they entertain each other with over coffee break. I wouldnt worry. Particularly if you are healthy etc... Another poster mentioned other conditions that may have had before the op - I think youd find thats the largest percentage of it. Theyd hardly be using GAs day in day out in hospitals worldwide if they werent statistically safe.

Ive had 2 ops under GA (unrelated to sinuses), both times I came round feeling groggy then feeling sort of hung over as the day rolled on, I get waves of queasiness from it, feel sick for 20 mins, feel grand for 20 mins etc.... If you rest, sip water and nibble crackers it helps. It does hang around your system for a while, but Ive not had any issues after 48 hours.

AARRRGH

Just an update on this. Went to an ENT consultant yesterday. It turns out the problem is a badly deviated septum (must have gotten a whack last year, don't remember) which would require septoplasty to fix.

Not sure if I will go ahead with that, but at least I know it's a mechanical issue rather than something weird growing in my nose!

Cheers for all the replies.

LegacyUser

I've had both a nasal polyp operation (as a child) and I've had my septum corrected at 18. The polyp was c.10/12, so my memory's a bit hazy, but it was a general anaesthetic & when I woke up I had tubes up my nose which they used to flush my sinuses with warm water for a few days- that was a horrible feeling, but as an adult I doubt it would be so traumatic! Having my septum corrected was about 3 days of a post-op (again a general anaesthetic) woke up with wadding all over my nose, which was removed within 24 hrs, and after another day/2 days they removed some stitching from within my nostrils and there had been 2 plastic splints up there, which were pulled out through my nose- mildly uncomfortable but not awful. There was some scabbing interiorly, which just meant mild scratchyness until it healed, and it's been fine ever since! Best of luck with everything, hope it goes well!

P.S. I've had approximately 5 general anaesthetics in my life, don't worry, they anaesthesiologists know what they're doing, and the small amount of morphine you are administered post-op is hilarious, I was babbling like a lunatic!

username123

Thanks for the update, I went to ENT doc last week and i DO have the polyps - am on drops for 3 weeks, a spray for 3 months and see him again early June, if no improvement Ive to have them out surgically.
Been on the drops just over a week now and my problems have practically cleared up so hopefully I can avoid a surgery.

Was fascinated with the optic camera into the sinus cavity!!

If I were you Id get the septoplasty done, youre more open to infection etc if you cant breathe properly through both nostrils.

GeeNorm

Wow I had forgotten I had this done (1990) until I saw your thread.
Couple of days in hospital but no external bruising. Cleared sinuses for maybe a few months at best. Both blocked since so absolute waste of time for me

faral

sorry folks to reload this thread again.caould you be so kind and tell where did u undergo this operation and how much did u pay for it?friend of mine has this illness and his idea is to go abroad.in my opinion this is not the point as that seems to be quite basic and easy operation, am I right?