Thank you for the opportunity to care for you or your loved one.
Activity
Light to moderate activity is recommended. Avoid heavy lifting and straining for the first week after surgery. Nose blowing should be gentle and minimal. Forceful nose blowing can lead to nasal bleeding. Elevating the head while resting or sleeping may be helpful.
Packing
Your surgeon may place packing and/or plastic splints in your nose. Your surgeon will let you know when this will be removed.
Diet
Patients may resume a regular diet without restrictions. Many patients note a scratchy throat for the first day or two and may prefer soft foods initially.
Nasal saline irrigation
Your physician may recommend mechanically cleaning the nose and sinuses with saline. This can remove blood and mucus from the nose and help with healing after surgery. Nasal saline spray (such as Ayr or Ocean spray) is available over-the-counter. You may also make saline solution at home. Irrigations may begin the first day after surgery, generally 3 times per day.
Pain
Some pain after nasal surgery is expected. It is generally of moderate severity. Please take the pain reliever as prescribed by your physician. Over-the-counter ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used. Some temporary numbness of the upper teeth may occur.
Fever
Low-grade fever after nasal surgery is common. Please notify our office if your temperature is 101°F or higher and does not respond to ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Bleeding
Some bloody nasal and postnasal drainage after nasal surgery is expected. You should expect light bloody drainage for the first 1-2 days. Please call the office if your bleeding becomes excessive. In general, the drip pad should not be saturated more frequently than every 15 minutes.
Nausea/Vomiting
Some patients may experience nausea and/or vomiting after surgery. Your physician may prescribe medication for nausea. Please call to speak with our nurse if you need help managing nausea or vomiting.
Nasal congestion
Severe nasal congestion is to be expected after nasal surgery due to swelling and sometimes due to nasal packing. You may use decongestant sprays or decongestant pills (Sudafed) for some relief if tolerated. Please read the packaging as decongestants are not recommended with certain medical conditions, including hypertension and heart disease. Saline spray and elevating the head of the bed may also help.
Medications
Patient should resume regular medications after surgery, except aspirin-containing products.
Vision changes
Please call the office if you have any decrease in vision or double vision. Some mild blurriness after surgery can be related to eye ointment used at the time of surgery.
Clear nasal drainage
Please call the office if you notice a large amount of clear nasal drainage after surgery, especially if it is one-sided and if it varies with change in position. Very infrequently, a CSF (spinal fluid) leak may occur. Call your physician if you have any concerns about clear nasal drainage.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office and ask to speak with the nurse.