Re: 2 days post-op -- serious congestion HELP!!

[Guest guest]

I'm still a few days pre-op, but everything I've read suggests using

a humidifier. I've bought one and I also bought a Vicks Waterless

Vaporizor which makes the air smell like menthol and feels really

good. I've used the small version of this when I've had a cold and

it really helped, so I'm thinking this bigger version will help even

more. Also, they say you shouldn't lay flat; stay propped up on

pillows at a 30-45 degree angle. Also, saline solution helps to

shrink nasal passages, and you can use it as much as you want. You

can only use the medicated spray for three days or you could get

rebound swelling. I hope some of this helps you. I'll keep you in

my prayers. Please, keep us posted.

Angel

> so I had upper and lower done 2 days ago, and I was begging the

> hospital staff to let me stay a second night, because i simply

> wasn't feeling at all comfortable with my breathing: i'm not

getting

> any air at all through eiher of my nostrils, and i start to panic

> when i'm only able to breathe through my mouth which is wired

shut,

> so the air I can draw through it is pretty labored anyway. They

> wouldn't let me stay, though, so i went home and slept for about 5

> hours in 1.5 hr spurts.

>

> Nasal sprays are doing nothing for me, because I don't think the

> congestion is being caused by normal sinus congestion, but rather

> simply because of the tremendous pressure all around my head b/c

of

> the swelling.

>

> The hospital staff and my doctors seem most unsympathetic to my

> condition, essentially telling me not to worry and that i'll be

just

> fine, despite the fact that my limited breathing facilities have

me

> quite worried, especially when it comes to drinking anything at

> all...i don't like to have my single airway obstructed.

>

> Is this normal? Will the congestion improve on its own and how

soon

> can I expect it to? What should I do??

[Guest guest]

I had the exact same problems, and I understand about the hospital

staff. Very unsympathetic. And it's terrifying not being able to

breathe. A humidifier definitely helps, but also just slow

breathing exercises. My mom sat with me and talked me through them

and that was my life saver. Breathe in *slowly* for a full minute

and then exhale in the same way. It helps if you have someone there

to do anything to calm you, as well. She would sit there rubbing my

back. But the breathing exercises not only make sure that you're

getting oxygen into your blood, but they also calm the panic--which

is about the worst of it. I also found short warm baths (not too

hot--your heart rate will sky rocket really easily) helped. The

main thing is to keep in mind that it will pass. Almost everyone I

know went through the same thing. And keep the Afrin around. It

will be your best friend, even if you're using it every five minutes

for 5 days. As every day goes by, it will get just a little bit

better.

> > so I had upper and lower done 2 days ago, and I was begging the

> > hospital staff to let me stay a second night, because i simply

> > wasn't feeling at all comfortable with my breathing: i'm not

> getting

> > any air at all through eiher of my nostrils, and i start to

panic

> > when i'm only able to breathe through my mouth which is wired

> shut,

> > so the air I can draw through it is pretty labored anyway. They

> > wouldn't let me stay, though, so i went home and slept for about

5

> > hours in 1.5 hr spurts.

> >

> > Nasal sprays are doing nothing for me, because I don't think the

> > congestion is being caused by normal sinus congestion, but

rather

> > simply because of the tremendous pressure all around my head b/c

> of

> > the swelling.

> >

> > The hospital staff and my doctors seem most unsympathetic to my

> > condition, essentially telling me not to worry and that i'll be

> just

> > fine, despite the fact that my limited breathing facilities have

> me

> > quite worried, especially when it comes to drinking anything at

> > all...i don't like to have my single airway obstructed.

> >

> > Is this normal? Will the congestion improve on its own and how

> soon

> > can I expect it to? What should I do??

[Guest guest]

First off, try not to panic. I know it's hard but the more you panic

the harder it makes the breathing. Congestion is totally normal and

will be the bain of your life for a while. Things to do to help

alleviate the congestion. Get yourself a humidifier. I used to stand

over my humidifier letting all the moist air seep into my nostrils.

Then take warm hot showers. The steam from the water also helps

alleviate the congestion. Third, this is going to sound grosse but

when congested you gotta do what you gotta do. Take a cotton ear

swab. Wet it with some water and then gently poke it up your nose.

With the nose swab literally clean out your nose as in drag all that

gunk out of there. Ewwwww I know! But it really helped me and when

you can't blow your nose then this is a useful alternative. My OMS

also told me that when the congestion got too unbearable and I found

that I was starting to panic then what I should do was gently pull

back one of my cheeks and try to take deep breaths through there. He

also talked about creating a straw type contraption via which i could

breathe if things got really bad but they never did luckily for me.

Even though you think the nasal sprays aren't doing anything carry on

using them. They do help in alleviating the congestion in the long

run. Hold on tight. You'll be breathing normally soon again!

Sara

Surgery June 6th 2005

Upper jaw moved back and up, lower jaw moved up, 4 mm palet

expansion, 2 upper bicuspids removed and genio

> so I had upper and lower done 2 days ago, and I was begging the

> hospital staff to let me stay a second night, because i simply

> wasn't feeling at all comfortable with my breathing: i'm not

getting

> any air at all through eiher of my nostrils, and i start to panic

> when i'm only able to breathe through my mouth which is wired shut,

> so the air I can draw through it is pretty labored anyway. They

> wouldn't let me stay, though, so i went home and slept for about 5

> hours in 1.5 hr spurts.

>

> Nasal sprays are doing nothing for me, because I don't think the

> congestion is being caused by normal sinus congestion, but rather

> simply because of the tremendous pressure all around my head b/c of

> the swelling.

>

> The hospital staff and my doctors seem most unsympathetic to my

> condition, essentially telling me not to worry and that i'll be

just

> fine, despite the fact that my limited breathing facilities have me

> quite worried, especially when it comes to drinking anything at

> all...i don't like to have my single airway obstructed.

>

> Is this normal? Will the congestion improve on its own and how

soon

> can I expect it to? What should I do??