I can barely breath via my nose. I was on various steroid sprays for several months but they gave very little relief. My ENT just told me of various ways to reduce the size of my overly swollen turbinates:

1. turbinate bone removal
2. turbinate somnoplasty
3. turbinate tissue removal

If none of that works he said that he could perform a septoplasy.

Has anyone had any of these procedures to improve their breathing?
:confused:

In March 06 I had Septoplasty, my turbines reduced laterally, and all of my sinuses opened (was not a happy camper afterwards! LOL), but in the long run it has really paid off. When I was recovering I talked to my dr about how I had this weird sensation in my nostrils, and he said it was air going in and out of them lol.. so yes, I recommend this surgery very much, but know that the recovery does suck...but it's worth it in the long run.

Dear twizliz,

How were your turbinates reduced? Also did these operations give you empty nose syndrome? I've heard that can be worse off than swollen nostrils?

What do you mean by recovery sucks. What do empty nose syndrome mean.

I had turbinectomy (sp?) at the same time as my tonsillectomy. My nose recovery has been painfree and wonderful (especially compared to my throat pain). My nose is still sore after 4 weeks but nothing that is bothersome.

I had a septoplasty with a turbinate reduction along with a tonsilectomy to relieve sleep apnea. The recovery was not pleasant but I do not snore and have little apnea. The biggest bonus was no more chronic sinus infections.

I had septoplasty with turbinate reduction and tonsillectomy at the same time 8 days ago. Let me tell you, septoplasty is a piece of cake compared to the tonsillectomy! I would not hesitate to have this operation. There is a little tightness and a little itchiness in the nose after the surgery, and breathing mostly through the mouth for a week. Nothing that I couldn't deal with. And then yesterday, after one week, I saw my doctor. He removed the splints from my nose, rinsed with a saline solution, put bacitracin in each nostril,(I'm to do this at home too) and it felt wonderful. I took my first big breath through my nose and actually felt it reach my lungs. Last night I could sleep breathing comfortably through my nose. What a Relief! :blob_fire Do It!