All post op prescriptions will be sent to your pharmacy 2-3 days prior to your procedure or you can choose meds to bed at St. Luke’s. For most procedures, you will be prescribed a small amount of a narcotic pain medication. If having a septoplasty, you will also be prescribed a prophylactic antibiotic.
- Take the pain medication with food and only as directed on the label.
- Do not mix pain medications with alcohol or drugs.
- Do not work or drive while taking narcotic pain medications. You may reduce the use of narcotic pain medications as soon as your pain allows.
If you had a septoplasty, you will have stents in your nose. These are stitched in place, so do not try to take them out. They will be removed at your first post op visit, 6-8 days after surgery.
Bleeding from the nose after surgery is normal for up to 72hrs.
Avoid heavy lifting, bending, or strenuous activity for 1-2 weeks after surgery.
Do not blow your nose for the first 7 days after surgery. You may sniff and spit, but don’t blow. (Rinsing will help, so be consistent with this). If you need to sneeze, do so through your mouth.
IMPORTANT: YOU WILL NEED TO GET A NEILMED SINUS RINSE STARTER KIT PRIOR TO SURGERY, IF YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE ONE. We have them at our office to purchase for $14, or you may get them online, or at your local pharmacy.
Start gentle saline rinses the day after surgery, at least twice daily and up to 4 times per day. Do NOT use the steroid capsule in rinses, just the saline packet until Dr Killian advises you to restart it.
It may be helpful to use colace, (docusate sodium) after surgery while on narcotic pain medication, as these can cause constipation.
Normal symptoms after surgery:
- Thick, crusty sinus drainage; yellow, green, red, black. All normal!!
- Headache
- Sinus pressure
- Congestion
- Nausea from anesthesia (call us if not resolving and we can give you a medicine to help)
Call our office if you experience any of the following:
Septoplasty:
- Fever higher than 101 degrees F
- SEVERE diarrhea
- Brisk bleeding (soaking gauze under your nose more than every 30 mins)
Sinus Surgery:
- Fever higher than 101 degrees F
- Visual changes or severe swelling of the eyes
- Severe headache or stiff neck
- SEVERE diarrhea
- Brisk bleeding (soaking gauze under your nose more than every 30 mins)