So I’m getting a Septoplasty next week, and I am really nervous about it. Will it hurt? Will I say something stupid under anesthesia? Will my family coddle me afterwards? There are so many concerns I have that make me want to back out.

I’ll start with the background. I’ve had terrible post nasal drip and a stuffy nose for the last three years, which started after I had a cold or sinus infection the week prior. I’ve tried every medication to try and get rid of it (Flonase, Cetrizine, Hydroxyzine, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc), nothing worked. Eventually, I went to see an ENT after turning 18, she did a nasal endoscopy and said that I most definitely have a deviated septum. I got a CT scan later on and she said my sinuses looked great, but that there is a marked narrowing and indentation on my one side. She actually suggested I don’t get surgery, since she believed it was up to me to make the decision and what I thought would be best for my quality of life. I personally had no idea what to do, as I found all of this so confusing. I asked my other doctors what they thought and they said it was a good idea for me to get it done, as they also noticed the deviation and my one doctor who helped me with TMJ issues actually noticed it in a scan I had done on my face (this was before seeing the ENT). He said there was a ton of crap in my sinuses and that’s what’s causing my postnasal drip, and that I should get surgery on it. I decided to listen to him as he has given me so much relief in the last year (he tragically died of cancer a month ago), but I’ve decided that he is the doctor I trust the most.

Anyway, my fear of this began a couple of months ago. I’ve always struggled with the feel of metal against my body, but the actual fear started when my mom was getting a blackhead out of my ear when I was a kid. Either I moved or my mom slipped, but the metal tool she was using unintentionally went far down and scratched my ear canal. There was no major damage, it just scared me because it felt like it had gone pretty deep in there and scratched the bone area of my ear. Since then, I have been really skeptical of anyone touching my ears, or any part of my body where there are bones/cartilage. While I will be put under for my Septoplasty, I am really nervous that I will feel the metal or that it will hurt.

On top of that, I have no idea how the anesthesia will make me act. I’ve heard some people are fine, while others are saying a bunch of stupid stuff. I also worry because my mom had to tell me that I might feel sick afterwards, and to make sure to get an anti nausea medication (which was already the plan lol).

The last thing, which I know I’m overreacting about, is being coddled by my family afterwards. Oftentimes, when I have a procedure or something else done, my parents have a tendency to talk to me in a baby voice, and talk to me forever afterwards, which is what annoys me the most. The other half, asking how they can pamper me and nagging me about how and when to take my medications despite the fact that I stay on top of them.

Am I overreacting? Is this surgery really not that bad and I’m just freaking out for no reason? If anyone here on the Autism spectrum has had this done and felt similar to me, I would love to know how the surgery/recovery went for you.

  • queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    5·
    6 days ago

    I can tell you how septoplasty went for me. I had a serious deviation that was causing recurring sinus infections and I got the surgery to correct it. The anesthesia was a total blackout, I remember being in the pre-op room getting anesthesia and then the next thing I was groggily waking up post-op. I think for a while after I would just say word-association nonsense as I saw colors and objects, I don’t remember anything specific and it wore off fairly quickly, and my partner doesn’t remember me saying anything specifically so I don’t think I said anything too embarrassing or memorable, I doubt they would conceal something just to spare my feelings. My nose / sinuses were sore for a while after and I took OTC painkillers to deal with it, unpleasant but not intolerable. Overall, worth the medium amount of hassle, would recommend if your septum is deviated.

    TW: Gross

    The worst / best / grossest part was when (after several days of healing) they took out the plastic sleeve/splint things they shove up there to keep your bones in place while they heal, they’re bigger than you think and they come out covered in bloody mucus and it feels like pulling the biggest booger you’ve ever had out and suddenly you can breathe better than you ever could before, like the nasal equivalent of putting on glasses for the first time (I assume, I’ve never worn glasses).

    As for the family, it’s more down to your experience with them and how well they respect boundaries. People who care about you will naturally want to dote on you more post-surgery, which may or may not be what you want, just need to set clear guidelines about what you want the same as when you’re not recovering from surgery.