Deviated Septum

Well as you know from a previous post this pregnancy has not been so nice to me. :( I ended up with a nasal congestion problem shortly after Madison was born. Let us thank Bobble Head Baby Syndrome - where the baby tries to hold up their head and throws it back suddenly smashing their head directly to your noses.

During my repeated Strep and Tonsillitis Infections I explained to the Dr.s that the nose is what is making things worse because I can't breath through this all and for some reason I am not producing enough saliva :( so I end up with dry mouth and drinking a lot during my attempts to sleep at night. :(

So I have an appointment with an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist on January 21st, 2o1o, thank god. Unfortunately they are not able to preform any surgery until after the baby is born :( but this will be my consult and will be ready shortly after the baby is born.

As you know during pregnancy nasal congestion is normally present so imagine pregnancy nasal congestion and a deviated septum. It is not fun and interrupts my sleep. I wake up every hour approx. to spray my nasal passage with spray, saline, to take a nasal decongestant or to use the Neti Pot to rinse my sinuses :( totally not fun and all of these remedies do not always work. Actually 98 percent of them don't.

I tried friends old remedies like rubbing Vicks on the bottom of my feet, Tiger Balm on the bottom of my feet, sleeping upright etc. None of which have worked. So I can imagine I will be enjoying sleep once the surgery comes. It takes approx 1-3 weeks to recoup from the surgery but everyone whom I have spoken to says it is soooooo worth it. So in a way I hate surgeries but I am looking forward to this and know with the new baby avoid Baby Bobble Head Syndrome.



What is Nasal septum deviation?

Nasal septum deviation is a common physical disorder of the nose, involving a displacement of the nasal septum.


Causes

It is most frequently caused by impact trauma, such as by a blow to the face.[1] It can also be a congenital disorder, caused by compression of the nose during childbirth.[1] Deviated septum is associated with Marfan syndrome.[2]


Presentation

The nasal septum is the bone and cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils. The cartilage is called the quadrangular cartilage and the bones comprising the septum include the maxillary crest, vomer and the perpendicular plate of the ethmoid. Normally, the septum lies centrally, and thus the nasal passages are symmetrical.[3] A deviated septum is an abnormal condition in which the top of the cartilaginous ridge leans to the left or the right, causing obstruction of the affected nasal passage. The condition can result in poor drainage of the sinuses. Patients can also complain of difficulty breathing easily, headaches, bloody noses, or of sleeping disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea.[3]

It is common for nasal septa to depart from the exact centerline; the septum is only considered deviated if the shift is substantial or is adversely affecting the patient.[1] Many people with a deviation are unaware they have it until some pain is produced. But by itself a deviated septum can go undetected for years and thus be without any need for correction. [1]

Some people are concerned about diminished airflow through the effectively smaller nostril resulting from deviation. However, if the deviation merely entails a mild deflection from the midline in one direction or the other, it should not be considered a medical issue.
[edit] Treatment

In most cases a deviated septum can be corrected with a minor surgical procedure known as a septoplasty, in which the surgeon enters through the nostrils and cuts away the obtruding matter.[3] The surgery is performed quickly (it takes around 1 hour) but the patient may take one to three weeks to fully recover.

NASAL SEPTUM DEVIATION