My Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction Journey (Recovery, Empty Nose Syndrome, and more)
Chapters:
0:00 (Intro)
0:54 (Pre-Surgery)
5:22 (Surgery)
6:21 (Waking up)
8:02 (Early Recovery)
10:06 (My ENS-like Symptoms)
13:20 (The 6 ENS Symptoms)
14:18 (Additional Symptoms/Mental Side)
15:27 (ENS Self-Test, the ENS6Q)
17:23 (How do you get Empty Nose Syndrome?)
17:58 (Should I get Turbinate Reduction?)
18:43 (How do I feel now?)
20:17 (What I did to help)
21:01 (Warnings and Awareness)
27:00 (If you're experiencing ENS symptoms)
31:20 (Don't get a turbinate reduction)
32:57 (Wrapping Up)
I had a septoplasty and bilateral inferior turbinate submucosal resection w/ microdebrider on May 22, 2024. After 7-8 weeks, I began experiencing some symptoms of Empty Nose Syndrome, including suffocation, sense of diminished nasal airflow, nose feeling too open, and panic attacks. These symptoms ebbed and flowed for about 6 weeks.
I'm doing well now, and have been for the past 6 days or so.
Things are looking up, and I feel like I can basically return to my normal life again.
At the height of my panic, my ENS6Q Score was about 13-14. Terrifying.
Then, I had about a month where it varied from 5-11.
For the past 6 days or so, I haven't given much thought to my breathing. I feel normal or 90% normal.
My ENS6Q Score right now is in the 0-5 range which is considered normal and healthy.
Moral of the story - Do Not Get Turbinate Surgery (including outfracture) because there is ALWAYS a risk of developing empty nose syndrome.
If you're experiencing ENS-like symptoms within the first 12 months post-op - don't panic just yet. Many people experience natural healing as turbinates can re-swell and nerve growth continues. I can't tell you how many stories I've read from people who had scary symptoms that went away 5 months in, 8 months in, even as far out as 16 months in. Keep your head up.
If you want to pursue a cotton test and diagnosis, see an ENS-aware ENT.
Treatment options like injections and cartilage implants? I'd go with Dr. Nayak or Dr. Citardi, in that order, if you're in the USA.
Links:
Do I Have ENS?:
/ read_before_posting_do_i_have_ens
Self-Help Guide:
https://enstips.com/self-help-guide-f...
ENS Doctors:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/vie...
Studies:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39126...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33991...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37750...
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