Nasal and Sinus Surgery

1. Basically, thou shalt not lift, bend, strain, blow, sneeze, or lie flat!

2. Do NOT lie flat. Keep your head elevated (30 degrees in bed) at all times until the surgeon has instructed differently.

3. You may be discharged from the surgery facility with a drip pad under your nose. This is to protect your clothes from any bloody drainage. This may be necessary for the first 2 – 3 days. This pad may be changed as needed. If the pad becomes saturated with blood and needs to be changed more frequently than 3 times per hour, call the office number immediately.

4. If you do experience excessive bleeding, you may spray Afrin nasal decongestant spray into the nose (2 sprays four times a day but NO LONGER than 2 days)

5. ACTIVITY: No lifting > 10 lbs or strenuous activity that may raise your blood pressure for 2 weeks

6. PAIN: A prescription narcotic pain medication may be sent to your pharmacy. Typically, pain becomes mild after 2 days and may be treated with extra strength acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not use Tylenol in addition to a narcotic that also contains Tylenol (e.g. Percocet).

7. If you feel that you are going to sneeze, open your mouth and sneeze with the mouth open.

8. If you have packing placed in the nose, it may dissolve over 5 days or be removed at your postoperative visit it is non-dissolvable. Do not blow your nose until the surgeon instructs you differently. If you have bleeding after the packing is removed, call the office. Ice packs across the nose may be helpful and you may use Afrin nasal spray to slow the bleeding.

9. Hard candy is helpful for the dry mouth and sore throat you may develop while your nose is packed. Also, stay well hydrated.

10. A dab of Vaseline (or AYR gel, Nasogel) in each nostril 2-3 times a day, after the packing has been removed, will help relieve the drying and prevent crusting in the nose.

11. Your surgeon may want you to start a saline spray or saline rinse (e.g. Neti pot) as soon as the day after surgery. This is usually prescribed 3 to 4 times per day. Ask your surgeon for specifics.

12. Call the office immediately for any sudden decrease in vision, double vision, increasing swelling around the eyes, excessive bleeding (soaking through more than 3 drip pads per hour), uncontrolled pain, or temperature over 101.5 degrees.