Deviated Septum and Rhinoplasty - Cleveland, OH

I have always had problems breathing through my nose and just learned to live with it. When I became a grandma and realized I wanted to have a LONG and healthy life I decided to talk to an ENT and plastic surgeon.Had to wait about a month to get everything scheduled..(very nerve-racking). I am7 days post op ..getting internal splints removed tomorrow. I was FINALLY able to breathe through my nose for the first time today!! Wonderful sensation!! I am only sorry that I let my fear of what might occur get in the way of doing this much sooner in my life.
I had a 7:30 surgery scheduled..1st to fix the deviated septum and then the rhinoplasty. When I woke up I felt pretty good. ( My only pain was a headache that lasted about 17 hours) A friend told me it was probably from the anesthesia so I just rode it out. Stayed at my daughters for a couple of days to recuperate.When my nose was packed (for 3 days) I had no appetite and no sense of smell. Since I was mouth breathing it was very helpful to have bottles of water, lip balm, a nice lounge chair to sleep sitting up and my mini Ipad. I ate really healthy..lots of fruit and cottage cheese.
After the packing was removed ( very weird feeling!) I started to use saline to keep things all lubricated. Still couldn't breathe through nose but I felt much more comfortable once it was removed. Mouth breathing really took a toll on me energy wise...and when I got home I didn't have quite the energy I wanted. Four days later ( Labor Day) it seems like the saline finally worked and I was able to actually breathe through my nose for the first time since I can remember! I was so taken by the process that it brought tears to my eyes. I was astounded that I was actually breathing as I thought most people do..
I hardly had any bruising, and most discomfort was the mouth breathing and the feeling of pressure from the nosr packing...Why did I wait so long to have this done!!

So today I finally had my internal splints removed ( by the ENT doc)...wonderful to really be able to breathe through my nose. The weird part is having to "retrain" myself to breathe through my nose. What a wonderful thing to have to relearn.
So after the doc removed the first splint I asked him if I could see it. He said are you sure....SO...what a surprise...I had NO idea that something that large could have been in my nose! Plus I told him that I thought is would be a v shaped plasticy thing that was keeping my nose inn shape. Little did I know that it was about 2 to /2 1/2 in long shaped like a giant flat kidney bean!!
I am just so astounded that I can breathe and I keep asking myself..."why did I wait so long to have this done!". My lesson learned is that if you have a symptom ( like not being able to breath...
I have a follow up after care visit with the plastic surgeon next week. I am very happy with my results already even though things are still a bit sore inside and swollen both inside and out. Saline has been a life saver on that end.