Deviated Septum/Septoplasty

[CD512]

I went to an ENT specialist and he said I have a deviated septum. He suggested a Septoplasty and a Tubinectomy. My concern is I am about to take the FCIA exam in the near furture. Will the surgery have a negative effect on getting the physical certified? Would it be best to have the surgery before or after the physical? Also if the surgery is completed before the physical is there a specified time for recovery before the physical can be completed.

[Guest F16PilotMD]

A7.2.1.4. Deviations of the nasal septum, septal spurs, enlarged turbinates or other obstructions to

nasal ventilation which result in clinical symptoms. Symptomatic atresia or stenosis of the choana.

Your current condition MIGHT be disqualifying if the above is true about you. The surgery won't DQ you. No specific time after surgery for physical. I would wait until you are completely healed.

[Guest doctidy]

Would surprise me for the surgery to just be for a deviated septum. Do you also have problems with sinusitis, allergies, or nasal polyps?

Those ENT guys like to do surgery...but your nose has to be pretty crooked to just do it for cosmetic reasons.

[Guest F16PilotMD]

Shouldn't be getting a septoplasty for cosmetic reasons. I can't believe that is the reason they want to do this. If you have no symptoms from your deviated septum, then operative repair is questionable at best. My bet is you do have some difficulty moving air through that side of your nose and possibly some chronic maxillary (cheek) sinus trouble on that side as well. If so, surgery makes sense, I think.

Note: if you find a surgeon who doesn't like to do surgery...find a different one.

[ 18. March 2005, 09:23: Message edited by: F16PilotMD ]

[CD512]

I did not say this was for cosmetic reasons. I have trouble breathing out of the right side of my nose, and I do suffer from some sinus problems. From what I understand the sinus problem is do to the lack of air entering one side of the nostril and to much on the other.

Hopefully that clears up any misunderstandings. So with my current condition surgery seems to make sense. Also what would you consider a good healing time after surgery to take the physical? I was thinking aprrox. 1 month. Thank you for your help.

[Guest WindyCityPilot]

I had this operation in 2000. It took 2 weeks to recover, and the military has never had an issue with it. I had the septoplasty, rhinoplasty and SMR of the turbinates. If your doctor says you need the operation, and you think you're fine, get a second opinion. Surgeons want to operate and do plenty of unnecessary surgery, often exaggerating diagnosis. If you decide to get it, make sure you go to the best ENT surgeon in the area. Get opinions from several nurses and doctors. It hurts like hell, but you're young and should be fine.

[Guest F16PilotMD]

"Surgeons want to operate and do plenty of unnecessary surgery, often exaggerating diagnosis."

Where the f*ck do you get off saying something like that. That's one of the most ignorant statements I've seen on this forum. Can you support this with any facts. Oprah's opinion doesn't matter.

[Guest jsford]

I think I have a deviated septum. I passed my FC1 at brooks without troubles. I would like to get it corrected for both medical and asthetic reasons. I don't start UPT until the end of this year. Any recomendations? Should I wait?

[Guest doctidy]

As long as your surgeon thinks you can be healed up. You are talking 6 months and you aren't even scheduled.

[Guest wilco]

I recently was awarded an ANG slot and have been Medically Qualified by AETC pending completion of MFS. I had a guard unit give me a FC1. I assume MFS is Brooks.

My problem is a deviated septum that has some severity to it. My ENT said it was quite blocked on both passage ways. My main problem comes w/ exercise in that I can't run as far as most 24 y/o FC1 guys can. When sitting normally, if I breathe through my nose, you can hear the blockage. I also have no allergies or seasonal complications.

I have a surgeon, I have the money, and I have the time as I am not scheduled for AMS for a full year. What concerns should I have and what is your advice.

Thanks

[JVBFLY]

I have had this done, also broken nose fixed at same time. No waiver was required for AD flying purposes. It was annotated on my FC1, but no further questioning. My FC1 was also approved by NGB. PM if you have other questions.

[Guest doctidy]

Two thoughts...one pro, one con...

Pro - pilot training isn't about how fast you can run or how much air moves thru your schnozz. However, a deviated septum can be a problem with sinus blocks. Sinus blocks will be an impediment to you completing UPT. If you have a PPL, flying in your local bug smasher would be a way to simulate the altitude changes you are going to experience.

Con - having surgery before UPT isn't just about having the time or money. You need to consider:

- will I be fully recovered by UPT start

- just having the surgery shouldn't require a waiver, but complications from the surgery might

- if something is found and you need a waiver, its easier to get a waiver when you are a trained aviator than pre-UPT student

Cheers!

[Guest wilco]

Rage and JVBFLY thanks for your input.

I haven't thought about any consequences from the surgery, but the surgery would be more than a year before any UPT start.

A major reason for this surgery is that I am overweight. I am good for the standards, but I carry a belly that most 24 y/o don't and shouldn't have. I partially blame that on my nose.

I am still going to meet the ENT and ask about possible consequences.

[Guest wilco]

UPDATE

I met w/ the surgeon and oddly enough, she was somewhat of an expert in my predicament. It turns out that she is a bitter ex-wife of a USAF pilot. She even spent a year in Del Rio. She also gets all the ENT referals from Little Rock AFB. She said as long as there was plenty of time before MFS the septoplasty would be OK.

She also estimated that my nose was 60% blocked in both nostrils. She also plans to trim my turbinates.

Any thoughts?

[Guest Bob81]

Just had the coblation of turbinates done a year ago. That sh!t hurts afterwards!!!

Edited March 20, 2007 by Bob81

[Guest wilco]

Just an update for those considering the procedure in the future. Do it.

I am 8 weeks out of my surgery and have been pleased so far. My exercise is not as good as I have thought, but breathing through my nose in normal activities is a 100% thing now, where it wasn't that way before. My ENT estimated that I was 60% blocked and he trimmed my turbinates.

[sky_king]

Just had a septoplasty and tubinate reduction because I was about 80% blocked in the right nostral and 40% blocked in the left nostral. Currently, I am 28 hours post op and this shit sucks. Constant blood oozing out of my nose and I can't breath through my nose at all due to the swelling.

Anyone have this surgery before that can offer words of encouragement or tips they used to make the recovery easier? I can't wait until Wednesday when these splints come out of my nose.

[snafu]

Keep us posted on this. I will most likely need this done and am curious on time of recovery -> flying.

[mhc257]

Dude I started a new life when my splints came out. The week they were in was one of the worst of my life, and I almost puked when they took them out (seriously they must be lodged in the brain), but from the moment they were out I breathed about 1000X better. I know a few others that didn't have such a good experience though. For me there was no recovery time after the splints and no issues with FC-1.

[aquajam77]

Well I have had rhinoplasty, and just today the removal of the adnoids and reduction of the turbinates. I had rhinoplasty done because my nose was severly deviated, and prevented breathing in both nostrils. When I had the rhinoplasty done, it took me about 6 weeks to fully recover, and since I swim, I was able to get back in during the 5th week. After my surgeon took out the splints (which I do agree must be lodged in the brain) I could definitely breath better, but it still felt like that whenever I breathed through my nose, I was slowly suffocating myself due to the lack of air.

4 months later I checked up with a different ENT who said that my adnoids were extremely large, and that they needed to come out. Not wanting another surgery, I went and got a second opinion, which also said that my adnoids should come out, along with reducing my turbinates. So I finally got that surgery done today, and only 4 hours later, I am feeling fine and I'm well enough to be walking around.

Overall, rhinoplasty definitely wins in the pain after surgery category, while my adnoids and turbinates so far just feel slight discomfort, along with the flow of blood that is slowly coming out of my nose right now. I'll inform you more about adnoids/turbinates when I finally fully recover and can provide more of an input

[oldyoungdude]

I also had a question regarding Deviated Septum. I have passed my FC1 at Wright Patt and will arrive at my UPT base in June. The question I have is that I have a deviated septum. The only reason I know this is that I have mild allergies (sneezing, occassional congestion, etc.). Additionally, I am sometimes unable to pop my left ear when flying. In general aviation and commercial flying, it typically isn't a huge deal. It typically will eventually pop but will cause some discomfort/pain until it does.

I have flown backseat in the Viper twice and both times I have had ear issues with my left ear not equalizing pressure quick enough due to the quick changing of altitudes. I went to an ENT and he said that due to the deviated septum, my left eardrum is retracted and is unable to equalize pressure in the middle ear. I am on a nasal spray to reduce the inflammation and to hopefully open my nasal passages to help equalize pressure. I am worried that 1- I will rupture my freaking ear drum in UPT, and 2- I will be DQd if I mention it once I get to UPT as classes are already on tight schedules as it is. 

I guess what I am asking is, are there any other techniques for equalizing pressure in ears when congested, will this DQ me, and should I get the surgery to correct my deviated septum BEFORE UPT in 2.5 months?