Discharge Advice Following Nasal Surgery

Swim Plugs and Head Bands

You should use Ephedrine nasal drops (2 drops 3 times a day) for 5 days as well as Betnesol nasal drops (2 drops 3 times a day) for 2 weeks.  Betnesol nasal drops should be continued for the full 2 weeks once the Ephedrine nasal drops have stopped. It is very important you apply the nasal drops correctly (see diagram) for use of nasal drops)  After this Nasonex nasal spray should be used (2 sprays to each side of the nose twice a day) for one month.  At this time you should reduce the Nasonex nasal spray to 2 sprays to each side of the nose in the morning only and this should be continued until you are next reviewed.  You will need to stay on the Nasonex nasal spray for at least 6 months (less so for septal surgery).   

After 3 days you may find it comforting to use some salt-water nasal washouts.  These will help prevent nasal crusting and should be used for about 2 weeks.  However, these can be continued after this if crusting is still a problem.  Nasal washouts should always be used before any nasal drops or sprays otherwise the sprays will just get washed away.  To prepare the salt water nasal washout simply use 1 tsp of salt in a cup of warm water (the amounts do not matter too much).  Pour some of the salt water from the cup into the palm of your hand, hold you hand under your nose and sniff the water through the nose to help wash out any nasal crusts.  You may find it useful to lean over a basin or sink when doing this to avoid making too much mess.   Salt-water washouts should not be used immediately after surgery as they may provoke bleeding.  It is, however, safe to start them 4 days following surgery.

Neilmed Sinus Rinse can be very helpful post surgery. This is a prepared nasal saline rinse. You may also find You may find Sterimar nasal spray useful.  This is available over the counter and is a salt-water nasal spray.  This is best started in the third week following surgery once you have stopped using the salt-water washouts and can prove to be symptomatically comforting.  If necessary however it can be used in conjunction with or instead of the salt-water washouts. Below is a schedule to make it easier for you to remember which medications you should be using on which days. 

For information on swimming head banks see these websites: Suntogs and Swimstop.