Do I Need To Take Antibiotics After Nose Operation

[robblok]

Finally i had my nose operation, the membrane (cant find the correct term) were always swollen. Rinsing with salt water and many steroidsprays did not heal me 100%. So in the end i opted for an operation.

I went there last night and i am back now they did an operation under local anesthetic and used radiowaves to burn part of the membrame so i would have more room for airflow. This does mean that i cant breathe through my nose for 2 weeks.

I had to get home in a rush and i felt quite well, only my gf handed me a bag of medicine to take and some of it were antibiotics and paracetamol. As i have absolutely no pain i am not going to take painkillers. The big question is should i take the antibiotics or not ? I know they are to combat infection but how likely am i to have an infection in my nose after an operation.

I don't really like antibiotic as they are not that great for me and would prefer not to take them if not needed.

The operation was great the doctor was skilled, i met him in the private hospital and was his patient there (for a few months trying nasal sprays and such), the operation was done in a government hospital where he worked. The reason was that the private hospital did not have the equipment and i thought it would save time to go the the government hospital.. wow.. my bill was 1/4 of that quoted at the private hospital and included medicine.

One thing was strange during the operation once i was injected with the local anesthetic my heart started racing faster as i ever experienced. They said this could happen, this was the only scary thing and lasted a minute ( could be longer or shorter did not time it) per injection. So i was prepared the second injection, i was not happy but this was the worst part of the whole operation. The rest was just minor it hurt a bit but what else can you expect of an operation. I wonder why i never had this reaction at the dentist, probably different kinds of anesthetics.

All in all a good experience and i hope it pays of in 2 weeks, just want to know about the antibiotics as Thai drs seem to hand them out like candy.

[monty]

In thailand they always seem to proscribe antibiotics.

Don't like it especially if with a bit of patience your own body can beat the infection on its own.

Now in the case of an operation (whatever kind) I think I would bow to the advice of the surgeon. though...

[robblok]

In thailand they always seem to proscribe antibiotics.

Don't like it especially if with a bit of patience your own body can beat the infection on its own.

Now in the case of an operation (whatever kind) I think I would bow to the advice of the surgeon. though...

That is why i am asking.. in this case (minor surgery) it might be needed but im not sure because they always prescribe it.

[Crossy]

I know exactly where you're all coming from, but.....

Weigh up the risk of NOT taking it, possible infection in a very unpleasant place, likely to be very painful with no possibility of blowing your nose.

Take them Rob, you know it makes sense.

[robblok]

Yes i decided to take them, the fact that they hand them out like candy makes it hard to guess when its really needed and when not.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It's generaly a good idea to take them, especially for the week or two term likely prescribed by your doctor.

Anytime you have surgery like that, where essentially a wound has been inflicted on your body's tissue and it's going to be exposed until healing, the doctors will prescribe an antibiotic purely as a preventative measure. I'd say it's a pretty common practice, in Thailand and elsewhere, after sinus surgery.

[robblok]

It's generaly a good idea to take them, especially for the week or two term likely prescribed by your doctor.

Anytime you have surgery like that, where essentially a wound has been inflicted on your body's tissue and it's going to be exposed until healing, the doctors will prescribe an antibiotic purely as a preventative measure. I'd say it's a pretty common practice, in Thailand and elsewhere, after sinus surgery.

Thanks for that and yes i am taking them. I was just questioning it because the Dr here describe it so often and at 1000mg amoxicillin two times a day i thought it was much

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The MDs here do probably overprescribe antiobiotics, and all kinds of other medicines, by a wide margin. But that doesn't mean there aren't cases when it's the correct thing to do.

Amoxy is a standard/common antiobiotic for sinus issues. I'm a big guy, and when I need it, I take two 1g Amoxy tablets per day.... after finding in the past with my sinus doc that the more common 650mg size simply wasn't working. But I also have a body weight of about 270 lbs, and haven't had any ill effects from that prescription.

[JSixpack]

Just depends on how much risk you want to take of your nose rotting and falling off.

There've been some horror stories here about infections. Me, I'd make damn sure to take my meds!

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

That would only be if he was having that fraudster guy, Dr. Jojo or whatever his name was, injecting fake silicon into his nose.

Otherwise, the consequences might be a bit less severe.

[robblok]

Anyway im taking the antibiotics and hope that doing this operation was a good choice.. im not that happy right now but this feeling will go away. Its bad the first day for sure all full cant blow your nose cant do a thing. But i was told this before and decided 2 weeks of discomfort would be worth it. The operation itself was easy, the blocked nose and you cant do a thing about it (first days) is harder.

[rak sa_ngop]

I think that you should google staphylococcus aureus. Many people have this bug on their skins, respiratory tract etc. Once it gets into your blood stream it can develop into a serious infection.

I strongly believe that a liver abscess I developed 4 years ago was due to my picking a zit in my nose until it bled. Staphylococcus aureus was confirmed in the 10 sq.cm pus filled abscess in my liver. Eleven days in hospital on a IV drip of antibiotics saved me.

Taking the antibiotics makes sense to me.

[robblok]

Guys, i got the point im taking them. The fact that i asked really was because you always get antibiotics with you no matter what. Kinda like when someone cries wolf too much you start to question them when its true.

That is the whole problem with over prescribing.

I feel a whole lot better today, my nose is no longer blocked 100%, ok cant really breathe through it but at least i can talk better... If a nose is really blocked 100% you can't make NG sounds. In the afternoon / evening need to rinse it for the first time maybe some of the stuff they put in there will come free, dr said most of it will dissolve naturally.

If someone saw the other thread of me of long ago (year perhaps) i have been suffering a while and hope that this is the solution.

[Kalbo]

Guys, i got the point im taking them. The fact that i asked really was because you always get antibiotics with you no matter what. Kinda like when someone cries wolf too much you start to question them when its true.

That is the whole problem with over prescribing.

I feel a whole lot better today, my nose is no longer blocked 100%, ok cant really breathe through it but at least i can talk better... If a nose is really blocked 100% you can't make NG sounds. In the afternoon / evening need to rinse it for the first time maybe some of the stuff they put in there will come free, dr said most of it will dissolve naturally.

If someone saw the other thread of me of long ago (year perhaps) i have been suffering a while and hope that this is the solution.

Rob, what was the original problem ? I have awful problems with my sinuses (getting blocked easy, sneezes, being only able to breathe 1 side etc) and so I'm curious as to what the symptoms and treatment were ?

Cheers

[robblok]

Guys, i got the point im taking them. The fact that i asked really was because you always get antibiotics with you no matter what. Kinda like when someone cries wolf too much you start to question them when its true.

That is the whole problem with over prescribing.

I feel a whole lot better today, my nose is no longer blocked 100%, ok cant really breathe through it but at least i can talk better... If a nose is really blocked 100% you can't make NG sounds. In the afternoon / evening need to rinse it for the first time maybe some of the stuff they put in there will come free, dr said most of it will dissolve naturally.

If someone saw the other thread of me of long ago (year perhaps) i have been suffering a while and hope that this is the solution.

Rob, what was the original problem ? I have awful problems with my sinuses (getting blocked easy, sneezes, being only able to breathe 1 side etc) and so I'm curious as to what the symptoms and treatment were ?

Cheers

I had your symtoms.. and was going to the dr and had multiple medicine tried on me. In the end it got better but never 100% always one side partial or whole blocked. Now a Dutch friend suggested this and i talked with my dr who send me to a specialist in the same hospital and he said yes we can do this but first wanted to try an other spray and send me to an allergist. I did both and it did not improve so this we did as a last resort, he can do an even more aggressive operation to take part of the bone away but we try this first.

Basically he is burning away some flesh to make more room (or so i have been told) or its to remove the infected parts. Anyway day 2 and i just rinsed my sinus with saline (got a machine for that) but they told me to do it on day 2. So i did and it still feels like a blocked nose but i can breathe even more now. But in 14 days the swelling should be gone and in 1 month i should be 100% but if it goes like it goes now it will be much faster.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

One thing that anyone needs to be careful about, in pursuing this kind of treatment, is that it sounds like the doctor is removing areas of the nasal mucosa inside the sinus to widen out/open up the sinus opening.

That may help with physical/structural sinus obstructions or sizing. But it also tends to damage and/or remove the nasal cilia (tiny waving hairs inside your sinuses) that helps move/clear out the mucus in the future.

I've had three rounds of endoscopic sinus surgery in the U.S. My sinuses aren't blocked like they were at the outset, due to a deviated septum and lots of infected sinus tissue. So I can breath through my nose most of the time now. But I still get sinus infections and my sinuses don't seem to fully drain naturally the way I'd hope they would.

The whole issue of finding effective sinus treatments, depending on the cause of the problem, is a really problematic one in the medical community.

Edited March 5, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[robblok]

One thing that anyone needs to be careful about, in pursuing this kind of treatment, is that it sounds like the doctor is removing areas of the nasal mucosa inside the sinus to widen out/open up the sinus opening.

That may help with physical/structural sinus obstructions or sizing. But it also tends to damage and/or remove the nasal cilia (tiny waving hairs inside your sinuses) that helps move/clear out the mucus in the future.

I've had three rounds of endoscopic sinus surgery in the U.S. My sinuses aren't blocked like they were at the outset, due to a deviated septum and lots of infected sinus tissue. So I can breath through my nose most of the time now. But I still get sinus infections and my sinuses don't seem to fully drain naturally the way I'd hope they would.

The whole issue of finding effective sinus treatments, depending on the cause of the problem, is a really problematic one in the medical community.

I had a size problem, or at least my size was not real big to start with and then a little infection would block it all the way. Yes i read about the risks but i thought i was willing to take it its annoying not being able to breathe 100%

Thing is i feel like im recovering faster as expected, maybe that is normal that it goes fast the first few days and slows down later but if it goes like this one more day im almost at where i was when it was blocked partly. So that is quite fast

Tall guy if you could reverse it would you have not have done it. ?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

No, I wouldn't undo what I've done. Everyone's individual situation is different, and may require different approaches for treatment.

In my case, I needed to fix a deviated septum that pretty much had blocked airflow through one of my nostrils pretty much for my entire life until I had my first surgery around age 44.

Likewise, when the doctor went in to do the original surgery, he took out a big pile of guck that had been clogging up my sinuses. Not sure if that was partly because of, or separate from, the septum issue.

So structurally, my sinuses are in far better shape than before. And I don't have the persistent congestion filling up the main lower parts of my sinuses.

But for whatever reason, I still seem to get recurring sinus infections in the far upper reaches of my sinuses, even though that was where the third and last of my sinus surgeries was focused.

I don't think I can or should take the surgery thing any further. So now, about the best I can do is try to do the various self-treatment things aimed at minimizing the problem.

So yes, my problems are far better than before. But they've hardly disappeared. And it's impossible for me to know how much the surgeries helped less or perhaps worsen the current problems I have because of the very broad debrading that was done inside my sinuses.

It's a bit late now in your case. But for anyone considering sinus surgery, I'd certain encourage discussing with the surgeon what the potential benefits vs. potential downsides might be in that particular case given the issues related to tissue removal and damage.

[robblok]

No, I wouldn't undo what I've done. Everyone's individual situation is different, and may require different approaches for treatment.

In my case, I needed to fix a deviated septum that pretty much had blocked airflow through one of my nostrils pretty much for my entire life until I had my first surgery around age 44.

Likewise, when the doctor went in to do the original surgery, he took out a big pile of guck that had been clogging up my sinuses. Not sure if that was partly because of, or separate from, the septum issue.

So structurally, my sinuses are in far better shape than before. And I don't have the persistent congestion filling up the main lower parts of my sinuses.

But for whatever reason, I still seem to get recurring sinus infections in the far upper reaches of my sinuses, even though that was where the third and last of my sinus surgeries was focused.

I don't think I can or should take the surgery thing any further. So now, about the best I can do is try to do the various self-treatment things aimed at minimizing the problem.

So yes, my problems are far better than before. But they've hardly disappeared. And it's impossible for me to know how much the surgeries helped less or perhaps worsen the current problems I have because of the very broad debrading that was done inside my sinuses.

It's a bit late now in your case. But for anyone considering sinus surgery, I'd certain encourage discussing with the surgeon what the potential benefits vs. potential downsides might be in that particular case given the issues related to tissue removal and damage.

Yes its late but to be honest i would have done it, i knew that there were risks. I will see what is better but a constantly clogged nose is not fun. I mean blocked because of swelling. Anyway i will see what happens and as you said we are all individuals so i might not have any problems or i might have them. Hard to say at this moment. I know of friends who did the same and have no problems at all.

[tropo]

Yes i decided to take them, the fact that they hand them out like candy makes it hard to guess when its really needed and when not.

I got a couple of bags of these "candies" after going to a skin clinic and having a few specs lasered off. It was ridiculous. I should have told them to keep them and saved the money.

[tropo]

It's generaly a good idea to take them, especially for the week or two term likely prescribed by your doctor.

Anytime you have surgery like that, where essentially a wound has been inflicted on your body's tissue and it's going to be exposed until healing, the doctors will prescribe an antibiotic purely as a preventative measure. I'd say it's a pretty common practice, in Thailand and elsewhere, after sinus surgery.

Thanks for that and yes i am taking them. I was just questioning it because the Dr here describe it so often and at 1000mg amoxicillin two times a day i thought it was much

It's a personal choice, but I wouldn't take them.

[Satcommlee]

Different climate in Thailand, and different kind of breeding ground for all sorts of nasty things.. Do what the good doctor says I reckon!

[tropo]

Different climate in Thailand, and different kind of breeding ground for all sorts of nasty things.. Do what the good doctor says I reckon!

That would depend on what climate you come from. We have lots of places in Australia where it's the same or hotter.

[Tolley]

It's generaly a good idea to take them, especially for the week or two term likely prescribed by your doctor.

Anytime you have surgery like that, where essentially a wound has been inflicted on your body's tissue and it's going to be exposed until healing, the doctors will prescribe an antibiotic purely as a preventative measure. I'd say it's a pretty common practice, in Thailand and elsewhere, after sinus surgery.

Thanks for that and yes i am taking them. I was just questioning it because the Dr here describe it so often and at 1000mg amoxicillin two times a day i thought it was much

It's a personal choice, but I wouldn't take them.

I agree which is not surprise I suppose.

I had a tooth out not long ago and they prescribed me antibiotics. It seems they hand them out like lollies. In the vast majority of cases they are not really required but rather they are a precaution. I would save antibiotic use to the real dangerous situations.

[tropo]

I agree which is not surprise I suppose.

I had a tooth out not long ago and they prescribed me antibiotics. It seems they hand them out like lollies. In the vast majority of cases they are not really required but rather they are a precaution. I would save antibiotic use to the real dangerous situations.

Not surprised at all. Perhaps you're surprised I like to hold back on anti-biotics.

With a person as dedicated to health as you are there's a good chance your immune system can handle some bacteria.

[Tolley]

I agree which is not surprise I suppose.

I had a tooth out not long ago and they prescribed me antibiotics. It seems they hand them out like lollies. In the vast majority of cases they are not really required but rather they are a precaution. I would save antibiotic use to the real dangerous situations.

Not surprised at all. Perhaps you're surprised I like to hold back on anti-biotics.

With a person as dedicated to health as you are there's a good chance your immune system can handle some bacteria.

The funny thing is that I dont see myself as a health nut at all.

I still drink not very much admittedly and I eat a bit of junk but I am constantly amazed at how much garbage a lot of people will dump into their bodies. I cant see how people can enjoy their life constantly not feeling the best they could feel due to eating rubbish, sedentary lfestyles, pill popping, substance abuse etc

I am always looking at ways to feel better through exercise diet and nutrition. The other thing is that many people believe leave their health in the hands of the so called experts ie doctors when it is much more prudent to take control of your own health and do your own research. There is a lot of misinformation out there but it pays to do your own research as it is your body and you have to live with the consequences of any medical intervention.

[robblok]

I agree which is not surprise I suppose.

I had a tooth out not long ago and they prescribed me antibiotics. It seems they hand them out like lollies. In the vast majority of cases they are not really required but rather they are a precaution. I would save antibiotic use to the real dangerous situations.

Not surprised at all. Perhaps you're surprised I like to hold back on anti-biotics.

With a person as dedicated to health as you are there's a good chance your immune system can handle some bacteria.

The funny thing is that I dont see myself as a health nut at all.

I still drink not very much admittedly and I eat a bit of junk but I am constantly amazed at how much garbage a lot of people will dump into their bodies. I cant see how people can enjoy their life constantly not feeling the best they could feel due to eating rubbish, sedentary lfestyles, pill popping, substance abuse etc

I am always looking at ways to feel better through exercise diet and nutrition. The other thing is that many people believe leave their health in the hands of the so called experts ie doctors when it is much more prudent to take control of your own health and do your own research. There is a lot of misinformation out there but it pays to do your own research as it is your body and you have to live with the consequences of any medical intervention.

Tolly,

I also see you a bit as a health nut but then again I am an exercise / training / diet / nut but have less problems with chemicals if they aid the cause.

However I just got confused here in Thailand at how many times they hand out antibiotics. Back in the the Netherlands you practically have to beg for them here you get them forced upon you.

I had a checkup this friday and things are going well but i still have to keep taking the antibiotics. I did bring it up when i visited the Dr he is a great guy speaks good English works in a private and government hospital. He was the one that did my operation. Anyway he advised me to take it all as it was neccesary. I trust him actually but was not sure if he had prescribed it all or it was hospital policy.

Anyway he told me that it would take real long for my nasal wounds to heal, but i would progress every day. He said wounds in the nose are one of the harderst to heal. He burned my nose.. i mean i got burn wounds in my nose so yes it will take a while but i am happy to say each and everyday i get more air. So far it was worth it i hope the improvement is more than this (probably is as wounds are still not healed).

[tropo]

The funny thing is that I dont see myself as a health nut at all.

You may like this approach. I can't say I follow it exactly but to some extent I do. I'd be more likely 90/10 or even 95/5 (within my current understanding of what is good and what is not):

"I also suggest they follow what I call the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time they should follow the guidelines very closely, and 20% of the time they’re free to loosen up and just eat what they want to eat. There’s a lot more to life than food, and in fact I believe (as did the ancient Chinese) that in some cases it’s better to eat the wrong food with the right attitude than the other way around."

You can read the whole article here:

http://chriskresser.com/beyond-paleo-12?inf_contact_key=889a78c42b328c792611efffcec493aba23702b71b25a14dc0de30a4b4a79ac6

[robblok]

The funny thing is that I dont see myself as a health nut at all.

You may like this approach. I can't say I follow it exactly but to some extent I do. I'd be more likely 90/10 or even 95/5 (within my current understanding of what is good and what is not):

"I also suggest they follow what I call the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time they should follow the guidelines very closely, and 20% of the time they’re free to loosen up and just eat what they want to eat. There’s a lot more to life than food, and in fact I believe (as did the ancient Chinese) that in some cases it’s better to eat the wrong food with the right attitude than the other way around."

You can read the whole article here:

http://chriskresser.com/beyond-paleo-12?inf_contact_key=889a78c42b328c792611efffcec493aba23702b71b25a14dc0de30a4b4a79ac6

Most people go for the 80/20 rule.. though in my case its more 90/10

[robblok]

Again a few days later and much more of the packaging (solvable stitches) dropped out on one side. I definately have more air as i had before the operation. This is before all packaging from the other side is gone and before all swelling is gone. It would take a month for optimum results, but now im feeling much better as before.

I am sleeping deeper but that might be unrelated.