So about my nose...

[freakyschizogirl]

As many of you know I had reconstructive surgery on my nose earlier this year. Although the surgery was a success, i'm now having issues about the surgical button which was put in to plug the septal perforation.

Dr Jayne wants me to have it out as a foreign body and Wegs do not mix and it also poses an infection risk.

My ENT surgeon thinks I should keep the button in as risk of infection is lower than without it and easier to clean.

So now i'm torn, I was with Dr Jayne until I saw the ENT and now I dunno what to do. The procedure to get the button out will take all of 5 mins under local anaesthetic.

The Facts:
The button is made of silicone
I've had small bleeding and 2 nose bleeds since having the button in
The crusts seem to collect around the button making it difficult to clean
The button has been in 7/8 months now
I am now off all meds and had my last RTX in October



So my question is...what would you do?

[Debbie C]

That's a hard call.Would you just be left with a hole there or would something else be used? Even though anything they use to replace it will be "forgiegn" Didn't Dr. Jayne know about the surgery and what the plans would be ? Sorry but I don't know what I would do...if it's more problems than what it's worth than take it out.. Good Luck.

[annekat]

Hard to say, wish I could help. I know I have a hole in my septum but don't know how big it is. At the time of my biopsy 2.5 years ago, my ENT described it to me as "small", and he just said "keep it clean", meaning do lots of nasal rinses, have him clean things out periodically, etc. I hope someone who has had the reconstructive surgery will be able to shed more light.

[pberggren1]

I would ask your ENT to ask Dr. Lebovics in NYC about this. He is the top Nose Wegs doc around. I would be leaning towards your ENTs opinion though and not Dr. Jayne's. Just make sure you do your morning and evening rinses. I suggest getting a Waterpik and try that out. For myself and many others it is far superior to any other method.

[mishb]

I was going to say that I would lean toward Dr Jayne and not the ENT

Dr Jayne is the WG specialist and probably the best in your part of the world, and I'm sure he knows what it what.

The button sounds like a pain to clean, something like when you first get a piercing done and you need to keep cleaning around it.
However, then the issue would be - what fills the perforation if the button is removed.

I'm sorry Sam, this can't be an easy and/or simple fix decision for you

[annekat]

Who did the surgery and put in the button? The ENT? I lean towards agreeing with Michelle, but not based on a lot of knowledge, more based on Dr. Jayne's expertise. I guess the hole would get filled with mucus, as is probably what happens with mine, since there is no button. I think sinus rinses may be instrumental in flushing that out. But I should probably get a Water Pik, as Phil suggests!

[mishb]

Phil better get a commission from the waterpik company I think

[pberggren1]

Sam, do you want me to ask my doc about this? I see her on Monday so let me know and I will put in my notes.

[pwc51]

A really difficult dilemma - Rather you having to make a decision and possibly upset one or other of them is it possible for Dr Jayne to talk you ENT surgeon as they are the specialists and they can present their pros and cons to each other to arrive at a consensus? I know ... I live in Utopia!

[Alysia]

A really difficult dilemma - Rather you having to make a decision and possibly upset one or other of them is it possible for Dr Jayne to talk you ENT surgeon as they are the specialists and they can present their pros and cons to each other to arrive at a consensus? I know ... I live in Utopia!

not utopia but must. I also think, Sam, that your 2 docs should discuss it between them, maybe with more docs as well, something like case conference about you. you desreve it. it is their responsibility. it is not fair to make you decide. you can't decide, you are not a doc.