Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: What to Expect at Home

Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. Do not lie flat. Raise your head with three or four pillows. This can reduce swelling. Try to sleep on your back during the month after surgery. You can also sleep in a reclining chair.

Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation. Also, try to sit and stand as much as you can.

For 1 week, try not to bend over or lift anything heavier than 10 pounds. This may include a child, heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, or a vacuum cleaner.

You can take a shower or bath. Use lukewarm, not hot water. Avoid swimming for 6 weeks.

Avoid sawdust, chemicals, and excessive dust for 4 weeks.

Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 1 week and then ease back into these activities over 2 to 3 weeks.

Ask your doctor when it is safe for you to drive.

You will probably be able to return to work or school in about 1 week and to your normal routine in about 3 weeks. But this varies with your job and the extent of your surgery.

You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt. Avoid hot and spicy foods right after surgery. They may make your nose run.

You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fiber supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. You also will be given instructions about taking any new medicines.

If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.

Do not take aspirin, aspirin-containing medicines, or anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) for 3 weeks following surgery unless your doctor says it is okay.

Take pain medicines exactly as directed.

• If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.

• Do not take two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.

If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:

• Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).

• Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.

You probably will not have an incision (cut). You will have a drip pad under your nose to collect blood. Change it only when it has bled through. You may have to do this every hour for 24 hours after surgery. When bleeding stops, you can remove it.

If you have packing in your nose, leave it in. Your doctor will take it out.

To help with swelling and pain, put ice or a cold pack on your nose for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.

Do not sleep flat. Sleep with your head raised up. You can also sleep in a reclining chair.

Do not blow your nose for 2 weeks.

Do not put anything into your nose.

If you must sneeze, open your mouth and sneeze naturally.

Use saline (saltwater) nasal washes to help keep your nasal passages open and wash out mucus and dried blood. You can buy saline nose washes at a grocery store or drugstore.

Use a humidifier to keep room air moist, especially in the bedroom. Follow the directions for cleaning the machine.

You can wear your glasses when you wish. Do not wear contacts until the day after the surgery.

Make sure to go to all of your follow-up appointments after surgery. Your doctor will remove mucus and dried blood. This will help with healing.

You passed out (lost consciousness).

You have severe trouble breathing.

You have changes in your vision or lots of sudden swelling around your eyes.

You have constant clear, watery discharge from your nose.

You bleed through the bandage more quickly than what you've been told is normal.

You have a new or worse fever.

You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.

You do not get better as expected.