Lying Flat in Surgery and Bad Sinuses. Anyone Use Nasal Spray Prior to Surgery?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Since I will have to wear a mask and I find it hard to breathe lying down flat, I wondered if nasal sprays would be allowed prior to surgery? Also, I wondered if the IV sedative (versed) would give any sinus relief as it relaxes the body?

  1. XLEAR uses Xlitol which is a sugar alcohol and would have to be used right before surgery for temporary clearing of the sinuses. 2. Flonase is a steroid which would be used about a week before and on the day of surgery. Can be very effective.

If anyone has any experience with using nasal sprays on the day of surgery, would like to hear about it. Are they even allowed that close to surgery? Just wrote my doctor to find out as I am very worried about not being able to breathe during surgery.

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8 Replies

  • Edited

    I did not use nasal sprays before my surgery. My basic instructions were:

    • No solid foods after midnight before surgery. Water, black tea or coffee is OK up to 2 hours before surgery

      -No alcohol the day before surgery

    • If you have a fever or cough while lying down, call the office
    • Can take regular medications with a sip of water on day of surgery, except for diabetes meds or insulin

    No mention of nasal sprays, but perhaps if you have the cough while lying down they may prescribe something.

    • Posted

      That sounds like my instructions also. I just wrote my doctor and am sure she will reply letting me know as it is rather important. I think the sedative will help also as relaxing seems to help my sinuses! It is something that really did worry me before the surgery and she said I had to wear the mask at all times!

    • Posted

      What is this "mask" that you are talking about? I don't recall getting anything like a mask at the time of surgery.

    • Edited

      Oh, I never thought of that. I am not sure if I was required to wear a mask or not for either of my eyes, which were both done during the height of the pandemic. It wouldn't have bothered me, so perhaps that is why I have forgotten. I still wear a mask in all indoor pubic places. The mask is a bit of a pain when they are doing an eye exam though. It tends to fog up the instrument they use to do the "which is better, A or B?" test.

    • Posted

      I wear a mask everywhere indoors also. I find it the wise thing to do despite the fact that many do not.

  • Posted

    I too was worried about lying flat on my back with a mask and then the sterile drape they put over your face. Just prior to them putting the sterile drape over my face I was allowed to take off my mask, which made a big difference. Perhaps you can ask if you can do this as well.

  • Posted

    I asked already and my doctor said I would have to wear it. Hoping that I will be so relaxed that my sinuses will be more clear as I am finding that stress affects them a lot.

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