Nasal breathing problems

In 1992 I broke my nose when I was two (obviously I remember nothing of this but have been informed of it's occurrence). I then re-broke my nose in September 08 which started a path to me having a septoplasty operation two weeks ago. I was given no splits or packing, only a couple of dissolvable stitches, I was given no follow up appointment (which I'm not entirely happy about). Anyway... It's been two weeks and the septum still looks rather swollen and large, is this normal? The external swelling has died down but inside still looks quite bad. I still can't really breath thought it, i can occasionally breath out and rarely breath in, again is this normal? When I am able to breath in it is generally only through 1 side, this side does alternate but still only 1 side, I was under the illusion that the septoplasty would resolve this meaning that I could breath through both sides of my nose, does this mean the operation has not worked or again is this normal during recovery?

Quite a lot of questions but any info/answers would be very welcome.

Thanks

[friggy]

In a normally functioning nose, one side (turbinate) closes alternately.  This is the process the nose uses to clean itself. That's why one side of the nose always seems to have more boogers.  It's explained here:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322

So far, your surgery seems successful.  It takes a long time to get to normal, so be patient. Ask your excellent doctor if you can do a Neilmed Sinus Rinse, as saline often helps recovery.

Here's Scott Adams, of "Dilbert" on nasal surgery:

"Apparently doctors shove a starving wolverine into one nostril, where it scratches and eats until it hits brain.  Then they pull him out by the tail.  Nurses stop the bleeding by packing each nostril with a queen-sized mattress that is carefully wrapped around a wino."