Foul Smell in Nose AFTER Sinus Surgery

[ricocsk]

I've been reading a lot of posts about "smells" in the nose, but I haven't seen anything with my particular circumstance.
Three weeks ago, I had sinus surgery. I had thickening in the frontal and maxillary sinuses, and a couple of polyps removed. Recovery was going fine until yesterday when I began to have this smell in my nose. I have a relative who has chronic bad breath. The only way I know to describe the smell is to say that it smells like my aunt's bad breath. It can be very faint, but at times will come on very strong like opening a garbage can and getting an intense wave of bad smelling stuff. I'm also getting a lot more drainage down my throat and have actually had to blow my nose more these last two days than I did the first three weeks after surgery.

I have been using saline spray numerous times a day since my surgery, so I can't figure out why I would start having these problems now.

[Dr0ps]

On day 15 I went to my ENT for a follow up appointment and she had to vacumn my nose out to get the crusts and blood clots out. Just to give you fair warning this procedure is really uncomfortable and kinda painful that I was literally balling my eyes out, but what she vacuumed out was a 2 foot long blood clot from each nostril. It is so imperative that you have your ENT vacumn you out to avoid the "wet dog" smell and to prevent bacteria and infections from growing. After this appointment I still smell a faint "wet dog" smell because i think she left the dissolvable frontal sinus stents in, but I'm not spitting up a lot of thick blood clots anymore and I can breathe a lot better. On day 17, I'm starting to spit up a bit of yellow mucus mixed with a little blood and clear mucus but I'm not sure if the yellow mucus is normal?

[VBear36]

I had the same experience. The vacuuming of the nose was horrible. I didn't get the bad odor until after the vacuuming. If I lightly rub or touch my sinuses at all the smell is stronger. I've been doing nasal rinses as told and it's now been 7 days since the vacuuming. It is also still causing me some pain on the side that still feels blocked. Also sleeping has been a nightmare. I sleep for about 5 hours and wake up in pain. I'm just hoping this will end!!

[yarden4433]

Hi everyone, i signed up here in order to share my experience with the same issue. I was so worried and then i found this forum, so i understood that the bad smell from after nose surgery (i hade turbinate reduction 4 weeks ago) is caused by some leftovers of the blood and mucous which cannot get out during cleaning with the saline spray. I started having horrible odor after 2-3 weeks after surgery, it was a smell of dead animal, i was really desperate, by husband could not sleep in the same room, saying that all the room smells like rotten animal. I felt that odor in every breath, i could not smell anything else apart that awful death smell. I was crying non stop. I was cleaning almost every half an hour, but nothing was coming out. One week ago when the smell started but was not so strong yet i visited the ENT and he tried to clean the pieces from my nose, but it was a bit painful, he noticed the smell but said the pieces will go out by themselves. So they didn't and yesterday i went again for a visit, and this time he really took them off. WOW these were so big, each one from each side, and they had that bad smell. I was so happy, i could feel that smell for a while after the visit but then it completely disappeared. The doctor said there are still few small pieces left so if they don't go out themselves i come again and he takes them off. I want to encourage everyone who has that problem, just go to the doctor and ask to take it off. I am a bit disappointed that the doctor didn't tell me i might have this issue before the surgery, so i would not be so stressed. But thanks God the issue was resolved, i am so happy.

[Linguista]

I started noticing the foul smell inside my nose months before having sinus surgery.  I had taken 4 antibiotics in less than a year; each time I would feel better but then my symptoms would return.  When 3 doctors recommended FESS I reluctantly agreed.  The ENT I chose almost immediately suspected my problem was a fungal mycetoma in the nostril which can't be cured with antibiotics.  After the operation I continued to have the foul smell and bad headaches while recuperating, but after my first follow-up visit, I could breath through my nose again and the headaches were almost gone.  By the third week & lots of sinus rinses, the smell was gone and so were the headaches.  After my second follow-up (way easier than the first one) breathing is completely clear and foul smell is a distant memory.  Though I still have the old sinus drip, which is annoying, it is clear.  My advice would be to get at least 2-3 opinions before choosing your ENT.  I thank God for helping me make the right decision.

[El2theg]

I've been on this page on and off since the smell started 2-3 weeks ago.
I had my Sinuplasty and turbinate excision on Dec 23 2015. I didn't notice the smell until about a week or so after.. It has been a nightmare since then. I can agree with everyone about the description of the stench. It is deadly!
Started with slimy greenish discharge, which is "normal" apparently. Then a few days later the smell started to get WORSE (didn't think that was possibly). Then the congestion, pressure in the ears, and fever followed. Called the ENT and was told to wait it out. Couldn't wait a few days for work reasons so I went to my family doc. Steroid shot and antibiotics got rid of the fever and I can honestly say that it helped with the heavy mucous. It's dried up a lot since then but I still have the pressure in my ears, congestion, and the nasty smell when I bend forward/lay down.
All this while doing Neil Med. That thing has been extremely helpful btw.
So frustrated at this point about the stink. For something so "simple" and "non major" this has  been way more complicated than my c section.

[melissanosestink]

I have had the same thing going on and same procedures but this is going on 3 years of this terrible bad smell. And gross mucus that only comes out with the Neil med rinse.  Going to my second ent next week to see if he can figure the problem out.

[aybecker]

did either of you figure this out? I got a polypectomy about a month ago...left nostril smells like peaches right nostril on the other hand smells like a combination of sweat, decay and a nursing home. What ended up happening? Did they give you an antibiotic? Did they remove anything? Did it resolve on its on? If so how long. Thanks!

[badsinus]

I too had surgery 12/10/15 This past week I have been smelling the "stinky socks" odor.  Makes me gag it's so awful in the mornings.  Going to the doctor this week!

[Stevemac101]

+15 days since septoplasty and polyp removal.

Yesterday and I have by splints removed and the smell / taste has hit me like a train.

I had previously got a strange taste / smell over the last few days but only briefly. It's now strong, constant and ablsotely vial and discusting. I had to leave work this morning because I kept thinking I was going to be sick.

ITS HORREDEOUS.

I cannot believe this is not communicated on operation information packs.

I have been using the spray 3 times a day but can people advise whether I can use the a wash after 2 weeks of surgery?

[LeeDee107]

I had surgery almost 3 months ago. I started noticing the smell about 1 month ago. It smelled like stinky feet but only on the right side. I felt there was something in there. I have been using saline sprays and rinses since my surgery. Today after blowing my nose I continued to rub my nostrils and loiw and behold it finally came loose. It wouldn't blow out though, it was kinda stuck in the back of my nose. At one point I sucked in and swallowed and it fell out to the back of my throat. I spit it out onto tissues and it was huge! Green and slimy butbrubbery. About the size of a half dollar and pretty thick too!  I am happy to say the smell is finally gone!

[ZaraZ]

Hi Lucy,

I have had the exact same symptoms as you have described from last year!
Has it got better for you?
I had my sinus surgery in December 2014 and now 8 months on I have the 'stuff' coming out of my nose nearly every month!
Bad smell, gets worse, then out it comes!
Reading this forum has helped but my symptoms have continued 8 months on!
I put it down to years and years of 'stuff' building up and making its way out!



Thanks!
Zara in the UK

[Brettley]

This would have to be the weirdest and grossest forum on the net! But, reassuring, (that so many people have the same problem), but it has also increased my concern a bit too! My smell started 10 days after my op- also transphenoidal surgery- for a pituitary tumour. My understanding was the ENT surgeon went into the sinuses and cut out a piece of the sphenoid bone, the tumour was removed, then put the bone back in place, and packed it with a dissolving packing "material", (like dissolvable stitches), while the bone reattached. Until now, I've just assumed the smell/taste was just the packing was breaking down. I'm now 2 months post-op, and the smell keeps recurring. At my post-op consult with the ENT, he said the smell was "normal" and it would take "a while" to go away... I wonder how long is a while? LucyEvony, at the time, your question  in this forum was posted 7 months after your operation! 8 months has now passed. Did it eventually go away? Hope it has, (for your sake- and mine), and for everybody else in this forum.

[Brettley]

This would have to be the weirdest and grossest forum on the net! But, reassuring, (that so many people have the same problem), but it has also increased my concern a bit too! My smell started 10 days after my op- also transphenoidal surgery- for a pituitary tumour. My understanding was the ENT surgeon went into the sinuses and cut out a piece of the sphenoid bone, the tumour was removed, then put the bone back in place, and packed it with a dissolving packing "material", (like dissolvable stitches), while the bone reattached. Until now, I've just assumed the smell/taste was just the packing was breaking down. I'm now 2 months post-op, and the smell keeps recurring. At my post-op consult with the ENT, he said the smell was "normal" and it would take "a while" to go away... I wonder how long is a while? LucyEvony, at the time, your question  in this forum was posted 7 months after your operation! 8 months has now passed. Did it eventually go away? Hope it has, (for your sake- and mine), and for everybody else in this forum.

[twobobnote]

Hi,

I have been suffering with similar symptoms to yourself for the last 4years.

do you by any chance use any medication for your problems?

[dizzylucy]

Just want to post a follow up - I went to see my ENT Dr. last night, after I called regarding the smell they suggested I come in to get checked out.  When I had gone for my 2 week post op exam, there had been some scabbing in my right nostril that had been stubborn and the doctor hadn't wanted to irritate it then and cause bleeding, expecting it to eventually come out.  Unfortunately it did not, and created a road block on that side, backing everything up behind it - hence the smell.  He removed it (super gross) and it was a huge difference right away.
I still occasionally get a faint whiff, but there's probably still some tissue there that needs a few more sinus rinses to clean out.  It is a huge improvement though.

[mutima]

Wonderful site. Had nosal polyps surgery too on 19th January and have gone through the smell issues you have all mentioned. My biggest challenge though , now is that my upper lip is hurting  alot because it was opened during the surgery. My eyes also keep tearing. The eye specialist has checked them and attributes this to the wound still recovering. Any wisdom out there?

[kinkyfatcookie]

Hi,

I just had rhinoplasty a few months back and I had the same problem too. I douche my nose after my doctor said it was ok to do so and SO MUCH gunk came out. I no longer have the smell since then!

[dizzylucy]

I had turbinate reduction and adenoidectomy surgery about 16 weeks ago.  I did very well with the surgery, almost no pain, no packing to wear home (thank goodness) and when I was checked out by my ENT 2 weeks after surgery everything looked good.  My congestion was starting to clear up recently, except at night.
Then this week, while sitting at work, I kept noticing a faint funny smell.  I thought it was something in the office.  I only really noticed it at work, but then today it was so strong I was literally crawling around under my desk, trying to track it down.  Then I went outside for a bit for work, and could still smell it, growing stronger.  Gross!  I had just started using Nasonex at the recommendation of the allergist, and wondered if that was it.  As soon as I was back inside, I looked it up, found this forum, and realized it's a side effect of the surgery.  I REALLY wish the ENT, who has been great otherwise, would have mentioned this as a possibility, so I wouldn't have been so freaked out.
The sinus rinse seems to be helping (I too had a lovely thing come out this evening) but the relief from the smell is pretty short lived, and not to be even grosser, but if you have an easy gag reflex, prepare yourself for the chance you might throw up a little.  I think I'm going to call in to the office tomorrow and ask, even though now I'm seeing this is normal, but I'm really hoping it is short lived, and that no one else can smell it!  No one else at work seemed to know what I was talking about as I was crawling around sniffling, so hopefully they don't.  

[reidkrabill]

I had a septoplasty 17 days ago and I have the foul odor off and on as well. it's associated with the dried blood and massive snot that's stuck in the sinuses. eventually it will come out. just keep using the nasal spray hourly if needed. some of the dried bloody snot boogers can be massive so prepare yourself...there's videos on youtube of patients getting cleaned out after a septoplasty. watch one of videos and you will see what's causing the smell.

[LucyEvony]

I want to know how long after surgery, you should continue to have nasal issues !!! I was told by ENT to expect issues for a long time. How long is long ? LOL

I had transphenoidal surgery 7 months ago. Every month for the last 5 months ive had a massive evacuation of the deepest green semi solid mass from my left nostril. It feels fantastic for a couple of days then starts to build up again. About 5 days before im actually able to get it to come out again i get a horrid smell and taste. Then Out it comes, im good again for the next month.

How many months do i have to put up with this ?

[AlaFlo]

I had Endioscopic sinus surgery about 3 weeks ago.  Last week I threw up small blobs of blood/tissue- which may be the dissolvable packing they put up there.  This week there is still a feeling that I have more stuck at the back of my throat, and I have waves of headaches and stiff neck.  
I called my doctor and he recommended ibroprofen and painkillers as I may have picked up a bug... Today I have a unpleasant smell coming from my nose... Any one have similar symptoms and can advise?

[Amy1005]

I had FESS, septoplasty and adenoidectony 18 days ago and on day 15 started experiencing this disgusting smell and taste. Im relieved to have found this post as it does seen like it's part of the healing process. I am flushing 3 times a day with Neilmed and finding it helps for a short while. Finding that I'm flushing out a lot of old dark blood and in the past few days have woken up in the morning with a sore head and sinus pain in my cheeks (pain in my cheeks was never a problem for me before-only my forehead). I'm wondering if I've got an infection and if I should be taking antibiotics? My post op is not for another 3 weeks so unsure whether to speak to my ENT before then?

[mrcool24]

I GET THE MILDEW SMELL OFF AND ON AS WELL

[mrcool24]

ALSO THE FEET SMELL EVERYONE IS TALKIN BOUT THAT IS NORMAL RIGHT AFTER SURGEY

[mrcool24]

I thought this site and this topic was a joke because I finally found people going through the same issues we should take this to twitter or instagram lol but on a serious note I got the sinus surgery and polyps removed at te same time in 2004 and immediately (excuse my spelling by the way) my girlfriend I noticed at the beach type smell like 3 weeks after surgery then the smell over time changed into a smell of like the back of your *** smell so i had appointments with my ent doctor that did the surgery for a couple of years he put me on the anitiboitics that didn't work did the food and allergy shots that helped a little but i visited my primary doctor and he told me that when they do the surgery they basically open everything up so what you are smelling is the inside of your stomach we did every test i can think of im perfectly fine but this problem has effected my social life ,family relationships, even job workplace relationships ,the best advice and can tell you is my primary doctor told me things in the air could get in your nose and make it worst so flushes are cool but they don't help with the other problem the other problem could be bad breath because if your nose is next to your mouth bad breath could come through your nose too so make sure you keep teeth clean and free of tooth decay that works!!! but my newest smell i noticed i have is a old people smell which lets me know that everything is normal and i don't have any infections its just that everybodys insides all smell the same its just that with us are nose is open and our smell can be notice to others but don't feel bad when i use to go to the ENT office i could smell other people smells that i had because the scent would be all through the office or even when they set beside me but i know mentally that this thing can where you down but i did read somewhere that overtime the turbinate tube enlarges again which kinda puts your nose back to normal like everybody that dosent have the surgey yeaaaaa!lol so don't commit suicide are give up on life (because this problem i had made me think about it at times) because it will get better and just remember we are the first era of people to actual get the surgey so in 2 to 7 years the medical community could come up with a solutution but we have to spread the word and make sure we tell doctors about this so they can study this and come up with a more preventive surgery or even a solution to this problem peace! REMEMBER TRUST GOD HE GOT YOUR BACK WITH ISSUSE DONT WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU JUST LIVE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE AND PURSE SUCCESS

[mrcool24]

hello

[mrcool24]

hello