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.

[Judy246]

Your healing. I had the same surgery and for the longest time, I had a strong smell of rubber. It was like being in Goodyear tire shop. Very annoying, but it's all part of healing. It will take some time and if contact your physician for this type of concern. Good luck.

[ricocsk]

That's funny how different people describe the smell. I never thought about it, but you're right- it is a rubber like smell too. Thanks for the reply. I'm still going to call my doctor tomorrow, but you've made me feel better.

[ricocsk]

By the way, only my right nostril smells today. Weird. Just plain weird.

[friggy]

ricocsk

The smell could possibly come from an infection in the frontal or sphenoid, or even the maxillary, and if so, the toxins will produce that smell.  Saline sprays don't work in the upper sinuses well, because of gravity.  The only thing that really works is a FlipTurn Sinus Flush, but there's no way I'd recommend it this soon after surgery.  The smell will probably go away on its own, keep in touch with your doctor.

[ricocsk]

Update

I called my doctor on Monday and was prescribed 875 mg AMOXICILLIN (a-MOX-i-SIL-in) and CLAVULANATE (KLAV-ue-la-nate) tablets. After the smell had disappeared from my left side, it continued to hang out in the right side for a couple of days. Then, late last night (after my third dose of antibiotics) it disappeared all together.

[friggy]

I mistakenly assumed that you'd already be on antibiotics after surgery.  I also assume your doctor told you to stay on the antibiotics after the smell goes away, finish the full course, or the bacteria can grow back.

[mom_of_living_miracle]

I also had sinus surgery a few weeks ago and have developed a bad smell within my nose. I first noticed it about 4 days ago and it comes in waves. Seems to get stronger if I turn my head. To me it smell like stagnant water and dirty feet. It makes me sick to my stomach. I also use saline nasal spray and also nasal washes. Yesterday I noticed a lot more drainage down the back of my throat and today the smell has gotten a lot worse.

Have you received any relief yet from your "smell"?

[chemimbalance]

I had nasal polyps removed last week and today I noticed a strange smell but only on the right side and a nastyish taste in the back of my throat.  I see my doctor tomorrow to get the splints removed and will ask her what is going on.

[mommyof382]

I'm a 28 year old mom of 3 and 3 weeks ago today I had my tonsils out, a septoplasty in the left side of my nose, and polyps removed from the right side of my nose. I had a horrible recovery from the tonsillectomy and septoplasty but the polyp removal wasn't so bad. About a week ago I started having a terrible rotten smell in the right sidde of my nose. It was so bad that it almost made me sick. Well this morning I had gotten up choking on the mucus draining into my throat. I gently blew my nose (it's still a lil sore on the left side) and a nickle sized booger came out. Gross huh? It was partially dried blood and red blood to. I realized immediately that it was the cause of the terrible smell. I thought I would be sick! So far the smell is gone (for today) and I hope it doesn't return. Any ideas on what this could have been? I thought it may have been some stitches that didn't dissolve or possibly a smal piece ot the packing he had pulled out? I dunno...please any thoughts on this are appreciated. My ENT is out until after September 9th.

Thanks!

[Songbird58]

I had a second sinus surgery in November of 2008. It is now October of 2010, and I still have a bad smell in my nose (left side).  I have problems with sinus pressure and pressure behind my left eye as well.  Fortunately, no one else can smell it, but it does smell horrible; ammonia is the closest I can come to describing  the smell.

My ENT told me he thought it would go away in time, but how long is too long? I'm just worried about an infection spreading to the brain.  Should I be worried?  I was furloughed from my job in February, and although I have insurance, money is tight, and I don't want to spend the money on a visit if I don't need to.  I also just posted on an allergy forum, as I've recently had issues with severe dizziness. Any thoughts?

[It_is_Me_Me]

You story sounds so familiar to my husband's, and now, today is 2017.  How are you doing?  

[It_is_Me_Me]

You story sounds so familiar to my husband's, and now, today is 2017.  How are you doing?  

[Radar6869]

Hello All. It's funny we were never told about the smell during the pre operating discussion with the doc. I also have the smell of stinky feet. It gets so bad my wife has to turn her head when we lay in bed. I thought i was a odd ball but it looks like it's part of the post surgery blues. I flush 5 times a day to keep the bacteria away. Just the other day i was flushing frequently when i decided to blow my nose and like mommyof382 i blew out a finger nail sized nugget. Sure felt good but the smell is still there. Hopefully someone out there has the miracle cure.

[AELAAN]

Smell in nose after sinus surgery is common, it is part of healing, make sure you keep rinsing.  I use a neilmed bottle and flush three times daily.  It has been 9 days after the surgery and it (the smell) started the 5th day.  It went away for a bit but now it is back with a vengange.  My doctor told me to keep rinsing, keep carefully blowing my nose, finish the anti biotics.  What could be happening here is that in my case after 5 years of suffering all "old stuff" is coming out with the rinses.  Also if you keep smelling the odor make sure to go see your dentist, remember that some of the roots of your teeth or even dead roots could cause it too....

[littleelmer]

I had sinus surgery three weeks ago, tomorrow is my second post op visit.  I have been having sinus pressure in my forehead and it makes my top of my head hurt too and temples , for the past week or so almost and i had that smell it comes and goes after i neti pot to irrigate my sinus.  i recently started getting out more green and old blood colored boogers too the last couple days ,  I was on amox for the first 7 days after my surgery and i finished it.  but cold has been going around my house hold for the past three weeks too.  I hope i didnt catch infection. I really do not want to go back on anti biotic i hope it will be okay if i have to though.  I have been on amox like 3 times this year already in the past 3 months.

[littleelmer]

my sinus surgery i had my deviated septum fixed and lots of polyps dug out.  so any advice given would be highly appreciated on my previous post.  i get so worried.

[JD2000]

i had sinus surgey a week ago. no funky smells yet but i have this horrible burning sensation in my right nostril and right side of my throat anytime i eat or drink. it just started a few days ago. what is that from and how do i fix it? i am still on antibiotics and doing the saline rinses 4-5 times a day

[Ciciwaken]

Songbird-- I have had your same issues. Its so bad now that i feel terrible everyday i wake up. pressure in my eyes and under them. I tried the flip flush idea and it worked to get some of it out. I have now told my doctor twice about this terrible smell and nothing has been done. I had surgery on 10/29/2010 then another one on 12/16/10/ im sick of feeling this way. ive had blood work done and my white cell count is high but no one seems to look at that like i am. even my pcp is blaming this on my OCD> which i think is CRAZY. im studying to be a nurse so i do some thing is wrong. just the smell which i had once before surgery and i had a HUGE piece of black/green piece come out. and it had the same smell. i dont know what to do anymore. im at lost for words and im spending so much to try to get better.

[Songbird58]

Since I wrote my post back in October, I have been using the solution of 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt and 1 tsp. Boric Acid along with the distilled water in my Nelmed spray bottle.  The smell would come and go.  Then, just in the last couple of weeks, I developed a sinus infection, so I upped my rinses to two a day.  Lo and behold, about four days into the infection, I blew out what I have come to describe as an alien life-form, green, about 1/4 inch thick, and an inch long.  I have not had the foul smell since.
I'm hoping that was my problem.  I've had no more dizzy spells, but still have the pressure, and am struggling to get over the sinus infection.  Keeping my head elevated at night helps combat associated migranes, and a heating pad placed directly on the sinus area helped relieve the pressure-related pain.

[Misha914]

I had sinus surgery for deviated septum and polyps on 1/12/11.  I just started having a strange "mildew smell" about 18 days after surgery.  I googled it and this discussion came up.  It's been very helpful and I will make sure I ask my doctor about it on my follow up appt tomorrow.

[redtressd]

OMG.. I am so glad to have found this forum.  I had sinus surgery several years ago and ever since then have had the occasional musty smell in my sinuses.  When I tried to describe to my ENT (not the one that did my surgery) they look at me like I am nuts....I have been scoped 4 times in the past 8 months and my insurance doesn't cover the scoping..

Songbird, Mommy and Radar...Thank you for letting me know I am not the only one out there that has the alien life forms in me...lol   I get a tickle...way back in the sinuses...and after a period of time...when I finally block one side of nose and sniff in...I get this "chunk" of green hard stuff hitting the back of my throat.  It seems to go in stages.  

[pandatx]

I am so incredibly thankful that I found this forum.  I had sinus surgery 11 days ago.  Yesterday I had this incredible pressure on my right side and I just felt that something had to come out.  I did the Neti pot twice in a row and all of the sudden this dark reddish/black clot (looked like a leech) started to come out of the nostril but would not come out without blowing.  I was told I could start to blow gently but to be honest I think I blew a little bit more forecefully than what I'd call gentle.  Anyway, this happened twice yesterday but since then I've had this sharp, relentless pain on that side in my sinuses (cheek and forehead) and around my eye.   It actually woke me up at 2:30 this morning and I haven't gotten back to sleep.  My throat also hurts.  I have a follow up with my ENT the day after tomorrow but does this sound like something I need to call about sooner?  

And PS I have had this horrendous smell also.  It comes and goes but I keep telling my husband it smells like bad plastic.

[DallysMOM]

I had surgery on April 27 and still home recovering, this is the most informative forum I have found.  I have been going back to the Dr's every 4 days so that he can suction out the sinus and I can not begin to tell you what comes out, not human but after I can breath again.  Than after approx 3 days I block up and can't breath through my nose again.  My jaw is in pain from mouth breathing.  I am on antibiotics for 24 days, steroids to reduce swelling, anti nausea medicine and pain pills.  I found this site today because I am starting to get a odd smell, not tire like but almost sweet.  I keep asking my husband what he is cooking. I am also doing the ne;lmed bottle 4-5 times a day but now the stuff coming down the throat instead of through the nose, most times I can get out through my mouth without swallowing this nasty stuff.  Back on Tuesday for another exam, signed out of work for 3 1/2 weeks already.

[maldo212]

I just had sinus surgery on april 29th  - polyps and deviated septum.  I now have this foul odor coming out of my left nostril where the polyps were removed.  The odor is driving me crazy!  Glad I found this forum and am not the only one with the foul odor problem.  I use the nelimed nasal rinse twice a day and use a saline spray 2-3 times a day.  I'm hoping that whatever it is that is causing the odor will flush out.  My next ENT dr. appt is in 2 months - should I wait that long or should I call the dr. to get an appt. quicker.  Help!  Thank you.  

[herekittykittykitty77]

I had revision septoplasty and turbinectomy almost four weeks ago, had been healing just fine, but all day I've had a wet dog smell in my nose.  So gross.  Also had a huge dark greenish purple booger come out this morning, which I guess is dried blood and mucus.

[rustyjarz]

I've had full house FESS almost 3 weeks ago now and I've had / having phantom smells too. Mine are different though. I've been smelling baked beans (something I cooked well before the op.) and an ex-girl friends woman aroma but I don't want to smell that because I stopped seeing her because of her 'aroma'. So is it plausible that what we are smelling is in fact old trapped aromas that are surfacing now because our sinuses are clearing out?