Experiment - Fixing my deviated septum: Cardio Exercises (aerobic exercise)

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Many years ago, when I was 13 years old my dad broke my nose while playing catch in the backyard. I am now 32 years old and had surgery to fix it. I am curious to see if it will affect my cardio capacity. I am going to look into how much of a role breathing plays in the picture of health. I have been cleared to light exercise after a week and a half off. A week before the surgery I maxed out on running the mile at 6 min 36 sec. Hopefully I can improve upon that time. I must first get fully recovered and regain the cardio capacity I lost. I will keep a journal to see if I notice a difference due to a better ability to breathe... more to come...

Anyone else have a deviated septum... so far, I can really notice a huge difference in how much air I can breathe in through my nose!

danny · **Site Rank:** Healthy Friend

What is a deviated septum? How did it affect your nose before the surgery and what made you decide to get the surgery?

I broke my nose a few years ago playing basketball, but they put it back in place right afterwards. I haven't had any problems since, but it does feel like it gets stuffy more than it used to.

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

In plain people person terms a deviated septum is when the cartilage in the nose grows over too far due to a broken nose or birth defect and impedes the airflow. In my case one nasal canal was accordian shaped and the cartilage grew out towards the other side... it wasn't bad when I first had the broken nose, but eventually the cartillage grew over the years and it began blocking my airflow. I would say I could breathe only about a 1/10th of what I can breathe now. I couldn't sit on the couch and watch tv and breathe through my nose... I just wasn't getting enough air. A deviated septum only becomes a problem when it blocks airflow.

I decided to get the surgery for 2 reasons. One, it was really beginning to block my airflow... I could not live if I could only breathe through my mouth. Two, my girlfriend told me if I ever wanted to marry her then I would have to do something about my snoring, which I hope will get better since I can breathe through my nose now.

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Well I am breathing a lot better now. I can't really tell if it will help my cardio capacity or not as I am no where near the shape I was in before the surgery... yet! It is amazing what taking 3 weeks off to heal will do to your health... a word to the wise... never stop! It is a lot easier to maintain than it is to get there!!! I figure 3 weeks off is like going 3 months back. I am able to breathe through my nose and mouth while running now though... that's encouraging! I will keep you posted on the progress.

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

So would you say you are happy that you decided to go ahead and get the surgery?

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Absolutely... the pain was rough, especially the packing being removed, but it subsided rather quickly and was manageable with the pain pills. The pain lasted for about 3 weeks, then it was just soreness and uncomfortting for a while. Now it is almost fully healed and I can breath and smell!!! I really didn't realize how bad I had gotten.

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Y's Guy wrote:

Absolutely... the pain was rough, especially the packing being removed, but it subsided rather quickly and was manageable with the pain pills. The pain lasted for about 3 weeks, then it was just soreness and uncomfortting for a while. Now it is almost fully healed and I can breath and smell!!! I really didn't realize how bad I had gotten.

I am glad to hear everything turned out good for you. There's nothing better than to be able to smell all the stinky things in this world!! 8-)

Look what you have been missing all these years!!

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Have you noticed food tasting any different to you? Can you taste food better now?

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

It is weird... food is stronger tasting to me but a lot more fleeting. I guess once the smell finally made it through the maze that was my nasal canal, it didn't have anywhere else to go and lingered there causing me to smell stuff for a really long time, but very faintly. Now the smell is instantaneous, strong and in one nostril and out the other. I think I like it better this way because I can get a strong sample to quench a craving and it doesn't matter how much of it I eat, it'll be out of my system at about the same time, so I might as well just have a small portion.

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Well yesterday was the first day I was able to run the mile in 6:30 again! Surprisingly I am not as sore as I thought I would be... calves are a little tight, but I got in my 3 miles today. I didn't notice that much of a difference while running, but I was able to breathe deeply through my nose when I stopped and that helped me recover a lot faster.

When you run, do you breathe through your nose? I tried but my nose burned... the air was too fast and cold so I was breathing through my mouth... is that something I get used to or do y'all breathe through your mouth too?!? I found that I could actually breathe through both for a while... that freaked me out!

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

I breathe through my mouth when I run, I would think that most people do.

So do you think you are back in the shape that you were in before you had your surgery?

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I breathe through my nose and mouth. I notice the nose more when exhaling.

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I think I can push myself a little harder now that I can breathe better... It is still not as easy to run as before, but it is getting better every day! It is so easy to maintain and not nearly as easy to build cardio. Word to the wise... don't ever stop, if you can help it!

HealthyPals · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

I would think it would be easier to push yourself harder too if you can breathe better. Good for you. Glad you got your nose fixed! Sounds like it was a success!

HP1111 · **Site Rank:** Healthy Acquaintance

I am curious how the experiment is going. There has not been a post in a while. Have you seen a clear improvement? Would you recommend it?

Who is online