What began as a childhood dream of being a touring rock star has grown into a love for music education.
Today, Mike Mason is the director of campus operations for Congregation Beth Israel, where he also serves as the music educator.
“Music is a big part of who I am. I listen to music, I talk about music, I play and teach it,” Mike said.
But a deviated septum, a diagnosis he’d had since adolescence, was growing worse into adulthood, impacting his energy levels, his sleep, and mood.
“Even though I was living out my passion, I felt like my quality of life was not what it could be,” Mike said.
Mike was referred to , an otorhinolaryngology specialist with UT Physicians Otorhinolaryngology – Texas Medical Center, after years of dealing with symptoms of a deviated septum.
Deviated septum
The nasal septum is the cartilage wall inside the nose that separates the right and left nostrils. It runs up the midline of the nose, separating the two chambers of the nose.
When the septum is skewed toward one side or the other, it’s called a deviated septum.
“A deviated septum narrows the area through which air can flow from the nose into the lungs,” said Luong, professor of otorhinolaryngology – head and neck surgery and vice chair of academic affairs in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Symptoms of a deviated septum
The most common symptom of a deviated septum is nasal obstruction.
For Mike, nasal obstruction left him feeling like he wasn’t breathing at full capacity.
“I had a half-functional nose,” Mike said. “Being an allergy-prone person, any kind of stuffiness led to a real lack of being able to use my nose to breathe.”
Lying down to sleep amplified that feeling of nasal obstruction. Mike couldn’t get air through his nose.
“I wasn’t getting restful sleep. I’d often wake up fatigued, and I was certainly more irritable than I think I would have been,” Mike said.
Another symptom that was growing his frustration: a significantly reduced sense of smell.
“I felt like I was missing out. I couldn’t experience what others were experiencing, good or bad,” Mike said.
Deviated septum diagnosis
A deviated septum diagnosis begins with a visit to an otorhinolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, like Luong.
“Patients usually come in because they have difficulty breathing through their nose,” Luong explained. “We do a visual exam and can use a small endoscope or camera to look up the nose and evaluate the septum.”
Left untreated, a deviated septum that has significant symptoms could impact quality of life.
Risks for developing a deviated septum
The National Institutes of Health estimates more than 80% of Americans are living with a deviated septum, but not all have serious symptoms. A deviated septum is something you’re born with or can develop over time as the body grows, or it can develop from nasal trauma.
“A small deviation as a child will increase as you get older because that piece of cartilage keeps growing,” Luong explained. “And even if you’re born with a deviated septum, you may not develop symptoms until later in life, or never at all.”
The first course of treatment is to try to alleviate the nasal obstruction without surgery.
Mike used an anti-inflammatory nose spray, purchased over the counter from a pharmacy. Despite using medication for several months, his symptoms continued, and Luong offered two surgical options to alleviate the symptoms from the deviated septum.
Septoplasty
An outpatient procedure, a septoplasty surgery involves a small cut made inside the nose to remove the portion of the septum that is crooked.
“The advantage of this surgery is that the cut is on the inside and no one can tell you had surgery, but you only address about 80% of the septum,” Luong said.
Septoplasty surgery is completed under general anesthesia and takes about 90 minutes.
Rhinoplasty
Commonly referred to as a “nose job” for cosmetic reasons, there is a functional purpose to rhinoplasty surgery.
A rhinoplasty surgery that addresses a deviated septum involves a cut to the outside of the nose, allowing the surgeon to remake the nose, straighten the entire septum, strengthen the cartilage, and widen the back of the nose to increase airflow.
“A rhinoplasty surgery can take twice the time under anesthesia, there can be swelling or bruising afterward, and people will be able to tell you had surgery,” Luong said. “The advantage is that this is the more complete approach to address symptoms of a deviated septum.”
Recovery from septoplasty surgery
Mike chose the septoplasty treatment. Recovery meant one week of rest with no heavy lifting and anti-inflammatory medication for pain.
It was about a week post-surgery when Mike fully felt the benefits of the septoplasty surgery.
“I was on a walk with my dogs, and it was a pretty cool moment when I realized my right nostril was breathing,” Mike said.
Improved quality of life
Mike, who was also diagnosed with sleep apnea, uses a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Since recovering from his septoplasty surgery, his quality of sleep has improved.
“I find myself breathing through my nose all night long much more often, and I wake up feeling fully rested more frequently,” Mike explained. “I am getting better use out of the CPAP machine.”
Better breathing means he can be more active with his daughter, play recreational sports, and has regained his sense of smell.
“Smelling food when it’s cooking has been wonderful,” Mike said. “Tasting food is improved too because I can smell it now, which is fairly amazing.”
And this summer, as the music director at a family camp in Central Texas, Mike discovered an unexpected benefit.
“The surgery seemed to improve my vocals,” Mike said. “I know I’m breathing better because I’m taking in more oxygen, but I also have more vocal control, better pitch, and projection.”
Compassionate care for a deviated septum
Undergoing surgery of any kind is not a simple decision, but Mike says working with Luong made him feel comfortable and confident.
“She was very thorough and did not make it seem complicated or scary,” Mike said. “She presented the options to me and let me choose what was best for me. She very much met me where I was.”
His best advice for anyone considering treatment for a deviated septum: expert care is available.
“Don’t put this surgery off,” Mike said. “It’s given me a renewed feeling and energy.”