Don, the only advice I have regarding sneezing would be to open your mouth and make sure the air comes out there and not through your nose. That's how I normally sneeze anyway.

I was awake for my surgery. My doctor finally told me to close my eyes because she might drop something into them. I had goggles on. I figured that she didn't much care for a drugged-up cross-eyed patient staring at her from a distance of about 3 inches.

Honestly, the recovery probably depends on how much and what type of work you had done. I'd so many sinus problems that my recovery actually felt somewhat miraculous. About a week after my surgery, my sinuses felt better than they had in years. The septum (end of nose) stayed tender for quite a while, though. I also remember I had some numbness on the end of my nose and just below it which went away.