Posts by Alex Moore62

Chloe Collins said:By the way, I actually waited two whole years because I had this nagging feeling that the tissue hadn't fully settled yet, and I wasn't willing to gamble on it unless my surgeon (Dr. Jurlin) gave me the all-clear.

So, is this your third surgery overall, or just your second time seeing Dr. Jurlin?

What’s the plan for the reconstruction? Are they using your own cartilage or something else? What exactly did he tell you he was going to do?

I've been under Dr. Jurlin's knife twice myself, and much like you, I can only offer him my highest praise; he truly is an exceptional specialist. 👍

Good luck 🙂

neonhawk78 said::@Alex Moore62, surgery isn't some minor inconvenience, especially when you're young and navigating the whole ordeal for the first time. In my experience, blood from my nasal area soaked through the sheets after they pulled my IV, and they refused to change the linens for five straight days, claiming the ward had run out of clean supplies. I ended up changing my own bandages and the gauze under my nose every single day because the staff rarely bothered to check in. They’d only show up if they needed to start or stop an infusion, hand out the morning or evening meds, or if some student intern was sent to take our temperatures. Since I was the one constantly messing with that gauze under my nose, I realized by the very first day that the skin there was already completely wrecked, despite the swelling. The whole situation was a massive shock to me, and not a single person on that staff made any effort to make my stay bearable. I refuse to believe this is the standard at every hospital!

No, it's not like that at Bone.
What you're describing sounds completely abnormal; that isn't what proper post-op care looks like for someone who just had sinus surgery—not from the doctors, and certainly not from the nurses.
That said, there are morning and evening rounds every single day, and anything bothering you should have been brought up during those rounds. You specifically should have pointed out that your nose feels crooked now and demanded to know why that happened and how they plan to fix it.
As for the bloody sheets, you probably should have left them visible so they could see the mess during rounds; that would have forced the nurses to react, because the doctors likely wouldn't tolerate that kind of thing (they wouldn't at Bone). Generally speaking, in any hospital, there's a cleanup period every morning before rounds—rooms get aired out and beds are tidied up so everything looks presentable for the doctors, though they aren't necessarily swapping out all the linens then, just straightening things up. I can't speak for how things work at st.

Edit: It's also totally unacceptable that you were dressing your own wounds; I don't understand why you didn't insist that a nurse handle that for you.

Chris Gonzalez3 said:for instance, I dealt with some allergies and they were completely clueless about what was actually happening to me
and since I was obviously out cold, I couldn't exactly speak up and correct them, 😁

Standard procedure dictates that you have to fill out a multi-page questionnaire before any surgery, which includes specific sections regarding allergies. If you skipped those forms, you really should have made sure to emphasize those critical details during your consultation with the anesthesiologist.

Melissa Wright8 said:My doctor didn't mention anything about avoiding blowing my nose. He just showed me how to hold it steady while I do it. I actually started blowing my nose regularly just two weeks after the surgery. I really hope this doesn't trigger some kind of complication 😢

Blowing your nose is strictly off-limits following a procedure like this, and it makes me wonder what kind of doctors are out there failing to give patients basic instructions like that.🙄 It’s easy to see why you read so much criticism here regarding poor surgical outcomes; when communication breaks down, things go sideways.

Two weeks post-op and you definitely shouldn't be blowing your nose. At least, that wasn't the case with my surgeon, and he certainly knows his stuff.

That is precisely why I keep stressing that when you're undergoing such a serious cranial procedure, you shouldn't just wander into any random clinic. You need to find a hospital staffed by surgeons who have truly earned their reputation.

Since it's clear that some doctors are more careless than others, it would be wise for a patient to cross-reference information from every possible source. More importantly, you absolutely have to grill your own doctor about the recovery protocols—what is permitted and what isn't once you're discharged. After all, how we manage our own self-care at home plays a massive role in the final result and the overall healing process.

@neonhawk78/">@@neonhawk78, it seems like you haven't spent much time dealing with standard American hospitals or inpatient stays. In these facilities, they generally don't have the luxury of sitting down for a thirty-minute chat with a patient like you might experience at a high-end private boutique clinic; they have a packed schedule of other patients to attend to. Also, it's not a luxury hotel where the linens are changed daily, so there's no reason to be surprised by that. Honestly, you aren't changing your sheets every single day at home either. If you happened to get blood on them, for instance, that's just a routine occurrence for them; they can't be swapping out linens every five minutes. The state of the bedsheets is the least of your concerns in a situation like this.😉

neonhawk78 said:Ugh, don't remind me. I was losing my mind waiting for those stitches to finally fall out, especially after reading stories about people getting them out just two weeks after surgery. For me, the first two didn't budge until a month and five days had passed, and then the next two came out a week later. To make matters worse, the surgeons basically ruined my nose aesthetically, which left me in tears so often that whenever I blew my nose, I'd find these massive blood clots mixed with mucus in the tissue. Did anyone else deal with that?

Hold on, you were actually blowing your nose after the surgery?
That is a huge no-no! Did they seriously not tell you that?!
After a procedure like this, you're supposed to be rinsing your nose constantly with saline, and you're meant to swallow or spit out whatever drains—you absolutely cannot blow your nose.
How long were you blowing your nose after the operation? Is it possible that’s why the shape ended up deformed?!

neonhawk78 said:[/B]

I’m not entirely sure how accurate that assessment is. I stay active and lead a pretty healthy lifestyle, so I personally lean toward local anesthesia—it just doesn't seem to carry the same lingering baggage that general anesthesia does. It would be helpful if actual specialists, like MDs, could give us a clear breakdown of the lasting effects of going under, because I’m convinced they exist. I had surgery under general anesthesia back when I was in Miami, and I’m really hoping I can avoid doing the same thing here in NYC.😢

General anesthesia definitely takes its toll, as mentioned before, and honestly, they don't even perform these types of procedures under local anymore. Like I said, I know a guy who went through a local procedure years ago, and the whole experience was nothing short of agonizing; it’s probably not something you’d actually want to endure (neondriver15 described exactly what that feels like firsthand).

Did you run into any issues with general anesthesia during this particular surgery, or did everything go smoothly? You always have a consultation with the anesthesiologist before the procedure, so you should definitely use that time to hash out your concerns and ask anything that's weighing on your mind.

neonhawk78 said:The wait time until I can actually get an initial appointment with him feels like an eternity,

Take a look at this link—if you scroll to the bottom, it mentions they collaborate with Dr. Jurlina, so maybe you could ask if there’s any way to squeeze in an earlier consultation with him if you're feeling impatient. http://www.dzepina.com/poliklinika/o-nama.html

neonhawk78 said:Dr. Raguž is relatively young for a surgeon, probably around 35, but honestly, everyone I know who has gone under his knife seems pretty satisfied with the results. He might not have decades of experience under his belt since he only started practicing at the Holy Spirit hospital back in 2011, but quality isn't always about how long you've been doing it.

That being said, regardless of how much faith people have in his work, given everything you're dealing with, I’d strongly suggest getting a second opinion from another specialist just to be safe. 😉

neonhawk78 said:Thanks for the info. I’ve already put my name in with Dr. Raguž, though now I just have to sit tight until this strike finally wraps up. It’s been nearly two months since my last surgery, but I don't think my nose shape is going to shift any further. While the mucous membrane has mostly healed, that lump is still sitting right where it was. I'm really hoping the doctor is willing to touch up a nose that's already been operated on, because honestly, I'm running out of options here in Miami if I want to avoid private clinics. My only other choice locally would be Dr. Lisec, but from what I've read, he tends to prioritize functional repairs over aesthetics. Then there’s Dr. Kurtović; I came across a story about him collaborating with a hospital physician and nearly ruining a patient's nose—he ended up having to refund half her money, if I recall correctly (I think the user lana_st posted that here). That leaves me with Dr. Glušac from San Diego, but his track record isn't exactly glowing either. At this point, it feels like my only real shot is heading up to Washington, D.C. to see the specialists there. 😢
PS: I went under general anesthesia for the procedure, though if I'm being honest, I've started to find local anesthesia much more to my liking lately.

If Ivan Raguž is getting seen that quickly, it suggests his schedule isn't exactly packed and he isn't running himself ragged. Honestly, that would set off alarm bells for me; when you're looking at a reoperation, you really want someone with deep, seasoned experience under their belt. But then again, that’s just my perspective—I’ve always been the type who would trust only Rebro, no questions asked. You should definitely follow your own gut instead of taking my word for it. I truly hope everything goes smoothly for you, so please keep me posted on how things develop. 🙂

For surgeries like this, hospitals typically utilize general anesthesia. It’s only those private clinics that lack a dedicated anesthesiologist who end up overcharging patients by simply sedating them; however, that isn't true local anesthesia, but rather just a cocktail designed to induce a state of drowsiness.
I wouldn't be foolish enough to try staying awake while they're busy fixing my septum under local anesthesia. 😲 Because I would honestly just have a complete nervous breakdown.

neonhawk78 said:The thought of having to go through the whole cycle again—signing up for another CT scan, seeing the anesthesiologist, doing all those blood tests over again, and trekking back and forth from San Diego to NYC just for doctor appointments—it’s honestly exhausting. Can I just get these tests done in Miami 😢, and does anyone know how much time needs to pass between the first and second surgery? I had my operation in September; the stitches recently came out, and the mucous membrane seems fine.

If I recall correctly, there was some recent news coverage about these types of tests when they were adjusting health insurance coverage rights; my understanding is that you can have them done wherever is most convenient for you rather than being forced to go to a specific hospital—you should probably double-check with your primary care physician.

If memory serves, there usually needs to be a few months between surgeries (maybe three, though I can't recall the exact number), which is something an ENT specialist can confirm. It is definitely far too early for you to be rushing into anything else—given the anesthesia involved, you really shouldn't hurry; every time you go under, there's a risk, and it leaves its mark on the body.

Generally speaking, it’s better to schedule surgery during the colder months to minimize risks like bleeding complications or infections; you typically want to avoid the summer unless it's an absolute emergency.

To be honest, I'm quite taken aback that you had your surgery so recently. I had assumed you were dealing with some sort of permanent ossification after a longer period, but it sounds like the initial procedure was handled quite poorly. 😢

Drawing from my own experience with two surgeries, I’d suggest focusing entirely on recovering from this one first and letting everything settle naturally before jumping into a second procedure. Your nose is still going to undergo changes. Regardless, I would strongly advise booking a consultation in Washington, D.C. immediately; by the time you actually get the appointment, you'll likely have finished your recovery. If I were in your shoes, I’d call Rebro or Holy Spirit, explain the situation, and ask if they could squeeze you in for an urgent consultation.

neonhawk78 said:That feels like an eternity to wait just for an initial consultation. 😢

Try to grab an appointment; looking at the calendar, there are only two months left until 2014, and December is packed with holidays anyway. 🤷 Just lean on the Holy Spirit in the meantime.
Look, if you're dealing with a legitimate medical issue, you need to handle it with gravity rather than rushing through it just to get it over with. In a situation like this, time isn't necessarily the most critical variable—at least, it wouldn't be in my book.

By the way, regarding which facility holds the top spot, I just did a quick search and found this:

Edit: I see you updated your post—if you have a recent CT scan, you probably won't need to undergo another one.

neonhawk78 said:I had surgery to fix a deviated septum down in Miami, but that was strictly to help me breathe better. Now, I’m seriously considering heading up to NYC to get my nose fixed, because that functional procedure left me with this massive bump. Does Dr. Jurlina perform reconstructive work? The team in Miami simply wasn't equipped to handle the aesthetic side of things. While the functional part was actually quite successful—I can breathe significantly better now—the cosmetic outcome is a disaster; there's just this huge protrusion where there shouldn't be one. I’ve heard that Dr. Raguž is incredibly skilled, so I was thinking about booking an appointment with him, but I'm feeling pretty torn about it all. 🤷

Jurlina specialized in maxillofacial surgery and handles high-stakes cases like oncological procedures—essentially, he saves lives. Because of that expertise, I think he might be able to help you, but he really needs to examine you in person first. We can't just make assumptions or play doctor from a distance; you’ll need to consult him directly.
If I were in your shoes, I’d suggest getting a second opinion from both him and Raguž to see how their assessments differ and what they actually propose. You really need to ask them point-blank what can realistically be done at this stage. The real issue here is figuring out exactly what was done back in Miami and how much "material" they left you to work with—it’s painfully obvious that someone made a massive mess of things.
Jurlina doesn't just wing it; he’s incredibly thorough. Before every single one of my surgeries, he insists on sending me for a sinus CT scan so he can get a precise look at the situation before deciding on the best course of action. Getting an appointment with him is another story entirely—unless you're already under his care, you're looking at a significant wait. I know that in recent years, they've actually stopped taking new patient referrals as early as the spring because he gets so overwhelmed. My advice? Just try booking an initial consultation with a referral and see what they tell you. You might find out you're stuck waiting until the start of 2014 just to get on the schedule, or you might get lucky and find something sooner.

Mayo Clinic ENT Department
12 Kišpatićev St (White building, 1st floor)
E-mail: predbiljezbe.poliklinika.orl@mayo-clinic.org
Fax: 1-212-236-7188
For more details, give me a call at 555-012-3671.

In any case, regardless of which hospital you decide on for your surgery, please take some serious time to weigh your options before making a final call. For this second procedure, it is absolutely vital that you find an exceptional surgeon—someone who possesses the precision necessary to balance technical function with aesthetic results, ensuring you don't have to sacrifice one for the other.

neonhawk78 said:Alex Moore62, honestly, isn't there more comfort in leaning on the Holy Spirit? Personally, I was advised to seek out Dr. Raguž over at the Holy Spirit clinic. 🤷

I’ve never heard anything about the ENT department at the Holy Spirit hospital, so I’m assuming it isn't particularly renowned; if it were actually any good, people in Washington, D.C. would certainly be talking about it. 🤷 It certainly isn't as formidable as Rebro.
I know quite a few people who have undergone procedures at Vinogradska, but I don't actually know anyone who would recommend going to Holy Spirit, so I wouldn't personally suggest it to you. As for Rebro, it’s common knowledge that they are incredibly strong; their ENT department used to be over at Šalat before they moved everything into the newly built Rebro facility.
Personally, I haven't had any great experiences over at Vinogradska, so I wouldn't exactly point anyone in that direction. Having struggled with chronic sinus issues for years, believe me when I say I've cycled through plenty of different ENT specialists. In the end, Dr. Jurlina at Rebro proved to be the most skilled and reliable professional I encountered. After years of bouncing between various clinics and outpatient offices, he was finally the first one to provide thorough diagnostic work and actually pinpointed the right treatment plan—which was crucial since I deal with severe nasal mucosal allergies alongside a significant septal deviation. He eventually ended up performing two surgeries on me, and the care was top-tier.
Before my first surgery, I decided to seek out a second opinion from what I consider to be the premier ENT specialist over at Mercury—I can't recall his name right now, and I'm certainly not digging through my medical files just to find it—and he ended up being in complete agreement with everything Dr. Jurlina had laid out for me. It wasn't that I had any doubts about Dr. Jurlina’s decision; I know him to be an expert whose skill and experience are beyond reproach. It was simply that a friend had opened a door for me to consult with another highly regarded physician, and when life hands you the chance to double-check things like that, why wouldn't you take it?
If it helps with your planning regarding where you'll be staying—the ENT Department over at the Mayo Clinic is located in their new building. The rooms there are doubles with their own private bathrooms, though they do have singles available too. Everything is brand new and actually quite comfortable, which is a nice change of pace.
I had an outpatient procedure at the Holy Spirit hospital, and honestly, the whole experience felt like stepping back in time. Everything there was just ancient. The accommodations were pretty grim—we were crammed into a room with four or five other people, and the bathroom situation was just as bad, with everyone on the ward having to share one cramped, poorly maintained restroom.

jadewolf12 said:Hi there!

I've been wanting to get my nose fixed for a while now because of this massive hump. I have a scan coming up soon to see if I actually have a deviated septum, and if I do, I’m hoping to tackle the aesthetic side of things at the same time. They recommended a hospital in St. Louis, but does anyone here have any experience with their doctors? I'm honestly torn on whether it makes more sense to go through a private clinic instead.

I haven't dealt with the facilities in St. Louis, but speaking as someone who has personally navigated two surgeries, I would strongly suggest sticking with a major hospital rather than going private—specifically Rebro in Washington, D.C.

Chris Gonzalez3 said:sorry, I didn't mean to yell🙂
thanks so much for all the advice and help, you're an 🙂
but honestly, I could eat if I wanted to, I just don't know why every single time I have a meal, I end up with this mucus buildup later and then I'm coughing and choking
so I'd rather just skip eating because being able to breathe feels a lot better than having food in my system
or when I try to swallow and it just goes down the wrong pipe
I try rinsing everything out, but even that isn't easy, so I don't do it very often😢

Seeing as you have splints in, it makes perfect sense why there's bleeding—I went through the exact same thing. I didn't have tampons in, and one spot started bleeding, so they had to go in and pack it a bit afterward to get the bleeding under control.

Don't just lie flat; try propping yourself up with some pillows so you can sleep and rest with your head elevated.

Stay away from dairy; it just makes sinus congestion worse. That’s a good rule of thumb in general, not just during these post-op days.

Please, don't play games with your recovery because you really need to eat; it's absolutely vital after surgery! Eating and sleeping—like I said before—need to be your top priorities. Find something that actually tastes good and that you can stomach right now, and just go for it.😉

If you have those splints with breathing tubes, you can rinse things out using a saline solution with a syringe or a spray bottle (you can just pour saline into an old nasal spray bottle, or use something like Sterimar). Just remember that you have to draw everything back toward your throat and spit it out (you aren't supposed to blow your nose or sniff too hard for a while after the procedure, and obviously, you can't really do that with all this stuff in your nose anyway). Rinsing is crucial to keep everything clean so you don't end up with any nasty infections.

After my second surgery, I had to rinse with a strong solution of kitchen salt and baking soda because it was the most effective way to clear everything out. It's basically like rubbing salt in a wound—it hurts more at the moment—but it works. If you want, I can dig through my medical papers to see what the exact ratio was...

Hang in there.🙂

Sandra Johnson78 said:Oh great, I actually found a thread for this! 🙂

I’m trying to wrap my head around how healthcare coverage has shifted over the years... I have a deviated septum, and since I'm a college student, I've got supplemental insurance and all that. Some people tell me everything is covered, while others insist you have to pay out of pocket. I would be incredibly grateful if someone with actual experience could set me straight on the facts. Also, a friend mentioned her doctor tweaked the shape of her nose during her septum surgery, and she didn't end up paying a dime extra. It would be amazing if I could get my nose straightened out too—it’s got this bump from when I slammed it into a pole, and honestly, it sits a bit crooked. But yeah, being a student means money is tight. 😁
I could wait a few years to deal with the cosmetic side of things, but I'd much rather just handle it all at once so I don't have to undergo two separate procedures for the same nose.

So, kind citizens of Washington, D.C., please help a girl out. 😁

Your best bet is to find a hospital with a surgeon you can actually trust—someone who will address the functional issues of the deviated septum while also fixing the structural damage from hitting that pole, since that likely messed with your septum's alignment anyway. If they fix the function, the aesthetics usually fall under the same umbrella, and you won't be hit with extra fees; you just need to hash that out with your surgeon beforehand.

Whatever you do, stay away from private clinics if you aren't looking to gamble with your health, your life, or your bank account. I haven't followed this thread in a while because I had my own surgery a few years back (on the Rebro), but peering back in now, it’s still shocking to see how many people are willing to recklessly risk their lives on cosmetic procedures at random private practices. Many of these places don't even have proper anesthesiologists on hand, and they perform horrific, amateur surgeries that result in catastrophic outcomes for both looks and breathing, all while bleeding you dry.

Michelle Scott19 said:Hey 🙂,
Has anyone here ever had surgery performed by Dr. Jurlina over at Rebro?

Yeah, I have.🙂
You really can't go wrong with that choice; you'll be in excellent hands 👍

I’m looking for a solid dermatologist who accepts insurance for cryotherapy to treat a wart on my foot.
I used to go to Kaiser Permanente and they did a fantastic job (shoutout to their technician, Drago), but their dermatologist is out on maternity leave right now and they haven't brought anyone in to cover the shift.🙄

If you have any personal recommendations, I'd love to hear them—I'm specifically hunting for a dermatologist, or perhaps a highly skilled nurse or technician, who actually knows what they're doing. I want someone precise, without the risk of unnecessary burns or subsequent tissue necrosis.

I’m curious to hear some firsthand accounts if anyone here has actually gone through treatment with Dr. Kalapoš.

Olivia Reed94 said:I’m looking into getting surgery for a deviated septum because it’s gotten pretty bad. Honestly, my quality of life is basically zero at this point—my sleep is terrible, I feel completely winded during workouts, and every little cold turns into a massive ordeal.
I’d prefer to have this done in Washington, D.C., rather than San Francisco, mostly because I have this lingering skepticism about the hygiene and the general "hospitality" of the doctors down in San Francisco. Does anyone know which facility in D.C. would be the best bet, and what the recovery timeline looks like? I’ve heard you get the packing removed after three days, but then you're stuck with stitches for a while...
I’m also a bit anxious about the aesthetics. What are the odds that my nose ends up looking worse or more asymmetrical than it does now? It feels like it borders on cosmetic territory. Because of that, I really want an expert with a proven track record handling this.
Going private is incredibly expensive, and I feel like I’d be rushing into a huge expense if a similarly skilled surgeon could just do it through the hospital system...
Any suggestions? I’ve heard some good things about the hospital in Manhattan..🙄

The ENT specialist who used to be over at the Manhattan facility was moved over to the new VA Hospital building along with the rest of the ENT department about two years ago.
Based on what you’ve already read, some of the recommended specialists from that group are Davis (the department head), Taylor, and User000. Apparently, Taylor isn't even taking new appointments for the rest of the year. And as we've seen mentioned here before, Davis has a tendency to steer patients toward his private practice.
Regardless, the VA Hospital is a solid choice. The department itself is brand new and spotless, with private one or two-bed rooms that include their own bathrooms and a TV, so the time you spend recovering there should actually be quite comfortable.