Alex Moore62 said:Hospital clothes need a wide neckline so you can get them on and off easily without messing with a swollen, operated nose. Bring extra shirts; they tend to get blood on them. Pack light pajamas since hospital rooms get warm.
Bring wet wipes and moist toilet paper for hygiene. You won't be able to shower immediately after surgery, and if you have bruising on your hand, you shouldn't get it wet.
Grab some seat covers so you can sit on the toilet when you aren't fully steady on your feet yet. You can find mini packs at Walmart for a few bucks—look for the little green label. Also, maybe some disinfectant wipes to clean the toilet seat beforehand (Walmart or Target, if I remember correctly).
Pack slippers for the room and rubber flip-flops for the shower to avoid picking up fungus or whatever in the communal tub.
Bring your own pillow to actually get some rest. Bring two pillowcases too, just in case there's bleeding, so you don't ruin the pillow.
Go to the pharmacy and buy a pack of gauze pads (100 count, maybe 3x3 or 4x4 inches—better to go bigger). Use these instead of tissues when there's minor bleeding from the nose at the hospital or once you're home. Gauze is soft and gentle on the nose and surrounding skin, whereas paper tissues feel pretty rough when your nose is throbbing.
If your nose hurts from cleaning it, Neutrogena cream from Walmart helps irritated skin the most.
The antibacterial ointment you put inside the nose after surgery is prescription-only; the hospital will tell you what to use. Don't take anything on your own whim. Ask the staff exactly what to do once you're back home.
Do not blow your nose after surgery. It is strictly forbidden (I think for at least a month, ask your surgeon for the exact timeframe). At home, rinse your nose frequently with saline or a reinforced saline solution (extra salt and baking soda) per your doctor's instructions. It’s smart to buy a Rhino Horn; sinus rinsing is much easier with one. Since you can't blow your nose, you have to let everything drain down your throat and spit it out. Anything you can reach carefully with a Q-tip is fine.
After the operation, do not swallow the blood draining down your throat. Spit it all out.
I don't understand how she hasn't seen the surgeon? Your doctor, the one treating you and the one who scheduled the procedure, is the one performing it. Not just anyone.
I don't do bribes. But after being discharged, when I went for my first follow-up, I brought cookies to the ward and something for the doctor as a thank you. If you know the surgeon, you might know what they like—a bottle of decent wine, high-end chocolate, or a nice olive oil. Whatever you think is appropriate, just don't overdo it.
Good luck to your friend.🙂
Thanks for these detailed tips 🙂. I have to admit, I hadn't planned on half of this, nor would I have brought it if you hadn't mentioned it. Now I see it's necessary. 😍 Thanks
Obviously, every hospital plays by its own set of rules... The anesthesiologist went through all my questions anyway, logging everything into my digital file before handing me the paperwork for my admission.
I ended up at the hospital to deal with a massive coagulation profile and the anesthesiologist, while everything else was handled through my local clinic. After the anesthesiologist cleared me for surgery, he handed me this yellow questionnaire—it’s four pages long, for crying out loud. 😁
Back in mid-September, I was scheduled for November 13th at St. Jude’s... and now they’ve pushed it all the way to January 2nd. It’s basically a New Year's rematch. 😂I had to get bloodwork done—though I already have my previous birth records, a lung X-ray, a full CBC, urinalysis, a major coagulation profile, liver function tests, and thyroid levels just to be safe (that last one wasn't required, just something I wanted to handle so there wouldn't be any surprises). I also needed an EKG and consultations with both an internist and an anesthesiologist. I’ve only been to the hospital three times before to give birth, but I have to admit, this time I'm feeling a bit nervous. 😢
Yeah, rhinoplasty. My appointment got pushed back because of the strike moving to early January. Oh well, I guess I’ll just wait a little longer. Apparently, I won't need to redo all my medical tests—maybe just a quick blood panel once I arrive on-site, so we'll see. I have to admit, I'm incredibly impatient, and after everything I've read online, I've got a knot in my stomach.
I’m scheduled for surgery to fix a deviated septum on November 13th—assuming this strike doesn't push things back. I managed to bundle in a rhinoplasty correction too. Since I have supplemental insurance, I won't be paying a dime...
restlesspuma15 said:For those of you who had surgery over a year ago, how does your nose look now?
Mine actually feels larger. Instead of shrinking, it seems to be growing :/ It’s worrying me. I just hope it still needs more time to settle down...
What do you mean by "grown"? How can you tell? If that were the case, I'd end up with a bigger nose than what I started with after this whole ordeal...
I'm starting to wrap up all the necessary research. I'm slowly counting down the days until the surgery—hoping everything stays on track despite this strike...
cosmicbadger83 said:Man, I can't stop staring in the mirror.😁 I'm seriously hoping the swelling on the bridge of my nose doesn't get too bad or permanently change how I look. I want to keep things exactly as they are right now—as long as the swelling stays localized to the base of my nose and moves toward my cheeks, I'll be fine.🙂
That's great for you... I'm also looking forward to seeing my new reflection.
I’ve been diagnosed with DSD and insufficiency of our valves... My left nostril is completely blocked. It’s causing constant ear infections, and during the last flare-up, my eardrum actually perforated. It hasn't healed even after a month. I'm currently on my third round of antibiotics, plus various ear and nasal drops. My hearing is basically non-existent right now. The doctor recommended septoplasty along with sinus surgery. My procedure is scheduled for November 13th. If anyone is going to be at Mercy Hospital around that time, let me know. 😉
Greetings to everyone. I have a quick question... Does anyone here have any firsthand experience or insights regarding septoplasty and rhinoplasty performed at the Holy Spirit Hospital in Washington, D.C., specifically under the care of Dr. Brad Pitt? After dealing with a nasty ear infection and a perforated eardrum, surgery has been recommended to me, so I’m looking for any information that might help. 😁