Posts by Maria Castillo23

I checked into the hospital on January 1st, had my surgery scheduled for the 2nd, but didn't actually go under until the 5th because my surgeon wasn't even there.
On the day of the procedure, you're stuck in recovery, then you head to your room the next morning. I was discharged four days after surgery once they pulled my packing out, and went back a week later to get my cast removed. You won't have to deal with that, though, since you're "only" dealing with a deviated septum.

If you've got supplemental insurance, you aren't paying a dime.

I’m dealing with a total headache right now because my glasses won't stay on my face. I even had them adjusted to fit tighter, but they still slip off constantly. Tried a few different frames too, but nothing works... honestly, though, it's a minor annoyance compared to how amazing it feels just being able to breathe again.🙂

Vinogradski, Dr. Tomljenović

Believe me, I barely felt any pain. It was more just some discomfort since they did three different things to my nose... but actual pain? No way. They kept me on Ketorolac, so it was pretty much painless

I’ve had my nose broken before. I actually went under the knife three months ago to fix it. At first, I honestly thought it was still crooked. My surgeon and I even discussed the possibility of a redo... but then it finally straightened itself out over time, and I'm actually really happy with the result.
As for getting stitches removed, they took mine out. Just 3 pieces.

I haven't applied anything to it, except for what Dr. Pavlov said after they took my cast off. My skin is a total mess from the surgery—it's incredibly dry and peeling everywhere. 😢

I handled it like a pro. Turns out my stomach was killing me, though the nurses were the ones who told me that later—I don't even remember it. Other than that, zero issues. No headaches, no vomiting, just slept through half the day, which was honestly great since that recovery room is kind of a snooze fest 🙂

A friend of mine had surgery at Holy Spirit, and she's thrilled with how it went.
As for me, I couldn't be happier with Vinogradski Hospital—the surgeon, the nurses, the whole setup was top-notch.
I ended up crossing paths with a lot of people there, all seeing different specialists, and honestly, I didn't hear a single bad word about anyone. 🙂

Looking over my paperwork right now... honestly, I shouldn't have even needed that CT scan in the first place.

My primary care doctor handled all those referral orders for my pre-op testing.
I got them all done about ten days before the surgery.

Your doctor just orders everything online for you—at least, that’s how it worked for me at Vinogradski Hospital. You get a referral, see the specialist, they examine you, and then they schedule the surgery. They give you a list of tests you need to clear before the big day. I knocked all mine out about ten days before my procedure. My primary care doctor handled all those referrals. I waited two months for the initial exam, though it really depends on the doctor since they leave the scheduling open. My actual surgery date was set for a month and a half after that first visit.

My nose is still swollen after a full month. It’s not as bad as it was, but still... it takes time for everything to settle into place. Man, my nose looked so different just a week in compared to how it looks now.

I lost weight too because I couldn't even taste food until they finally removed those swabs. I had zero appetite whatsoever. 😁

I tried using Labello, but it just kept building up crusty bits around my lips. Thank God for Vaseline, it saved me.

Vinogradski Hospital... huge shoutout to everyone working there. Truly an amazing crew—super friendly, kind, and just great people! 🙂