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Well, everyone experiences pain differently. For me, the most painful part was having the mold removed because it felt like it was literally being ripped off my nose. My nose was still quite swollen, and when they touched the cartilage, the sensation was intense. They apply gasoline to numb it, and then they pull the bandages off. You really have to keep your eyes tightly shut, but even then, it stung so much that my sister had to give me a water-soaked compress just to wipe it away from my eyes. The doctor who performed my surgery (I finally found out who he was) is very charming and truly did an excellent job. Unfortunately, however, when you go through the public healthcare system, everyone—mostly the nurses, though occasionally some doctors too—treats you like cattle. No one tells you anything unless you specifically ask.
Dear forum members, I returned from my surgery two days ago, so I wanted to share my experience with you all...
I underwent a septoplasty and rhinoplasty through my insurance at the Rijeka Hospital. My doctor provided a referral to the ENT department there, where I was examined by Professor Manestar, who is widely considered a top specialist in this field. He scheduled me for the procedure in about three weeks. He suggested that if I wanted to pursue the aesthetic portion as well, we should proceed, as I had a small bump caused by a basketball hitting my nose in the past.
Now, before the actual surgery, you have a mountain of tests to complete—blood work, an EKG, consultations with the anesthesiologist, and so on. I arrived at the ward on the 12th, and they told me to return on the 17th.
Once they finally admitted me to the hospital, after dealing with all the paperwork, feeling completely exhausted, having a consultation with an intern regarding my medical history, and meeting the anesthesiologist, I was told I was on the schedule for the next day. They instructed me not to eat anything after midnight and gave me an injection in my abdomen to prevent blood clotting. Throughout that entire period, no one actually explained exactly what they were going to do to me. Then, in the morning, I found out that the professor wouldn't be performing the surgery himself, but rather someone chosen during a staff meeting. At 11:30, they came to get me, started an IV, and I lay in the hallway outside the operating room. The anesthesiologist gave me something intravenously that made me feel wonderful; I would have died laughing if I hadn't been feeling so uneasy. Finally, they wheeled me inside. I didn't even make it to the table before I fell asleep. The next thing I remember is being woken up, but I was so tired! I simply could not keep my eyes open. Afterward, a nurse told me that the first thing I asked while still groggy was when I could eat.😁 I spent the rest of the day sleeping intermittently. My throat was quite sore from the intubation, but they loaded me up with antibiotics, so it wasn't too bad and passed quickly. My biggest issue was a headache that started in the evening. I went to ask a nurse for a painkiller, but she was nowhere to be found. I barely made it until morning, when I managed to walk to the clinic and take some Voltaren. During my stay, nobody really checks in on you; the nurses just hand out pain medication like it's some kind of recession economy. It was quite unpleasant. On the fourth day, I had my nasal packing removed. The doctor performing the task seemed to forget to remove one side because he was clearly in a rush (it was a Saturday, so the weekend rush). When I asked who had performed my surgery, no one could tell me; they were all just guessing. I spent the whole day complaining about the packing in my nose, but they kept insisting it was just a stitch or a scab. Finally, in the morning, the professor arrived and removed the device. Generally speaking, it doesn't hurt much because everything is soaked in saliva and blood. Today, they removed the cast, and I must admit, that was painful. My nose is swollen, and while the bruising was minimal, my eye is quite swollen, though it should subside soon. It is still tender to the touch, and the stitches are visible. I will check back in a few days with more updates...☕