redcyclist99 said:Hi everyone! I’ve just finished reading through this entire thread and I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to help me out with a few quick questions 🙂
1. Is there anything else out of the ordinary that might make a hospital stay more comfortable? I've already jotted down a few things on my list, but I'm open to suggestions!
2. Aside from saline solution, is there anything else I can pick up over the counter at a pharmacy before the surgery that might help with recovery? Also, regarding that antibiotic ointment you all mentioned—is that something that requires a prescription after the procedure?
3. At the local hospital, the initial exam was done by a resident, and I haven't actually met the surgeon yet (this is for a friend). When she mentions wanting to have that bump on her nose removed (she's getting a deviated septum correction), will the actual operating surgeon be present during the pre-op visit?
4. This might sound a little silly, but it's a pretty common custom back home: what's the typical etiquette at the hospital? Have any of you brought gifts like drinks or boxes of chocolates for the doctors or nurses after a surgery?
🙂
Regarding 1 and 2—I'm sorry to say that, generally speaking, the equipment situation isn't the best, so please feel free to bring absolutely anything that makes your life a little easier. It's sad to have to say it, but that's just the reality. One thing that comes to mind is some lip balm; since you'll be breathing through your mouth, your lips are going to get incredibly dry very quickly.
3. In most major US hospitals, the rule is that the primary operator handles the patient from the start, so in this case, the resident would be her surgeon. However, they never work entirely alone; they are always under the supervision of a senior staff member—in this scenario, an experienced rhinoplasty specialist. Regarding the curvature issues, if they've only agreed on a septoplasty, it complicates things because they'd need to use a different surgical approach depending on what they find during the procedure.