Your sinuses have been giving you hell and have made you miserable. You’ve looked into it and you’ve decided – it’s time for action. Making the big leap may seem easy but you have to make sure you do it the right way.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery can make a world of difference to someone who’s desperate for some relief. It’s a relatively simple process but it’s easy to overlook a few things that can make the treatment as effective as it should be and recovery smooth and easy.
Here’s a bit of info on Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and a few tips on how to make sure you go in having all your bases covered.
How to Prepare For Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery helps millions of people who suffer from recurring problems such as sinus infections and nasal polyps. The surgery has been proven to make dramatic improvements in the way the sinuses function.
Essentially a flexible tool called an endoscope is inserted into the sinus through the nose. The endoscope has a light and allows the doctor to see into your sinuses while other instruments are used to remove blockages or make adjustments.
Pre-Surgery Preparations
Most surgeries have some common things that need to be done pre-op to ensure easy recovery. Endoscopic surgery also has some of its own owing to the nature of your sinuses.
It’s very important you pay special attention the following before your surgery:
- Arrange for transportation: You won’t be able to drive after your surgery so make sure you’ve got someone there to pick you up.
- Get any tests out of the way: Make sure to take note of any tests your doctor may need you to go through with before the surgery.
- Kick the habit: If you smoke, you’ll want to stop at least 4 weeks before the surgery. You don’t have to quit for good but the smoke can increase the chance of bleeding and the scar tissue can really screw up the surgery. You’ll want to keep from smoking for at least another 4 weeks afterward.
- Tell your doctor about your meds: Make sure your surgeon knows about your current medications. Certain drugs like Advil can increase your chance of bleeding. These should be stopped weeks before surgery. Other things like blood thinners or herbs that can affect your anesthetic should also be avoided.
Your Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor is there to help. Make sure you ask any questions you have on your mind before the date of your surgery, even if they’re insignificant. They won’t mind giving you peace of mind before your procedure.
The need to have revision surgery is something most people dread, but it’s always there. You can’t do much about something your surgery misses. You can however make sure you take every possible step and precaution to make sure you don’t find yourself back for a second round.
Make an appointment with Dr. Nguyen today to determine if endoscopic sinus surgery is right for you, and get the relief you need.