15 W. Dry Creek Circle                                                                                           6169 S. Balsam Way; Suite 290
         Littleton, CO  80120-4427                                                                                                                                   Littleton, Colorado  80123
     Phone: (303)  798-1309                                                                                                                                        Fax: (303) 798-2319
Ear, Nose & Throat Center
Specialists of the Ear, Nose and Throat   /  Head and Neck Surgery  /  Facial Plastic Surgery
Evaluation  of  Dizziness  &  Vestibular Disorders

For more information see us at our web site !      http://www.ENT Center.Net
   
INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  PATIENTS  FOLLOWING  NASAL  OR  SINUS SURGERY

Nasal and sinus surgery offers a way to cure many individuals with  chronic nasal and sinus disease. Below are several suggestions that may prove helpful.  If you have ANY questions please call Dr. Culberson and they will be answered.

After discharge from the hospital, strenuous activity is to be avoided.  This especially includes bending, lifting, working or full activity until after your first post-operative visit or until you have specific clearance from your doctor to do so.

Use the medications you were given at the time of discharge as directed.  These may include an antibiotic to combat infection at the post-operative site.  You will also be given a pain reliever, and if you experience pain which is not relieved by your pain medication, please call me or the office and report it. Nausea  as a result of codiene based pain medicine is fairly common. If you think it is causing you a problem please call so we can call in a non-codiene based pain reliever. At the first post-operative office visit, you will be advised whether any of these medications are to be continued for a longer period of time.

For the first 72 hours following surgery, try not to blow your nose, but rather sniff any secretions into the throat and cough it up.  Avoid smoke and other substances which might irritate the nose.  Do not use aspirin. Tylenol, Motrin, Aleve, or Advil are O.K. to  use.  Change the drip pad under your nose as needed.

You should try to keep the nose moist once the packing is removed.  Set up a humidifier at the patient's bedside.  A hot vaporizer or cold nebulizer is equally effective and can be used.  Close the door so the air is well humidified. During the day use nasal saline every one or two hours.  These are available at most pharmacies as "Ayr", "Nasal", or "Ocean spray".  Ask your pharmacist to show you where they are.  You won't need a prescription for them.

If bleeding occurs from the nose, apply GENTLE  pinching pressure on your nose.  Rest in bed with the head elevated on two pillows and apply ice on the nose and cheeks.  If bleeding persists after 15 minutes or is heavy, call our office.

If surgery was performed to alter the outside shape of your nose and you wear glasses.  Please ask the nurse in my office to show you how to tape them  up to  your forehead in order to take the pressure off of your nose.

Call the office, (303) 798-1309 for an appointment for your post-operative visit as soon as possible after leaving the hospital to insure that you will be seen when the doctor requests. If you have ANY problems please call the office  or page the doctor on call.  You should call if you are having persistent bleeding.

Keep your head elevated and sleep on an extra pillow.

Do not use aspirin, alka seltzer, or peptobismal.  It will cause bleeding.

If any other questions arise please call and talk to the office nurse.  She can answer many of the routine questions and can get me on the phone if it represents a more complex problem.