It’s been just over three weeks since my operation, so I feel I can leave a review now.
For many years I had issues with my sinus (post nasal drip, runny nose, difficulty breathing through my nose), using various medications and methods that may initially help, but ultimately didn’t work and I guess I lost faith. I went for consultations in Ireland but was less than impressed, both public and private. I go to Budapest for work occasionally and having had dental treatment there I was really happy with the standards. Having done some research I contacted Medicover in Budapest.
I initially went for a consultation, approx. three weeks before the operation, the offices were modern and the equipment state of the art (I believe it’s only open a few years), the people working there were also nice and welcoming with a good level of English. As part of my consultation, I initially had a CT scan on my sinus, just to see the areas of blockage and air flow and check for any deviations in my septum.
Afterwards Dr. Szabó, an affable man, who was my ENT Consultant and ultimately my Surgeon. He looked at the CT scan and also examined me using an Endoscope and diagnosed enlarged turbinate’s, diseased Maxillary Sinus and a Deviated Septum. The recommendation was FESS, a Mucosectomy (Turbinectomy) and corrective surgery for my deviated septum.
After a period of thought and also comparing my CT scan (they give you a copy) with Google images related to the diagnosis and procedures, everything pretty much added up.
I arrived the day before surgery to complete various tests – Anesthesia consultation, blood tests, EKG, chest x-ray etc. The following morning I arrived for surgery. I wasn’t particularly nervous before, I knew it was something that would really help me and had confidence in my surgeon and his colleagues, so I was at peace (my pulse readings were normal just before surgery).
Post-surgery is not much fun, but not too inconvenient. I stayed in the hospital for two nights during which time I had silicone implants and had to wear this nose mustache thing, so it was uncomfortable, but not particularly painful. The private room was perfectly adequate and the nurse and nighttime staff really nice.
On leaving the hospital Dr. Szabó removed the implants and provided some prescriptions, I stayed in Budapest for another 4 days (you shouldn’t fly too soon afterward) and went for a check-up, and following that returned home. It takes time to fully heal, and I will have been using saline rinses (really helps) and am just about to start using a nasal spread as per my surgeon's recommendation.
In conclusion, I can now breathe through my nose since I don’t know when like there are new passages where air can go. As opposed to blowing my nose every hour it now rarely happens and I can no longer feel phlegm in the back of my throat.
I have the greatest respect for Dr. Szabó, I think a great surgeon and also a lovely man, not to mention the others working there from the receptionists to the nurses to the customer service, an impressive Organisation to which I hold in high regard.
