Dr. Shah obtained his BA/MD from Boston University and completed his Otolaryngology residency at Tufts University followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children's Hospital Boston at Harvard University. After fellowship, he joined the faculty of Children's National Medical Center in 2006. Dr. Shah is an active clinical researcher and has received numerous awards for his research.
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
How long will it take to recover from sinus surgery?
Depending on the extent of the surgery, recovery may take a few days. It may
take up to 3 to 5 days to feel completely back to normal. Patients should refrain
from activities that increase heart rate or blood pressure such as
running,
exercising, weight lifting, or other similar activities. It is imperative to
obtain guidance from the surgeon as to when they may resume all normal
activities. Until this time, patients should rest and limit physical
exertion.
General instructions and follow-up care for
sinus surgery
In many cases, packs or nasal packing is placed in the nose to control
postoperative bleeding. The surgeon will tell the patient when to return to the
office to have these packs removed. Patients may need to call the office to
schedule this postoperative appointment. Please arrange for someone to drive the
patient to and from the office for this first visit in case any complications
(for example, additional bleeding) develop. Patients should eat a light meal
before coming, and avoid taking excessive pain medications. In addition, most
patients will also have several subsequent office visits scheduled to assess
healing, remove crusts, and insure a speedy recovery. These visits are very
important as the surgeon may use the endoscope (camera to look in the nose) to
clean up the sinuses and perform further debridements. This post-operative
surveillance by the surgeon is very crucial in the individual's long-term
success with the surgery.
After the packing has been removed, individuals may breathe through their
nose, but should not blow or sneeze through it for 7 to 10 days to reduce the
chance of bleeding. If a person must sneeze, they should try to sneeze through
an open mouth. Many surgeons tell patients to expect some light blood-tinged
drainage from the nose for several days. If bleeding becomes excessive, apply an
ice-pack (described previously) and rest quietly with head elevated while applying
mild to moderate pressure to the nose. If bleeding continues, call the doctor's
office.
One of the most important things patients can do after surgery is nasal
irrigation. Immediately after the nasal packs are removed patients should use a
saline nasal spray such as "Ocean Spray" several times per day to prevent crusts
from forming in the nose. The surgeon will tell patients when to discontinue the
nasal spray and will also let them know the best way to irrigate the sinuses.
Patients should go back to work or school only when the doctor says you can
and should plan on resting for several days following surgery. Avoid excessive
talking, smiling, hard chewing, strenuous activities, and lifting heavy objects,
bumping the nose, and bending over. Try not to rest eye glasses on the bridge of
the nose until soreness and swelling subside. People may wear contact lenses
once eye swelling and any eye irritation has resolved. Alcohol and tobacco
should be avoided because they may prolong swelling and healing. Smoke, dust,
and fumes may irritate the nose and cause an infection. In general, people may
use usual make-up anytime after surgery, as long as the structures (for example,
eyelids) with make-up are relatively normal and are not irritated by the
application of make-up. Be gentle while brushing the upper teeth. They will
often be tender for several weeks, and some people may have some numbness of the
teeth and palate for several months.
Patients should plan to remain in the general area where the surgery was
performed for 3 weeks to allow for postoperative care and in case bleeding
occurs, the patient can be seen by the surgeon that did the procedure and who
should best be able to treat the patient.
Sinus infection (sinusitis) signs and symptoms include headache, fever, and facial tenderness, pressure, or pain. Treatments of sinus infections are generally with antibiotics and at times, home remedies.
Allergic rhinitis symptoms include an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, itchy ears, eyes, and throat. Seasonal allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) is usually caused by pollen in the air. Perennial allergic rhinitis is a type of chronic rhinitis and is a year–round problem, often caused by indoor allergens, such as dust, animal dander, and pollens that may exist at the time. Treatment of chronic rhinitis and post nasal drip are dependant upon the type of rhinitis condition.
The common cold (viral upper respiratory tract infection) is a contagious illness that may be caused by various viruses. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and maybe a fever. Antibiotics have no effect upon the common cold, and there is no evidence that zinc and vitamin C are effective treatments.
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
Sinus headache is caused by a sinus infection or inflammation of the sinus cavities. The primary symptom of a sinus infection is pain and increasing pressure overlying the area and associated tenderness to the touch. Treatment of a sinus headache depends on the cause.
A deviate septum is a condition in which the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half (nasal septum) is significantly off center or crooked. The causes of a deviated septum can be congenital, or develop after a trauma or injury to the nose. Symptoms of a deviated septum include nasal congestion, recurrent sinus infections, nosebleeds, headache, facial pain, postnasal drip, snoring, and loud breathing. A deviated septum can be relieved with medications, and if necessary surgery, called a septoplasty.
Allergy RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the