Modern Nasal Procedure vs Traditional Surgery

This patient and his wife tell about their experience with a very large sinus surgery at the Modern Nose Clinic. Also, he had a traditional surgery in the operating room done elsewhere previously, and he compares the two experiences. His spouse discusses what it was like watching the surgery.

Dr. Skarada:

So this is Doug Skarada, and this is one of my favorite patients. I've got a lot of cool patients, but – and his wife – and they've just had a surgery just a couple weeks ago, and the neat thing here – I won't mention his name – but the neat thing. He said he'd share his story. The neat thing here is that he's had the surgery done before. The one where he'd go to the operating room, and then he had this procedure done here. I was wondering – and actually, his wife was just telling me a bunch of stuff – tell me about how different it was.

Spouse:

Oh, well. I didn't know about the first one, but I know from what he told me how painful the recovery and long and everything and so. This procedure, the first day after we brought him home, he really wasn't in any pain. I don't even think you hardly took a pain pill after you left here. Ever! But that first – so he rested on the couch and just relaxed and did what he was supposed to do with the rinsing because I know that really helps.

Dr. Skarada:

Yeah.

Spouse:

And so he was very diligent about that. And that first night, just listening to him breathe without struggling was amazing. Right? The very first night. No pain. He was in no pain.

Dr. Skarada:

This is a patient who is not a complainer. This guy is like – he climbs trees. He's a tree topper, if I'm correctly–

Patient:

Yes.

Dr. Skarada:

–stating that. But he also is a self-professed adrenaline junkie, and he says, "Doug, man. When I'm not doing my job, I'm doing other things that are probably even more dangerous." So the idea that he would go around with a whole bunch of infection in his sinuses was a non-starter. But yeah. He had a big big surgery, and it was kind of a surprise you still had infection despite that, right?

Patient:

Yeah. Well, you know what? I think it was 26 years ago, at least, and I had the operating – that the old surgery. And it seemed like weeks because I was a Federal Express employee at the time. And it – weeks and painful. Very painful. I'll never forget that surgery. And then after having this surgery and waking up the next day, I didn't know that I had had a surgery. Honestly.

Dr. Skarada:

That is awesome.

Patient:

Didn't even know it. I mean – not the recovery. One thing that – you know – that you professed I should do, and I did do. NetiPot.

Dr. Skarada:

Yes.

Patient:

And I did that in the morning and the evening. And by putting that – cutting those little bags – you know – and putting them in there.

Dr. Skarada:

Yes.

Patient:

You know. And then shaking them.

Dr. Skarada:

Yeah.

Patient:

And with the lukewarm water.

Dr. Skarada:

Yes.

Patient:

Not hot.

Dr. Skarada:

Yeah.

Patient:

And I would inhale deeply and exhale as I used each one in each sinus.

Dr. Skarada:

Yes.

Patient:

So one bottle per sinus. I think that that really helps on the recovery and the healing–

Dr. Skarada:

That's good to know.

Patient:

–after the surgery. You know?

Dr. Skarada:

Yeah.

Patient:

But I've got to say that I've already told lots of people about you–

Dr. Skarada:

Thank you.

Patient:

–and your – you know – your surgery. They're afraid to come in. You know?

Dr. Skarada:

Yeah.

Patient:

And I said, "Go see Dr. Skarada because you'll be amazed."

Dr. Skarada:

Well, thank you. We have this idea that about 80 percent of people out there who could benefit are too afraid, and our field has done it to ourselves. Ear nose and throat doctors have hurt people and in trying to help them but not realizing that you don't have to cut open the sinuses. You can actually dilate them with a balloon and other delicate techniques. With a procedure, awake in-clinic instead of going to the operating room for a surgery. So, thank you guys for sharing that!

Spouse:

Let me share one more thing.

Dr. Skarada:

Yes.

Spouse:

Because I am a person that – I never thought I would be able to watch his surgery. And I watched every minute, just passionately. It was so amazing to watch, and he didn't – it wasn't painful. It was delicate, fine-tuned, and it was fascinating. And it wasn't – it didn't unnerve me. It was really pretty amazing. I'm excited to see the video.

Dr. Skarada:

That's helpful to know too because some people are apprehensive. At the Modern Nose Clinic–

Spouse:

Oh yeah.

Dr. Skarada:

–we like to invite friends and family members to watch while we're doing this surgery.

Spouse:

It was amazing!

Dr. Skarada:

It gives me a chance. I enjoy people, and it gives me a chance to really know the families better, so I feel like we get to bond a little bit better. And we can really – when you see something, and you see why we're doing it, and you can watch, you can see that it successfully opens. You know that you've gotten it fixed, whereas, when your loved one goes to the OR, and they say, "I did X, Y, and Z" you believe them, but there's something about actually seeing it.

Spouse:

Absolutely.

Dr. Skarada:

In this case here, his prior surgery. They had tried to open sinuses that were never opened. I mean, when we opened them, it was the first time. So.

Spouse:

Yeah, it was amazing!

Dr. Skarada:

So. Alright, thank you, guys! I think people will listen to this, and they'll find it to be really helpful.

At the Modern Nose Clinic, our patients get better faster.