The initial consultation with Dr. Zadeh includes a full review of the disease process through evaluation of the patient, the patient’s disease course as well as studies available for review. The initial consultation allows the patient to explain his or her ailment and convey what is most important to the patient, in addition to any concerns and or/questions that the patient may have. Dr. Zadeh will then devise a strategy that will treat the source of the problem rather than treating only the symptoms, taking into consideration all medical and surgical options. Working closely with each patient, Dr. Zadeh will develop an individualized plan of treatment for the patient.
Special arrangements can be made for patients who are not from the Los Angeles area.
Please prepare for your initial consultation by bringing:
- A list of all medications that you are taking.
- A list of your questions and concerns.
- A copy of your sinus CT scan if one is available (Please bring the actual films in addition to the report).
- Please download and fill out the Patient forms.
- Health Insurance and/or card information.
PATIENT FORMS
Please complete the forms below prior to your first appointment. Please click on the link below, print the forms, fill them out and bring them to your initial consultation with Dr. Zadeh:
Note: These files are in PDF format. If you do not have Adobe® Reader® on your computer, you can download it for free by clicking here.
PREPARING FOR SURGERY
Medications to avoid before surgery:
- There are certain medications that can increase your risk of bleeding during and after surgery. These medications include aspirin and NSAIDs such as Advil, Motrin, and Aleve. These medicines should not be taken for 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after surgery. You may substitute Tylenol for these medications.
- Vitamin E and herbal medications such as gingko biloba, ginseng, and garlic tablets can also increase your risk of bleeding and should be stopped prior to surgery. Please advise our office of all nutritional supplements and medications, prescribed or “over-the-counter” that you are currently taking.
Preoperative prescriptions:
- Prior to surgery, Dr. Zadeh will most likely prescribe a few medications. It is important to follow our instructions and start the medications at the appropriate times.
- Although pain medications will be prescribed to you by Dr. Zadeh, you are encouraged to take extra strength Tylenol or regular Tylenol instead of prescription pain medications for mild pain or discomfort to prevent constipation and nausea.
- Depending on your allergies and degree of disease, an antibiotic will be prescribed to you. Antibiotics should be started the evening of surgery.
Smoking:
- Smoking can severely affect the outcome of your sinus surgery. Smoking causes increased scar tissue and poor healing that can lead to poor outcome of surgery. We will usually require you to stop smoking 3-4 weeks before surgery and to avoid smoking for an additional month after surgery.
Alcohol:
- Alcohol is a potent vessel dilator and can promote edema or swelling and even bleeding. It is best to abstain from heavy drinking for 2 weeks prior to surgery and to avoid any alcohol intake the week after surgery.
The day of surgery:
- It is extremely important that you do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery, so that the anesthesiologist can safely put you to sleep. If your stomach is not empty the day of surgery, the surgery will have to be postponed.
- You may take medications prescribed for heart, asthma, seizures, or high blood pressure the morning of surgery with a sip of water.
- You may brush your teeth.
POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
What to expect after nasal and sinus surgery:
- Our Los Angeles nasal surgery and sinus surgery is performed under general anesthesia so you will be asleep during the surgery. After surgery, you will spend a few hours in a recovery room to allow you to wake up. Most patients feel good enough to go home a few hours after their surgery.
- After nasal and sinus surgery, you can expect drainage from your nose that will be red in color. This drainage will decrease in amount and turn lighter in color over the few days after surgery and a small amount of blood-tinged drainage may be present for about 10 to 14 days.
- Surgery also causes temporary swelling of the tissues in the nasal cavities. You may have a temporary feeling of congestion and fullness in your nose and sinuses.
What to do:
- Please contact us with any questions or concerns. There is a doctor available 24/7.
- You can wear a cotton gauze pad underneath your nose for the first few days after surgery in order to catch the drainage from your nose. You should change the gauze under your nose as it becomes soiled. Please contact us immediately if there is any persistent bleeding.
- In order to reduce nasal congestion, it is helpful to sleep with your head elevated. For the first week after surgery, try to sleep with at least two pillows beneath your head so that your head is higher than the level of your chest.
- Take the antibiotics prescribed to you Dr. Zadeh to help prevent infection. Antibiotics should be started the evening of surgery.
- Take your pain pills to help lessen the pain.
- Although pain medications will be prescribed to you by Dr. Zadeh, you are encouraged to take extra strength Tylenol or regular Tylenol instead of prescription pain medications for mild pain or discomfort. Do not take aspirin and NSAIDs such as Advil, Motrin, and Aleve, or pills that contain these drugs as they may increase chances of bleeding.
- After the surgery, follow up regularly as instructed with Dr. Zadeh in order to evaluate how your nasal cavity and sinuses are healing.
- Take your pain pills about 30 minutes before your first two post-operative visits.
- After your first post-operative visit, flush your nasal cavity with a saltwater solution prescribed by us. You will be given instructions on how to do this. This helps the nasal cavity and sinuses to heal better. It is normal to have large crusts or scabs coming out from the nose after using the saltwater flushes.
Cautions and restrictions:
- In order to help prevent bleeding, do not blow your nose for 14 days after surgery. You may gently sniff back any secretions. Once you begin your saltwater nasal flushes, you can gently blow your nose. If you need to sneeze, you should do so with your mouth open. Do not hold back a sneeze.
- It is important to avoid any strenuous activity for the first 2 weeks after surgery. You may continue to get moderate exercise by walking.
- Avoid any exercise that makes you feel strained.
- Avoid bending over and lifting any objects over 20 pounds.
- Avoid aerobics, jogging, exercising, swimming or contact sports.
- Use caution when taking narcotic pain pills.
- Do not drive a car or operate any other vehicle as the pills may cause you to feel drowsy.
- Do not drink alcohol when taking the pain pills.
- Do not take any pain medication on an empty stomach.
- Drink lots of fluids and slowly advance to your regular diet as tolerated.
- Do not smoke. Avoid second-hand smoke and other fumes that can irritate the nose.
- Do not travel by airplane for a few weeks. Please await medical clearance prior to flying.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES