Visit to Sydney ENT

Last Wednesday I visited the Sydney ENT. He had a nice office in ULTIMO.

I walked up from Central Station to Broadway, then down the back streets to the unit.

He had his office in a 4 story renovated warehouse. I've never been in a converted warehouse building, so it was a bit unusual for me - but ok. They've done a good job; nice professional offices.

Anyway - it was a cold blustery day - thankfully I dressed warm & it didn't rain!

I had to fill out the usual forms saying who I was & what I was there for, etc - just the usual stuff & had to wait in the room for a while - as I was early.

Then I started to bleed (just a bit) so that was annoying - as I got all the way into Sydney "ok" until that point.

Once it was my turn I had a chat with the ENT surgeon who confirmed that if I have HHT there is nothing that he can do - (cure wise) but treat the symptoms like the other ent's. However, his solution is different.

He explained about the argon laser - he described it a bit differently to how I understood it - it sends out pulses of plasma that seal the bleeding bits in the nose.

He did 2 exams - one just with the light & goggles - so he could see the bleeding area. Then one with the anesthetic. He sprayed so much that I went numb down my throat & numb down my lips - very strange for 20 minutes or so!

But to do the (deep) exam he had a knitting needle type device that went straight in. e tried my right - but that bled straight away. So I had to hold my nose to stop the bleeding; stay calm and breath calmly while he stuck most of this "probe" almost all the way in on the left.

Breathing & being calm is the secret! It doesn't hurt - you just sort of feel it moving in & around, a little discomfort, but no pain. He did the same on the other side.

he did say a couple of good things - that I dont have many spots "deep" in my nose - just one "inactive" spot right at the back & lots near the front. So he can do his wonders with me with this machine.

I was wondering whether my really bad bleeding a couple of years ago was from this now "inactive" spot at the back as myself and the doctors could not stop the bleeding in hospital - it seemed to be deep (not from the front) and very difficult to stop! (eg, 4hrs + severe bleeding without stopping!) I guess the new steps that I am taking - keeping the nose moist & the other medicines has helped.

At the end of the exam he suggested I get some CT scans done of the upper body. That's to see if there are any of the spots in other organs at the moment. I've also sent off the admission forms for Bankstown hospital. So I go onto their waiting list & assume when a free time comes up in the future, they'll call me (or I call the surgeon again if things get carried away...)