I am a 74 year old Canberra woman with a 60 year history of heart disease. (I had rheumatic fever as a child and now have an artificial heart valve and a pacemaker, and I have been taking Warfarin, blood thinning medication, for more than 40 years.) I first had nosebleeds in Sep 2018 which my GP treated with silver nitrate cauterisation. The nosebleeds recurred and I was referred to an ENT specialist who advised silver nitrate cauterisation and twice daily application of Vaseline to my nostrils. After a few months the nosebleeds were increasing in frequency and duration so I asked for a referral to another ENT specialist. The second ENT specialist said I had a deviated septum and he would operate to re-align it and would also electrically cauterise the part of my nose that was bleeding. This would require me to stop taking Warfarin for a week before the surgery. This did not appeal to me as I had two other unrelated surgeries in the last few years where I stopped Warfarin and when I resumed taking it I had significant problems with post surgery bleeding. So I consulted my Cardiologist who told me about Professor Richard Harvey and suggested I go to Sydney to see him. By this time my nosebleeds were happening every few days and were lasting for up to 1 ½ hours. When I rang to make an appointment, there had been a cancellation so I was lucky to get an appointment the next week. I saw Professor Harvey on 26 May 2020. He was friendly, empathetic, and professional in his approach. He had already read my referral and asked me to elaborate on my symptoms. He then used nasal endoscopy to examine my nose and showed me on the monitor what he had found – a haemangioma in my right nostril. He explained what it was and recommended its removal. He said he could remove it right away, in the surgery, using electrical cauterisation; that it wouldn’t hurt; and that the nosebleeds should then be resolved. All those statements proved correct! He said I did have a slightly deviated septum but as it had not caused any problems to date he didn’t think any treatment was indicated. Professor Harvey rang me at home on the Saturday morning following the procedure to see how I was going and whether I’d had any further nosebleeds. After I’d recovered from the surprise of receiving a call from a Specialist, on a Saturday, I thanked him and assured him I was fine and had no further nosebleeds. At my 3 monthly review this week I was delighted to report that I have not had any more nosebleeds, and that it is so good to be able to blow my nose again! I have no hesitation in adding my name to the long list of people on this website who have given glowing reports of Professor Harvey – both his skill and his charming manner. Marie Flint

Posted Date : 20/08/2020

I would like to add my glowing comments to those already here!! I am 73 years old and have had sinus congestion for most of my life. Since childhood I have suffered severe hay fever requiring heavy doses of cortisone. It has become progressively worse, needing more and more antibiotics for sinus infections. About 10 years ago, I had sinus surgery, conducted by a different ENT surgeon, where 12 polyps were removed. I was hopeful that the problem would be solved. My congestion was less, for a very short time, but soon I was back on antibiotics every couple of months, and told that I was just a very allergic person. I finally was recommended to see Prof. Harvey. He was kind, capable, thorough and gave me hope. After first trying non-surgical intervention (with limited success) he suggested that his surgical procedure would be helpful in my case. I and so glad that I agreed to have it done. It is now nearly 8 months after surgery and I am breathing normally, no congestion and no antibiotics. All I have to do now is faithfully nasal rinse once a day. I would totally recommend Prof. Harvey, who was wonderful, and always available after the operation to answer any questions I might have. I wish I could have had this done years ago!! It really could not have gone any better!! Patti

Posted Date : 12/08/2020

The year was 2013. My holiday of a lifetime had been marred by my nose running incessantly and producing an excessive amount of mucous. After a visit to my ENT Specialist I had two large polyps removed however, during the operation the Dr noticed some tissue at the back of my nose which he thought did not look right. Even though this was well out of his area and in no way related to the polyp operation he took a sample and ordered a biopsy. In going the extra mile and taking the tissue sample the Dr had effectively saved my life. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. The next step was to attend the Cancer Clinic at St George Hospital where I endured seven weeks of Radiation Therapy five days a week. It was the most uncomfortable experience as a taut mesh mask had to be fitted over my face and head to ensure that nothing could move during the radiation. The side effects of the treatment were horrific. I developed a completely ulcerated mouth and throat which bled every night. I lost my senses of smell and taste and also my saliva which meant I had trouble swallowing anything. My mouth became very dry and food would turn into a big furry ball. I could not breathe through my nose and my tongue and lips swelled up, ulcers covered my gums, I could no longer talk and developed a cough. I was given morphine for the pain. My neck and back became inflamed and unbearably itchy and I began to lose my hair. My weight plummeted to 60kgs. I had no energy and could not walk far. I still could not breathe through my nose. I lived on "Ensure" a thick, milky drink with a large dose of protein in it. I was tired, very weak, grey looking and sad. I was virtually at the end of my tether. Soon I could not even swallow "Ensure" and was fed through a nose tube for eight hours a day which gradually decreased until my mouth and throat started to heal. Nine months after the Radiation I began to get better. I regained some taste and smell and produced a very limited amount of saliva. I still could not breathe through my nose. The tissue in my nose was too damaged to have further treatment and no one was prepared to operate as there was no guarantee that with the large amount of scar tissue and the very thin skin in my nose that the blood would clot.I was told there was nothing more that could be done for me, however, my specialist advised that if there was anyone who may be able to help me it would be Professor Richard Harvey. By this time it was 2018, five years after my cancer diagnosis. I still could not breathe through my nose and my senses of smell and taste had deserted me. I slept with tightly rolled up tissues in my nose which had to be changed throughout the night as my nose ran all night as well as all day. My saliva was minimal. I had lived with this condition for so long that I had virtually given up hope of ever recovering and being normal again. On arrival at Professor Harvey's clinic in September 2018 I was attended to by his team of polite, caring and efficient professionals before consulting with him. Professor Harvey listened intently to my story and immediately said he would try to help me. He was very positive and explained that I would require an operation which he was willing to do if I agreed to take the risk. In November 2018 Professor Harvey operated on my nose. I had complete faith in him. The operation was a success and in a short period of time I began to smell and taste again. I was thrilled to be able to breathe through my nose again which was something I had never been able to do for my entire life. I was most impressed when Dr Harvey called me on the Sunday after my operation to see how I was. What other top surgeon would do that? From time to time after the operation my nose was touchy so throughout 2019 Professor Harvey persevered with his treatment and I faithfully did everything he advised me to do. By May 2020 I was a different person. I could eat properly and more importantly enjoy my food. I had forgotten how good it is to be able to taste different flavours as I had grown so used to everything tasting bland. I had developed more saliva although it was not the same as pre cancer saliva and my mucous levels were under control. I continue to wash my nose out thoroughly every night with a special solution, use a gel to stop my teeth from decaying and a dry mouth toothpaste. I do not snore anymore and am no longer embarrassed by having to blow my nose frequently during social occasions, in fact, I hardly ever have to blow my nose at all. At last I have my life back. To me this is a miracle and I thank Professor Richard Harvey. He gives hope to patients who believe they have insurmountable problems and does not give up on anyone. He is the most caring, kind, understanding and brave surgeon who, even though he is at the top of his field has kept the common touch. I doubt I could have found a better surgeon anywhere in the world. Greg G

Posted Date : 05/06/2020