All clear on the nose blow February 11, 2009

Today I blew my nose for the first time since my operation.  Weirdly, I was really conscious of it, as I’ve been banned from blowing since Monday 5 Jan, the day of the operation.

 

I went for a follow up post-op with the nose man last Thursday (trudging in the snow – the waiting room was empty and I was seen early; bliss!) – he was really pleased with the result and practically leapt off his chair with glee when I said my sense of smell was now amazing too.  I feel he hadn’t had the chance of much patient interaction that day.

 

Anyhoo, 2 weeks ahead of expected schedule, my nose got the all clear and I am ok to play rugby again (whooooop!) and blow the aforesaid nostrils.  Very exciting on all fronts non?

 

So the nose blow went fine, anyway. 

 

Have yet to try rugby again cos the snow has scuppered training and games. Hoping we’ll play on Sunday and doubly hoping I don’t crack and break my nose in my first tackle!

 

To anyone who’s thinking of having septoplasty done – DO IT.  It’s one of the best things I’ve done in a long time and the benefits have been amazing.

The smell of septoplasty success? January 14, 2009

It’s now 9 days on from my nose operation, and the swelling – which was minimal – has all but gone.  I spent 10 mins last night looking in the mirror at my new nose, which I’m convinced is a bit more wonky than it used to be.

My nose was never perfect but it was straight-ish.  I’m sure it leans to the left now, possibly an upshot of the surgeon trying to correct all the deviated crap in my left nostril during the operation.  I still have stitches in one nostril so perhaps that’s skewing it a bit, but still  -  it’s a bit wonky.  The Boy says so too, but then I looked at his conk properly (for the first time?) and saw that his snozzer was well off a straight and even course.

 

Vanity aside, as it’s probably only noticeable to me, I am now feeling the benefits of the surgery.  My sense of smell has really suddenly picked up.  In my best bud’s house the other day her hyacinths on the windowsill were nearly overpowering my senses, and the marmalade yesterday smelt intense – Fantastic!  That was, until The Boy ate a big veggie curry and the inevitable windy after effects kicked in.  Sense of smell not so good in that situation!!

 

Another benefit I’ve noticed is that I’m starting to breathe through my nose a lot more. Last night in bed I was reading with my mouth shut, breathing like a normal person, which is a complete change from my usual Darth-Vader sounding breathing.

 

Both these indicate that the op has been a success, even if I’m a bit wonky still.  I’m getting into the salt-spray as well, it’s very effective at clearing things out and a lady I know has kept up doing this months and months after the operation. I might follow suit.

 

Onwards now, I’ve got batch number 2 of marmalade on the go today so must go stir!

the big reveal January 8, 2009

 

Operation Nose, Mark 3, was set for Monday just gone and finally, thankfully, it actually went ahead this time.  I hadn’t had long to dwell on the impending surgery, thanks to an action packed weekend of footie at Forest Green and a visit to the darts at the Lakeside (both brill), so I wasn’t too trepidatious come Monday morning.

 

The hospital didn’t have a bed for me when I arrived so I had to get changed into my nightie and green stockings and sit in the waiting room, where the anaesthetic and surgeon came to see me.  The anaesthetist was an Eastern European guy who seemed really sweet, but he did have a very small black moustache which, with his accent, immediately made me think he was rather like a James Bond villain.  The surgeon was a blonde blue eyed and very young guy, so a complete contrast to James Bond villain man, although he wasn’t quite a Daniel Craig lookeelikee. That would have been ultra weird.
Off I trotted down to theatre, and before I knew it I was in the villain’s hands again.  I was literally shaking at this point with nerves especially when he said “just relax…” but no sooner was the jab in, than I was out, and the next thing I knew I was in recovery.  Thank goodness, no “I woke up during surgery” stories to sell to Take a Break.  My first instinct was to touch my nose – still there. Excellent.

 

On getting back to the ward, I took a pic of myself on my mobile and found a very sorry sight with a large bulbous nose, packed with bandages, but gladly no black eyes so that was good.  Throughout the afternoon I dozed quite happily but it was at night time when the fun and games started.

 

I was in a mainly male ward and my bay was all blokes – a quiet chap who seemed sweet, a guy who’d been in there for a week and knew all the nurses and wanted to chat loads, and a chap next to me who’d swallowed his own denture plate.  He couldn’t talk very well, having had his two front teeth plus the plate down his neck, and sounded like Madge from neighbours, but a lot deeper and a LOT louder.  The highlight of his new vocal talents (unintelligable to many) was when at 9.30pm, he turned on his radio and started singing along to Take That.  I kid you not. I was laying there trying to sleep and listening to warped troll voice man belting out ‘Greatest Day’.  For godssake!!  He was also having some sort of vivid dreams if the rest of the night’s quips and shouting episodes were anything to go by.

 

This guy was accompanied by what seemed to me to be the International Snoring Competition for the male over 40 category, with many in the ward having a good shout at the title.  Wheezes, coughs, splutters, snores, shouts, we had a great variety of sounds to keep me occupied.  I was not a happy big nosed bunny.

 

Anyhoo, morning did arrive at last and the surgeon came round to see me.  Apparently my septum needed an awful lot of work, and part of it was dislocated as well as the gross deviation to correct.  Nice, non!!  He thought it went well and after a while I got my packs taken out (felt like the nurse was dragging my brain through my nostril, believe me it was horrid). A couple of hours later, I was on my way home again, thank goodness, with a nice bandage/bolster thingy strapped under my nose.  Amazing how you don’t care what you look like when you’re ill though – I wanted some fresh air so stood outside the main entrance with my lank greasy hair and bloodied bandage, waiting for my lift home.

 

So a few days on, I’m feeling quite good. The nose is going down gradually and is being well behaved. I’m not allowed to blow my nose for 6 weeks which will be weird and no exercise or anything strenuous for 2 weeks in case of bleeding.   I am sitting on my backside all day reading books and eating Christmas choccies – bad news for the B2B beautifying campaign! Ho hum.

 

So how do I look?  The nose at the moment I think looks a bit off centre, but maybe it was always like that? I can’t quite remember what I looked like. It’s slightly freaky that it looks like a bigger version of a normal nose - it would have been a bit less weird if it was hugely inflamed with loads of bruising but as it is, I just look like I’ve stumbled into Pinocchio and told my first lie.  I’m having to put salt spray up my nose three times a day, plus nose drops three times a day which isn’t too ardous, although the salt spray makes my eyes water.  

The worst thing I’ve found, so far, is yawning. A big yawn seems to move my nostrils around which can be a bit painful.  No sneezes to contend with yet and I intend to keep out the way of anyone with the lurgy – the nurse advised me to sneeze with my mouth open if I feel the need – so that’ll be nice for anyone nearby!

 

Ok, seeing as you all wanted it, here’s a pic of me and my nose – not as exciting as I’d anticipated and I can’t get the photos off my phone showing the immediate aftermath, so this one is one day post surgery and really not that dramatic – see what you think…

 

Looking forward to going under the knife November 13, 2008

This coming Monday, I’m going under the knife for my long awaited nose surgery.  I’ve never had an op before, so I am a bit nervous, but mostly I’m really looking forward to it – not least because:

- I get 2 weeks off work, hoopla!  I know, I’ll be in pain and probably sneezing blood, but work has been ridiculously busy and having a break will do me the world of good.

- I might be able to breathe properly out of two nostrils for the first time since…well, I can’t remember.  Not sounding like I’ve got a cold all the time will be fabulous.

- I will actually have a bit of time (see 2 weeks off) to catch up with stuff. There’s plenty to do for the rugby club at the moment with our fundraising effort and I need to clean out our website content.  Also plan to do some piano playing and painting.

- I’m intrigued as to how my body will cope. I’m good with pain (when I broke my leg I whimpered a bit tho) and I’m not fussed by blood. I know everyone will have different recoveries but I’m hoping mine will be speedy and I can soon be up and about, albeit bruised!

Anyhoo, Monday at noon is show time.  The Boy is going to pick me up from hospital after my face has been sorted, and thankfully he decided my nervous whimpering in the build up is legitimate and he’s taking Tuesday off to look after me.  That will probably amount to him being in the garage all day tinkering, but making me cups of tea every so often.