Ouch

Listen to old man Pearce, kids: Septoplasty hurts...

Back on 11 December I had one of my own. The procedure was done under conscious sedation - the type where you are physically conscious, but mentally asleep. Talk about a trip! One minute, I'm chewing on a nasal canula commenting on how it seems they're pushing gas because I'm feeling a bit lightheaded, and the next thing I know, I realize that there is someone inside my nose - cracking, breaking - and I'm saying to the doc "heyyy, that hurts" (yes, I said it like that... it'll be a while before I forget that moment).

Anyway, procedure done, I find out I talked like a leaky faucet... unstoppable. Not really about anything as I found out a week later, but non-stop nonetheless.

Throughout the following week, I was to experience a level of misery unknown since my days living with my ex. Physical pain on top of emotional pain compounded by a weakness in the spirit that could only be attributed to having a portion of oneself carved out.

I found out after about the second day (13 Dec) that I actually could not smell. Guess what other sense is made up with mostly smell... that's right kids, I couldn't taste a damn thing. I was faced with a week of no scents, no tastes, pain, misery, and crusty boogers.

BRING IT ON!!

I ended up in the hospital over the first weekend with an infection. This was cleared up very quickly by getting a different antibiotic. No big story here.

Come Friday, 19 Dec It was time to take out my tubes. Oh, did I fail to mention that there were 1/2-inch diameter tubes up my nose and that the tubes were about 4 inches long? Talk about a freaky feeling... having this huge tube pulled out of your nose... wow.

Since that date, I have been so happy. I can smell again, I can taste, I can breathe... oh, man, it's wonderful. I know that it is still within recovery time right now, but the passages are so clear. I can breathe through both nostrils. Of course, the boogies as big as streetcars are a little annoying, but I'll get over it.

I only have two pictures of the whole thing and they are out of focus, but I'll try to get one of them up here before long... not that anyone reads this, but...