Seven Month Update: I Am My Own Toddler

I'm a little more than seven months in with this "wider passageways in my face" setup, and it hasn't been all teacakes and poodles.

In June, I began waking up with nosebleeds and pounding day-long headaches in the morning. So, I did what any sane person does in the age of the Internet and Googled my issue so I could accurately self-diagnose my nose demons. My hunch was that my membranes were dry and cracking. So, we bought a humidifier. Now, this perplexes the ever-loving-snot out of me because we live in HOUSTON, humidity capitol of Texas. You mean to tell me that with 100% humidity outside, my membranes are crackin'? Yep. Indoor air upstairs in our house is hot and dry.

The first night was awkward. Once the humidifier began to "work its magic," my nose decided to fall in line and get back to mucus production on the regular. But imagine a water hose that you've stepped on, and now, imagine that no one truly bothered to turn the source of the water off, and then suddenly, the foot was removed. Granted, no feet were in my nose, because--that's insult to injury--but all it took was a little humid, and then BAM. I would feel a cool tingle in my face, sneeze, and be covered in snot that I DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED. Thanks to modern science and surgery wonders, my face is now its own water tower. Thanks, science and $3k!

It gets better. Not only is my mucus production back in full swing, but it has a mind of its own. I can look down, and suddenly, anything below my chin is slime-coated without warning. I joked about a super power in my last post. The universe, in its hilarity, has answered my request. The joke's on me, and my shirt...and my chest, the remote, the cat, my hair...

Now if only I could market this superpower as a contraceptive measure.

Five Month Update

I'm not certain why I keep posting photos of myself, as septoplasties are internal unless you opt for additional rhino while the good doctor is rooting around in there. Slightly narcissistic? Perhaps, but I've always liked an added human element to blog posts that aren't always present. 

This is a genuine smile. Over the course of five months, the healing process has been standard, I guess. Weird pains left probably at the three month mark. I never developed a superpower wherein my nose tip tingled to announce pending rain showers as I read in another septoplasty blog.

I did find running to be much easier now that I am taking in oxygen normally. I also have found that I need to irrigate my nose with saline mixture every other day at a minimum to avoid pressure build-up. Saline gel also aides in me not getting overnight nose bleeds. It's nothing horrific when my nose does bleed, just a tiny trickle and some mild crusting.

If I were the type, I would say nose piercings are out for me.

In my next post, perhaps I will have superpowers. Take care, schnozzolas!

Update: 3 Months Plus

Hello, dear reader. I am long due for an update regarding the healing o' my olfactory orifice. In short, the schnoz is okay. Yeah, only okay.

I irrigate once to twice daily to remove built up facial pressure, otherwise it becomes unbearable. The unfortunate part of irrigation is that sometimes my nose retains bits of saline water to disperse at random intervals throughout the day, dousing my throat with an unpleasant salt surprise.

Once a week, my nose is especially tender to the touch, even if I simply need to clear my nostrils via tissue.

I am no longer comfortable as a side sleeper, preferring instead to sleep on my back. 

Taste seems to be returning as usual, but it, like smells, comes and goes depending on my varying intranasal saline level.

Exercise is still a treat that I am able to better enjoy.

What is my satisfaction with surgery? 100% undoubtedly, but pollen can take a hike.

 

3 Weeks Since Surgery

A jaunt down memory lane was necessary before I updated today.

I am still rinsing with saline twice daily, along with the horrid orange capsules of Levoflox. My nose is still tender but not nearly as so. Also: the last update regarding blood slugs wasn't the end of those ugly boogers. They came back! Thankfully, that business seems to be done, but occasionally, I'll get a small slime blob when I rinse. Mostly natural mucus coloring only.

This week, my theme has been EXHAUSTION. This is somewhat of a disappointment because sleep time has been 9pm-5am. I also have to remind myself, though, that I started each day of last week with a cup of coffee. This week, I haven't had any caffeine: perhaps I'll try green tea.

And now? Selfie! Just showing off the lack of swelling. 

Friday, I go to the doctor for a post-op check-in. I need three more weeks to speed by so I can be cleared for working out again.

Jan 4: Nearly 2 weeks after surgery

I'm working on a three day headache now. The bummer factor is that it's the Saturday before work starts back up and I must get work done--deadlines.

There's always the argument that I should have left work at work. That's laughable in my profession. If you never have to do this, count yourself fortunate.

As for me and my head, we will attempt to not explode.

Nine Days Since Procedure

So, I lied. I didn't call the doctor on Monday re: blood slugs. I continued to have them through yesterday morning after rinses with a nasal irrigation system (pictured below).

Can I add that since my surgery, nasal irrigation actually drains properly? Before, I guess I was just shooting water up into my sinuses and it was falling out of the same nostril rather than going THROUGH. 

My doctor-prescribed round of healing now also involves me following up rinses with a half-solution of saline and the contents of the orange capsules (Levoflox).

I sneezed this morning, partially through my nose: I'm fine and it didn't hurt more than my head does (roughly a 2-3 on the pain/discomfort scale). My next appointment is January 20.