Just had my sinus surgery...

For some writing is therapy; For others; an indulgence.
For some, it's both.

This Thursday I took the plunge and went in to USC to have a Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty done.

I decided if two years+ of antibiotics wasn't enough to cure "Severe Chronic Pan-sinusitis" that perhaps by getting this procedure would help. But, I won't lie: I hate hospitals. And I wasn't looking forward to this.

However, I'm hoping this will end a long battle with sinus problems over the years.

If you wonder why I'm posting these, it's because I would have liked to have been able to see what other's post-op photos of this procedure were (that were not not posted by any particular medical office.)

This is how I looked the first day:


Even though I am an avid fan of both David Lynch and David Kronenberg, I am opting not to gross out people just for thrills, so trust me; these are the "better" shots here.

(However, if you really, really want more details about this event, by all means, feel free to email me. I'm happy to send on the more vivid images.)

Let me put it like this. I look far worse now, on my third day in, than I look in these photos. I have had to shuttle my children off for the entire weekend in an exhausting round of of endless "playdates" so they do not have to stare at my bloated, swollen, bloody face.

Here's how it feels on day three: Like crap.

It's taking every ounce of energy not to rip the taping off my nose, since the surgeon has "taped it up" for the next week at a rather "pig-like" angle. It hurts and bugs the crap out of me.

I also have this maddening sensation of suffocating because the packing in my nose and sinuses is still in and I'm "draining" out my nostrils at a steady drip, drip, drip of bright red. Swallowing any food or drink is virtually impossible to due without your ears feeling like they are imploding.

Also, as of yesterday my eyes have become so swollen that they are bulging out of my splint like bright purple, shiny bulbs. The sharp plastic edges of the splint are now poking into my eyes just near the tear ducts, so it feels like someone is constantly holding a plastic fork prong in both tear ducts. It's maddening.

image removed by blog author now that she's come to her senses...

NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING.

When my husband is with me, he is very good at speaking sternly to me to not give in to panic. But, he's not here and the desire to rip these bandages off my face is very accute. However, I will breathe deeply and go find some more pharmaceuticals at this time.

Zen. There's nothing to do but enjoy the ride, right? I'm out of the plane and all I have is a long ride down with this particular parachute and fighting the facts won't work here. I must float on and trust the process....

(When was the last time I took a vicodin? I must have another around here somewhere.)

Louise