Sitting Around Waiting
Sleep was difficult last night. Whenever I’m concerned about my health, there’s a sort of fear of losing consciousness that keeps jolting me awake just at the point where I’m falling asleep. Also, since my nose was plugged up with surgical packing, I had to breath through my mouth, which dries out the mouth, and started making noise sometimes as I drifted to sleep and my head changed position. Once finally getting to sleep, I woke up a number of times, at least once an hour, and felt I had to change the dressing under my nose a couple of times.
On a side note, though I have to tape the dressing under my nose for sleep and to have the use of both my hands, I much prefer holding the dressing to my nose and being one-handed. The reason? Frequent dressing changes mean frequent taping to my cheek, which quickly makes the skin raw.
Anyway, today is all about just sitting around waiting, trying to pass the time as I ocasionally dab my nose. I’m just trying to relax and heal. What pain I feel, and it’s been miraculously little, feels just like a bad sinus infection. Interestingly, it’s been strongest on the side opposite from where my original sinus pain was (and he did clean both sides).
There was some excitement this morning, the first day after the operation, when I got to take out the packing in my nose. The doc had left a little bit of thread attached to the packing and I just had to gently pull it to slide the stuff out. Whoa, was that stuff bigger than I thought! I may as well have had a couple of big lego pieces stuck up my nose. It was also bloody and disgusting, and removing it started the blood flowing more for a bit, but now it’s back down to a very light leaking, and the output is light pink, so there’s less blood and more clear fluid, which I’m assuming is just mucus. Yum.
Though the packing is out, and one nostril is a little clear, I can’t quite breath through my nose yet. Swallowing is much easier, though.
Posted: June 29th, 2005 under Damek, Science.
Comments
Comment from Dank
Time Monday, July 4, 2005 at 11:14 pm
get better quickly!
Comment from Jessica
Time Wednesday, September 14, 2005 at 10:45 pm
My husband is getting this surgery tomorrow. How did you heal up? Did it work? Why did you need the surgery…I am still reading your blog, bare with me :0)
They do make HYPO-allergenic dogs - like bichons etc.
Comment from Adam
Time Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 11:08 am
Hi Jessica,
I think I wrote some of this in other posts, but no need to go read everything, I just wrote a new little summary post which may answer your questions.
RE: dogs, yeah, I’ll probably try to get an allergy-friendly dog someday, but I’d be sad to have to sell it/give it away/return it/etc. if it didn’t work out. Regardless, I wouldn’t get it until we lived in a house, or at least a bigger apartment. Pets and small living spaces just aren’t right, for me anyway.
Comment from minij
Time Saturday, October 29, 2005 at 6:20 am
Hey there,
Just wanted to tell you I really! appreciate your notes about your sinus surgery. I am sitting/laying here in bed after just having the procefure done this morning. I can;t sleep because i cannot swallow ro breath due to severe dry mouth. My doc used gell packing that will auto-dissolve so I am anxious fo rhtat to happen. He also used a short surgical mask that goes under the nose and holds the guaze in place so NO tape! Thanks again for your story. I am less worried and feel more normal now!
Comment from Michael
Time Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 5:17 pm
Woohoo! Go Adam! Surgery is fun, especially the anesthesia. I’m surprised they gave you tylenol instead of something stronger. I’d've held out for the vicadin, but then that’s me….
I hope this cures your headaches. Headaches suck. Bigtime.