Meh

[textualdeviance]

So, I saw another ENT this morning and got the diagnosis confirmed. I do need surgery, dammit. My septum is apparently not just deviated, but really, really wonky--so bad that the doc even asked if I'd ever broken my nose! Plus there's a structure called a turbinate up there that's larger than usual, so the net result is that one nostril is almost permanently blocked.

Trying to figure out when I'd have 10 days to go get my nose re-constructed is kind of a pain. The doc only does surgeries on certain days, and because of my internship, I only have a few short days in June and September to do anything. At the moment, I'm tentatively scheduled for Sept. 22, but that will mean I get to start classes with a bruised-up face, or delay start by a few days. If all I'm doing in fall is J dept classes, I could probably manage that, but I suspect that may be one of the only terms I can do my psych classes, too. So, meh.

The good news is that I more or less have an apartment lined up in B'ton. Well, Silverdale, technically. The only problem--other than it's expensive--is that it's a 2nd floor unit, which means going up and down concrete steps every day. I can do that--slowly--when I'm not laden with stuff and can hold a handrail, and the steps aren't wet, but if I'm trying to carry anything or it's rainy--I may as well just take a hammer to my skull and take out the middle man. At least this is summer only, so no ice.

While we were driving around, getting the lay of the land, it dawned on me--this is a military town. Big time. Chances are very good I'll be involved in some story or other that involves that. Eep. I suppose it's good that I don't have any war-related bumper stickers on my car at the moment. The only quasi-political thing on there, aside from my rainbow stickers, is my FSM decal. Hopefully no-one there will have any clue what that's about. Afeared I'll have to be a closet Pastafarian.

Which reminds me: this guy is speaking on campus this week, and I get to write an article about that. That should be... illuminating.

Comments

[derekja.livejournal.com]

:-(

I just had that done in January. Along with having my tonsils out, and the tonsils were so bad that I didn't even notice the septum stuff.

Hope it goes well!

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

How long was the recovery for the septum stuff? Were you still all bruised up and scary looking after a week? I'm actually not so worried about that as I am about being able to drive and pay attention in class the first few days, since classes start five days after the surgery date. I don't want to overdo it and bleed all over my desk or something.

[derekja.livejournal.com]

well, I was really messed up from the tonsils, so I don't know that I'm a good judge. My nose wasn't bothering me too much after the 3rd or 4th day though, really. They took the packing out on the 2nd day and I had to do nasal rinses a few times a day for about 2 weeks. It wasn't pleasant, but I think if it had just been the nasal reconstruction that I could have driven and gone to class after 5 days. Not happily, but it wouldn't have been impossible.

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

Spiffy. I'm a slow healer (stupid endocrine condition) but if I can sit upright and not spray body fluids all over, I should be okay, then.

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

ugh, how awful.

Well, good luck with it. You ought, at least, to see some improvement afterward, although you'll have to go through this entire allergy season before then

[pieslut.livejournal.com]

Yeesh, surgery. I really don't enjoy it, but if it's a matter of lots of suck right now, versus more suck spread over time - it's the right option. Good luck to you.

[bratqueen8.livejournal.com]

I had that same surgery plus dilation and drainage of a sinus cavity and a "nose job" thrown in as well(I was a hospital employee at that time so I got a prof. discount). It took a month for me to breath through my nose again. The pain was ungodly, but well worth it cause the chronic sinus infections ended for good and my nose looks good now. You'll be living on Ocean Mist or saline nasal spray for a while afterward.

My septum was the shape of a boomerang prior to surgery, I kid you not. Couldn't tell from outward appearance, but on the the cat-scan...whoa! Overtime, it blocked a sinus cavity, and nasty fluid and infection collected so I was chronically sick. Now? If I get a sinus infection, it clears up right away with antibiotics and I maybe get one once every other year. Go for it, and Good luck!