here we go again

Many of you remember the last surgery I had–my day heart surgery ended up in a 3 day stay in the hospital. Not too fun–I vowed then to never have surgery again. I was wrong. For the last 4 months or so I’ve had one sinus infection after the next…or just one that doesn’t ever go away. I’ve always gotten pretty bad sinus infections but not like this one. I’ve been put on all kinds of antibiotics, nasal sprays, steroid sprays and what have you and they just don’t work. I had fluid in my ears and snot in my head that won’t go away. I finally went to an ENT on Monday because my primary doctor didn’t know what else to do with me–haha (I don’t blame her). Anyway, the ENT said I had a deviated septum and that’s what was causing my sinus infection to stick around and in turn keep fluid in my ears. So she had me go get a catscan of my sinuses on Tuesday just to confirm what she thought was going on and basically clearance for surgery. She just called me and said I have an impressive deviated septum that makes my septum (the bone between your two nostrils) turn to the right…picture an upside down L and that’s what my nose does. She basically said it’s up to me whether or not to have surgery but she HIGHLY recommends it or I will continue to get infections and have the sinus pain, headache and ear aches. So I go in Monday to see this impressive deviation and talk to her about surgery. I should only be out of work for a week, which is good. She said the antibiotics were helping some because my sinuses looked like they are draining a little and the fluid from my ears is finally draining some as well so I can hear a little better now, but everything is still muffled. The surgery won’t be until the end of May because I have a co worker who is having surgery next week and will be out 3 weeks so I have to wait my turn and I’ll have it when he gets back. So that’s the deal pickle!

Here is a little bit about part of the sinus surgery I’ll have (the other part is just where she goes and rotoreuters my sinuses):

A septoplasty (where they correct a deviated septum) is performed through a small incision made on the inside of the nose (no external incisions!). The lining of the septum (the mucous membranes) are lifted off of the cartilage and bone. The cartilage and bone are sculpted, repositioned, and a portion of it may be removed to achieve the desired straightening of the septum. The mucous membrane lining is then sewn back together with absorbable sutures (no stitch removal necessary!)

Not too painful!