Set back-(old draft never posted)

April 4, 2015
I just finished a hard week.  I feel like I took huge steps back and I don't feel well.  All week I seemed to get worse.  I thought I was back to normal, my brain functioning well, that I was ready to resume my normal life, but I am not.
My forehead itched all week, and I thought "some healing going on?", at this late date?  It seems not.  I could feel myself feeling more and more confused as the week went on.  I just plain didn't understand a lot of things.  And then I started forgetting things again.  It saddened me to notice the regression.  My friend, Patty, noticed it too.
I feel unorganized, and things are not getting done that I need to do.

Life must go on

January 23, 2015
Headaches and facial pain stayed with me all day.

Overdoing it cross country skiing.

Road trip
Felt good until.....

February 17
What a relief to be able to go to my chiropractor today.  It helps so much with my neck pain and the constant headache I've had since February 7th.
I physically feel much better, joy,  joy.  And I believe my brain is working better too, yippee

March ?
I don't remember much about January at all.  I'm hoping it was because I took too many pain pills.

Nose stints and bandages removed

January 22, 2015
Well yesterday was a big day I had been looking forward to, an appointment with my surgeon, haha. 

This is how I looked just as I was leaving to go to the doctor's office.

  It was beautiful everywhere you looked today.  The frost was heavy on the trees.

First the hard bandage came off the front of my nose which was a big relief.  Under it were sutures that had bled, my doctor was attempting to fix the flattened side of my nose.  And he also worked on the bridge of my nose.  He said the large amount of scar tissue there had been restricting movement.  Taking out the inner stitches on my nose hurt more than taking out the stints. I asked to see the stint, because I couldn't believe mine would be as big as the ones we saw in a friend's video, Sarah.  It was exactly the same! I don't understand how that fits inside my nose and then times it by two, wow.

  I was definitely smiling when I left the doctors office.

Some discouragement;
1.  I had to ask for more pain pills, I'm looking forward to the day I have no more pain.
2.  There is not an after picture because I still have a hard time with my "new look".  Sunken forehead complete with Harry Potter looking scar,  scars all over my nose, and my crooked smile.  People keep telling me they don't notice, but I do. 
3.  The airway in the left nostril is better, but not restored.  But I can now breathe through my nose, yippee :)

January 20, 2014
I have run out of pain pills.  It is discouraging to have pain that goes on for months and months, to have to breathe from your mouth, to just want to feel normal again.  I'm afraid I will never be "normal" again, but I do have HOPE and FAITH.

January 17, 2014
This part is boring, but I have to write every thing down.  I can't focus, or remember things since my accident in September.  I finally found the information I was seeking about boiling water for my nose rinses which I have to do twice a day:

 © 2006, 2014, Phoenix Children’s Hospital

     Procedure/Treatment/Home Care 

How to Make Sterile Water
and Sterile Saline

1. Put water that is filtered in a clean pan.

Filtered water has run through a carbon filter or a reverse osmosis machine with a 0.2 micron filter.

Some bottled water is filtered. Read the label.

2. Bring the water to a gentle boil. Put a lid on the pan.

3. Boil the water for 5 minutes.

4. Use the water right away after it has cooled down, or put it in sterilized containers.

Do not use ice to cool down the water.

How to Sterilize a Container

1. Choose a container that can be sterilized.

(You cannot use aluminum cans or paper cartons. They fall apart or melt.)

2. Put the container in a pan of boiling water for 10 minutes.

or

Clean the container in a dishwasher on the full cycle (not a short wash).

How to Make Sterile Saline

To make 8 ounces of sterile saline

Mix 8 ounces of sterile water and

1/2 level teaspoon of non iodized salt

To make 16 ounces of sterile saline

Mix 16 ounces of sterile water and

1 level teaspoon of non iodized salt

Put the mixture in a sterile container, write the date on a label, and put the sterile saline in the refrigerator.

After 3 days throw out the sterile saline, sterilize the container again, and make more sterile saline.

Keep germs out of the sterile water and sterile saline.

Do not dip anything (even a syringe) into the container.

Instead, pour some into a clean paper cup and put the syringe into the saline in the cup.

Septoplasty and Sinus Surgery update

January 13,  2015  Tuesday after Nose Surgery day 2

 Amazingly, there is very little bleeding.  And this afternoon I can already breathe through the right nostril again (I could before the surgery). I feel truly blessed, prayers are being answered.

  I did too much around the house this morning and then felt really crappy by noon.

January 14,  2015  Wednesday, after Nose Surgery day 3
I was miserable, and in lots of pain all day, I felt like I’ve been hit by a truck. A church friend dropped off a WINCO sandwich for us for dinner.  We ate Monday and Tuesday’s leftovers; roast and meatloaf.  My Refief Society brought dinner for us for 3 days.  I belong to such an awesome church.

January 15,  2015  Thursday, after Nose Surgery day 4

I felt better today.  I was embarrassed that I had Christmas ornaments out in the front room when my visiting teachers came yesterday.  There are no Christmas Decorations left in the front room now.  But I overdid it, and felt bad by the time I finished cleaning.  I’ve been super congested.  By repeatedly flushing with warm water, I got the right nostril clear again. The real question  is "Did this surgery restore breathing to the left side of my nose?"

January 16,  2015  Thursday, after Nose Surgery day 5

The nurses removed the stitches from the bottom of my nose today. It hurt.  I had hoped they would remove the hard plastic dressing over my nose too, but no such luck. I am going to reduce my pain medication from 2 pills to one pill and try to use less hydrocodone. And I am scheduled to get the stents removed next Wednesday morning.  I have to flush my sinus a lot to relieve the congestion with sterile water.  

 This is a weird picture, but it clearly shows the stitches I had taken out today, and you can see the white stents inside my nose. 

 

Victor celebrated his birthday today.  We watched Nancy's kids so Victor and Nancy could go out to lunch together.

 

Tonight we went out to dinner with Amber's family since it is her birthday today and she is teaching a painting class tonight.

 

January 17, 2015
I've been trying to do housework today, and I feel miserable.  I am sticking with the 1 pain pill since my doc is out of town. I  just got to face time with my 3 granddaughters in Missouri.  I sure do LOVE that!  Now my face hurts from smiling so much.  I need to rest.

And while I'm dealing with a painful face, Mark is playing with his new toy.

  It's easy to tell what his favorite color is.

Below is information about my surgery that is helpful for me to re-read:

Septoplasty and Sinus Surgery "

What can I expect after surgery

Typically, nasal stents are placed in the nose for 12 to 18 days with a dissolvable white jelly-like packing.

• For the first 2 to 3 days following surgery, do not blow the nose, but rather sniff secretions into the throat and spit. Avoid smoke and other substances, which might irritate the nose. Use saline nasal spray lavage after the first day to cleanse the nose. Continue daily saline nasal lavage to keep the stents open and relieve the nasal congestion. 
• Use the medications you were given at the time of discharge as directed. These may include an antibiotic to combat infection at the postoperative site, saline nasal spray and pain medication. 
• Bloody drainage from the nostrils and down the back of the throat is to be expected for the first several days. You may have to change your nasal gauze pad several times a day. Drainage will slow down after  the first several days.  Drainage will change to brown to clear mucous with old blood.  Rest in bed with your head elevated on two pillows and try ice packs on the nose and cheeks.  Headaches  are not unusual, and usually improve after removal of the stents in the nose.
• Avoid hot and spicy foods. Hot and spicy foods are known to increase nasal blood flow and nasal oozing/bleeding.
• If nasal packing is placed at surgery, take your pain medicine 30 minutes prior to your "removal" appointment time at our office.
• If your nose seems dry or sore, you can place a small amount of Vaseline in each nostril and sniff. This will coat the lining of the nose and help with the dryness. You can do this morning and night.
• After your packing is removed, continue using saline nasal spray 3 to 4 times daily for 1 to 3 months postoperatively.  Take care to avoid injury to the nose for 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Crusting from the nose is common after surgery for up to 3 months post-operatively.
• Contact your surgeon or the nearest Emergency Department if your eyes become very swollen or you experience double or loss of vision.

JANUARY NASAL SURGERY

I was excited and apprehensive about my surgery today.  Yesterday I had Mark read from my journal about my sinus surgery in 2011, and he decided to take me to the hospital today.  My priesthood blessing last night and Mark being there for me made a huge, huge difference.

Mountain View Hospital is a great hospital. My nurses were great.  The surgery was scheduled for 2 and a half hours, and it only took 2 hours, so I take that as encouraging, that things went well for my doctor, Richard Lee.  I really like him.

I had such severe facial trauma and pain on September 5, 2014 that I had thought this would seem like a piece of cake.  Well, not a piece of cake, but tolerable :) And not as bad as my sinus surgery in 2011. 

I've been super thirsty all day. In pain, but if I try to lower my head (like picking up something), I have severe pain.  Back on May 17, 2011 I had sinus surgery at the same hospital, just had a different surgeon. In my journal I wrote "Blood was constantly flowing down my throat.",  I am thrilled it wasn't that bad at all for me today.  I didn't change the gauze for hours, and in 2011 it was every 15 minutes. I was more miserable the day after surgery in 2011, so I'm hoping for the best on Tuesday.


I hesitate to post these photos:

  My forehead looks good in this selfie, even with my Harry Potter scar.  Here I am on the couch where I didn't move from for the first 4 hours after I arrived home. The "sling" makes a huge difference in absorbing the blood dripping from my nose.

  The "sling" that holds the gauze beneath my nose.  I'm so glad they sent extras home with me from the hospital.

 

I had to make a chart to keep track of all my medical care needed: Hydrocodone pills, Cephalexin pills, Mupirocin ointment, ice pack treatments, Niel medi nasal rinses, and Dok plus.

January health update

December 28, 2014
I was thrilled to discover that my lip area was beginning to tingle, and I could feel it when I touch it!  Such a small improvement, but it is progress and I'm THRILLED!

January 3, 2015
At my Crew Powell Reunion the 12 of my old friends didn't even notice that my face was scarred and that I looked different :)  A couple hours later my friend Chip asked how I was feeling, and they all remembered.  Again, I was thrilled, that means people aren't noticing my scars.


January 11, 2015
I am excited to get my nose fixed tomorrow by my surgeon, Richard Lee.  I am a little apprehensive, the surgery is expected to take 2 1/2 hours at Mountain View Hospital.

December

December 8th
I had an appointment with my chiropractor today and the relief from pain is so great:)  And I bought a pillow from him that fits my neck and will support it while I sleep.  The  neck pain is what is causing my headaches most of the time.

I continue to slowly improve on the elliptical at the health club.  As long as I keep improving, I'm happy.

The neck pain and headaches were back in full force 4 days later.

December 15
I wiped my forehead hard with a towel at the health club at noon, and it has been causing me pain all day. 

My nose still has that healing itch, this time on the left side, and the nostril is so small, it is impossible to itch.

My mouth continues to be swollen and now I can't smile again since the tissue has grown back on the inside of my mouth next to my tooth line on the left.

I can rarely smell things. The neck pain and headaches come and go, which is an improvement.

December 17
Wednesday
MOUTH  REPAIR SURGERY REPEATED
My  lip healed too well.  It reattached to my gum line. So Dr. Richard Lee repaired my lip and mouth again. It doesn't seem fair that I'm waiting forever for nerves in my face to rebuild, and my mouth heals where I didn't want it to.

  Here I am ready for church on Sunday, December 21, 2014.  I'm always afraid to smile for picture for fear of looking like Frankenstein.

 

December 23, 2014
Check up with my surgeon today.  I felt happy all day.  I had an appointment with my chiropractor yesterday afternoon, and my neck pain and headaches are gone (I wish for good).  My mouth started to reheal again despite all I did to prevent it. But I am happy, my lips and mouth can move better than it did last week. I can put lipstick on my lower lip and I feel my whole lip :) It still feels funny on part of it, but a smaller part than it used to be, so that is good. Very tiny improvements, but improving all the same.  It will be 16 weeks on this Friday. Not surprisingly, I have no desire to go horseback riding again.

Dr. Lee and I talked about the plans for my nose surgery on January 12th.  He will not be cutting any skin at this time, just working on the inside so I can breathe through both nostrils.  He told me that my nose may be 90% repaired at the end of the upcoming surgery, but that we need to wait longer to complete all the repairs. My expected recovery time will be 2 to 4 weeks. Things are looking up.
Merry Christmas to everyone!

 Christmas morning at Nancy's.  I this is why I try not to do a happy smile.  But, I have to say, my mouth and face is SO MUCH better than it was.  It is really beginning to heal now and beginning to move better.  It is such a slow process.