Going to Monthly Updates

I had a checkup with my doctor today. He says things are looking good and that most of the swelling is gone. It will continue to improve and wont be totally normal for another 8-12 months. The bones are now pretty much set and now it's the waiting game.

The skin on my nose is very thin. What this means for me is you can tell where the bones are in my nose. If you had thicker skin it would hide some of the curvature of the nose. We can tell that I may have a small curve but nothing we "couldn't carve down later". I'm really happy with the result and I probably will not undergo surgery to correct it. We wont be able to tell for another year though.

Because it's cold out and it is Colorado, my nasal passages are dry. I was recommended to use a non-petroleum based gel (like KY jelly) on the inside once or twice a day for the remaning of the winter. Sounds good to me.

I'll now be posting monthly updates/pictures on how the healing is going, what the swelling looks like, and if I have a little curve still! Next update: 3 months Post-Op (December 13th)

6 Weeks Post Op: Still Healing

So I was correct that a storm was coming. Way to go forecasting nose! It's been bitterly cold here and my nose hurts whenever I'm outside. It really hurts to breathe in.

My nasal passages still get clogged and I have to take hot showers to clear them. It doesn't hurt as much to blow my nose nor wiggle it. It is still tender and sore and obviously not healed completely.

Thank God my left side of my nose is going down finally. You really can't notice unless I take a photo of myself withe the camera 6 inches away. 

And here's week 6 photo!

5 Weeks Post Op: The Weather Forecasting Nose?

I feel like healing is going slow. I don't feel much different from last week to this week. I have been getting some shooting pains and more tingling in my nose. I hope that's the nerves healing. There is still a fair amount of crud in my problem nostril (the left) that impedes air flow by at least half. I've been blowing my nose and taking hot showers to keep the crud away but this just takes time.

I'm pretty sure a storm is coming to Denver because my nose/sinuses feel different today. There is more pressure in my sinuses and my left nostril has a dull ache. Maybe it can tell if a low pressure is coming. I hope this is only a healing problem and I'm not 80 telling my grand-kids, "My nose is aching! Believe-you-me youngsters but a storms a-comin'! I've got a weather forecasting nose!!" (Insert cackling and pounding of my wooden leg on the floor)

Here is this week's photo.Ugh the left side is still so biggggg... just decrease already!!

30 Days Post-Op: Cleared for all nose related activites!!

I've been cleared for all nose related activities! Hurray! I tried to blow my nose for the first time in a month and the sides of my nose are still sensitive. I just started wearing sunglasses a few days ago but only for short periods of time. The bridge of my nose does get sore. Yawning too much also will make my nose hurt. I'm pretty sure when it snowed the other day, the low pressure gave me a sinus headache. 

Every week I feel better. My nose isn't congested anymore and if it is, a hot shower will remedy it. I've already noticed my quality of life improving. I sleep better and I don't snore as much or as loud. Before I could have been a baby chainsaw but now it's soft snores or heavy breathing. I notice that my mouth isn't crazy dry in the mornings anymore from all the mouth breathing I would do.

I still sneeze out of my mouth and I hold the bridge of my nose because it's tender. I haven't received all the feeling in my nose and I hope there isn't permanent nerve damage. Who cares if it doesn't? What does my nose actually feel on a normal basis?

Here's how it's looking! The left side is still kind of pronounced. :(

Day 21: Slow Recovery

It's been 3 weeks since surgery. Everything is starting to feel like they're normal but they're not. I'm sneezing with my mouth open, my nose hurts too much to wear sunglasses, and my sleep isn't totally normal. My nose is still tingly and a little numb.

Two accidents have occurred that I don't recommend doing:
1) A few days ago I went to rub the sleep out of my eyes when my alarm went off and I accidentally whacked myself in the nose. It was so painful I had to just lie there and let the pain subside for about 10 minutes.
2) I accidentally sneezed with my mouth shut. I pretty much saw little stars circling around my head as my eyes watered up and I just cried for a minute from the pain.

There is still debris in my nose. I'm not allowed to blow it yet but only do gentle sniffs in. Hot showers help most with loosening it up so it can leave. Some days both passages are blocked, sometimes it's one or the other. Today the debris from my left (the trouble passage) nostril cleared and it has so much air flow! Still a great decision getting this surgery done.

Here's today's picture! Looks about the same. The left side is kind of larger still... makes me a little concerned but I know it'll take months to look just right again. Sigh.

Day 14: 2 Weeks Since Surgery

Things are going great!! I can breathe out of both nasal passages. Sometimes I just hold my hand up and block a passage at a time just to feel the air flow out of each. This surgery was one of the best decisions I've made.

I'm healing and I realize that, so my nasal passages get plugged with mucus and blood (gross I know). There is still debris in them and I'm not allowed to blow my nose yet. I drink about 5 cups of hot tea a day, take a hot showers, and keep my house humid (I live in Colorado aka no humidity) to keep my passages open.

My bruising is gone! My swelling decreases little by little every day. The tip of my nose is still sensitive and it tingles when I touch it. Also, since my nose was re-broken, the bridge is sore. I can't wear sunglasses or glasses yet but that's okay. Sometimes I instinctively try to wrinkle my nose (at a weird smell or whatever) and it's pretty painful. I have some sinus pressure and headaches but that can usually be treated with aspirin.

The left side is a little more swollen than the right but it's going down to the normal size. You can see the definition of my nostrils coming back and the rest of my face looks normal. Look how straight it is!!! I look in the mirror a lot (makes me feel vain) but I can't believe how good it looks and how I can breathe!