In May, after returning from a trip, I couldn't decide if I had a cold or allergies. During the trip there was someone who was ill on the last day and then when I got in my car to drive home from the airport, a huge amount of pollen blew in my face when I started up my car after a week of the car sitting outside. I felt stuffy but it never really did expand into a cold, so I thought maybe it was allergies.
It eventually seemed to dissipate but every so often I would feel like me ears were blocked or I would get a headache right above my eyes. Then in August, the headaches were much worse and I felt very muffled in my head. I went to the doctor and they wanted me to take an antibiotic. I am pretty adverse to antibiotics as they have messed up my insides MANY times. And not only did I not want any antibiotic, I definitely did not want the one they were offering. So they sent me to an ENT.
He looked in my nose and said that I was definitely stuffed up and that it was most likely an infection and would need an antibiotic. I asked if that was the only option and he stated that since it had been since May, he couldn't see it going away on its own. So I filled the Rx and tried it. It didn't work and I was to return. I ended up at my regular doctor and she sent me for allergy testing.
I was hopeful that it would be allergies as I felt they would be easier to tackle than an infection so ingrained at this point. Alas, I have no allergies to anything at all. So while that is good news, it was not good news for my sinuses. The allergist stated for sure I would need to continue with an antibiotic. So off I went to fill the Rx.
It didn't work. I called the ENT and the next step was a CT scan to check what might be happening. I went to the hospital and after the test the woman running the scanner asked "Can you breathe through your nose?" to which I worriedly stated "Yes, why?" and she said "You have a lot of stuff in there!"
I saw my regular doctor by chance before seeing the ENT again and my regular doctor was shocked by the scan results. She thought it would either be more antibiotics or surgery. I was very sad.
Off to the ENT to see the scans. If any of you know, your sinuses on a scan should be black, as that is all air. If they are grey, then they are filled and not working properly. Welllll, I have two small circles of black in two sinuses and that is it. So not only was is it crazy weird to see my skull on a screen it was not cool to see that my sinuses were sooo blocked. I asked "can't you just vacuum it all out?" And he answered "That is what surgery would do."
So we discussed surgery and I determined that I would rather try the surgery and do the antibiotics for that than do another round of antibiotics to only probably end up at surgery and a fourth round of antibiotics. So much for not taking a lot of antibiotics any more. Sigh.
There will be no cutting, no blood, no black eyes, no changes to my face and all should go well. He does these "a lot" and he definitely feels this should alleviate many of my issues. No promise of it eradicating it but hopefully cleaning out the sinuses will allow us to get to the issue and get rid of it.
So my surgery is set for Wednesday and while I am very hopeful it all goes well and "fixes" my sinuses, but there are always risks involved.
I almost forgot the funniest part: the doctor stated that one of the things they would do would be like liposuction for my septum and I asked if I had sinuses in my belly and if he could work down there also. The doctor had a good laugh at that one but alas, no he wouldn't.
If any of you have also been through this surgery I would love any feedback.
Also thoughts and prayers, are in the case, very much appreciated :)
2 comments:
Oh no. Hospital time is never fun :( But you'll be fine and I really hope this sorts out your sinuses! I'll be thinking of you!
Thank you sweetie. Hospital arrival time is 9am EST, so we can assume the procedure is at 10am then. I just hope it brings relieve and an end to all of this ick.
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