Saturday, February 18, 2012

Day 212 - Complications and Frustration

Hi all! It's been a while since my last post. I didn't plan on posting again until the seven month mark, which is this Tuesday, but I've just recently got some frustrating news.

I'm of course back at school still, and as mothers will, they miss their children dearly. My mother really wanted a photo of me, and after asking for a couple of weeks I finally got one to her. She showed it to my surgeon and he was not pleased.

Let me rewind a bit. About three weeks following my last surgery I started to get a really foul smell in my nose. It smelled like a mix of feet and dirty belly button (sorry I know it's really gross). After seeing online that this was very common following a rhinoplasty I didn't really let it concern me too much. In the event of an infection I smeared triple antibiotic ointment in my nose  every day, which seemed to help. Then I got a cold... of the sinus variety.

Fast forward to now. I still have a cold and I've been blowing my nose for weeks. Because of this I've thought nothing of the swelling and apparent re-widening of my nose. I figured that it was from the constant blowing and perhaps I'd snapped my alar cinch. Since there could be worse things in the world than an imperfect nose I decided to swallow my frustration and love what I have.

Then my doctor saw the photo, and asked my mother if it was for real. My nose should definitely NOT be as swollen as it is. It seems that I've had a reaction to one of the grafts they put in my nose and it's become infected. Mom's coming to my school today to drop off some antibiotics, but this isn't something that a little pill can really fix.

Dr A needs to get me into the OR again to remove the graft and fix anything that the infection may have ruined. Oh joy, more surgery. It isn't the end of the world by any means, but it's frustrating that after being in and out of surgery and recovery and appointments since January 2011, I really was hoping I was done with everything.

Oh well, life goes on.

Aside from the nose  woes, my jaw isn't too bad. Things have really solidified and I've noticed that my chin seems totally healed now. The only annoying bit is that crunching is returning even more to the left TMJ. It's still not a voluntary action, which is good, but it's still totally annoying. Time to get back to physical therapy. I haven't seen her since December because of the winter break. My bite is also horribly off again, braces are a must. Better get on that asap...

I'm sorry this post is so dreary and filled with bad news, but I hope that the rest of you are doing well. I've been keeping my eye on those of you in recovery and you look wonderful! Be well, everyone, you're the best!

Nose is clearly still very swollen :'(