Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Three days coming. Three days with you. Three days going


So said Mary Tyler Moore during one episode of her classic tv show regarding a cold.

I think I should be on my last day 'with you'. Possibly tomorrow. Here's hoping. My g-d, my head weighs 121lbs....I just know it. My teeth ache. The drugs are great for drying out my eye sockets and mouth. Not so much good for doing anything about the nose and sinus cavity.

As I lay awake most of the night - trying not to drown in my own snot - I thought that maybe I should have had that deviated septum taken care of umpteen years back. I know I have a big honker, but I like it. I wouldn't do the surgery to ever change the shape or size of it. I mean - you know what they say about guys with big noses!

But the doctor was oh so optimistic when saying he could fix it, and gave me a 70% chance that surgery would improve nasal usage.

70% ?????? That's it?

Let's see, they're going to break my nose, from the inside, then reset it, pack it with gauze for a 70% success rate? And one I get to pay for - success or not?? Je think not.

I've heard stories of how the removal of the gauze, which is ripped pulled out through your nostril, is a blinding white hot pain that is much worse than the surgery itself. Then there is Bill Mount. He had it done and now hears echoes in his head each time he talks. Granted, it's Bill Mount - so those could just be the other voices in his head. One never really knows. Honestly those two things were more my deciding factors than the 30% failure rate.

My nose and I have made it this far. I suppose we'll go the distance. Though a few more nights like the last two and the end might be very very near.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I had that really bad cold too. It passed. Stay in bed and rest. Drink plenty of fluids. You know the drill. Keep your nose the way it is. Surgeons just want to make money. Unless you have really great coverage, don't bother with it. I don't know about you, but I hate pain and I am a really big chicken. Unless my life or health is at issue, I'm not fooling with it.

Anonymous said...

I had the deviated septum surgery a couple of years ago and it was no big deal.

The only weird part was when they pull the gauze packing out of your nose and about 8 feet come out. How does it all fit???

I breathe a lot better, but still have the big honker. So do it for health, not for looks!