November 4, 2004

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  Today I finally got my nerve back --

  
  

  I called the doctor and scheduled my surgery.

  
  

   

  
  

  insert appropriate graphic*** <here>

  
  

  ***graphics note from adifrentdrumr: I was trying to think of an appropriate graphic to put here -- not a scalpel, because the surgery is endoscopic. Didn't want to post a photo looking up my nose, either, that's just plain gross. So you will just have to imagine a little diagram of the sinuses -- if you are anywhere near my age, you may remember those Dristan commercials for sinus headache pain relief -- that image will do

  
  

   

  
  

  It is scheduled for Wednesday, December 8th. I do not have to stay in the hospital, it will be done in the outpatient surgical center. Then I have a few days of being knocked out with painkillers at home, if it goes like the last two sinus surgeries did, followed by several weeks before I am healed up and breathing (and smelling!!) normally again.

  
  

  I am also having the little surgical procedure they do to reduce severe snoring while I am under anesthesia for the other surgery. I sure hope that it works, for the sake of anyone who ever tries to spend the night anywhere near me.

  
  

  

  
  

  The worst part of the doctor's orders is that I can't take aspirin, advil or motrin for two weeks prior to the surgery. So I hope that I don't get any migraines in that time, because tylenol doesn't do a thing for them!

  
  

  

  
  

  I also finally got the results of the biopsy they did on the marble-like lump in front of my ear. The doctor said it is consistent with a benign tumor of the parotid gland. It is not the lymph node. And the best thing, is it is not the big C (phew!) since I hadn't heard anything, I figured that it was not bad news, but since there is a one in five probability of malignancy, it was still in the back of my mind.

  
  

  It doesn't show, unless you really look hard at that side of my face, so I won't worry about doing anything unless it gets bigger. If it grows large enough to be visible, then I will get it removed. It is best not to mess with it unless it is necessary, because an important facial nerve runs through that area. However, I am not going to let that deter me -- I refuse to walk around with a lump on my face. So if the time comes, I will not hesitate about the risk. I am not really vain, but some things, well, I just can't handle the thought of. A lumpy face is one of those things.

  
  

  

  
  

  I was afraid of what the doctor would say about the biopsy, and I started thinking about how unpleasant my last two sinus surgeries were, and I got cold feet, and didn't call to schedule the surgery last month as I had planned. I was figuring that I would try to fit it in before Thanksgiving, but by putting it off this long, the first available appointment was two weeks after. At least it won't interfere with my remaining yard work. And I will still be getting it done before the end of the year, important because we have already paid the deductible on the health plan for this year.

  
  

  

  
  

  Now that I finally made myself make that call, I feel much better. I have been feeling so up-in-the-air about my schedule, and now I have a good idea of how things will be going for the rest of the year. At least the big things. The little things that life throws at me from day-to-day? Well, I will just have to dodge them as they come. Been doing it so far, and it seems to have worked.

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 11:03 pm
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