I had a nose job, but why don't I look better?

[4cbln3]

Since I kind of derailed Kann's thread of retrohale http://www.cigarpass...2348-retrohale/ (sorry Kann)
and some of you have the same problem as me, I'm here to give you an update on my recent experience. I went in for nasal septoplasty surgery on Friday morning at 5:30 but decided to stay on duty till 3:30 and leave for home then. That move to be a trooper would have it's revenge on me later!y

By the time I got wheeled in at 10:30 for the anesthesiologist to do his thing, I was so tired from sitting and reading magazines without my glasses, I probably fell asleep just because they laid me on my back. Next thing I remember is the nurse scolding me for touching my nose! I guess all those years with an apnea machine on me makes me reach for my nose mask when I wake up. I apologized for being a pain in the ass and got dressed. I felt so good about it being over, I even got her to let me walk to the wife's suv and let her drive off with me. I remember someone saying the doctor packed my nose with pharmaceutical cocaine and gauze tampons, winning!

I still had an appetite and my front teeth were numb, my nose was stretched with gauze so it looked like a d'anjou pear and it was time to settle into some "rehab" time. Or so I thought. Once the hospital narcotics wore off, the pain from having that trauma done to my nose hurt like a Sonofabitch!! To add to all this, I developed a fever from atelectasis (not having enough oxygen to your lungs from shallow breathing). The doctor told me about getting that condition since my nose would be blocked up, so he advised a series of deep breaths holding for a second, and exhaling. Didn't work. Plus with all the volleyball and alarms we did that day, my whole body ached, even my hair hurt.

Basically, I went all over the house looking for a decent place to lie down for the whole weekend so my back wouldn't keep getting sore and stiff. I'm one of those that have to get out of bed or my back aches normally. Today I went and took the nose tampons out, and with a quick pull, I gave birth to 2 ugly gauze babies. WOW!!! What a difference! Doc said I still have to come in next week to clean it out again, but in the meantime, a lot of Neti-Pot saline solution and things are going to be okay. I can't wait for all the swelling to go down so I can fully realize this free breathing is here to stay (for some time). I also had a cyst removed so that may have added to the pain scale since the doc said he had to cut into the cartilage. Some things taste really salty, like Spam or they taste different than what I knew (coffee). Figure these things will work themselves out in time. I also didn't shit for 3 days but at my age, I've gotten to look forward to my regularity. Unless you like crapping black rocks.

As of right now, I wouldn't do that operation again. But I am glad I took some time to get me a "tune-up". Next time, I'm taking the whole day off.

<edit because I didn't get Rhinoplasty, I got the roto rooter job>

 

[B.HOBS]

Heal well brother, and hopefully it turns out to be as good as you were promised by the doctors! Any surgery on the face or mouth just stinks....

 

[wkoti]

You taste with your nose first Dave, so it doesn't surprise me that most if not everything tastes different. All your senses work in collaboration with each other to make a complete experience. That being said, you could have improved your health more than you realize. If what you mentioned remains true, you'll use a lot salt. You'll use less sugar, because sweet foods will be sweeter. Everything you eat will be amplified by your new found sense of smell. The downside to this new discovery is foods you can only tolerate, you may possibly despise. Try some foods that you normally enjoy and tell us what you think.

I recommend trying; Pineapple, green apples, cheese, lemon, and something spicy, I promise you there will be a dramatic change from what you remember!

 

[4cbln3]

I really didn't put a lot of thought if my sense of smell and taste would change overnight, I was more intrigued by being able to take a normal, full breath of air like everyone else enjoys. I'll try to throw all kinds of local, ethnic foods in my stomach and see what happens. I was tempted to eat korean kim chee with my dinner tonight but I was afraid if a little bit got stuck up in my open sinuses, that would be like snorting chili paste. :laugh: Thanks for the tips, CJ!

The last time I had surgery on my face was the apnea surgery in '04, they took out my tonsils, uvula, and tacked the back skin of my throat higher. I didn't eat for 10 days, lost 15 lbs. and found the best food on the planet for that kind of surgery, grits! I thought this would be cake, but looking back now I realize now I was on the verge of getting sick because I had let the body run down throughout the week. And you know hospitals are the most sterile environment for anyone. :whistling:

I guess the biggest question I'll get answered is, Does it STILL tastes like ass? :sign:

 

[kann]

Glad you are done with it, at least. Now for the convalescence. Hopefully that goes quick and life returns to normal... well, better than your previous normal, now.

As for the lack of pooping, it's all those good drugs they were giving you. I haven't had a surgery in quite some time now, but when I was going through procedures regularly, I got to the point where I preferred having my legs in pain over dealing with the discomfort of being plugged up... or the medical answer to that problem!

 

[broblues]

Good for you. I'm always glad to hear of a surgery that actually makes the afflicted person feel better. I know it will probably be a while until you are able to smoke again. Here's to wishing that your new nose enhances even further the enjoyment of a great cigar!

 

[Boomer52]

Today I went and took the nose tampons out, and with a quick pull, I gave birth to 2 ugly gauze babies. WOW!!!

This really made me laugh. Having been through a similar operation, although many moons ago, I can sympathize with you. They had to fix my nose due to a head on car crash. Nose meets stearing wheel. Stearing wheel wins every time.

Instead of gauze tampons, back then they used a gauze strip about three feet long and packed one into each side. When they pulled them out it felt like they were pulling my brains out through my nose. Then the smell hits you. How do you get away from a stench the it inside your nose? Fortunately, that only lasted a day or two and everything worked properly again.

When everything heals up I think you will be very happy with the results.

Heal quickly.

 

[4cbln3]

Damn, a head on with facial fractures, that means they tried to keep you awake while they worked on your injuries in the ER. :0 Glad you had everything fixed up, this broken nose happened when I was in elementary school and high school, a concrete wall and playing tackle football with no pads got my nose into the current shape it is.

I think with my nose tampons in, by day 2 I had learned how to gargle warm water and spit out the blood so everything up to my sinuses were being cleaned out at least daily. At the docs office, once he took them out, he quickly cleaned my nose and I took my first breath through my nose. I did have some small episodes of smelling something stink, but I think since I am using a nasal saline solution 3X a day, the build up of old blood and junk is being flushed out quicker.

It's been 2 full days since they came out and although the face is still tender and a little swollen, my breathing is just getting better and better. I can now smell my slippers on my feet when I'm driving and I wasn't able to do that before.

 

[MadMonk]

Heal up fast, brother. As one who has been under the knife far too many times, I can relate to the whole affair. One bit of advice. When they ask you to describe your pain levels, say 11. Then fake a seizure, and chomp down on the Alka Seltzer you have hidden in your mouth.

 

[broblues]

Heal up fast, brother. As one who has been under the knife far too many times, I can relate to the whole affair. One bit of advice. When they ask you to describe your pain levels, say 11. Then fake a seizure, and chomp down on the Alka Seltzer you have hidden in your mouth.

Crack me up! Yah, then you will go to a different type of Hospital, and take happy drugs. :laugh:

 

[4cbln3]

Heal up fast, brother. As one who has been under the knife far too many times, I can relate to the whole affair. One bit of advice. When they ask you to describe your pain levels, say 11. Then fake a seizure, and chomp down on the Alka Seltzer you have hidden in your mouth.

Crack me up! Yah, then you will go to a different type of Hospital, and take happy drugs. :laugh:

I forgot which movie it came from, but the scene where the guy is in a strait jacket yelling, "Someone, scratch my balls!" just popped in my head! Frickin' Dan, that's some funny shit right there. :laugh:

 

[MadMonk]

Heal up fast, brother. As one who has been under the knife far too many times, I can relate to the whole affair. One bit of advice. When they ask you to describe your pain levels, say 11. Then fake a seizure, and chomp down on the Alka Seltzer you have hidden in your mouth.

Crack me up! Yah, then you will go to a different type of Hospital, and take happy drugs. :laugh:

hmmmmmm......worth a shot? :whistling:

 

[Boomer52]

Damn, a head on with facial fractures, that means they tried to keep you awake while they worked on your injuries in the ER. :0 Glad you had everything fixed up, this broken nose happened when I was in elementary school and high school, a concrete wall and playing tackle football with no pads got my nose into the current shape it is.

[font="Arial""]Actually, the surgery wasn&rsquo;t done in the ER. At first, they tried to set it and let it heal. A year later when the doc decided it needed more attention since I had a deviated septum and could not breathe properly, he scheduled the surgery. You are correct in stating I was awake for the surgery. Nothing like going into the OR with only a local. Especially when you can see them literally put a small chisel in your nose and strike it several times with a small stainless steel hammer. Then reach in with forceps, twist, hear a crunch, and out comes a piece of bone. Yes, I was able to see this. Fortunately, I could not feel a thing and am not squeamish.[/font]
[font="Arial""][/font]
[font="Arial""]Fortunately, after everything healed, I have had no problems breathing.[/font]
[font="Arial""][/font]
[font="Arial""]Keep in mind that this was done a long time ago. I'm sure medical procedures have advanced greatly since my surgery. You should heal nicely and be back to full function in no time. Then you can really enjoy some good cigars.[/font]

 

[4cbln3]

Damn, a head on with facial fractures, that means they tried to keep you awake while they worked on your injuries in the ER. :0 Glad you had everything fixed up, this broken nose happened when I was in elementary school and high school, a concrete wall and playing tackle football with no pads got my nose into the current shape it is.

Actually, the surgery wasn&rsquo;t done in the ER. At first, they tried to set it and let it heal. A year later when the doc decided it needed more attention since I had a deviated septum and could not breathe properly, he scheduled the surgery. You are correct in stating I was awake for the surgery. Nothing like going into the OR with only a local. Especially when you can see them literally put a small chisel in your nose and strike it several times with a small stainless steel hammer. Then reach in with forceps, twist, hear a crunch, and out comes a piece of bone. Yes, I was able to see this. Fortunately, I could not feel a thing and am not squeamish.

Fortunately, after everything healed, I have had no problems breathing.

Keep in mind that this was done a long time ago. I'm sure medical procedures have advanced greatly since my surgery. You should heal nicely and be back to full function in no time. Then you can really enjoy some good cigars.

I'm thankful I didn't have to be awake to see the procedure, they intubated me and knocked me the f*ck out. Thanks to my PPO health plan!

To only have local anesthesia and go through what you pictured Boomer, that's ole skool! :0 They probably even smoked cigarettes and drank coffee in the operating room back then. :laugh: Nurse! Scalpel!, Nurse!, suction! Nurse! Drag! :sign:
Thanks for the support guys, I can actually eat a sandwich and not have to open my mouth a little bigger just so I can get some air in there too. Maybe that's why I'm so gassy all the time.

 

[4cbln3]

Update since my last post. For all the pain and healing I went through during the past 3 weeks, this procedure was definitely worth it! What prompted me to say this is because I can finally retrohale at will and I can pick up a little more flavors than I normally would. I am confidant this ability will allow me to enjoy certain cigars even more, or dislike them quicker. :laugh:

My sister emailed me that her friends either go in periodically for scrapings :0 , or they get deep reaching nasal sprays that last for quite some time to keep the swelling down inside the nose. My doctor didn't advise me on either option but I would have decided on the operation anyway. On my most recent visit for cleaning he wants me to keep using a nightly nasal spray to keep the "fins" from growing again or else I'll have to do this procedure again, quicker than I want. Mostly because I have allergies, which tends to irritate my sinus passages. Small price I have to pay for living next to an active volcano.

I hope my previous posts won't discourage any of you that have a deviated septum to not do something for your health. I wish I had decided to do this 20 years ago, but then I would have had the chisel and hammer like Boomer52 did! Thank God for modern medicine!

Excuse me whilst I go enjoy my ceegah.

Dave

 

[investandprosper]

Wow Dave, glad the surgery went well! Do your favorite cigars taste any better?

 

[4cbln3]

Wow Dave, glad the surgery went well! Do your favorite cigars taste any better?

John, I would like to think they do. Since I haven't changed my smoking style overnight, it takes me a while to realize I can now retrohale. I've always been a fairly quick puffer so mentally slowing down and picking up flavors has it's own learning curve. I got to smoke 2 of those Boli lonnies I got from you when I was at the casino and they tasted better than I remember, but that could have been the smell of money in the air too. :sign: