Septoplasty Surgery

So on August 19th, 2010; I had septoplasty and turbonite reduction surgery. I will start with a log of the last four days.


August 19th, 2010
I arrive at the hospital at 9:00 am to check in. Check in was quick and I am quickly in a backless robe awaiting surgery. An IV is installed in my arm and I sprayed some decongestant in each nostril. The worst part up to this point is that I am dying of thirst and the nose spray is dripping down my throat and causing irritation. I wait until about 10:15 am and my number is up. I am wheeled into the OR where my anesthesiologist asks me to breath deeply as she adds a drug to my IV, which I do.

I woke up at approximately 12:00 in the recovery room with a swatch of gauze under my nose thirsty as all hell. A nurse hands me a small cup of ice, which I devour nearly immediately. I feel great, actually. 8 of 10. Another 20 minutes of recovery and I am out of the hospital feeling fine.

Later in the day around 2:00 pm I get a pretty bad headache and just focus on the movie I happen to be watching. Headache subsides around 5:00 pm, or about 30 minutes after I take a few vicodin.

All in all the first day was pretty good. Changed gauze about every; oh, hour'ish with laughter stating how I was on my period. Bleeding mostly stopped around 9:00 pm when I passed out... Note the picture I look pretty groggy and some blood is coming out of the nose.


August 20th, 2010
I wake up early and feel fine, lets say another 8 of 10. Slept surprisingly good considering I had to sleep on my back and first night after surgery.

Nose is stuffy and only in minor pain. I spray some saline up each nostril and reapply some gauze. Of course, now that I am sitting up and not laying down I can feel the liquids oozing on the gauze again. I take my pills, which consist of steroids, antibiotics, and of course vicodin. I eat some food and sit down to some need for speed: shift. Yes, I feel good enough to play video games; perhaps I should have went to work?

Luckily I didn't go to work. I change the gauze approximately every 2-3 hours and it actually is pretty bloody. Not a good thing for work. Regular maintenance of pills, using saline spray, and using gauze and I am good all day long.

August 21st, 2010
Not much to report. One thing that happened the night before was after I took two corticosteroids for the inflammation. I was hearing all sorts of voices and could not understand the language that was spoken. This morning I looked at the side effects and low-and-behold a side effect is psychosis and/or psychotic episodes. Fantastic.

Bleeding; however, has completely stopped. My nose is just dry and the saline helps clear some crusted and dried blood. Pain is minor but only comes about when I need to take vicodin. This could just be a sign of dependency though so I take Tylenol instead. Pretty relaxing day I just watch movies, had a few visitors, and played some video games.

August 22nd, 2010
I feel great today. My nose is stuffy and dry just like yesterday. Lots of energy today not drowsy at all. Nose is not bleeding at all still and I don't need to have gauze on my nose. Breathing is stuffy at best. The nose is clear and I can see the stints. Looking forward to getting those out.

Proof that I feel great; I completely rearranged my living room today, swept and mopped, watered the plants, did the dishes, and dusted the apartment. I may go to work tomorrow. Note the picture as my nose is pretty darn clear and I can actually breath partially okay out of it.

August 23rd, 2010
Feeling okay today. Sinus pressure around 1:30 pm giving me a headache. Leaning head forward, back, or side-to-side causes pressure to sway. Pressure; however, is manageable and not really an issue.

August 24th, 2010
Woke up with a very stuffed up nose. I realized I have not used a nasal rinsing kit since August 22nd and really should again. So I use the kit anticipating that it would be pretty disgusting. Boy, was I ever right! Long strings of crusted blood came out. Just a warning in case anybody reads this before getting the surgery. You will see anything that has ever been in or passed through your nose come out. To quote a review of a product I read many years ago, "At one point I even saw Jimmy Hoffa go by."

So I feel fine now. Completely cut out Vicodin the other day and am not taking Tylenol or any other painkilling meds at all. So... I suppose that means the pain is pretty minor. Just like yesterday; however, I still feel some pressure. Less than yesterday though so maybe the cleaning helped that out. Also, I wish I would have known this before, try to stock up on juices and fruits or something. If you are clever or witty than you know what I mean.

August 25th, 2010
First day back to work. The day went well but the nose was stuffed up pretty good. Of course, I used to get a stuffy nose just going to work anyway and would generally only sneeze at work due to paper dust and other minuscule air pollutants. Slight pressure all day. No big deal I would say a 1 of 10 on the annoying/pain scale. Just barely noticeable but not gone entirely. Minor sinus headache also all day; again maybe a 1 of 10.

Tomorrow is the day to get stints and stitches removed. Looking forward to it and will keep this post updated. Until next time!

August 26th, 2010
Today I got the stints/stitches out and my good gravy lord what a miraculous difference it is! I feel that I could breath in the world, the sun, and yes even the planet Pluto! Even better news is that the doc said within a week or so it will get even better once everything really heals and de-crusts; I know, gross right? Well, either way gross or not, I can breathe I would say quite honestly I can breathe through my nose about four times better. Was it worth the vacation time from work, the surgery and downtime? Well so far at day seven I say yes!

I will likely not post daily logs at this point perhaps in a week, a month, first quarter after I meet with the doc again, and then next year! Very quick, relatively painless, and worthwhile procedure. I do suggest it to anybody that needs it!

Deja Vu Houses

Recurring houses. Recurring breaking and entering. Recurring faux par. What is going on?

The setting is always early morning around 2:30 am. The moon is always full imparting a dim light. However, the clouds are thin and wispy yet cover the sky streaking across the moon. The house is a single story ranch style house. A mid-size river lazily scrolls by maybe forty or fifty feet from the house. The house covers a large plot of land and may possibly contain four or five bedrooms.

The only differences between dreams is how and why I am breaking and entering into the house. At times I paddle on a boat to the dock but this time I am coming over a hill to the house. The time I came by boat I was seeking refuge from the zombie apocalypse. This time; however, I am dressed in tight military clothes with weaponry attempting to take the house from occupation.

I crawl down from the hill very slowly and quietly. Once I get to the back door I sit up and rest on one knee. I double-check my light assault rifle and ammunition. The back door is a slider made of rice-paper. A quick shift to open the door a crack and I notice a camera sliding across the roof. I wait for the camera to turn to make another pass through the house and reach up to yank it down. A fast sleight of hand and the camera lay at my feet with dangling wires from the roof.

I slip in and shut the paper door softly and slowly. This room houses a large safe-style door that is the entry-way to the control room of the entire facility. I don't know how I know this but I do. I confidently walk lightly towards the door and attempt to crack the lock. Red lights and a low drone ring out from speakers. Busted!

Through the door comes a faceless man. A quick tap of the trigger reflex and the body is a slump on the ground. I decide to cheese it and jump through the rice paper door. Past my ears I can feel the ripple of the air. I am being shot at. A sudden burst of my legs and I displace and tumble to my right. I roll to my back and am able to pound a few 5.56 rounds into the chest of a figure on the roof. To my side I remember I packed a few grenades; smoke grenades. I pop three of them open and scatter them in my general area. I run up the hill; low and sleek. I turn around to notice confusion and hysteria in the smoke and around the house.

I wake to a sensation of deja vu. I come to this same house time after time and find myself escaping each time. Zombies overran the complex, samurai mutants occupied the ranch and ran me out, this time military personnel.

What does it mean? Recurring theme, environment, and hostilities; I concede to this one. I do not have the faintest idea...

Yeti

Recurring themes seem to be the composition of this weeks dreams. This post; the yeti.

On the side of the road I find myself at a house that I apparently own. The house is a two story house with a large wrap around porch for the second story. The raised porch has been freshly built; the smell of mahogany is fresh. On the porch a brand new brushed aluminum grill sits to the side. What a great view off into the forest and down a large hill that overlooks a range of mountains.

My friends come over to enjoy a barbecue. We cook turkey burgers, boca burgers, brats, and some chicken. We joke around at a large table on the deck with an equally large canopy. The party is pretty busy with the deck holding quite a few people sitting and standing. Some people socially work inside preparing various foods. Children run back and forth as they do.

Slowly, sound starts to fade and everybody notices. A sort of supernatural quieting occurs. The grill stops hissing and echoing sound. Voices become more and more quiet regardless of the level and attempt to utter louder. Children laughter and yelling becomes non existent.

Around the corner of the house a loud bellowing echoes through the woods and off the house. Loose objects such as silverware and glasses tremble in fear with each yell. A tall brown man-like beast nearly 15 feet tall rounds the corner of the house. Ears that are elf-like protrude straight to the side of its head. Its hair is dark brown with light brown streaks vertically strewn about its body. The hair looks thick yet clean. The beast yells and howls filling the void between the trees and up to the onlookers above.

The look in its eyes look scared, hurt, yet fearsome at the same time. The beast goes on a rampage uprooting small trees, throwing objects left on the ground from children, and pounding on the side of the house. All is quiet except the screams of the beast. People run and scatter in fear into the house. I am left alone on the deck as I watch the beast. I should be afraid but I am oddly glad that the beast is here. I feel a kindred spirit to this sad beast.

The beast peers deep into my soul with its dark brown eyes. White whiskers protrude from its cheeks that are almost cat-like. Its teeth are needle-like and fill the beasts mouth in rows; like a shark. Muscle form can be seen beneath the hair implying a stout and strong beast.

However, the beast does not make any attempt to harm me. The beast seems aggravated and feeling an intense amount of sorrow. What do I do? The howling is deafening, its eyes are terribly sad.

I woke up with the familiarity that this has happened in the past. The beast frequents my dreams doing the exact same thing. In my curiosity I decide to research what the yeti in dreams may mean.

First I find a disclaimer that the yeti is a powerful spiritual and emotional figure and all interpretations should be scrutinized carefully. With that being said, the yeti appears to foreshadow an emotional or spiritual event that may occur in the near future. Conquering the yeti in a dream can symbolize a triumph over ones emotional and spiritual self.

The yelling and painful grimace on the yetis face make me think that some spiritual or emotional truth is feeling angst or grief. The peaceful and thankful presence; however, make me second guess this.

To take a step back; the night before I had this dream I had an interesting night giving to the poor and talking philosophically to a homeless man. Perhaps, just perhaps, the yeti yelling and screaming with a peaceful air about symbolizes a victory spiritually and naturally. Maybe I reached a plateau and gained a oneness with the mystical beast; the yeti.

I wonder what you think...

Pleasant Disguise

Every now and then a dream will come along to parallel your true feelings and reveal your entire being. Surreality in somnolence.

I sit on the decaying remains of an oak tree. Orange leaves a strewn about the ground and trees wither in anticipation. The sky is dull and gray; a solid sheet of cloud with no shapes or texture. Still air, no scent.

I feel a hollowness inside my heart, a harrowing sort of feeling. Visions of others smiling, laughing, and happiness flash by my eyes. I can feel hot salty tears well up inside of my eyes. I remember countless times of making people smile. I love making people smile; yet, I realize subconsciously that my desire to impart happiness is in part due to my own emptiness.

I contrast and compare myself and my new found self with others and laugh. I laugh with a sarcastic sneer upon my face. I relish the idea that I need to make people smile to cover and further bury my own feelings. Perhaps it is to save face and shut people out. Others will often assume that the person making jokes and taking light of situations is in fact the one that needs to be cheered up.

Thinking to myself I soon wonder about my new years resolution, which is to do something every weekend for a whole year. Do I want to do something every weekend for a year and whats the result? Am I running from myself and ignoring my inner-self and as a result my inner-self haunts me in a dream? There must be something I seek, something that I don't have.

I don't know where to go from here. I stand up from the log and walk in a random direction. Hands in my pockets I stride contemplatively. "What do I seek, what does it mean?" I think out loud. An all too familiar warmth around my heart beats softly. Closeness and a longing to confide in someone is the emotional response. "What if I don't seek that at all, I am content and actually quite busy for any sort of commitment" I say as I stop and face upwards.

A circulating wind rustles leaves ever so gently. I kneel down and sit back on the log knowing full well that it was there even though I have walked hundreds of yards in deep thought. I feel as if I am making no progress and a feeling of apathetic dismay overwhelms me. I look down and sigh "What do I do?"

A nagging voice in my head convinces me that companionship is not what I seek. I know that there is interest but I shrug it off like its nothing like the ever so common blink of an eye. I am after adventure and glory. A strong yearning to make a difference to a greater cause wells up inside. I feel the need to bring peace and harmony between nature and human-kind. "The depths I would go to eliminate the greed, corruption, and ignorance to save you" I state boldly as I look at the wandering leaves and fresh soil.

A crotch-rocket drives by in very low gear waking me up. Self-realization can come at the oddest of times. Monotony is killing me and I need to find a way to follow my heart into the woods; it's calling me...