It seems as if turning 30 has made my body start to go downhill. already?

For the last year or so, I have been very prone to sinus infections after getting a cold. This has meant that every single time I get a cold, I would then go on to get a sinus infection to last another couple of weeks. This past winter was no exception. It seemed like I was sick every week! It was miserable and I had had enough when I finally could not smell or taste for 2 weeks. Then, I couldn't hear out of one of my ears. I was tired of going to the Walgreens clinics and hearing "you have a sinus infection". And then the last time I went, they told me "you have allergies". Well, enough was enough.. I was sick for the last time at the end of May when I decided I was going to go see an Ear, Nose, and Throat dr.

I made my appt for the dr, and ended up seeing a Nurse Practitioner.He says he thinks I have acid reflux and TMJ. He can't be for sure, so he asks me if I would mind getting a CT scan. So, I do... The dr's office calls back and says that the dr has reviewed my scan and has diagnosed me with chronic sinusitis. BUT, she couldn't fit me in with the dr for several weeks. So, I complied and went to the dr on my July 14th appt.

I thought he was honest and I was honest with him that all of my symptoms were not going away no matter how many antibiotics and steroids I took. I was using the neti-pot and it did nothing. I even think I felt worse a few days after using the neti-pot... So, he feels like we've exhausted all of our options and says surgery would be the best option. I complied, again...

This is me being nervous at the hospital before surgery....

This was me updating my facebook status at the hospital....

Phil told me to smile...

I finally had my surgery on July 23rd... I checked in at the hospital around 10:30 am, and they had me all hooked up to an IV by 11:30. Anyway, a series of ppl came into my room and introduced themselves to me and Phil. Phil made a few random jokes here and there and, as always, he's the life of the room. I get all undressed and put on their little warming gown they call Bair Paws. Its not glamorous, nor is it comfy, nor is it a one size fits all thing. It was huge on me... Anyway, I saw my dr and he explained what we would be doing. Then he left and the anesthesiologist came in. I swear this guy looked like he was about 20 years old and it was his first time doing this. He seemed unsure and uneasy about the whole thing and I think someone must have stolen this poor guy's sense of humor. Anyway, he left and my RN, Mary, came in to wheel me to OR. She said she would be with me during the procedure. Mary puts a hair hat on my head and we roll on to OR. It has be around 12:30 by this time. Mary stops right outside the OR and pushes open the doors. A guy named Justin is standing outside the OR. I don't know what Justin's job is, but he was scrubbing his hands like crazy. Mary comes back out to get me and wheels me into the OR. It was cold and white. Very cold... I get switched over to the OR bed and I'm shaking. Mary asks if I would like a warm blanket and I told her yes. She and Justin put those sticky monitor things on me and then cover me up with the warm blanket. Justin was so unsure of himself that he didn't know how to wrap my hands in the blanket - that bed was so narrow that my hands were falling off the bed. So, she helps him and he kinda stands next to me, uncomfortably, while I'm shaking and trying to calm down. Just then, I hear that awkward anesthesiologist's voice behind me telling me that he was giving me something to calm me down. I remember thinking that I was so grateful for that because I was nervous.... And that's the last thing I remember before surgery. This was after Mary put my hat on me... Look at me, trying to hide my nerves...

After surgery, I remember kinda waking up and seeing a blurry person in front of me. She asked me if I wanted an ice chip and I told her yes, so she stuck one in my mouth. I guess I chewed it up and went back to sleep. I woke up again and she asked if I was ok. I said my throat was hurting and she asked if I wanted another ice chip. I replied yes and she stuck another one in my mouth... Then, I remember being wheeled into my first room where Phil was waiting. My throat was hurting really badly from having that tube down my throat. I tried to open my eyes, but I was so out of it... I remember riding to daycare and Phil running in to get Liam.. Liam says "hi mommy!" and I talked to him a little bit. And we drove home. Phil and I had the same conversation 4 times b/c I couldn't remember what he told me every time I asked.. This is me, recovering....

I'm still recovering, but here's what I do know now... my dr went in and removed a cyst and some old tissue and drained out all of my infection. One side was worse than the other (guessing it was the side with the cyst) and he widend the sinus cavities so they would be able to drain better...

Right now I feel stuffy since they pack the sinuses with packing to keep from bleeding everywhere. This stuff is supposed to dissolve in my nose. In the meantime, I'm supposed to use saline solution to keep from drying out. And I'm laying in a room with a vaporizer to keep my nasal cavities moist. I've been told I can't sneeze for the first little bit. Right now, I'm taking pain meds and antibiotics, and I hope to be up and moving in the next few days. I better be, I have to go back to work next week!