Surgery Wednesday

[AnThRaX]

Hey gang ... Tomorrow morning I'll be undergoing a pretty hefty surgery. I am having my tonsils and adenoids removed, my uvula and inner nose tissue reduced, and my entire septum reconstructed due to the fact that I currently have one working nostril and pretty terrible sleep apnea. Obviously I'll be out of it for like the next two weeks but was wondering if anyone has gone through anything similar and has advice? 

[Satomi]

I remember talking to you about that - hope all goes well! It'll sting like a fucker and you'll feel miserable, but the healing is pretty fast. I've had the bilateral turbinectomy. Expect to have big shunts in place in your nose and to have large amounts of gauze tape/strapped to your face because you will just be waterfalling blood - stay hydrated and if you're allowed them, and have them in your area, Jamba Juice with protein powder or similar will be your saving grace. I generally found that keeping my head tilted just slightly back was the best for pain and blood management. In my case it was an outpatient surgery - not sure about yours. Good luck! I'm sure it'll be fine, though not altogether pleasant, and you'll breathe better on the other side

[Joetorp]

Good luck Jesse, you should try 'Breathe Right"  They work well.

[AnThRaX]

4 hours ago, Satomi said:

I remember talking to you about that - hope all goes well! It'll sting like a fucker and you'll feel miserable, but the healing is pretty fast. I've had the bilateral turbinectomy. Expect to have big shunts in place in your nose and to have large amounts of gauze tape/strapped to your face because you will just be waterfalling blood - stay hydrated and if you're allowed them, and have them in your area, Jamba Juice with protein powder or similar will be your saving grace. I generally found that keeping my head tilted just slightly back was the best for pain and blood management. In my case it was an outpatient surgery - not sure about yours. Good luck! I'm sure it'll be fine, though not altogether pleasant, and you'll breathe better on the other side

Ahh yeah you know my procedure almost better than I do, definitely will have shunts in my nose.  There is no Jamba Juice for 100 miles here unfortunately Do you think gatorade would hurt  or help?  Mine will be outpatient too which means I get to sit on my couch the next two weeks instead of go to Arizona to watch baseball spring training like I was supposed to and watch all my friends go to PCB and Costa Rica and such.  Ughhh lol. Thanks for all your help Satomi! 

1 hour ago, Joetorp said:

Good luck Jesse, you should try 'Breathe Right"  They work well.

Thank you Joe, I appreciate it.  I will definitely look into breathe right if I end up still having issues after this surgery. 

[masscarriers]

I had a similar surgery three years ago. The first hours are really the worst as the bleeding can be very intense, you'll need to change your gauze/tape a few times as it fills up. I remember the swelling around the nose being very annoying and it gave me headaches every now and then. It can be a really freaky experience, and strangers around look at you as if you were an alien due to the big thing you got on your face. I had shunts as well but I didn't find them annoying or anything.

After a few days you may be able to remove the bandages completely if it doesn't bleed anymore and then it's really just a matter of waiting for the healing process, that part is boring because you can't do sports or lift heavy things around. I don't like watching TV or spend too much time at the computer so I found it difficult but if you don't mind it I guess the worst will be far behind.

However, it was worth every painful second of it. You won't believe how great it is to breathe nicely again after years of difficult breathing, even if you kinda get used to it it's amazing. I'd say just for the good nights of sleep (and waking up not feeling you spent the night chewing dough) I'd go through it again anytime.

A word of advice though, if you know some stimuli tend to make you sneeze (some people sneeze when looking at the sun for instance), AVOID IT AT ALL COST. On the third day post-surgery I made my kitchen look like a murder scene because I pulled the curtains to look outside. It sucks when it happens just as you think you might remove the whole thing, and then you're stuck a few more days with the bandages on your face.
 

Catch to me on IRC if you want to talk about it more in depth, I shouldn't be too busy late tonight.

[AnThRaX]

Awesome masscarriers, thank you for all the info, you have really given me a positive aspect on this surgery and I am now more excited to go in for it.  I hope it makes as great a difference in my life as it has in yours.  I will try to catch you on IRC tonight, at my parent's house and only one landline computer seems to actually be able to get consistent internet, so we will see how that goes. 

[StJohn Gumby]

Good luck with the surgery man.

I've never had anything like that procedure done myself but lots of friends, as kids, had tonsils removed.

So, based on their experience, stock up on ice cream. 

Gumby

[Manuel857]

Never had this before so i can't really give you my take on this. But good luck man! Hope everything goes well and see ya soon!

[Satomi]

5 hours ago, AnThRaX said:

Ahh yeah you know my procedure almost better than I do, definitely will have shunts in my nose.  There is no Jamba Juice for 100 miles here unfortunately Do you think gatorade would hurt  or help?  Mine will be outpatient too which means I get to sit on my couch the next two weeks instead of go to Arizona to watch baseball spring training like I was supposed to and watch all my friends go to PCB and Costa Rica and such.  Ughhh lol. Thanks for all your help Satomi! 

Thank you Joe, I appreciate it.  I will definitely look into breathe right if I end up still having issues after this surgery. 

Yeah, Gatorade would help too, but make sure you're getting some protein too. Breathe Right strips might be good after surgery if the tissue removal sticks - they didn't/don't work for me unfortunately as they open up your nostrils while my blockage is deeper within my septum.

[m0a0n7er]

Good luck jesse don't think about it very much it'll go smoothly.

i'll say a prayer for you 

[Delusional]

Yeah good luck man, it'll all go well. And you know that if you need any dramatic moment for in between your recovery, here I am.

[cazembe]

good luck anthrax hope you feel better and hope it goes good 

caz-

 

[AnThRaX]

Thanks for all the support guys, a half hour til I go to the hospital now.  Will check in if I'm still alive later tonight most likely.

[Volcom]

Hope all went well man! Message me on facebook when you're home!

[AnThRaX]

Well, I made it.  Pretty much everything you said has come true masscarriers.  I am in tremendous pain but noticed a difference in my breathing immediately.  It has been hard to eat or drink because everytime I swallow it feels like I'm trying out for the circus as a sword swallower but it's nice to be alive. 

[Satomi]

It'll hurt like a bitch for a while but it'll heal pretty quickly. Hang in there! Glad it went well!

[Volcom]

A sword swallower through and through. 

[jude802]

Hey man hope you start feeling a lot better soon! glad it was a success. 

AnThRaX, Pro sword swallower.

[AnThRaX]

I'm sure it was an exaggeration but apparently the doctor said to my dad he's been doing this surgery for 30 years and he's never seen tonsils as large as mine. It has been so painful just living on my couch the last three days as I'm required to be in an upright position at all times. I just want to fast forward to recovery in like two weeks! Ugh  

[masscarriers]

Hold on buddy, the worst is behind!

[DrSithis]

I hope you're recovery is speedy.

[drastic]

Glad it went well brother!

[Volcom]

Beers soon man!