I found out yesterday after an appointment with my ENT that I need to have surgery on my sinuses again. This is the second sinus surgery this year, and the third surgery altogether! I am starting to feel like a pro at these things :)
The reason for the first surgery was a cyst that they found accidentally on one of my CT scans. It was very large, filling up almost my whole sinus cavity! Apparently these cysts are very common, but rarely cause problems. The original cyst hadn't caused any pain, but I opted to take it out because I was fresh off of surgery for the lung cancer and didn't want any more unknowns taking up residence in my body. The surgery went well, and the recovery was mostly pain free. The worst part is the weekly appointments that follow surgery because the doctor has to insert a suction tube waaaaay up into my sinuses through my nose and suction out all the blood clots and packing he put in during surgery. It is NOT pleasant!
So everything was going great until my last appointment with his this spring. He said he saw a new cyst forming where the old one had been removed. He said that was also fairly common, and probably nothing to worry about but wanted me to come back in October for another look. The last few months I have had increasing problems with tenderness and pressure in that area, and its really started to be bothersome. So I was not surprised at all when at my appointment he said the cyst was there and growing. I was surprised to hear him say that I am the first person he has ever seen with an infected cyst. I laughed and wondered why all these weird things that no doctors expect are always happening to me!! He said the only way to cure it would be another surgery, one where he would be very aggressive in removing all the tissues in that area to hopefully *crossing fingers* prevent another surgery in my future.
I am so grateful to have such a wonderful support system in place for things like this. My last surgery for my nose was on a Friday and since Matthew had no time off left, he had to leave for work. So I was home alone with the kids all day, and being on pain meds and trying to rest made it a difficult night at best. This time, as soon as I told friends what was happening, I had all the offers to help that I could ever need. Tanya is going to come over and help with dinner and bedtime, allowing me to not only take it easy that night, but also to have the company of a dear friend. Jessica has offered to watch the kids, clean my house, or do whatever I need to help in my recovery. Michelle has offered her help too, and I feel so grateful to have these women in my life, who will drop everything to help me when I need it. I hope they know that I will always be there to return the favor!
So, surgery again, hopefully for the last time this year! Thank goodness for insurance, friends and family. And...for bringing sexy back ;)
The reason for the first surgery was a cyst that they found accidentally on one of my CT scans. It was very large, filling up almost my whole sinus cavity! Apparently these cysts are very common, but rarely cause problems. The original cyst hadn't caused any pain, but I opted to take it out because I was fresh off of surgery for the lung cancer and didn't want any more unknowns taking up residence in my body. The surgery went well, and the recovery was mostly pain free. The worst part is the weekly appointments that follow surgery because the doctor has to insert a suction tube waaaaay up into my sinuses through my nose and suction out all the blood clots and packing he put in during surgery. It is NOT pleasant!
So everything was going great until my last appointment with his this spring. He said he saw a new cyst forming where the old one had been removed. He said that was also fairly common, and probably nothing to worry about but wanted me to come back in October for another look. The last few months I have had increasing problems with tenderness and pressure in that area, and its really started to be bothersome. So I was not surprised at all when at my appointment he said the cyst was there and growing. I was surprised to hear him say that I am the first person he has ever seen with an infected cyst. I laughed and wondered why all these weird things that no doctors expect are always happening to me!! He said the only way to cure it would be another surgery, one where he would be very aggressive in removing all the tissues in that area to hopefully *crossing fingers* prevent another surgery in my future.
I am so grateful to have such a wonderful support system in place for things like this. My last surgery for my nose was on a Friday and since Matthew had no time off left, he had to leave for work. So I was home alone with the kids all day, and being on pain meds and trying to rest made it a difficult night at best. This time, as soon as I told friends what was happening, I had all the offers to help that I could ever need. Tanya is going to come over and help with dinner and bedtime, allowing me to not only take it easy that night, but also to have the company of a dear friend. Jessica has offered to watch the kids, clean my house, or do whatever I need to help in my recovery. Michelle has offered her help too, and I feel so grateful to have these women in my life, who will drop everything to help me when I need it. I hope they know that I will always be there to return the favor!
So, surgery again, hopefully for the last time this year! Thank goodness for insurance, friends and family. And...for bringing sexy back ;)