three weeks out

Today is three weeks since my accident. I've had a lot of time to reflect in that time.

About the accident itself...

I didn't exactly walk straight into the metal pole. I was walking fast, facing toward the street, and I turned to the right and my face smashed straight into a tall metal pole that was in the middle of the sidewalk, supporting one of those annoying sidewalk sheds. It consoles me somewhat to realize I didn't just walk straight into a pole.

On Thursday, December 29, I had the closed nasal reduction surgery.

The AJ on my head is for Adam Jacoby, my doctor.

I was so ready for the surgery. (By the way, in looking at this photo now, my nose does look very crooked. Funny how I didn't see it before).

When I woke up, My doctor said, "I was able to straighten your nose and septum, so you'll likely need no more surgery. And I took the stitches out of your lips, so they should start to heal."

But...

New stitches were added inside my nose, to hold in place the stents that were added for a week.

I was in and out of the hospital in less time than when I was in the ER. 

I left feeling great.

But by Saturday I was miserable. I slept all that day and the next.

It wasn't really painful (I didn't take the oxycodone that was prescribed...I am afraid of anything that starts with the letters OXY). 

It was just extremely uncomfortable.

In short, my entire face hurt. Not significantly, but enough to notice.

My lips were still a mess.

My nose had filled up with mucous and other really undesirable gunk, and I had to let it just sit there and accumulate, as I couldn't blow my nose.

The stitches were sharp and hurt (more like an annoying hurt, but a constant one).

My face swelled.

And even wearing glasses was painful so reading was tough.

I had an awful, unrelenting headache that wouldn't stop, as my head filled with stuff that shouldn't be there.

And, I couldn't wash my hair cause I can't get the splint on my nose wet.

I just slept for two days, wishing time to pass.

On January 5th, last Thursday, the stitches in my nose came out. 

Getting them out (and I don't think I'm exaggerating), hurt more than childbirth. But once they were out, life was good again.

The doctor changed the bandages and was very pleased with my fixed nose. "It's straight," he announced, which of course is good news. 

I looked at it and just saw a huge nose that I didn't have before. He had warned me that it sometimes can take months for the nose to lose all its swelling after surgery. But it only should take about three weeks for the bones to heal.

The splint stays on my nose for probably another two weeks.

My energy is back.

My lip is still swollen but getting better.

Eating and drinking is improving every day.

And I am hopeful that the worst is behind me.

This is certainly not one of my better pictures, but it is a healing one.