almost normal

Fours weeks tomorrow. That's all it's been. And already I am starting to feel like me again.

On Thursday, Dr. Jacoby took off my nose splint and bandages.

He told me it'll take months for the swelling in my nose to subside, but that in time, it will. He is very pleased with how straight my nose is, as closed reduction surgery does not guarantee this. 

The bones in the nose are small, and when they break, it's like an egg shell. So what's really amazing is that after three to four weeks, the bones are pretty much set. It's only been a little over two weeks since my surgery, so the bones are not entirely solid yet, but well on their way.

I still have a lot of redness and my nose looks huge and the scarring from the stitches, while not horrible, is still visible. 

And my lips are taking forever to heal. I have a lot of scarring on top where the stitches were. It also feels really tight, and I still can't pucker my lips (you know, for all those sexy Tik Tok videos I like to make), nor can I yet drink from a straw. And inside my lip, where more stitches were, it feels like a big bump (that I hope will go down over the next few months).

But still, all that being true, I leave the doctor's office on Thursday feeling really good.

Finally, I can wash my hair without a towel over my face!

I realize this weekend that it's been four weeks since I've left my neighborhood. Friends have come over, and I've certainly left my house, but I've stuck close to home. No busses. No subways. No venturing out. No make-up. No meals out. No movies. No plays. Nothing.

And while I still have a long way to go, I've come far in just four weeks. And for that, I am deeply grateful

Here I am, cleaned up, as best they could, at the ER on December 19 (pre-stitches):

The next morning:

And today (with some make-up help to minimize the red above my lip and on my nose):

I meet Susan and Jill for brunch. They tell me that had they not known, they wouldn't have noticed I look any different.

But the best compliment? Even though an implicit one —

my iPhone Face ID finally recognizes me!

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.

an accident

I'm out the door by 7am. It's Monday (December 19), my long-walk day.

With me is only my AirPods and iphone.

I'm listening to a crime podcast on Casefile, only a block or two from my apartment. And I walk right into this big pole in the middle of the sidewalk.

I fall to the ground, face down. The fall isn't what hurts me, and I don't lose consciousness. I put my hand over my face, and know I'm bleeding. I'm lying prone on the very cold sidewalk when some lovely woman sees me.

In a calm voice she says, "I'm going to call an ambulance. You are bleeding a lot. And I will stay with you til the ambulance comes." A saint, really. Meanwhile, poor Suri keeps asking over and over, "Do you need help?" I love my Apple Watch.

The ambulance comes. I am required to remove my hands from my face. I'm scared as I have no idea where the blood is coming from. The ambulance people tell me it's my nose, and I'm relieved.

But still, I don't look good.

The ER experience at Weill Cornell is awful. Since I'm not dying, I am mostly ignored. I have a CAT scan on my face and a CAT scan on my brain (required, I guess, after a fall). My brain is fine, my face, not so much. Two crushed bones in my nose. Abrasions all over. Deep cuts on my lip and nose. 

My good friend Shari  drops everything to come over. I know I'll be in the ER for a long time, and I at least need my glasses so I can use my phone. Judicially, though, as I don't have a backup charger.

I get stitches on the outside of my nose, and stitches on the inside and outside of my lip. I'm sent home around 5:30.

It could have been much worse. 

My son sends me flowers, which helps immensely.

The pain is minimal; the discomfort is great.

But within a week, I'm healing well. It's my mouth that bothers me the most. Eating and drinking is challenging. The stitches in my mouth are about an inch long and really annoying. Plus I have major scabbing under my top lip.

Tomorrow I am having what's called, a "closed nasal reduction surgery." It's only 15 minutes or so, though it's done in a hospital under general anesthesia. My doctor, Adam Jacoby, is well-credentialed and nice. I hope he's exceptionally competent too. My nose right now is not straight, and hopefully (no guarantee) this surgery will make it straight.

Otherwise, all is good.

two small coffee-related must-haves

I'll make this one short, since it's just a couple of recommendations.

I bought this Zojirushi insulated travel mug for the days I go into the office (although I now find myself using it at home).

It does two things, and those two things it does exceptionally well...better than any of the many others I've tried, including YETI, Contigo, and Swell.

It keeps hot beverages hot for a really really long time. And it doesn't leak. So far, it's perfect.

The other item I am now loving is this small desk vaccuum by IGOKOTI. I use it every morning to pick up all the small coffee grounds that lay sprinkled on my counter, after using my much-adored Baratza Encore Electric Grinder.

For $14, this tiny vacuum has made my morning routine a lot easier.

 

working and fasting

Today is Yom Kippur and I am fasting.

I always do. No food, no water, nothing.

But I do it more out of fear. Fear that if I don't, something terrible will happen.

I know this rationale is not a good one.

And, I work today. 

My fasting is probably canceled by my working on the day I should be atoning.

I know. This isn't at all the day's intent.

In late afternoon, I go to Fairway to buy some traditional food for my solo break-fast.

I decided not to join my family as I didn't want to leave work early, although I'm sure it would have been fine.

I'm at the Fairway deli counter, ordering. 

Lox. Creamed herring. Bagels. Cream cheese. And asking about the chopped liver.

That's when I see this adorable (albeit much younger) guy standing next to me. He asks for, and then samples, the chopped liver. He looks at me and says, "You should buy it. It's really good."

We start talking. He, too, is making a solo break-fast . And he too, is both working and fasting. 

"You're fasting?" I ask. "But you tried the chopped liver."

"Oh, no!!! I totally forgot," he says.  "I just tasted it on impulse. I am fasting."

Our banter continues. I feel young and flirty. It's a nice feeling.

But soon it's ruined.

I check out.

And while I'm walking home,  I look at my receipt, and see this.

How depressing! The $4.08 discount is hardly worth the reminder.

The cashier never even asked my age.

Hmmm.

Maybe this story would have had a different ending had I not both worked and fasted.

Addendum

So after I post the above, my friend Ellen texts me, 

As always. Laughing from you, but taking it a step further….: guilty about working on Yom Kippur but no guilt of buying shrimp and prosciutto to accompany your traditional break-fast food. Lol! L’shana Tova.

first three weeks

So, week one.

New programs to learn (everything is on Office) and I am used to all the Mac programs.

A million different sources.

A new computer (that I love, a 16 inch MacBook Pro that the tech experts hate, since most of the company uses a PC). But it still takes time to organize all the settings.

An office with an incredible view:

In fact, my office is so nice that I am one of a few who prefers going in to not. I like separating work from home, and the office is an easy commute.

The building is new and high tech. The security is great — no lobby directory. ID's that are programmed for individual floors.  You scan your card, and the turnstile has a scanner that tells you what elevator to take. And of course there are no floors listed in the elevator.

The area around the office is beautiful too. It's in Battery Park, a section of the city that's been entirely rebuilt since 9-11. Stores and restaurants are everywhere. As well as trees. Boats.  And a lot of water. I feel like I've left Manhattan.

Weeks two and now three feel a lot more comfortable.

I'm getting used to all the programs, though I still have a ways to go.

Everyone I've met so far is incredibly nice. Very helpful. And respectful.

And the best part? 

No messy dressing rooms, and zero returns.

why I hate my cable company

Four visits from a technician.

Two trips to the Spectrum store.

Multiple calls to Spectrum, varying in hold time from nine to 25 minutes.

Multiple calls to Spectrum with many many different people with every single one of them  giving me conflicting information.

And the outcome?

I turn in my DVR cable boxes and DVR service saving $35/month.

I cancel my HBO service and buy it instead directly though HBO, saving $100 for the year.

I add a DVR cloud service for $5/month (I record a lot).

The result?

The app loads slowly.

The interface is just okay.

And the DVR service doesn't work on my bedroom TV.

I call again and spend about an hour on the phone with the most senior level technical supervisor.

He has me signing in and out. Plugging and unplugging. All sorts of useless activities.

Still, it doesn't work. I schedule an appointment.

A technician comes to my house. While very nice, he says, "We only handle equipment problems. This is an app problem."

I call Spectrum. 

Twenty minutes later I reach someone, and ask immediately for a supervisor.

This time, I am lucky. 

I get Carlus. 

The only one in the entire company who happens to know Spectrum's cloud DVR service is not compatible with Samsung TV's made in 2016 (that's my bedroom TV, not my newer living room one). 

I guess this is a big secret at Spectrum that only Carlus has been told about.

Carlus is fantastic. And Derick the technician who has come to my house twice is too.

But they are only two people in a company of over 93,000.

Good luck sorting through all the misinformed and rude people to find the few hidden gems.

Addendum, only for those who care about getting rid of cable: 

I end up buying a great little ROKU for $40 and can now DVR shows in my bedroom. In addition, I can now watch Apple TV and DIscovery Plus which I couldn't before because my 2016 Samsung Smart TV was, I guess, not smart enough. 

I also buy a digital antenna so I can get NBC, CBS, ABC etc. with the hope of saying a complete goodbye to cable. The set up is easy. But, I don't like the interface and it's far too unwieldy, so I return it.

But just by doing the things I did do, I cut my cable bill by $50/month without much of a compromise.

So yes, it is worth it. But the process is a big pain, unless you have a better cable company than I do.