As Thanksgiving rolls around this year, I think about how one of the things I am thankful for this year is that I can breathe again. For the past two years, I had some nasty nasal polyps growing in my air passages, inside my nose. Polyps are (usually) non-cancerous growths. The one I had in my nose started in my ethmoidal sinuses near around my left eye and had grown so much that it was hanging down by my throat. Yeck. I know, gross. You might be wondering why I feel compelled to share such detail. I don't know. I guess I find it all so interesting. These suckers were so obtrusive, that by this past summer I wasn't able to breathe at night through my nose without the aid of some sort of nasal decongestant and I was snoring really badly. People were always asking me when I'd talk to them "Do you have a cold? You sound nasally." So I went and got a CT-scan done of my sinuses and saw a new Ear-Nose-Throat doctor who told me "yup, you're gonna need surgery."
So fast-forward a few months later, about a week ago, I had sinus operation where I had Mr. Dastardly Nasal Polyp removed, among other things (septoplasty being one of them). Although the inside of my nose was dripping blood for a few days because of the trauma done to it to remove the polyps and open up my sinuses, I immediately felt a huge difference in the clearness of my nose. I went to see my kind ENT surgeon doctor again last Thursday for a follow-up where he removed the packing and splints from inside my nose. "You're going to feel so much better after I remove this," he said. "You're going to have so much air in there you're not going to know what to do with all of it," he added.
He was right. After having that packing removed, my nose was being hit with so much air (it was so clear up in there), that it was actually a bit painful at first, walking outside in the cold November air. I had gotten so used to not being able to breathe fully that now that I was able to without blockage, it's like the nerve endings in my nose that were now exposed didn't like it.
But I digress. I just want the world to know how much I love being able to breathe again, especially without having to take nasal sprays and medicines. I am thankful to God for giving my doctors the wisdom and skill needed to help me breathe again. I am thankful that this whole procedure was done before heading off to France. I am thankful that I can breathe.
Here is that list again, updated:
Complete a beginner triathlon. (God help me!)
- Go paintballing with my sisters and cousins. Be able to get my sister, Katrina, in paintball!
-I just sent a friend an email about this to ask for recommended places. Anyone reading this know of any good paintball parks?
Visit the bug museum in Toms River called Insectropolis.
- Throw an '80s and '90s party. People would have to come dressed in a style from the 80s or 90s. Music would be from...you guessed it, the 80s and 90s. :)
-I’m thinking of doing this for New Years…I am thinking of substituting an "Anne of Green Gables" tea party/marathon fest for an 80s/90s party. Great Jehosophat!
- Go hiking in the Delaware Water Gap area with my closest friends in the fall when the leaves on the trees change colors.
-Well, I missed my chance to go in the fall, but there’s still winter. Skiing, anyone? :)
