Yesterday was a big day for our family, and especially for TeenHer, who had her first outpatient surgery experience. They used a a general anesthesia and a good amount of painkillers in an IV, and the went in there and repaired her badly broken nose. If all goes well, TeenHer should be breathing regularly through her nose for the first time since she was a little baby within the next few weeks. For now though, she’s just a congested, fatigued, puking mess. You see, TeenHer vomits when she takes pain medication. And when she’s scared, and when she has too much adrenaline. We’ve seen quite a lot of vomit this week. Luckily homeopathics are helping mightily with the pain, and with the anxiety of ‘holy shit what if I feel like this forever!?’ (calms forte, if you’re wondering, and arnica in the 200 strength for the pain. phosphorus made short work of the residual nose bleeding)
Today my husband accompanied her to her post-op appointment because guess what? He has the same problem in his nose only WORSE! So anyway, here they are at the post op, Han doped up on a very low strength painkiller, and the Dr did some kind if irrigation in her nose. I know, it makes you want to puke just thinking about it, right? Of course she puked in the sink, and the Dr freaked out! Like, ushering them out of the room freaky. Maybe he’s scared of vomit? I don’t know. In the end my husband didn’t get his consultation, which according to him will be a long one because the doc said “we have a lot to talk about”.
I remember once I dated a guy who literally did not breathe through his nose due to a bad break. He was offered surgery to repair it, and he declined. “How can you stand it?” I would ask him gently, trying hard not to say what I really meant which was “dude if you don’t start breathing through your nose I might just go insane”. He made this bizarre clicking noise in his throat when he breathed in- some kind of valve back there, or something. All. night. long. If he wasn’t snoring, it was the clicking. with every single breath.
I can understand being afraid of surgery, people. But. You just don’t fuck with my nose. Not breathing through the nose-not acceptable. Just-no. Isn’t it funny how we adapt. At first she didn’t even see the point in doing the surgery. She’s THAT used to walking around with her mouth open 24 hours a day. It was only when we convinced her that there is a chance her daily (yes I did say DAILY) headaches might decrease once she has a clear airway that she decided to consider it.
Please send Teenher your love today. She could use some white light from the universe.