Doc Appt *Edit*

This morning was my ENT doc appt and CT scan.  Interestingly enough, there’s not really fluid in my sinuses.  However, the right sinus is really inflamed.  Also, my septum is pretty deviated, which is the big reason why I don’t breathe right out of my nose.  Really, the best option for me is surgery to fix the deviated septum.   So that’s what I’m going to do.  Plus, while they do that, they’ll reopen some of the passages on the right side and see if that helps the inflammation there.  Also, fixing the deviated septum can help prevent future problems.  Currently, the deviation in my septum has REALLY narrowed the passages on the left side of my nose.  It probably wouldn’t take much for me to start having real issues there again.  For those a little confused, your septum is a piece of bone with a membrane on each side and it divides the two large sinus cavaties on either side of your nose.  Generally, the septum should be pretty straight.  Looking from the front, my septum is pretty straight.  Looking from the back it’s pretty straight.  But the scans taken of the middle of my septum show that it’s nowhere near straight in the middle and that’s a problem.  So right now I’m planning on surgery.  The only question now is when.  The earliest the doc can do it is August, but thanks to the job I have, I really can’t take any time in August or September and limited time in October at this point.  I am going to talk to my boss tomorrow and see what can be managed but I suspect I’ll be waiting til October.  It sucks, but it’s also life. 

The surgery is outpatient and will take 2 hours to 2 1/2 hours since they’re doing the septoplasty and opening up some of the passages on the right side.  It’ll mean taking off the day of the surgery in addition to a few more days.  Since the doc does surgery on Mon, Tues, and Wed I’m trying to get scheduled on a Wednesday (as Mondays and Tuesdays are the busiest days at work).  If it ends up a Wednesday, I’ll take Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off work and be back to work on Monday.  I don’t know yet if I’ll have to take it all PTO, or if I’ll be able to take FMLA.  I’ll also have to have a physical no more than 30 days prior to surgery, essentially to "clear" me for surgery.  In any case, I’ll be talking to my boss tomorrow to see what can be done about getting the time off.

*EDIT*

After talking to my boss and the clinic, surgery is scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, October 14th. Before that I have to call my HMO and also set up a physical so they can get my full medical history and clear me for surgery.  I wish it wasn’t so far out, but there’s not much I can do about that.  At least afterwards I’ll be able to breathe right out of my nose.

"Life is measured not by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."