The Big Reveal! I LOVE my new nose! - Houston, TX

Cast came off today!!! First off, no one told me about the gi-normous nose splits that are in your nose for this whole week! I don't even know what to compare them too. I'll post a pic if anyone wants to see them. Anyways, I thought I was breathing good - then they take those things out and whoah, it was like a rush of air. Even if cosmetically nothing happened, the septoplasty and reduction of my turbinates have been like a miracle. I can breathe for the first time and I actually sound different. I've had people in the past tell me I sounded "nasal." Not anymore, and I can tell.

On to the cosmetic part - I had pretty much lowered my expectations. My biggest fear was I wouldn't recognize myself from the front (something I did not want to change). It was uncanny how much I did recognize myself even with some swelling. My profile is amazing to me. Hump is completely gone. This has been such a boost of confidence for me! Still some swelling to go down but heck, if it stayed like it is now I'd be happy. I love, love my doctor. When I have more time I will describe more for his rating. Wow, I can't believe I got everything I wanted and more. I feel beautiful. :)

Stitches out today and really did not hurt at all. I took tylenol extra strength before but that's it. Cast comes off on Thursday! I was pretty much snapped back into reality since my 4 year-old came back from Grandad's. Amazing how much you don't think about your nose (or yourself) when you have the kiddo back around. Got my first "konk" on the nose.... Bent over to kiss him good night and he raised his head.... ouch! I think it would hurt a lot worse if he really did some damage. Guess I'll find out Thursday if I've got some bone sticking out where it's not supposed to be. Jeez, I hope not!

Starting to feel like, "when will this ever end?" with recovery. It's encouraging to come back and see the progress of others and know that it just takes time. I still have the black eyes, yellow, swollen cheeks and that "I have a cold" feeling in the back of my throat. That has to be the most annoying. I go tomorrow afternoon to have the stitches taken out. From what I can see so far I really am loving it. I'm still doing a lot of laying around the house. Thank God for the Euro Cup - it's entertained me the last two days solid. I am extra sensitive to what raises blood pressure. I can feel it in my nose when I pick up a book or raise my arms above my head. Patience, patience, patience....!