July 18, 2013- was the date of my next reconstruction surgery. It has been 2 years since my processed were made but because of one big set back that happened a year ago, my surgeries was delayed. I was in recovery for 8 months when an infection happened during my last cartilage surgery. But 2 years later, healthy and strong, my doctors were able to continue my process and get it done slowly.
About the Surgery
Images above were the results of the surgery I had in Yale Hospital on Thursday, July 18. As you can see, my nose isn't very well looking in the pictures. It is swollen and messed up looking kind of nose. The swelling made it look like that because I took the pictures right after the surgery. It was very painful and the pain was killing me each time. The drainage of my nose was crazy and unstoppable. The needle that you can see pointing out by my nose is what I believe helps the cartilage to stay in place. As painful as these things were, everything seems normal for me. But I never thought I could be this happy again that my surgery has finally going again. The surgery only took 6 hours and I wasn't staying at the hospital for long days. I went home 24 hours after the surgery. I had more pain but I was more positive for myself during this process. Here's how it was done.....
The taking out of the cartilage was the most painful thing during my surgery. Two years ago, my doctors took the cartilage from my right breast, rib area. Since it got infected, they had to take it out so the infection won't spread out to cause more problems. But this time, my doctors were able to take another cartilage from my left breast, rib area. I knew how painful it will be once they will take out another cartilage but I was all prepared of what's going to happen. Unfortunately, when my doctors took out another cartilage for my nose, it was more painful. I can barely move and i couldn't sleep like a normal person could. It was a nightmare having to suffer all the pains from my nose and my rib. It was very painful that some other nights i couldn't sleep with it. However, the pains were worth it and the medication has helped me ease the pain away too. But to be honest, my rib was the most painful process during this surgery. Everything were worth it though.
The taking out of the skin from my right ear wasn't that bad at all. Painful but it needed to be done. My doctors took out the skin from my ear to use it to add that skin to my right nostril to keep it in shape. My right nostril was closed for over a year, only my left nostril was open the whole time which helps me to breathe out from my nose a little bit. As tough as it was for me, having only one nostril open was a challenge for me because I wasn't able to breathe fully through my nose and I couldn't blow my nose off when I have to. It was challenging for over a year but I got used to it though. But now, my two nostrils are open and I can finally breathe 100% through my nose and my mouth. It was very exciting! Anyhow, my right ear right now still painful to touch and painful to wear glasses so I have to wait couple more weeks until it gets fully heal. People will not notice that I had surgery from my ear which is a good thing. My long hair makes it unnoticeable and that's what matters for now.
Have you ever run through something hard and hit your nose so bad? Then made your eyes teared up for long minutes until the pain goes away? You see the picture above? I can compare the pain you felt after hitting your nose through hard object from that needle you can see in the picture. Actually, it can be more painful than what you've experience. I got to say, that needle in my nose was very painful. I had the needle in there for over a week. It was the worst thing ever. Not able to sleep in different positions, can't wear glasses, can't wash my face, and can't touch it were the things I had to go through for over a week. Because once that needle get touch accidentally or get hit with something, the pain goes crazy and believe me, it was never fun at all. The purpose for that needle in my nose is to keep my bridge in place because it was over two years that I didn't had a bridge in my nose and my doctor was too concern of what's going to happen after putting the cartilage in so he decided to placed that needle in there to hold everything up. As painful as it was, I got through it all. I bear the pain for that long and it was all worth it.
