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Several days into recovering from my septoplasty surgery (April 2013), I hit a headache wall. It was 4:00 pm, and I had a headache that would NOT subside. I had already taken my usual supplement of 2 advil just 1 hr ago, and I began my usual routine to seek relief from the headache: relaxation, gentle massage, hot tub, warm water drink, and hot shower. I decided to call my son-in-law doctor, Wes, for advice. I relayed my story starting from just after my surgery:
At the hospital they gave me a generic Vicodin, and still, the entire first day of recovery was horribly uncomfortable. For starters, there was a pair of tampons stuffed up my nostrils, and they were going to remain there for another couple of days. Another highlight: after barely managing to get down some chicken soup made by my loving nurse June, I barfed it back up shortly afterward. The night was painfully long, sitting upright and breathing ONLY through my mouth. Now this is day 2, and I am miserable.
Wes confidently reassured me that the surgery and anesthesia were to blame for my nausea and subsequent regurgitation; NOT the Vicodin. I had to agree; I have NEVER met a pain-reliever I didn't like. "In fact", he said, "take one more Vicodin, then 30 minutes later, if you don't feel any relief, take another."
Hmmm...I was skeptical but we waded in. I looked at the clock: 8:30 pm. With June at my side, I took the Vicodin. We planned to watch a little Mad Men, take a soak in the hottub, then lights out. Sounds good!
9:00 - The headache is still screaming.
9:30 - Hmm, maybe the pain has subsided.
10:00 - I am a comatose idiot. Forget the soak. June helps me brush my teeth, sets me on the couch and turns out the light. I quickly pass out.
That evening I had a very vivid dream / nightmare:
For what feels like the next several weeks, I wander through a walled, indoor/outdoor maze, full of fences, doors, and hallways. I am passively trying to find my way out; not panicked, not hurried, but very confused. Finally, I see a few guys stalking me in the distance. Then I realize that they are trying to surround me. Now I become slightly more panicked. In what seems like an instant, they are on me! One old guy latches onto my arm with superman-like strength, and gently walks me to a corner of the building where there are many other men, just like me, looking like zombies. The old guy releases my arm and walks away.
There are strange-looking doors everywhere, but I have no interest in pursuing my escape. Just like everyone else, I am clearly not up to it. Then it hits me like a flash; they don't have to guard us! We are all on the same regime of heavy narcotics.
I wake up and notice I am a little shaken. I gathered my pillow and headed upstairs and climbed into bed with June. We talked briefly, then settled in. After an hour or so, I realize that I am not going to sleep. Since the surgery, I hadn't slept for more than a couple hours at a time. The headache was back with a vengeance, along with the usual discomfort. But at least I had settled down from the dream.
So once again I said goodnight to June and headed back downstairs. I will NOT be taking another Vicodin. Wes advised that it was not good to take Advil round the clock; I had been taking 2 every 3 hours for the past 2 days. So I resolved to face the pain naturally. My first move was to the hot tub at 1:15 am. I wandered slowly through the dark house feeling unusually normal. I climbed into the tub and settled in. After a few minute of peaceful relaxation, I was stunned to see the form of a person coming out the back door of the house. I felt immediate panic, actually hearing myself quietly gasp, "Ahhh!" The nightmare is NOT over!
But my fears were quickly relieved. June was worried about me and came down to join me. What a saint! We soaked for another 20 minutes in silence. We again said "Good night" for the third time that evening.
I had a deviated septum (crooked and small nasal passage). This caused me to have a hard time breathing through my nose when sleeping. I was wearing breathe strips every night, and even then it was difficult. The Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor at Kaiser persuaded me to get the surgery. I agreed after talking with NO ONE who actually had the surgery.
While going through the very long and painful recovery, I looked online and found many people who had the same miserable recovery experience as I.
Here is my personal timeline.
Surgery + 3 days: The tampons finally came out of my nostrils. I was in heaven!!
+ Several weeks: I could finally breathe out my nose a little.
+ 3 months: I could breathe through my nose at least as good as I did before the surgery.
+ 6 months: I could breathe easily through my nose at night, no longer needing the 'breathe strips' over my nose at night.
I formally complained to Kaiser about the lack of warning about how long it would take to recover from this procedure. Although if they had told me, I am not sure I would have gone through with it.