Smelling salts

I realise I haven't updated about my surgery in January.

I went to Addenbrookes to see Dr McKiernon and he operated on me, performing my third polypectomy. The operation itself went really, really smoothly. I had been rather dreading it, as I had a horrible recovery from my second operation, but perhaps that was more related to the breaking and resetting of my septum. That was not in itself a success and Colchester had warned me it would need redoing, but Mr McK didn't find that necessary. The post operative packing was also completely different, as Addenbrookes use gel packs which dissolve over time, much nicer than having yards of gauze up there! I must also give huge credit to the use of post op homeopathics, I've never had such a smooth come round from a general anaesthetic before.

ENT reviewed me two weeks post surgery and signed me off. I feel loads better now the polyps are out, but as of yet haven't regained my sense of smell. This did happen after the last two surgeries, but I suspect that was due to the accompanying courses of steroids. I am currently taking a mad combination of tablets, from suggestions on two boards I read, one for those sensitive to salicylates and another for people with Samter's. It has been good to connect with other people in the same boat, as it can be very frustrating living with something that doesn't have a cure at this time. In June I go back to Addenbrookes for an aspirin desensitisation, which should hopefully slow the polyp regrowth and may even help me to regain some sense of smell.

Anyway, quite enough about the state of my sinuses. I must go and swish them out with salt water before I take Dan out to toddler group, my weekly exercise in humility.

A change of plan

I went to Addenbrookes today, to see the allergy clinic about being desensitised to aspirin. I had a huge allergic reaction to a Beechams' Powder in December 2009, which ended up with me in the resus of our local A&E, being injected with steriods, antihistimine and adrenalin (and being sick into the oxygen mask, but let's not dwell). I have Samter's Triad, which consists of asthma, aspirin allergy and nasal polyps. The nasal polyps have the biggest impact on my day to day life and I have had two operations to remove them (2004 & 2008) and was booked for another one later this month.

I didn't know this before I went, but due to the cross-over between ENT and allergies, the two departments run a joint clinic, which I have now been referred to. I have a clanking bag of drugs to take, plus a scary looking nasal rinse and I might qualify for a drug trial they're starting in a couple of months. We have agreed to transfer my ENT care to Addenbrookes and so my eventual polyp op will be done there, as well as the desensitisation.

One cheering thing was that my lung function was 130% of what would be expected for someone of my age and height. :-) I also had skin prick tests for common allergens and didn't react to anyone of them, not even the house dust mite, which I have tested positive for in the past. When I told Tiff this, he said "You must have desensitised yourself to it"....cheeky!