Training Log Archive: Charlie

In the gym with Eric. Some floor stretching, which I hadn’t done in a while since back when I was having vertigo, deadlifts with 105#, 3 or 4 sets of 10-12, some band work, 3 x 8 each side Bulgarian squats, back extensions, single ar pull downs, dumbbell overhead presses. Those I am not really very good at. Weaker on the right side despite being strongly right hand dominant. Planks on the swiss ball. So a good session.

Then off to Charlotte Hungerford hospital for sinus surgery. The backstory: back 6 or 8 weeks ago when I was having some regular episodes of vertigo, and after generally not seeming to have BPPV, I got an MRI of my head and got packed off to the ENT, who didn’t seem to find a definite basis for my vertigo, but found a pretty substantial mass blocking my R maxillary sinus. He sent me back to imaging for a CAT scan which confirmed that it was filled up and totally blocked. He said there was some calcification in there, which implied it had been there for a really long time. He said this sort of thing is not responsive to meds, and the only thing to do is to drain it and clean it out.

I was kind of disappointed that I was going to be knocked out and not be able to see this operation. The technique is to use a scope with a camera on it and to guide it via having the point of it show up on the cat scan image as a red dot, so he does the whole thing watching two images on the screen, the cat scan with the dot in one and the view from the scope in the other. Then in through the right nostril, find the right place, drill through to the sinus and suck out whatever is in there and wash it out. Anyway, I was of course oblivious while all that was going on.

Meanwhile, I arrived at the hospital, answered the obligatory COVID questions and got sent upstairs. Lots of nurses, a fair number of questions. Asked me about symptoms, did I have headaches, etc. Well, no, I was completely unaware of this thing until they scanned it, and besides I haven’t had a vertigo episode in 3 weeks now. They found themselves a trainee to put my IV in, with a couple of nurses giving her encouragement. Fortunately only one abject failure and she got it the second time, although the “just a pinch” was perhaps an understatement. But I am an optimal patient, unfailingly cheerful and encouraging myself, so all was well. Then they wheeled me in to the OR around 1130 or thereabouts, and that was all I knew about until I started to wake up around 1. Soon thereafter they rounded up Rhonda and I was on my way home. Stopped at the pharmacy for some Keflex and Vicodin (which latter seems totally unnecessary). I am to remain calm, basically do nothing today, and nothing more strenuous than walking for the next week. Not sure they understand how strenuous walking with Rhonda can be. Nasal irrigation 2x a day starting tomorrow. Then back to see the estimable Dr. Namon in a week or so for him to peek in there and see what is going on.

Will I notice any difference from having an operational sinus cavity? Not sure what it would be, but I guess I will find out.

Of course, not sure how I got this thing in the first place. He said this sort of infection, probably fungal, is more common in the south. He sent it off to get analyzed, so maybe more interesting info will be forthcoming.

For now I am installed on the couch, a clump of gauze taped under my nose like a strange mustache to collect any dripping blood, which seems to have slowed down some. The most notable effect is an irritated throat where they had a breathing tube during the operation. Not bad, but I am coughing a bit.

C • Did they by any chance leav... 10