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A new and different throat surgery!
Sep. 1st, 2024 08:22 pmOn Thursday the 5th I have a new and different throat surgery scheduled! I am genuinely excited about this because
1) my larynx is visible! My supraglottic area is OPEN! The Enbrel appears to be working as intended!!
2) At some point in the last two and a half years my soft palate was permanently damaged. I have both nerve (sensor and motor) damage as well as muscle damage. The practical effect is that I cannot breathe properly through my nose.
The solution to this is what I am calling a palate reconstruction. (I do not remember the specific name for exactly what he is doing.) It will be painful, the recovery will be longer and more painful than I am used to, and the risks of post-surgical swelling are high enough that this will be an inpatient surgery and I will be spending the night. Also, there is a real risk that the reconstruction will lead to a lifelong difficulty with food and liquids going up my nose when I attempt to swallow.
I accept these risks. The breathing thing is just a problem for me.
Anyway, this is all progress, this is good news, and I hope my recovery sucks as little as is possible.
1) my larynx is visible! My supraglottic area is OPEN! The Enbrel appears to be working as intended!!
2) At some point in the last two and a half years my soft palate was permanently damaged. I have both nerve (sensor and motor) damage as well as muscle damage. The practical effect is that I cannot breathe properly through my nose.
The solution to this is what I am calling a palate reconstruction. (I do not remember the specific name for exactly what he is doing.) It will be painful, the recovery will be longer and more painful than I am used to, and the risks of post-surgical swelling are high enough that this will be an inpatient surgery and I will be spending the night. Also, there is a real risk that the reconstruction will lead to a lifelong difficulty with food and liquids going up my nose when I attempt to swallow.
I accept these risks. The breathing thing is just a problem for me.
Anyway, this is all progress, this is good news, and I hope my recovery sucks as little as is possible.