cabenson: (Default)
cabenson ([personal profile] cabenson) wrote2008-02-08 01:32 pm

The nose knows...

Attending Catholic school while growing up in the 70’s was, for the most part, a great experience, well except for giving up chocolate during lent…and going to mass in a blizzard…and the guilt. We had morning mass/classes, then ate lunch, then spent time outdoor for recess. In the fall and spring, running around outdoors was wonderful fun. We played tons of kickball and Four Squares, jumped rope, and some little hellions were known to chase the boys around, tackle them and kiss them. (Nowadays that would be considered harassment and I would be jailed or expelled.)

In the winter, and Northwestern Ohio winters were brutal, we still played outside unless it was raining…or sleeting. One day, some friends and I decided to see how sturdy we were. We played People Bowling. People lined up, we slid on the ice toward them and tried to see who could knock down the most “pins”. My turn comes to “bowl” and I crash face-first onto the sheet of ice. Grace of an eagle, I had. I get up and my nose is gushing blood. I hold one of my wee mittened hands to my face and approach one of the nuns playing sentry to the building (“Frigid air brings us closer to Jesus”) and walk away stunned when she refuses to allow me into the nurse’s office. I guess she thought since we were poor, that it was normal for me to have one white mitten and one scarlet red mitten. A non-nun finally saw me and escorted me down to the office. My mom threw a fit when she learned I had sustained such an injury and she had not been notified. I was always so embarrassed when she cussed out the head of the nunnery…

Why do I subject you all to my nostalgic wonderings? Well, the Sinus CT Scan I had done a few weeks ago showed a deviated septum. I saw the ENT surgeon today and he said that 30-year old injury is one of the main causes of all my sinus trouble. That and the orbital fracture I received when I took a line drive to my left eye in 1977.

Looks like I will be having surgery next month to fix the DS, freeze and slough some of the inflammation (like a DNC for the nose) and open up some of the larger sinuses. All without any scraping or packing of my nose which were my two deal breakers.

I am sure once I heal I will lose that nasal tone to my voice, try out for Advanced American Idol and become a worldwide celebrity. And to think you can all say, “I knew her when she was a drug addicted, alcoholic stripper chaser.” Good times!

[identity profile] bluepoet.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. It's amazing how a day on the playground has led to a lifetime of pain. Cool that they figured it out and can take care of it on your terms.

Do you intend to flirt with Paula during the tryouts?

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I won't flirt with Paula because she scares me!

[identity profile] noir-moll.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I had surgery to correct a deviated septum 10 years ago. Having my nose packed was the worst of the ordeal, so it's good that you won't have to go through that. The black eyes weren't great, either. But you can have fun with that by telling people you got into a bar brawl over a hot broad.

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Black eyes would be kinda chic...
ext_41593: (b&w kitties)

[identity profile] tudorlady.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I hear you. You know that whole knee-replacement saga I went through in '05? The only thing I can think of that could have possibly caused the complete deterioration of the cartilage in that knee (and not the other) was that when I was 12, I fell really hard while riding my bike and got the Pizza Knee To End All Pizza Knees. I even remember the fall, and having to just sort of sit on the curb until I could catch my breath, and wondering if I'd really broken something. Inasmuch as my parents wouldn't take you to see a doctor for anything short of a compound fracture, after a couple of minutes I got up, found out I could still walk, and went home. Said Pizza Knee got pretty infected and took a long time to heal completely (still have the scar) - and the only treatment I had was soap and water and big band-aids. My theory is that the infection did something to the cartilage in the joint, weakening it somehow, which eventually led to complete destruction of said cartilage.

Good luck on your surgery. It's funny how those seemingly trivial incidents (where we were basically told to 'quit being such a baby, it's only a bump/scratch') catch up with you later.

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks TL.

[identity profile] theholyinnocent.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you think it's too late to sue the nuns?

Surgery is a pain, but at least it's a pretty common surgery, fixing a deviated septum. And Mrs. CB will have to baby you with cake and strippers.

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll just go TP their nunnery...I know where they live.

[identity profile] softeranswer.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
what was the name of your catholic high school....i'm curious.

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I started at Delphos St. Johns and transferred to Lima Central Catholic as a sophomore.

[identity profile] stargazer1960.livejournal.com 2008-02-08 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I will be so very lonely, being the only one in the house with a deviated septum. Boo Hoo!

Mine was a present from my brother. He had been watching The Three Stooges and executed the knuckle-to-the-nose prank. Broke my nose.

I still hate Mo, Larry, Curly and Shep.

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-09 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
I think Greyson may have one, and definitely Artie-that boy snores worse than you :0

[identity profile] darandkerry.livejournal.com 2008-02-09 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
one of the nuns playing sentry to the building

I know that nun!!!

Seriously, good to know that they've finally gotten to the root of your problem. And yay, for no packing of the nose. But really, who knew that people bowling could be so dangerous?

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-09 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Her name was Sr. Mary Michaelene and she was a 6'2 nun machine!

[identity profile] macayagirl.livejournal.com 2008-02-09 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
wow. you are freakin' hardcore! and as a recovering catholic school student I just have to say those penguins will get their comeuppance.

[identity profile] cabenson.livejournal.com 2008-02-12 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I am hardcore and yes, one day those biatches will pay!!!!!!