Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Nelly, me again (Warning---not for those with a weak stomach!)

You're welcome! And yes, nasal sprays are a no-no for a long time after the surgery. The inside of your nose is bloody, has stitches and has to heal. After everything had healed, I did start using one of the prescription allergy sprays, Flonase, and that has helped me tremendously.

About 2-3 weeks after the surgery, I had this terrible constant smell in my nose. The nurse said, "Oh, it's just all of that tissue healing." I was like "What?" Well, you know, you have lots of dried blood and junk in your nose after it's been cut up and stitched back together---and there's no way you can avoid smelling it when it's in your nose.

Kind of gross, huh? It was enough to gag me, but that's just a little of what you have to deal with. And of course, when you wake up from the surgery, you have this gauze taped across your lip to catch all the blood and gunk dripping from your nose.

And your eyes are black and blue, your whole face is swollen, you have a very hard time washing your hair, and you can't put on makeup for a long time. Did I tell you you have to clean the dried blood out of your nose with a Q-tip? (for weeks!) And this hurts like HELL....

Have you ever been hit in the nose? Remember how much it hurts? Well, multiply that times a thousand because you have millions of nerves in your face---and they've all been screwed up---big time.

I couldn't even lift the corners of my mouth to smile. When I tried, my lip drooped and I looked handicapped. Talk about panic! I was on painkillers ---and was still in terrible pain. Sleeping was the worst. I tossed and turned for weeks because it hurt so much at night, and I was afraid I'd roll over and hurt my nose.

I don't mean to discourage you---if you are thinking about the surgery. I just want you to have a realistic picture of what it will be like. My surgeon told me it was no big deal. When I asked him if I'd be ready to attend a dinner party with my husband 3 weeks after the surgery, he said "Sure." That was a bunch of baloney!!!!!

When I see those women on the Swan who've had numerous things done at one time (their noses, chin, eyes, breast and liposuction), I cringe because they must just want someone to shoot them! I cannot imagine the excruiating pain they're in! I think I'd down my entire bottle of pain pills in one sitting! That's insane!

The rhinoplasty surgery is not an easy one. And it's not for the squeamish---or those that can't tolerate pain. You have to be tough---and you have to really, really want this.

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