Back to the ENT

My appointment was pre-scheduled to meet back with my doctor. It seems I baffled him a bit. He went in to unclog my Parotid duct (technically it has another name but we'll keep it simple) but found it completely blocked. He seemed surprised by this outcome. Apparently no amount of roto rootering would clear the path. Which leads me to tomorrow, the second day of 2019.

The doctor scratched his head about the next step. He had a couple ideas besides the parotidectomy but shot them down as he was discussing them. I could tell by the sound of his voice that the outcome of either was going to be sketchy.

I went in hoping that he would say one way or another that we needed to move forward. I dreaded him saying... Well.... we could wait a bit and see what happens. But luckily he said, We have to do something. That made it easier for me to embrace the surgery and get this thing fixed once and for all.

Health issues can be so confusing. I've been relatively healthy my entire life, so when I do have an issue it always seems to be something they can't fix. And the older we get the more often that happens. I always feel silly mentioning stuff and think that the doctor must think I'm crazy.

Most people have a tumor growth on their Parotid yet I have a cyst. I've been researching lately and have learned that something should be done when the duct is blocked or you have a cyst. That information helped me understand this was the best course of action.

In this practice, after you see the doctor he says you will hear from his scheduler. OK, more waiting. When the call came through, she suggested January 2nd. I guess that date is as good as any. Start the year with a bang. It seemed so far away and now it is tomorrow. In a strange way the waiting was good since I've noticed as each month has passed, the pain becomes more consistent. Also, where I could once flatten out the bump, it is no longer possible. Each thing makes this decision a bit easier.

So... I prepared as good as I can and am now counting down the hours until the surgery. It will be an early morning and a long day. I'm more nervous than before, but that is to be expected. I'm hoping my story will be an easy one from this point forward. Telling the future has never been my strong suit. You can only imagine so much.