Trisha’s not-so-excellent medical adventure
THE FUN NEVER STOPS
I’ll be off the air for a little while now. Maybe a week or so.
I wish I were heading to the beach, or maybe mountains, or even just my back yard, but I have much more exciting plans:
I’m going to get my sinuses drilled.
I’ve had trouble for the past 15 years, but recently it’s kicked up a few dozen notches to the point where I am constantly either battling a raging sinus infection, or on strong antibiotics. A CAT scan confirmed, I am a mess. “You’re a really fascinating case! Very unusual,” my soon-to-be surgeon explained as she showed me my films.
Isn’t this picture terrifying? All those sharp things so close to your brain - yikes. While I’m not looking forward to being knocked out, poked, prodded, hollowed out, and then waking up stuffy and swollen, I AM looking forward to finally having “normal” health after this is all done!
I have a theory that this will be a piece of cake for me since I’ve given birth to two children (one without any pain meds) AND been through pretty massive surgery before (spinal fusion with Harrington rods for scoliosis when I was 13 - good times as you can imagine.) I’d like to think I’ll be able to handle this without too much whining. You’ll have to ask my husband, Ian, if this theory pans out.
And if you’re curious - nope - I’m not having any cosmetic work done while they’re in there. As
imperfect as my nose may be, I’m not up for any alterations. I’ve gotten pretty used to this profile over the years, and it is what it is. (Although I keep threatening Todd that I’m going to come back with a Michael Jackson nose)
So - the world will continue spinning while I lay low for a while with stacks of DVD’s, bags of frozen peas on my face. My patient husband to keep the house running while I recover. Our tireless sitter will make sure the kids have lots of really fun stuff to do besides climb on Mom, and I know Todd and the rest of the team will hold down the fort at RTV6 just fine.
One favor to ask - if any of you have had surgery like this, would you mind just telling me the helpful and nice stuff??
Tell me how much better you felt a month or two afterwards.
Or how the pain and stuffiness wasn’t REALLY as bad as you expected.
Or how good ice cream tasted once you could smell again.
I’d really, really appreciate it.
I promise to update this blog and let everyone know how it went once I’m coherent again.
BACK TO IOWA
Before I check out from blog I have a few photos to share from a trip we took last weekend back to see our friends and Ian’s band in Iowa.
The flooding followed us there - The Nadas were supposed to play in a beautiful amphitheatre on the river but it was underwater. They moved it into a club downtown Des Moines, and our kids got to come see sound check. Calvin was thrilled to get to be in a “bar place,” the usually-forbidden venue he hears about when Daddy has a gig that he’s not allowed to come to. (”But I promise I wouldn’t drink any beer!” he has begged in the past.)
Here’s Cal staring up at his rock idol, Mike from the Nadas, as he plays the Gold Les Paul electric guitar that Cal coveted so much, Santa finally brought him a small version this past Christmas.
Clara is so smitten with Mike that she couldn’t look him straight in the eye. She’d get all woozy and shy with tears in her eyes when he came near, then as soon as he left the room she’d babble non-stop about Mike, Mike, Mike, her favorite friend. (God help us if she’s this boy-crazy at age 15) Here she is dancing in circles to his music.
We snuck in plenty of quick but fun visits with old friends, but Calvin’s biggest memory from the trip will be learning how to do cannonballs in the hotel pool. (”Can we come back to the hotel tomorrow? Can we come back Monday? Can we stay here forever?”)
Anyway, I’m glad to have had one last hurrah before being a boring, bedridden mom for a little while. Thanks for reading, and I’m hoping to see you all on the air very soon!
For now - nighty night.
Trish




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Hi, Trish-
I had the surgery perhaps ten years ago (long before I met Barb). I remember shaving my mustache before it, and then finding my subsequent growth getting in the way. Glad that won’t be part of your adventure!
I think I spent the next few days sitting in a recliner…couldn’t lay flat for the drainage. I was glad to have friends checking up on me, and just taking it easy.
I’m trust all will go well for you, and you’ll be breathing better than ever when the doc finally lets you blow your nose again!
Ollie
Good Luck Trisha! We’ll see you when you get back to work. Enjoy your timeoff!
-Cameron
In the last 7½ monthes I have had a hip replacement and just had the shoulder done 4 weeks ago. The best advise I can give is if they give you pain medicine you take it. I know that it will go well for you. Will miss you on the news but do as you are told. Take care and best of luck. Susie
I had sinus surgery about 12 years ago and had polyps removed. Had suffered with allergies and sinus infections (not to mention snoring…!) for years and years. Don’t remember a ton about the recovery (I too had 2 small children at the time!) but I do remember having a bad headache for a couple of days and that the packing they put in your nose was uncomfortable, but after a week or so it was removed and I was back to work.
I have not had serious sinus symptoms with my allergies again and have not had a sinus infection since. My sense of taste and smell is still mediocre, but better than it was prior to surgery!
Good luck and you will definitely be glad you did it! Wonder how it will affect your singing voice…?
I had sinus surgery last July at the Carmel Outpatient Surgery Center. I won’t lie it was hard to do when I had an 18 month old little boy that wanted to be held but I couldn’t pick him up. You will not believe what its like for the first time you can breath in with your nose and breath out. Good luck with your surgery.
Thanks for all the comments and encouragement! I survived the surgery just fine yesterday, and am up and about (slowly) today. Other than quite a bit of nausea right after the surgery from anaesthesia, things went well. My nose isn’t even swollen (on the outside anyway) and there’s no bruising.
I am glad to hear from those of you who’ve had this done that things should be much better in the long run. It’s really reassuring to hear your success stories!
I owe a huge thanks to my husband who’s truly been by me “in sickness and in health” through this - holding my hand, propping up pillows, cooking me food, delivering medicine, bringing me bags of frozen peas for my face and cold water for my sore throat-hey wait, I think I could get used to this!
I am already getting antsy - I am sure I’ll be MORE than ready to get back to work once I get the all clear! Keep writing - I will be checking!
Thanks-
Trish
Hi Trisha!
I was wondering about your absence from the News, but I was hoping you were having some fun time. This would not be it! I am glad that the surgery went so well and that you are on your way to recovery. Just follow doctor’s orders and don’t try to do things just because you feel it is time to do them.Your doctor will let you know when you are ready.
Thanks so much for keeping your viewers informed and I wish you a fast recovery.
Hey Trish! Glad to hear things went well with your surgery. Once things get back to normal, we’ll have to start looking at dates for me to come to Indy!!
Take care!!
mandy
Trisha! Glad to hear things went well with surgery. Although not personally, I know several friends and my sister-in-law who have had this surgery and they are glad in the end! Don’t pick up the kids too early and enjoy Ian waiting on you. I am sure the shoes will be on the other foot someday! Clara is getting so big!
Miss you on the news. Thanks for keeping us informed, even from the couch!
It’s been so nice to get these messages - thanks to all of you who’ve written! I’m slowly starting to feel more and more normal, although still pretty stuffy, headachey, and much more tired than normal. Today I went back to the doc and she thinks everything seems to be healing correctly.
My family has been more than understanding and doing their best to slow me down! (Ian even painted the living room for me, I’m pretty sure so that I wouldn’t get stir crazy and try to do it myself. It looks great!)
I am looking forward to getting back to 100% - (but I’ll settle for at least 85% soon!) Hope to see you on the air Monday!
Trish
Hi Trish!
Sorry I haven’t read the blog in awhile. I hope you’re back into business ASAP! Love ya!
~Delaney~
P.S. Give Cal, Clara, and Ian a kiss for me!
Trisha,
It was nice to have you back! You look great and sound wonderful! Not even nasal!
Take care,
Ann