01-27-2010, 11:35 AM Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,414 Real Name: "Diamond Jim" Skelton
jskelton WatchGeeks Owner True WatchGeek
FYI: I will be off the air for several weeks, also temp-closing Ask Jim forum
Just an FYI so that there's no "mystery" or rumors when I disappear for a little while. Beginning February 23rd, I will be off the air, and will have the Ask Jim forum closed following a surgery I will be going in for that day. It's not a huge deal, just a long recovery. I won't be able to speak with any projection, and I won't be much to look at during this time (not that I was before either LOL). I have been unable to undergo this procedure previously for a variety of reasons, and I have desperately needed it. I will just be doing a few procedures. Septoplasty (total relocation and rebuild), removal of septal spur, lower turbinate reduction, mid turbinate reduction, upper turbinate reduction, removal of cyst in vocal chamber, removal of errant bone by upper sinus, and a whole lot of scraping and whatnot. I have lived with acute sinusitis for 20 years as of this month, no meds have been able to eliminate the infection, so I have tremendous buildup of nasty stuff at all times. My septum is so deviated, i have barely 1mm clearance in one side of my nose, plus a very painful spur. All levels of turbinates are very constricted (hard to breathe), and there is this odd bone shape up in the top that has closed off an air pocket that has really been interfering with normal breathing. All that plus a cyst in one of my vocal chambers. Doesn't that sound like fun? Of course having to talk for a living, all of this makes working very difficult, so this will change my life so much. I spend half of my shows cutting my microphone to try and clear my sinuses. The whole thing will be completed in about 3 hours the doc says, and only a couple of "warnings" were issued. One was that due to how extremely high up he has to go, there is a chance (slight) that he could poke through too high and release brain fluid into my face, and this comes with serious consequences... but he said it is HIGHLY unlikely that this would happen. (Wheew) The other thing is that I will likely have to go to a vocal coach for a while. During the time my sinusitis began, it sounded like I had severe congestion from a really bad head cold. Totally stuffed. You know how your voice sounds when you're totally stuffed up? Well after some time without it going away, I had to 'learn to speak around it' which changed my speech habits in order to sound normal. That was 20 years ago... so now I may have to relearn how to speak in some ways. My voice may also change (for the better however). My voice sounded much different before the initial infection, deeper and more resonating and he says it is likely that this will return. No one in my life over the last 20 years has actually
heard my real voice Without the extreme pressure on my upper palate, I am opened up more and MAY sound different.
So that's it. That's a lot to lay out there, but it saves me from having to type all of that in 10 scattered posts as folks ask the questions None of this is a big deal to me, I have zero worries about it. I have been through MUCH worse (ever had an early '80s, all-steel 2.5 ton station wagon run over your leg? TWICE? I have) all of this SOUNDS worse than it really is. The only bad part is the plugs plus packing that has to be crammed up there while I heal. It sucks, and really sucks when he pulls it all out. Plus the black eyes (cutting and hammering in my nose) don't look too flattering. I'll begin accepting bids for pictures But that's about it. The doc promised me really cool drugs, so don't cry for me, I'll be a zombie for about 2 weeks I look at it this way... I get to eat in bed, watch movies all day, sleep a LOT, experience more euphoria than a rock band roadie, and finish counting the dimples in my ceiling (I am tragically far behind on this task) and not shave for 3 weeks. And at the end, I'll be able to breathe for the 1st time in 20 years!
So please forgive me as I will be unable to come here and answer questions. If during that time you see folks wandering in wondering why I'm ignoring them... link them to this post for me. Thanks!