Finally figured out what has been bugging me for a while and figured out what’s going on (probably). Basically, my vagus nerve is a lazy piece of shit and even though my sinus surgery fixed the cause of my pretty extensive vagus nerve dysfunction, it refuses to act like the last 10 years didn’t happen and just snap out of it.

Naturally, I have a doctor’s appointment with my ENT next week to verify all this. But chronic rhinosinusitis (a long lasting, low-grade sinus infection) and silent reflux, which are both top of the list for my current symptoms, can both be caused by the vagus nerve not wanting to get its shit together.

I know I had vagus nerve dysfunction. It mimicked symptoms of GERD and IBS so well I was diagnosed with both of them. Then major symptoms of those two diseases went away after surgery. But not completely! According to my internet research the vagus nerve can take between six and 18 months to heal after it’s been in dysfunction for as long as mine was.

Which is infuriating.

I am three and a half months post-surgery and that should have been enough time. I am not living in a world where I have all this free time to heal and it would be great if my body would just figure it out now. Maybe it can keep healing in the background in ways that I don’t even notice later. Like a software update. That would be fine! I’ve already been sick for most of my life, why am I still sick after I fixed the problem??

Okay, okay, I’ve had my rant. Here’s my plan.

I have started a vagus nerve workout routine. Walks after lunch and dinner to ease digestion. No food three hours before bedtime. Diaphragmatic breathing in the morning, with the mammalian dive reflex and water gargling for good measure. My vagus nerve is going to out lift LeanBeefPatty before I get to my appointment next week.

Seriously, though…

If I could just stop being sick… I would be delighted. I’ve done my time. I’ve paid my dues. I don’t need anymore chronic illness experiences. I’m good.