Jaw Surgery Day 9

Days 3 and 4 I think weren't too bad. I honestly don't even remember.

Day 5 I was feeling really nauseous all day. That night I threw up... and continued to throw up every couple hours till morning. Except after the second time there was nothing left but my body was still trying to throw up. We called my regular doctor around 3am (I didn't know that in these type of situations you could actually talk to you regular doctor in the middle of the night!) and he said my body was probably just overloaded with painkillers. Basically all I had to do was stop taking painkillers and wait it out. That was not enjoyable in the least. Oh, throwing up wasn't really made any worse because of my jaw, your body just works it out I guess! but still not fun.

Day 6 I don't remember. But here is a picture!

Pretty swollen and you can see the bruising a bit. 

Day 7 I started getting really emotional. Worried about the lack of feeling in my lip and my looks. I kept feeling like I had had to cry, but couldn't just outright cry. I even watched sad music videos and A Little Princess to try and make me cry! I didn't sleep at all that night. Kept trying, but nothing.

Did my eye make-up and a little blush. I actually felt pretty. You can see the bruising on my lower cheeks and all the way down my chest!

We went out to eat at Chili's that night. I called ahead and asked if they could blend their Chicken Enchilada Soup for me. It was good to get out of the house for a short bit.

Day 8 I had my one week post-op with my surgeon. He showed me how to position my teeth correctly and said I had to practice a few times a day to train my muscles. It is already easier. No infection! I was a bit worried about that because there is some pain on my left side and I have been running a low fever, but it is probably just a pulled muscle. A stitch in the back of my mouth has come loose and was bothering me so my surgeon trimmed that. Much better! He said I could sleep on my side, it would't mess up my jaw, if it was painful I'd move naturally.

Oh, I cried a little at the surgeon's office. I don't know why everything was good news! My surgeon even seemed a bit surprised that I was already feeling tingles in my lip and chin. He said that is a really really good sign for the feeling coming back. I still actually feel nothing, but it sure is tingling a lot.

After I got home from my post-op appointment I thought I would sleep. I was falling asleep in the car, but no such luck at home! Eventually I got up and went on a 30min walk. Probably overdid it a bit, but I was hoping it would help me sleep. Nope.

Later in the afternoon we went to Target to get me a waterpik. When we got back home I finally cried for real. And cried... and cried... and cried. Dan was so so good about it! He just held me. He knew I needed it. Put on some relaxing music and was finally able to sleep. I woke up a few times in the night, but I left the music on and that helped lull me back to sleep.

Day 9 is today! I have been eating well today. Oh! I was eating some soup (surprise surprise! soup.) and didn't realize it till I ha done it but I actually fit the spoon into my mouth instead of slurping from it. This got me really excited and I went and grabbed a pudding cup from the pantry and ate that. I few days ago I couldn't even get a baby spoon in my mouth. I am enjoying eating a bit more normally even if everything is still liquid.

A full face of make-up to hide the bruising on my cheeks and a scarf to hide the bruising on my chest. It was cold here today anyway! I feel like an ugly man today. I am really hating my face.

 I MISS MY OLD FACE!!!

I am really glad I waited to get this surgery till after I was married, but honestly at this point I am not sure I am glad I actually went through with it. It kinda feels like a bad dream that I can't wake up from. 

Jaw Surgery Day 4

Ok. I am counting the day I had surgery as day 1. That was October 18th. Today is the 21st. I had lower jaw surgery to correct my open/over bite (it is was a little bit of both). I am glad I only had to have surgery on one jaw. I can't imagine having to deal with all my upper face being swollen/immobile too! This video does a pretty good job of explaining what I had done: BSSO and Genioplasty

I wanted to blog a bit about my experience because it is hard to find blogs that deal with an open/over bite like mine. The majority of blogs out there seem to be about underbites.

Delicious steak the night before my surgery! Mhmm!!! 

Walking in to the hospital at 5:30am. We are a little tired. 

Getting ready. 

I wasn't really nervous until the point where they were wheeling me away on the bed, but by this point they had started some drugs in my IV so I wasn't really aware of what was going on. So, I was was only nervous for like a second.  I don't really remember what happened after this point. I didn't wake up  till I was already in recovery. I remember being in some pain and crying. I think a nurse was telling me not to cry because I'd make it worse. I guess I got some pain meds then. Idk. I don't know how long I was in recovery. After awhile they moved me to a room. I was there for a little bit until Dan came back (he had to go to class while I was in surgery). 

I threw up twice the first day because of blood in my stomach I think. Throwing up was something I was really worried about, but it ended up being fine. Thankfully Dan was there to grab something because both times there was no nurse around. No mess! Yay! Then I was given some anti-nausea meds. That helped for sure. Also, I kept to warm liquids. 

I don't think if this next picture is from late in the first day or early on the second day. But the swelling really wasn't too bad yet. 

I talked a lot that first day. I was surprised by how much I talked! It started taking it toll though. So the second day I was writing things down a lot more.  Now I am talking a lot less!

Dan stayed with me the whole time I was in the hospital. I am really glad he did. 

Here is a pic from on the way home from the hospital. This was around 4pm I think. I was feeling alright. But after walking around Target (picking up my prescriptions) and the long drive home I was not feeling so well anymore.  The swelling was up for sure by the time I got home. I don't think you can tell from a pic, but it was making everything more difficult. 

Yesterday (day 3) was the worst so far. The swelling was pretty high and  all the meds were making me really nauseous. Dan went and talked to a pharmacist and got me an anti-acid. I took that late in the afternoon and it helped some. Then Lisa (my little sister is here to help out) and Dan were eating some spaghetti and meatballs. It smelled so good! All I had been eating was sweet smoothie like things. I didn't know I was going to miss regular foods so bad so fast! I insisted that Dan blend me up some spaghetti. He thought it was going to be really gross, but finally did it for me anyway and conceded that it actually tasted good (yeah, he tested it for me). 

Here is Dan with my blended spaghetti and meatballs. Oh! I picked up these cups on a whim when we got my prescriptions after surgery and I am so glad! They are very helpful. I can't use spoons yet (can't open my mouth enough), but I can drink out of a cup without spilling. :)

On the third day I took a bath (well.. Basically Dan gave me a bath. I was pretty out of it!), but didn't wash my hair. Started using ice. Omg! I never loved ice so much! It really helps! I didn't want it in the hospital because my cheeks were so tender I didn't want any pressure on them. Maybe I should have let them put ice on me, Idk. 

No pictures from the third day because I looked especially gross. 

Anyway, today is day four and thanks to the anti-acids I am feeling a lot better today. Swelling and pain is still pretty much the same as yesterday. I took a shower with Dan's help and did wash my hair. The bruising is starting to become more apparent. It is all down my chest. I think you can only see a bit on my lower cheeks/chin in the picture though. 

So far this experience has been better then I expected in some ways and worse in others. I am doing alright. Just taking it one day at a time. Eating (well... drinking broth and juice) was a lot easier the first and second day. Yesterday and today it has been pretty difficult, but I am keeping up. Hoping for the swelling to do down soon! 

For the last couple hours my lower lip area has been really tingly. It is a good sign I think, but omg it is annoying! It is pretty much the same kind of tingling as if your leg or hand fell asleep, but for HOURS. Nothing could have prepared me for this. Oh well. I am kinda glad I went in to this not knowing what exactly to expect. Going through it now I don't think I would choose to experience this, but at the same time it is not too terrible. I don't really know how to explain it. 

Ok. I guess I will update again later. :)