Day 10

I'm happy to report, that I feel well enough to be too active to post every day.  I'm very stoked about this.  I truly thought I would be dead in the bed for at least a week, dependent on others, pathetic and needy; this is what I was prepared for. 


Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That's my second motto, right after "happiness is a choice".


That is IF I even made it home alive.  Yep, I said it...the thing no one ever wants to talk about.  But I was really afraid I might die.  It's a possibility with any surgery and I just had a bad feeling.  But...my gut was wrong (hooray for me) and I made it home.  Not only did I make it home, but I've been up and about, functional and active from the beginning.  If it weren't for the fact that I'm not allowed to bend over, I think I'd have been able to take care of all of my own needs easily from Day 3.  And if I would have got one of those handled grabby things to pick things up with,  I could have been completely independent I think, except for driving of course.  Anyone preparing for surgery, I'd put that on your list if money isn't tight.  That's the one and only thing I wish I had available that wasn't.  But,  I'm also painfully independent and it was/is awful for me to ask my Mom or whoever to pick up my snotty tissue that I dropped or sort my dirty laundry for me.  To others, maybe not such a big deal. 

So, Saturday was day 9 and we made homemade chili.  When I was looking for blended recipes I came across a site that said blended chili is a favorite among jaw surgery patients and it sounded good.  Mom and I made a ton of chili, went to the theater to see Hunger Games (which was slightly disappointing to me), then came home to have a scrumptious bowl of blended chili.  I can't even tell you how good it was, and that was the first time I felt full since surgery. 

Sunday was day 10.  I wanted to go for a walk, so Mom took me to Brady's Run Park and we walked 2 miles on the walking path.  I'm still taking it slow; It took us 45 min to walk 2 miles.  But I walked 2 miles on Day 10, I think that is fantastic.   We took a short drive to Nanna's house so I could help her with her cell phone plan then stopped at the store to pick up a few things.  We decided to run into Big Lots before Shop-n-Save to just browse around and I ended up buying almost everything I need for Mara's Easter Basket.  We were there for almost an hour, then picked up groceries and went home to pig out on chili.  It was good the second day too.  For lunch earlier, I steamed one part frozen spinach with one part frozen broccoli, drained, blended and melted in a bunch of Velveeta cheese (which I'm aware isn't really cheese, but it melts so smooth) in a bowl and it was super yummy.  Tasted kind of like a runny spinach souffle. 

So, on Day 10 I cooked lunch, walked 2 miles, sorted Nanna's cell phone problem, went shopping, bought Mara's Easter Basket stuff, picked up groceries and ate a big dinner.  I then plopped my butt down in a  chair and didn't get back up all night!   Sorry for the mundane play by play, but I want to give some hope to everyone preparing for jaw surgery...recovery may not be as bad as you think.  And remember, I had a 3 piece Le fort 1 (major upper jaw surgery) AND a BSSO (major lower jaw surgery) , I'm not a spry teenager(the older you are the slower you heal) ,and I have been fairly functional from the get go.  If I can do this, you can too!

Sorry for the homely pictures in my hoodie with bad hair, but I thought I should post some pics.  I noticed too, when my Mom takes my pictures and we are both standing,  you get a good view of the swelling in my jowls (blech)  because she is shorter than I am.  Oh well,  guess anyone under 5'10" sees me like this. 

Day 8

Sorry for being a Debbie Downer yesterday.  I woke up this morning, sans self-pity, and made today a good day.  I even skipped some pain meds and managed to be okay.  The only down sides to today were a mild nose bleed for most of the day off and on, and my munchkin is sick.  I think I'm having problems with some mild bleeding because my sinuses were cleaned out during my surgery.  The OS told my Mom that my sinuses were packed full of polyps and cysts.  He said he'd never seen anything like that before and he didn't know how I was putting up with it.  No wonder I had so many headaches and facial pain.  I just figured it was all linked to my jaw pain and would pop a handful of Motrin (most days) and carry on. I was planning on going home this weekend.  But with my daughter sick with a head cold and fever, I'm really afraid to catch it.  Normally, I could care less if I get sick, especially when in comes to taking care of my family,  But with surgery last week, starting work this coming Thursday, and not being allowed to blow my nose yet, I'm not sure I can handle being sick.  So, I'll probably stay at Mom's a couple more days unless Keir can't handle Mara any longer.  She can be difficult when she's sick, as all kids are I'm sure.

So, I managed to dry my hair and put on some make up today.  I didn't really have any of my things with me like hair products or most of my make up.  I never thought I'd feel well enough to get ready, so I left most things at home.  But, with what I had , I made an attempt to look human.  MAN, it's hard to dry my hair without bending over or leaning sideways!!!  Keir and I went to Bed Bath & Beyond to pick up a gift for my Mom as a thank you for putting up with my whiney butt all week.  We took a walk up around the strip mall since it was nice out today and I'm pretty sure I got some "aww you poor thing" looks from at least a few people.  Later when my Mom and I went to the grocery store, I seemed to get the most funny looks when I was speaking.  I guess I DO sound a bit goofy.  Oh well, C'est la vie!   I was glad to be out and about.

Today's culinary adventures included egg salad and blended beef barley vegetable soup.  Yum to both.

Side note,  I still look like Dr. Seusse when I smile.  It's okay, you can laugh, you know I do!

Day 7

Today was a bit of a bust.  I tried last night to wean down my pain meds.  I really don't like taking them.  So, before bed, I just took 600 mg Ibuprofen.  I slept all night but woke up quite miserable and never really felt good all day, even though I took the pain meds when I woke up.  The sutures in my cheeks are pulling and pinching a lot today, maybe because I skipped some pain medicine or maybe  because I'm getting some feeling back.  I didn't really feel like eating today and as much as I tried, I only really got down half of what I have been.

So, not a bad day, just not a fantastic day but there's always tomorrow.  I plan on getting out of the house tomorrow even if its just to the grocery store. 

I'll take pics tomorrow after I put on my big girl panties and buck up. 

Day 6

Today I feel human.  I managed to shave my legs with my shower, (not bending over is getting kind of old) and went for a walk with my husband in a cute little town down the road.  The weather was beautiful and the sunshine felt so good.  I'm told that I'm talking very well now and I'm getting better at drinking from a cup without dribbling. (always a bonus)  I did some dishes, much to my mother's dismay and enjoyed a lovely bowl of pureed chicken and rice soup.  I know that sounds gross, but I pureed a can of Campbell's chicken and rice soup and it was soooo yummy.  I know, I know....high in sodium.  Sue me.  I was hungry and it tasted good.  I know a lot of people swear by organic, low sodium, no dairy, blah blah blah.    It's not practical for me.  I love dairy and although I eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, yada yada, I'm also a typical American who sometimes eats processed crap because it tastes good and things from a can because it's easy.  Also, I think most people mistakenly blame the dairy for being binding, when in fact it is the narcotics we are taking for pain.  For this issue I have two words, COLACE and PRUNE JUICE (okay that was 3 words).  And start before surgery....nuff said.

My bite is still off but I'm trying to be patient that it will settle when the joint swelling  decreases.  I really can't close my teeth well, it hurts too badly.  The only true pain I have is in my joints, right is much worse.  Everything else is mostly weird, uncomfortable pressure.  I have a lot of numbness of course, but I have been able to feel my bottom lip and chin the whole time.  This made the OS very happy.  He said only 5% of people have feeling there post operatively and it means I shouldn't have much permanent nerve damage.  I'm fairly numb from my lower eye lids to and including my top lip and my cheeks to about the outside edge of my eyes.  That whole section of my midface is quite numb but tingles more every day.  I'm told that almost always comes back entirely.

So, today was a good day.  I'm still in pain, but functional.  And although the tingling and crawling all over my face is annoying, I know its a great sign that my nerves are healing.  And even though I look like Dr. Seusse when I smile, I'm greatful to be able to smile at all.  Tomorrow, I think my goal is to put on some make up and do my hair, then I'll really feel like me again.

Side note:  I just took a break from typing and we made homemade strawberry milkshakes.   OMG,,,so good!  I've never had a homemade milkshake before.  And I DO NOT feel guilty because it was another serving of fresh fruit for today  :)

Until tomorrow
Smile, it looks good on you.

Day 5

Day 5 I didn't do much.  I called my OS to ask a few questions and slept A LOT.  Sorry so boring, but, the most exciting part of my day was mashed sweet potatoes and pureed cauliflower. 

Day 4

Pics from last night.  I was too tired to post them yesterday.  I was in a lot of pain.  I think I over did it.  The OS told me to try for a walk by Monday, so I got showered and dressed, attempted and failed at eating pastina, and drove with my Mom up the hill to Nanna's house to go for a walk.  I only managed 20 min because the cold wind was really hurting my face.  We visited with Nanna for a few min then I waited in the car while Mom picked up a few things at the grocery store.  I did a lot of talking to my Mom and her friend who came to visit and didn't really sleep but for a few minutes yesterday afternoon.  All in all, way to much for day 4 for sure!

Day 3

My husband brought my daughter over for a bit today.  It was nice to see her, but she looked so confused.  She couldn't really understand me, and she looked at me really funny, but, she didn't cry.  I'm glad I got to see her.

 I graduated to a spoon today.  It was hard and messy, but it felt so much better to eat my runny mashed potatoes with a spoon.  Meds still go down better with a syringe though.  Today I ate yogurt, broccoli soup, pureed fruit, 2 glasses of milk with protein powder, runny mashed potatoes and mashed carrots.  It all hurt like hell, but I'm trying to keep up with my food so I heal well.  My days are consumed with meds, meals, brushing and rinsing, napping then starting it all over.  I expect the next few days will be a lot of the same. 

Some pics from today

My daughter sent me her birthday hat from Chuck E Cheeze to make me feel better.