Made it to the other side

Message

#1 Post by **pokergirl** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:53 pm

I had my surgery on Wed, Aug. 22nd at 7:30 in the morning. The surgery took four hours, but the OS said everything looked good. I am very tightly wired for 3 weeks. I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle it. I've had three really bad coughing spells which were caused by a mucous buildup in the back of my mouth. I still have bandages on my face that I'll be able to take off tomorrow night. They're starting to itch and driving me crazy. I'm trying to drink as much as I can, but I've already lost 7 pounds. I have some numbness on the left side of my chin, but I am starting to feel some tingling in it now, so hopefully no problem there.

Sorry for all the negatives. I just needed to went.

#2 Post by **iBorg** » Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:02 pm

Congrats on making it to the other side!
Hopefully the three weeks wired will fly by. I can't imagine the coughing problem being anything but a true pain. I agree with Meryaten that the itchs are a good sign that feeling is quickly coming back. Keep us informed on how it goes.

Mike

#3 Post by **Davep** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:39 am

Hi,
I am just one week ahead of you. i had upper and lower and was tightly banded for over one week. I think that wheither you are or are not just depends on the surgeon. I can agree the coughing is frightning but it will improve as the area at the back of the nose improves.
Hang in there it does get better....even though I really thought a few times that everyone else will but not me!!!
Keep posting
Dave

Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:10 pm

I'm right there with ya

I've been wired shut since August 15 and will be for 3.5 weeks. They had to keep the plastic splint in my mouth and that is making it very difficult to talk/drink. I competely understand what about the mucus build up and coughing. The 2nd night, I couldn't get it down and started to panic, just keep drinking tons of water - it helps. i'm on day 11 and it's much better. My lower lip is also tingling, well actually it feels like it's on fire

#5 Post by **pokergirl** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 9:01 pm

Thanks everyone, for the encouragement. I did get to take my bandages off a couple of hours ago so I'm feeling a little bit better now. I'm not in a lot of pain; it's just real uncomfortable with the wires and trying to breathe. If I breathe out of my nose, it starts whistling, and if I breathe out of my mouth, I start blowing bubbles. (I'm tons of fun with the kiddies right now.)

Was anyone else sent home with a suction device? The doc sent this suction machine home with me and I'm supposed to stick these tubes into my nose what feels like three inches and then turn the machine on. I just can't bring myself to do it, so I've been doing a little no-no by blowing. Has anyone else had this problem?

Traci

#6 Post by **Davep** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 3:31 am

Sorry to hear that you still having breathing problems. The little no-no about blowing is as far as I have been warned is a MAJOR BIG NO NO. My surgeon said that I should not blow for another 3 weeks. His comment was " we don't want you blowing holes in anything" Use the suction in the on position as you push it in little by little. You will be fine and the relief will be GREAT.
Heed the advice from your surgeon,,,,,,,you really do not want aother close encounter with him.
Dave