October buddies

Message

#121 Post by **chicago29** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 7:58 pm

Izzy...glad you're healing well. After looking at your x-ray all I can say is "Good Lord...you have a TON of hardware"

#122 Post by **ColoradoGirl** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:04 pm

Great x-rays, Izzy!

Chicago--oh man. That's even worse than what I was watching (I haven't seen so much Judge Judy in I don't know how long...).

On tooth brushing: two nights before my 2-week appointment (when I could brush), I dreamed I cut all the bands and brushed my teeth with a regular toothbrush. It was seriously like a commercial: I was outside and the grass was so green and the light was so sparkling and the birds were so beautifully twittering in the lovely, lovely trees. It was a delicious dream!

Actually brushing my teeth for the first time was pretty cool, too, but there's still a lot of plastic and weird stuff in there, so it doesn't get quite as clean as in dreamland. And yes, it's SO great when they suction all that gunk out. The grass gets greener, and the birds begin to sing...

#123 Post by **Broadway Bill** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 5:35 am

So, for some reason I slept last night. Like, real sleep, all night. I even had dreams! This is the first sleep over 3 hours since surgery, and man did I need it! It felt great! I think it may be because I haven't been good about nutrition, though. I'm staying hydrated, drinking water all day, but due to the taste and gunk in my throat I can't make myself drink soup or shakes or any of that stuff (are you guys tired of me complaining about the dreaded "gunk" yet?).

I felt pretty slow and down all day, and last night I just crashed hard. I'm sure my body is likeunhappy with the sustenance I've been giving it.

I also had some allergies kick in, which sucks! Thankfully I can take my allergy meds. Again, though, I can see more of what I'll look like once the swelling is gone and I am pleased. I didn't realize how much my neck had swollen until today... I look like a turkey!

#124 Post by **Izzy1979** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 7:22 am

That's funny Bill, I actually had my first good night of sleep last night too! It may have had to do with moving back to my bed from the couch and the eternal rain falling right now! I still woke up a few times but probably went a good 5hrs this morning and didn't wake up in extreme pain! And then, oh, the joy of using a toothbrush! (even a baby one with no toothpaste and access to only upper teeth...)

Now the highlight of my day is past. Next big event will be showering. I probably should nap before that;) On to lowering my IQ watching dumb tv...

#125 Post by **Broadway Bill** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:27 am

Izzy, isn't it great to sleep again? I hope the same thing happens tonight, just so time passes quickly before the 2 hour ride to my surgeon in the morning for my one week!!

I was mainly just stopping by to complain and ask about a couple things:

Drooling.
My drooling today is OUT OF CONTROL! Why? does it fluctuate as you heal? It has never been like this, and out of nowhere today I am just drooling all over the place! I do not particularly care, because I am home alone and it is sort of funny, but man...

"Tightness"
While overall my swelling is receding, My skin on my lips and face feels really tight today. Is that maybe a result of some feeling creeping back in? Because I do also feel like some of the feeling is on its way back, which is nice. How long did it take those of you on the other side to be able to really move your lips? I really wanna see myself smile! I am such a downer when I look in the mirror; even though I mostly like what I see, my comically pouty face makes me look soooo sad! I was pleased when my surgeon told me one day post-op that he had not had to deal with the mandibular nerve clusters much at all because of how he ended up making his cuts. The downside to that is that he did say my mandibular was pretty thin (as is common with underbites) and so I would really have to be strict about my diet until we were positive things had healed completely.

And, again, let me say how ready I am for my one week! This nasty taste MUST be banished from my mouth once and for all!! Also happy that I only have 3 days of taking this awful antibiotic fluid, and I am mostly done with the Roxicet already!

#126 Post by **Broadway Bill** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:31 am

One other thing: I think I might be a lot grosser than you lovely people! I keep seeing mentions of showers, and here I am having only showered once since surgery! I have the energy and whatnot, I just don't wanna do it!

Is there a prize for being the most lowly and grossgusting patient?

#127 Post by **LeahRuth** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:34 am

Bill - You're not alone in your grossgusting-ness! For the few two weeks I showered about every 5 days because it took all of my energy. The first shower I almost threw up and I had to jump out and lay on the floor for 15 minutes. Luckily I'm back to my sparkly clean hygiene. And I'm sure my family appreciates it too

#128 Post by **Izzy1979** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:59 am

I think having only the lower jaw done maybe I felt better quicker? anyways taking a shower does take it all out of me, and I usually have to lay down for a few minutes before drying/getting dressed cause I get dizzy, but worth it. Makes me feel somewhat human. There is enough of my breath to drive crowds away, no need for BO as well!:)

As for the drooling... can't say I've had this issue. Maybe you should shower, I think you're getting nauseated by your own smell:))

I have the same issue with my lips. I tried to "smile" for a picture and it was pretty comical, looked like I was about to kill someone... oh well, I guess this would not be a good time to put up an online dating profile huh?

Goodluck with your appointment tomorrow Bill! Don't get TOO excited about the cleaning, its not like going to the dentist and your mouth still won't be too fresh, but slightly better

#129 Post by **ennazusie** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:21 pm

Hey all, I know I haven't been too active here, but I just wanted to say that I'm home from the hospital. I had upper/lower surgery at Richmond Kaiser, and it's been... not as bad as I had anticipated. The only bad moment was waking up SUPER nauseous in the recovery ward, but I actually felt a ton better after vomiting blood (all over the nurse hovering over me, oops!), and I've been feeling okay every since. I keep getting annoying flashes of tingling and itching around my nose and lower lip, but I'm hoping that's a good thing. Also, anyone else have super tingly hands after surgery? My hands have had pins and needles going for the last 24 hours.

Anyway, just thought I'd update, and hi to MistyP who was having surgery the same day as me (Oct. 26). For all those who are waiting, my expectations were much worse than the reality! (So far, haha.)

#130 Post by **Izzy1979** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 6:58 pm

Congrats on being on the other side Ennazusie!
Only chin tingly, no issues with the hands - maybe its a weird morphine/anesthesia reaction, hopefully it goes away!

#131 Post by **Broadway Bill** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:22 am

Congrats Ennazusie! The worst is over!

What a night I had! No sleep at all...must be payment for my good night of sleep earlier. On top of that, I woke up from what little sleep I did get and promptly threw up! First time I've had the pleasure of vomiting with bands and a healing face...not very fun! I hadn't been eating much though, and last night I had some chicken soup, and I don't think my body was ready yet.

Oh well...3 more hours and then I'm off to the surgeons office for my one-week, so that milestone will feel good. And hopefully I won't h ave the nasty taste any more!

#132 Post by **ennazusie** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 2:36 pm

I hear you on that, Broadway Bill. I think I must have been a little flippant yesterday and this morning ("Oh, I feel great! My pain is so low! I can breathe so well! I'm going to have a smoothie!") because about two hours after said smoothie, the pain started to intensify (I think my face is swelling more), and my stomach started to twist around, and BLEEEEHHHHHH, I vomited everything up. It wasn't that bad to vomit liquid, but my first thought (aside from, "Whew, I feel better now!") was "Dammit! I spent all that time drinking that smoothie, and now it's not even in me any more." Drinking takes sooooo long! Also, my pain is definitely getting worse, which I guess makes sense because my face is supposed to continue swelling for the next few days. Days 3 and 4 are supposed to be the worst, right guys?

#133 Post by **Broadway Bill** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:11 pm

Yeah, days 3 and 4 were my low points. I've felt consistently better since those. Hang in there and do your best to sleep for those days and you'll do fine!

I went to see the surgeon today! He got me cleaned up, and gave me the okay to take my bands off whenever I want to clean up! Feels GREAT! He also said everything looked great, and I was healing well. One more week of liquids, and then I get to go to soft-chew!! Can't wait!

how's everyone else doing?

#134 Post by **LeahRuth** » Thu Oct 28, 2010 3:37 pm

ennazusie- have you tried taking gravol? I was taking a couple a day for the first week after surgery because I kept getting waves of nausea. Luckily, I made it the whole time without vomiting. I hope you can start to stomach things and that your pain eases up. My worst days were 2-5 but I had complications with my medications. Generally day 3 & 4 are the worst.

Broadway Bill - Glad you're finally able to clean in there!!

I'm doing well. I'm mostly having issues with jaw joint pain around my left ear and temple. Especially when I'm trying to sleep. I think I've been a little too ambitious with my food choices and have "over-chewed." I gotta learn to take it easy! lol

#135 Post by **Izzy1979** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 9:29 am

Bill - glad your appointment went well! Wasn't the spraying great? I seriously considered asking if I could come every other day for them to do it for me:)

So quick question for those who are a little farther out... So I'm off work for 5 weeks, but the cabin fever is slowly setting in. When did you guys start feeling good enough to go DO something - go to friends house, etc? I got super tired after Dr appointment and running ONE errand this week, and taking my dog for a 5 minute walk (who has now unfortunately been returned to me full time) felt like I ran 3 miles.

As a side note - if you want a good shake, combine milk, Nutella and a banana in your blender. Heaven I tell you.