Depression and Loss of Energy after Surgery

[nomadic myth]

I have not felt fully my former self since my surgery. My bite still feels awkward; I still have jaw-tension; whenever we get rain or snow or even really high pressure, my face goes haywire; my sinuses are persistently stuffy; yet, all my health professionals think things are fine, and that I'm fine. They aren't crazy, as they are working from a ct scan, even. I just think the way it takes my energy can't be subjectively felt by them. Basically, it makes me fell worn out and stressed. Anyone take a few years to "get over" surgery?

[bbsadmin]

You may want to seek an evaluation with an osteopathic doctor. Osteopaths (D.O.'s) look at the body differently and can often help in situations like this. Just my 2cents.

[nomadic myth]

That sounds like a really good idea.

[bbsadmin]

Also, I'll throw in another suggestion. Have you had your B-12 level checked? Sometimes, depending on the anesthesia, it can sap your body of B-12 (nitrous oxide does this, for example). You might want to get a blood test done that includes a CBC (complete blood count to ensure you're not anemic), B-12 and Folic Acid, Vitamin D, TSH (thyroid level), and anything else the doctor might want to throw in.

How is your digestion? Do you have any disturbances in your intestinal flora? That can sap you of energy and make you depressed, too.

Sometimes people feel dragged out if their cortisol levels are too low, and I think that the stress of surgery can affect cortisol levels in some people.

Oh! And another thing -- how did the surgery affect your breathing when you sleep? Did your airway get smaller? You may have developed some sleep apnea from the changes in your facial structure after surgery. It's something to think about. Knowing for sure would involve a sleep study. If you have sleep apnea, you might not even know it, except that you would generally feel unrested, depressed, and low energy. Not everyone with apnea snores; you could have it and not snore at all.

I hope you find your answers! If you don't feel right, don't let the doctors keep telling you that you're fine. Obviously there is a reason why you don't feel good. Keep investigating and you'll find the reason.

[nomadic myth]

Thanks for the energetic answer! I do actually think the solution will be to pay more attention to myself. I have a lot of suggestions to mull over, as well.

[nomadic myth]

I got through this, btw, just for an update.

The energy problems were the result of anxiety tension and the tendency of a medication I am taking (Paxil) to cause thicker mucus, thereby plugging my nose a bit.

Loads of exercise and a nasal spray helped clear things out mentally and physically. I think the fact that I had the Lefort and the sinus area was messed around with, and some of the nerves needed time to grow back and get the sinuses moving again made a difference.

Changes in weather would really bother my face what with the slight clogging and the bone healing, etc. Anyway, I put it down to recovery from what is fairly traumatic surgery and my own anxiety, and feel a million times better than last year.

Never been happier, what with eating being more enjoyable with my "new" teeth setup and vegetables being easier to eat, making my diet healthier, combined with getting physically fit after the lethargy I experienced during braces and post-surgery. I never enjoyed physical activity with braces--they felt like wearing a bit.

[azjaw]

Thanks for the update. It gives me hope that 6 months from now everything will be okay. I just had the surgery a little over a week ago and things are a million times better already than the 3-4 days after surgery but it is still kind of scary. My jaw muscles feel really tight and sore and one side of my jaw doesn't close as much as the other. I also am having a lot of trouble with the stuffy nose. I am just going to try and stay calm and let things heal.

[nomadic myth]

Good to hear. For me it was not the immediate healing that was the problem, but rather the lingering stress on the body--my head wasn't really happy with that amount of facial trauma. It took me a while to get used to the new set-up, the lingering aches and pains associated with weather, and for all the nerves up there around the sinuses to become settled again. For an anxious person with the tendency to clench my jaw anyway, it was a lot to get over. Just keeping in mind that it is major surgery, and that it is close to command-central, so to speak, is a good mindful way of not letting the feeling of perfection be your goal. That said--my face feels pretty darn perfect now--it is so nice to have the bite and such corrected.