DECEMBER 2014 BUDDIES!!

[Nadira]

Gutsygumshoe
Glad you got your pain med under control. Even if your syringe technique could use some work. when I got home my rumblings had my cats on edge.

I had a higher pain day yesterday and had to take the codeine back out, when I thought I was done with it, I was are recommended advil and that has done the trick.
Day 11 and it makes such a difference being allowed to brush my front teeth!
My Mom said I looked like a had a zombie smile.

I also feel much better today, and figured out how to keep food from my left side, it involves putting the cup down and going back to the syringe.

I took photos of my new elastics and still nervous about changing them. Tricky little things.

Bebop
I also set my alarm to keep on time with the pain and antibiotics and muscle relaxants.
Break through pain is so much harder to, bring In line.

[gutsygumshoe]

Hahahaa Nadira I know exactly what you mean about the zombie smile! Sorry to hear your pain has been coming back, I guess as the remainders of the anaesthetic work their way out of your system and your feeling starts to come back, your nerves are suddenly thinking 'omg what just happened?!' I hope it gets better for you soon.

Are you very swollen or bruised? I'm at day four now and the swelling on my cheeks seems to finally be going down a little, they're not quite so huge as yesterday. I do have a lovely big swollen bit under my chin though! I'm pretty bruised from the corners of my mouth all the way down my neck to my collar bone but it's gone yellow today so hopefully that's it on its way out.

I made a discovery last night - what I thought had been my jaw clicking actually turned out to be me biting my tongue, and I was just too numb to realise! Now that I've figured out the new shape of my mouth better I've stopped doing that and my back teeth fit together much better. Also my lips close by themselves, even while they're still swollen!! This is so exciting for me because I've always had bad lip incompetence. It's nice to get an idea of the end result even whilst still being so scary-looking.

Seeing my surgeon tomorrow... not looking forward to it, people are going to stare!!

[Nadira]

Day 12

My swelling was going down daily today not much of a change, I would think if I did not have bruises from the surgery site, most people would not notice.

I did bite my swollen cheek more than my swollen tongue. Or maybe my tongue was so swollen because I was biting it? My tongue is almost back to normal size. This is good. Now I can get more than 10cc in my mouth at once instead of it spilling down my front.
I can't feel my chin and it drove my Mom crazy watching me eat and having food on my lip or chin. I was content to wash my face after, and we did not eat in public.

It must feel good to close your lips in a neutral position. I think having my jaw moved forward has decreased my double chin and makes me look younger. I never did think to ask what I could look like after the surgery until two, days before

I see my surgeons partner tomorrow, I am really hoping my left side is healing as it should be...

As for scaring people on day 6 I wore a purple scarf to match my bruises and bring out the yellow.

I think it has been more important for family and friends to know it is not as bad as it could be due to the numbness. It looks worse before it get better.

I am hoping I do not have any problems driving myself to the appt tomorrow as my Mom has gone home today. I should be fine as I am not using the codeine anymore.
Time to rest,
Good luck tomorrow.

[gutsygumshoe]

Good luck with your appointment today Nadira!

So day five! I saw my surgeon this morning for the first time since I was still in hospital. He was really pleased with how things are looking. Apparently I'm not as swollen as people normally get (and I've been swollen enough, so I can't even imagine how it would feel to be worse ) but my bruising is worse than a lot of people get. That's a trade-off I can deal with, lol. Unfortunately I didn't get to see my new x-rays as the hospital hadn't sent them over yet (my appointments with him are at a different hospital to the one I had the surgery at) but I think he's going to request them so hopefully I can see them at my next appointment next week. Seeing the orthodontist on Wednesday.

I've officially moved onto soft foods! So far I've had mashed potato mixed with cheese, spaghetti hoops and yorkshire puddings mashed up in gravy. It's made such a huge difference to my energy levels and appetite, even if I can't manage much in one go.

Pain is still a bit of a problem... the painkillers mostly keep on top of it during the day, but it's so bad at night. I haven't slept for longer than a couple of hours at a time since the night before surgery. It's kind of a different type of pain every day though, if that makes sense? So I guess that means it's all just down to nerves starting to wake up and random bits healing.

Hope everyone is well x

[Nadira]

gutsygumshoe: Good for you and soft food!

Yes every day a new part of my face/mouth calls attention to itself!
Day 13: Today my chin feels like it is coming out of local anesthetic. I try to enjoy the ride while sometimes wishing I was not SO sensitive, as it is in all areas of my life.

My appointment is in a few hours, for the left side incision not healing as well as it should.
While looking forward to driving again, I am glad to only need the occasional Ibuprofen.

[gutsygumshoe]

How did your appointment go Nadira?

Day six updates: I managed to go the whole night last night without needing to get up and take any painkillers. Still woke up every couple of hours though and felt pretty rubbish for it first thing this morning but I guess it's an improvement! Haven't needed to take so many during the day today either.

I took my first 'unaided' shower today - up until now I'd had either my mum or my sister help me to wash my hair. It made such a huge difference being able to shower like normal again, I felt more human for it.

Braved a visit to the supermarket with my boyfriend this evening to pick up a few foody bits to see us through Christmas. I must admit I was a bit worried people might stare, but I think now the swelling has gone down enough that I just look like I have a bit of a fat face rather than I've been in a car accident!! I did catch one lady staring but I just stared straight back and she stopped

[Nadira]

Day 14 of healing-
My appointment yesterday went well enough, drove myself and enjoyed the independence.
I saw my surgeons partner, and he said in clearer terms for me I have a small opening in my incision, ( dehiscence) and clean is the key word. Also suggested I can take the elastics off to eat, placing food on my tongue to avoid food in my stitches. To avoid food on the left side. I had gone back to using a syringe and liquid only, so without elastics I should be able to use a spoon and have a little texture.

I think much of the irritation on the left side was swelling that had me chewing on my cheek.
My main concern is the tingling and burning of my chin yes a good sign of nerve healing, but it is not easily distracted away, so I am using my codeine, which seems to help. at least get to sleep.

My codeine was PRN, and to last the first four days. Glad I did not need it as I do appreciate it now.

Right now I have a kitten sleeping on me. He is a present from my cat sitter's dad for my cat sitters mom.
I get to drop him off on Christmas morning, as he is to be a surprise. My cat sitter thinks his mom has no idea, and she has wanted a cat for years. The kitten is adorable an orange tabby, I have a spare room converted it a kitten room.
If I did not have 3 resident cats, he would have the run of the house. He is an escape artist. He would be fine with my cats, but my cats have finished being foster uncles from 2004 to 2012, I had over 50 cats and kittens in my old house. I fostered until they were adopted. I got to specialize in feral cats, so having a social kitten is a treat.

Well I am going to continue my kitten therapy now and have a nap.

Getting out is good. Take care.

[gutsygumshoe]

Ahh Nadira he sounds adorable! Sorry to hear your chin is causing you problems, I hope it starts behaving itself soon! But good news about the elastics

I saw an orthodontist today - not my usual one as he's on holiday, but one of the other orthos who works at the hospital. She was really nice, and changed my band configuration. Since the day after surgery last week I had bands in a kind of box shape on either side, from the back up to my incisors, and kind of an arrow shape on my front teeth. I'd been told I could take these out but had only managed to change the front ones because the swelling made the back ones too difficult to get to. The orthodontist today was really surprised that I'd been expected to change them myself! She put new ones in (they're blue this time) on each side that run diagonally from my incisors to my bottom back teeth. It's so nice being able to open much more easily but at the same time I miss the security of being held more shut!! I go back to see her next week and she said she'll show me how to change them then - these ones are to stay put for now.

My swelling is loads better today! My cheeks are a bit puffy on the front still but they don't stick out sideways so much anymore. Also my tongue isn't swollen anymore which makes swallowing so much easier.

My bottom jaw is very twingey today, I think it's where my wisdom teeth were removed last week and it's just starting to realise that they're not there anymore! Feeling is slowly starting to come back in places too, and the bits that are still numb are a bit prickly and twitchy so I hope that's the nerves regenerating.

Hard to believe that it was all only a week ago!!

Have a lovely Christmas everyone!

[Nadira]

Glad you are feeling better, just wait until two weeks!
My chin is still zippy zowy and Zongy and zappy. With cold air making it more sensitive.

I am distracted watching the Christmas kitten. My cat is still mad at me and thinks I 'stink'.
Did a drive by so I know where to deliver the Christmas kitten tomorrow.

Enjoy Christmas dinner. I am going to friends and bringing my blender.

[gutsygumshoe]

I know what you mean about the cold feeling sensitive, I had that the other evening with the wind blowing on my face, felt a bit weird where I assume the metal is.

Aww haha I'm sure your cats will forgive you!! I hope the kitten likes his new home I'm at my parents' house for Christmas today and their cats are absolutely loving the wrapping paper, they went nuts pouncing on it and climbing inside it haha. Think they enjoyed that more than the toys they got!

Hope you enjoy your dinner! We ate a little while ago and I was surprised how much I managed, just had to cut everything up tiny and make sure it was well soaked in gravy. The only thing I couldn't eat was the pigs in blankets Oh well next year!! It was the most normal-sized portion of food I've managed since before surgery. Feels good!

Happy Christmas everyone!

[Nadira]

Merry Christmas!

My day has started with the delivery of the surprise kitten, the mother was so excited! I texted when I was on my way, 2 minutes away, and I guess I missed the excited jumping up and down.

My cat knows the intruder is gone and is making up for lost cuddle time.

Day 16
I do hope my incision is healing well. I am doing my best to make sure the food is aimed for the back of my tongue, and I am continuing to purée my food to avoid larger particles from going astray and into the wound. I have not looked or found the incisions.

I am happy to report my chin, is not so prickly, burning, this area is smaller and I seem to be getting more feeling.

I have lost 5 pounds and that has been stable for about a week. I could stand to drop 40 but I know this is not the time. It is a chore to get enough calories, thank goodness for Ensure!
I'm now using an app to track my steps, I am not back to where I was before the surgery, but seeing improvements and mall walking as I do not want to step in ice and risk a fall.

What are pigs in blankets?

[gutsygumshoe]

Pigs in blankets are little sausages wrapped in bacon. I'm not sure if they have an 'official' name, that's just what we've always called them hehe. How was your Christmas dinner?

Aww glad to hear the kitten delivery went well! And that your cat has forgiven you haha!!

I've not looked for any of my incision sites either, not brave enough. I know where a lot of them are though - one I can see the ends of the stitches threads poking up and the rest I can feel them through my lips if I press on them. They're very tight today, that's the only word I can think to describe it. Talking and eating pulls on them and it makes my lips quite stiff and uncomfortable. I wonder how long they take to heal?

I've lost about 6 or 7 pounds so far but it's stayed the same for a couple of days now so I guess that's it. I expect it'll start to go back up again now I'm eating better... sadly!!

[Nadira]

Ah I guessed a form of sausage roll.
This time next year we both should be free of braces.

I have returned from dinner and it worked well, bringing my blender that is! And it was an informal dinner at that hard to be formal using a syringe with a tea towel tucked into my shirt.

[gutsygumshoe]

I really hope we're free of braces by this time next year, Nadira! That's something to look forward to I like the tea towel bib haha, I have one on my lap most times when I eat.

Day 9 and I haven't taken any painkillers since before I went to bed last night! Which is an achievement I'm a bit sore and achey but it's tolerable, it feels similar to after a brace adjustment. It's my bottom back teeth that are bothering me most today - I don't know if it's from where my impacted wisdom teeth were removed during surgery, or if it's from the bands hooked on my back teeth. I'm hoping it's one of them rather than from me not being able to brush my back teeth since surgery... Hope they're not rotting!!

I attempted to eat chocolate buttons today as they melt on your tongue and don't need chewing... But having something more 'solid' in my mouth made chewing very tempting! Didn't though. I found them quite weird to eat actually as the roof of my mouth is still numb. They made me quite dribbly haha. Think maybe they were a bit ambitious for now.

Boyfriend's mum came round today and made us curry from leftover Christmas turkey. I had mine blended and it was really good. The rice was a bit tricky because it liked to go behind my bands but it was a bit easier once it was mixed in with the curry sauce.

Swelling is continuing to go down and the bruising is nearly gone. But my lips are so stiff! I guess it's a combination of swelling, numbness and the stitches. The stitch under my top lip at the front is bothering me most right now. I hope everything is healing ok.

[Nadira]

Day 17 - slept 12 hours last night, up once for antibiotics.

It sounds like double jaw surgery has a lot more inconviences to work around.
As for drooling I do not have much. I had more when I got my presurgical splint. As the splint was adjusted to balance my muscles again it became thinner, I drooled less.

The wafer guide, is wired in and very thin, not a problem except for cleaning. Time will take care of that, and like you, I can not wait to get to my back teeth.

My tingling has dialed down a notch. Allowing me aches in my lower jaw, even inside my mouth.
As I can now take my elastics out for eating, I did a gentle test and found I can open my mouth almost a full knuckle. Before surgery I could open 3 knuckles.

Oh chocolate! I have some I should try breaking a small piece and melt it in my mouth.
My swelling would not be noticeable to strangers, my speech is noticed, especially first thing in the morning.
Have a great day/ night time zones,