Progress pics - UPDATE 3-week post-op

[nvcarissa]

As promised, here are pics from Day 1 to Day 4. I have the most swelling today, but that was expected. Still, not too bad. Click on thumbnails if you wish to see a larger picture.

Here I am just after getting into my room. You can see the drainage tubes coming out from under my jaw bra.



Day 2 - I was able to smile. We took of the jaw bra off to show the drainage tubes better. They were giving me steroids to help inflammation and that also delayed some of the swelling that we are seeing now.



Day 3 - going home. Jaw bra is off again, to show progress. Other than picture time, it has been on 24/7 (except for showering).



Day 4 - most swelling so far



Stitches and profile. You can see the stiches where the screws were tightened. My lips are still quite swollen, so this is not a finished product profile shot.

[nvcarissa]

The drainage tubes went all the way up my jaw. I remember feeling along my jaw and feeling something there and worrying that it was the screws. Nope, those are flush with my jaw. It was the tubing. When he pulled them out, they had gone up about 4 inches or so. Yes, I think those help incredibly with the swelling. Is your OS going to use them?

[Brandyleigh35]

Carissa,
My doctor uses the drainage tubes so hopefully I will look like you swelling wise. I think I swelled up more with my SARPE then you have with the BSSO! I can tell you from my surgery experience that the ice make a huge difference also.

Here is my question for you and others who have had this surgery. Do they always have to have the small incisions on the outside to install the screws? I didn't realize that I would end up with small scars on my face too. The only reason I'm asking is that I'm one of those people that don't do scars well. They usually don't heal well on me and get very ugly looking. I just wondered if this is the standard procedure. Also did the drainage tubes come out of those holes? It looks like they did.

Brandy[/img]

[nvcarissa]

No, the drainage tubes come out along the jaw line. I think the small incisions for the screws are normal, but I would ask your OS. My OS says that they are barely noticeable, but I know what you mean about how some people scar. I would bring this up with your OS if I were you.

I have pretty much had it with the constant ice packs and about fifteen minutes ago I retired it for awhile. I may use it a bit more tonight, but tomorrow I am not supposed to at all, then move to heat...which feels much better.

The left side of my face is more swollen than my right. Did anyone else have a sort of assymetrical swelling?

[nvcarissa]

I was feeling like my face was turning into a popsicle so I stopped with the face bra about an hour ago (6pm my time). I am having more pain today, so I am hitting the pain meds about every three hours per the prescription. I can't wait to be able to start applying heat to my cheeks, but that has to wait one more day. Although, when I take a shower or wash my face, the warmth feels very, very good.

I am woozier today, and feeling the post surgical let-down that others have talked about. I don't have much of an appetite, though tonight I blenderized bean with bacon soup, strained it, added a bit of hot sauce and sour cream and it tasted like a bean burrito. That was good! I know I should be eating more. Any ideas??

[nahky]

Astonishing! Your swelling looks quite minimal, fantastic...

Your looking very well, thanks for sharing, i wish i had those drainage tubes, my swelling was horrendous.

Happy Healing!

J

[nvcarissa]

My favorite foods...

Well, I like macaroni and cheese...not sure how I can blenderize that. I love, love, love salad and green vegetables. I love pasta.

I am going to try to do something with marinara tomorrow. I am just trying to figure out how to get protein down me. I know I am going to get sick of Instant Breakfast. I wonder if I stew some chicken in broth and blenderize that ... add some spices...

My mother-in-law is going to bring me some chicken broth and a casserole for the rest of the family either Monday or Tuesday. All of this sounds good, but I need to be able to liquefy it.

Oy. Pain meds have kicked in and I am falling back to sleep. See you all tomorrow.

[KathleenH]

I can't believe how little swelling you have! And you can smile already? I couldn't smile for three weeks!

My favorite thing to eat was taco fillings, all thrown in a blender. I'd throw everything in, except the cheese, which I added after blending. Then I heated it in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Very filling, and so tasty. Especially after all that horrible Ensure. I'd also add cheese to mashed potatoes for added protein.

Brandy, about the incisions - not everyone needs them. My OS said about 30% of his patients need them, due to having limited space in the mouth to access the screws. I did need them, and I can no longer see where they were. And I've looked hard!

[nvcarissa]

Thanks for the recipes. Since I have been told that I will have to do a "no chew" diet for the next few weeks, the blender is going to get some use!

As far as the incision scars...they took the stitches off today and they looked a little red, but already by tonight they are fading. I will keep you posted on how they do. But I don't even think they will be noticeable...between the freckles, etc. And they are tiny.

[nvcarissa]

Here are some more pictures. Click on thumbnails for bigger pics. I am feeling pretty good today. Using Advil to control the jaw pain. The elastics aren't too bad. Still not very hungry...

6/25 - Pretty swollen



6/26 - Swelling is starting to go down



6/27 - Before wires removed. Swelling going down some more. You can really see the yellow going down my neck.



6/28 - Today - I put make-up on! My left side (your right) is still more swollen than the other and it is making my mouth look a bit assymetrical. Three pics...one no smile, with smile, and my new bite.

My bite BEFORE surgery:


My bite after:


No smile...swelling has gone down even more.



With smile:

[KriegeR]

That looks great nvcarrisa, and the difference is striking!

[nvcarissa]

Yeah, things are going better now. I just have to deal with the numb spots and tingling. My left side (the more swollen side) has a bigger area of numbness than the right side. I realize that it may take a couple of months or longer for the numbness to go away or minimize. And until the swelling is completely gone, I am not expecting the numbness to go away. But, hey...it's only been a week!

[nvcarissa]

As my husband says, I have a 'chiseled' face. That is, very little fat on my face, so what looks normal to most, those who know me know that I am still swollen. I think I am down to the hard core swelling...swelling that will not disappear so quickly, so I am going to hold off posting any more pics for you for about a week. Will keep you all posted if something remarkable happens.

I have gone back to sleeping in my own bed and wake up with an exceedingly dry mouth and very sore jaw. I don't know if I am clenching while I sleep or not, but that is sort of what it feels like. I think it has to do with the elastics.

Well, another day under my belt! It can only get better, right? Today will be quite a test for me as this is the first day, post-op, that I will be out and about all day long. I have an interview with a reporter in the morning, meet with a local candidate at noon and attend a candidate's forum this evening. Back in the saddle!!

[Brandyleigh35]

Wow Carissa,
That was quick! I'm sure you are still very store but work may be good to take your mind off of your mouth for awhile. A different focus for a bit. How's the food consumption going? Are you weak? or do you feel pretty up to the challenge of your daily schedule again? That sounded like an intense albeit rather stressful day for a first day back! I hope everything goes well for you! I wanted to ask you about numbness in your teeth? Do you have any of that? Its been 4 months since my SARPE and I'm just now getting all the feeling back in my upper teeth. They have basically felt like wood for the last few months. Have you experienced any loss of feeling in your lower teeth as a result of the jaw surgery or the nerve trauma?

Hope all goes well for you today and that you continue to heal as beautifully as you have been! You look better than most 20 year olds that I know who have had this surgery! And even swollen the changes are truly amazing!

Brandy

[nvcarissa]

How's the food consumption going? Are you weak? or do you feel pretty up to the challenge of your daily schedule again?

Food consumption is a challenge. Breakfast is easy...Instant Breakfast. But when I get into the actual process of feeding myself with spoon or fork, it is slow going, I get tired and don't eat enough. I think I have lost 5-7 pounds so far. I am hoping that stabilizes. As far as energy level, I am not up to snuff and I may bag on the candidates forum tonight depending on how I feel after my noon appointment. Still, I think it will do me good to get out of the house. This will be my first trip, on my own, just me driving, since before my surgery.

Have you experienced any loss of feeling in your lower teeth as a result of the jaw surgery or the nerve trauma?

Oh yeah. My lower jaw feels like wood, as you say, on the outer side of my gums. Inside my mouth I can feel fine! But I am still swollen and I don't expect feeling to come back for a few months. But it is weird. I think you could stick me with an ice pick and I would never know. However, my jaw joint hurts as does the area where they removed my two upper wisdom teeth. My chin tingles all the time and my lower lip feels tingly too. Drives me nuts.