depression after surgery

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#1 Post by **changes09** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:40 am

I had a lefort one done 8 days ago. My face is so swollen, and my upper lip is so swollen that it hurts to smile, and frown.....
I hatehaving people take care of. My husband has been taking care of everything. And I thank him every day for it, but its just that I feel like i can't function. Today i ate a bite of bread, a few peices of beets, and a cdup of juice. And this is the most I have eaten in 8 days. My jaw just hurts so bad when I chew. And since its been days since I've eaten just to walk up the stairs takes effort.
I'm just so depressed. I wish I would never have had this surgery. I really do. And I start work this tuesday, and I don't think I can handle it. I am going to have to go back to work with people asking me questions and all that. Oh! And not to mention only my husband can understand me when I speak. I know this all might sound so stupid, but I am so depressed right now.

#2 Post by **eveningninja** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 12:58 pm

Months from now you will not wish you had not had this surgery. I'd say even just one more week you'll be feeling a lot better. At week one I was still feeling pretty much like crap. By week two I was feeling a whole lot better, albeit still swollen. By week three I felt in a way relatively normal again, still kinda swollen but looking a lot more normal. Just give it some time. And may I ask why you are chewing?

Shouldn't you be on a... liquid diet?

#3 Post by **changes09** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:30 pm

Hey eveningninja, I'm glad that your swollenness (lol) has gone down. I know you were worried about school, and being swollen.
My doc told me at my post op appointment with him last monday he wants me eating soft foods like, fish and mashed potatoes, bread all that stuff. He said there is no reason why i can't open my mouth all the way and chew because i just had upper jaw surgery. That's another reason why i am depressed. He wants me doing all these things, and I feel like I am not up to par. My chewing teeth aren't touching exactly where they need to so chewing takes longer then usual. And my jaw joints...well like the space right before my jaw joint (weird I know) gets so tired. After talking for not even a minuet my jaw is so tired.

#4 Post by **Jane** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:40 pm

I'm really sorry you're feeling so down at the minute. You've had major surgery and to be honest you shouldn't be too hard on yourself about how you're feeling. I think it's way too early to go back to work - but I know it's not always possible to take time off. Is there any way you could have a few more weeks at home? As the previous post said you will feel better as time goes on, but I just think you'd need a bit more time to recover. Glad your husband is taking good care of you (he'll want to do that, so don't feel bad about it

). You need to remember that emotionally this is a major deal as well - you've been looking forward to this surgery for a long time and now it's over - thing is nobody sees the benefits right away and that's the hard bit emotionally! But ,you know, very soon, you will be look back and forget how bad you feel now and you will see how worth while it all was.

Take it easy and try and eat and drink plenty of nourishing foods. That will help you to recover more quickly. God bless xx

#5 Post by **OzzysMom** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:55 pm

That is really good advice from Jane. I'm sorry you are feeling that way but I've been there so I totally understand. Please try to be gentle with yourself. The first month you are going to get tired easily and that is normal. It takes a while to chew again and if it hurts that much to chew, listen to your body and just stick with soft things and slowly re-introduce yourself to chewing.
Once I accepted that I was not going to heal as quickly as I had hoped, it was a bit easier for me but yes...the waiting part reallllly stinks!

#6 Post by **monarch** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:04 pm

Having something nourishing to eat/drink can really make a difference in how you feel! It doesn't sound like you have any zip-n-squeeze bags, but could you maybe blend up some food and put it in the syringe? (I'm assuming you got one after the surgery.) It's not as easy as the bags, but whatever it takes to get nutrition in your body is a good thing right now. It's amazing how much better the world looks with a good meal in your tummy!

#7 Post by **Tribal** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:30 pm

Just cause you can have soft foods now doesn't mean you can't still back it up with liquids! I can't get enough into my system through soft foods because it's just too tiring. I still have instant breakfasts and protein drinks and juice and just try to eat a little bit with it at meals.

Getting back to work and to a regular routine will probably help you feel better (it did with me) but you will probably need to be drinking stuff all day to keep your energy up while you're at work. I still do liquids only for the most part at work cause I don't want to take elastics out and clean in the bathroom at my office.

#8 Post by **mp921** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:40 pm

My surgeon had to prescribe something to tone down my anxiety at bedtime so that I could get some much needed rest. That helped my thoughts during the day. I was fatigued and in pain and couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel (still not sure I see it 100%). I was upset that I had the surgery and wishing I hadn't. I couldn't see that I'd ever feel "normal" again. Still not sure I will, but I have hope.

#9 Post by **changes09** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:15 pm

Thank you everyone, honestly thank you. I took everyones advice. I do have zip n squeez bags so I had two carnation isstant breakfasts. one with soy milk, and one with rice milk. I also had a bowel of mc n cheese. and two more cups of juice. And it's true, eating more does make you feel a little bit better. I'm also about to see if i can handle some french fries. Not the healthiest diet, but its something.
Also, since my surgery I have lost the "urge" to pee. I don't feel the need to go feeling anymore. So every few hours I just take my self to the toilet and see if I have to go. Anyone else?

#10 Post by **chicago29** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:18 pm

changes09,

I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time. Honestly, I think you're being too hard on yourself. You've had a MAJOR surgical procedure, and what you are feeling is totally normal.

I know after my SARPE/MSDO I was really in the dumps during week 2 and week 3. The only advice I can give you is to think positive and know that this is all so temporary. And, if you can, use that blender to get some food in you. Once I buddied up to my blender and got OK with the liquid meals, I started feeling much better. I promise you, in a matter of days, the worst will be over.

Hang in there, and if it makes you feel better please vent all you want on the message board. We've all been there, and we're here to get you through it all.

Take Care
Chicago29

#11 Post by PJ » Sun Aug 30, 2009 3:20 pm

So sorry you are feeling so low. I am concerned about you saying you lost the urge to pee, too. Are you drinking enough liquids? Being dehydrated is the last thing you need while trying to recover. Be sure you are drinking enough that when you go, your pee is clear. As for the food--sounds like it's getting a bit better for you, but if you haven't tried it yet, I would highly recommend the Ensure! I found the taste to be pretty good, and it gave me the much needed energy from the high calories.

I know how hard it is going through this, but as everyone is saying--it is temporary and it will pass. Patience is important with this process. I remember how frustrated I was with the pain in my cheeks from where they cut them. I thought it would never go away, but after a couple of weeks, it did. And your pain will too. Hang in there!

I do think you might do well to ask for a little more time off of work. I hope you can get it. Keep us posted.

#12 Post by **bbsadmin** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:02 pm

I haven't had jaw surgery, but last year I had sinus surgery and was really miserable for about 2 weeks. I couldn't take narcotics, so all I could do to relieve the pain was Tylenol every 4-6 hours.

Surgery can definitely make you feel depressed, but if you are any medications that can make you depressed also. For instance, they put me on Prednisone and wow, I went into a huge awful funk while I was on that stuff.

Please be easy on yourself and don't beat yourself up. Your body needs time to recover. Let your husband take care of you. Take pain killers if the doctor has prescribed them (my doctor used to tell me to "stay ahead of the pain.")

Regarding losing your urge to pee....if you are drinking enough liquids and it continues to be a problem, you should see a doctor. It could have something to do with your kidney function or your sciatic nerve. Or, it could just be that you just aren't drinking enough.

#13 Post by **eveningninja** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 5:21 pm

I'm glad you're feeling at least a bit better. I remember when I came on here at around day 4/5 and just was feeling sooooooooo crappy and vented all my emotions about how much agony I was in haha. But yeah like the others have said you have been going through the worst of it and you very soon come out of the slump. Hang in there

Maybe go outside and go see a movie or something. I was still pretty swollen when my dad and brother wanted to take me to go see GI Joe. At first I was like no way, but they convinced me to go and it did make me feel a lot better, just to be out in the sunlight again you know... doing normal things. I just wore some sunglasses to kind of hide my identity a bit because of course it is a bit embarrassing to be that swollen.

Anyway, hope you feel better.

#14 Post by **Tribal** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:23 am

Make sure you're drinking enough as someone else suggested. If your are and still having an issue with not knowing when to go, you might want to mention this to your surgeon of family doctor.

I was the opposite after surgery, and it drove my mother and boyfriend nuts when I was in the hospital! As soon as the let me I started drinking a lot - soups, juice, pop - the nurse was suprised I was able to keep it all down, especially since I got my first 'meal' about an hour out of recovery. I was drinking so much I had to pee every hour or two, and usually required someone's assistance. Well, I was fully capable of going by mysef, they just wouldn't let me (at least when they were in the room

)

#15 Post by **changes09** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:13 am

I do drink alot, and I just had my first urge to pee this morning, so I guess its comming back. You are all right. I am starting to feel better. I have been eating and drinking more then usual, and doing things around the house, like dishes and laundry. And I am going to try a little grocery shopping this afternoon. I also did my hair and put on a pair of jeans (i've een wearin pajama bottoms last fe days) and just that makes me feel better.
The pain is not as bad as usual, and my swelling is finale starting to come down. I am still very swollen but its getting better. I just want to thank everyone here, for all there words. They really did help.