October buddies

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#31 Post by **ColoradoGirl** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 5:49 am

Thanks for the kind wishes, everyone. I'm on the other side!!! I spent so many years agonizing over this condition, and hiding the way I felt about it; now that it's over I feel such a sense of release. It's done! There's no going back!

I will say these first few days have not been fun. Apparently redheads and Asians (according to two of my nurses!) tend to get more nausea. I'm a redhead, and lemme tell you--throwing up blood for 12 hours after surgery is terrible. My sweet husband was with me the whole time, though, and the nursing staff would come running everytime they heard me start to throw up, even if I hadn't pushed the call button. The nausea subsided after that, but the swelling is weird and more painful than I'd expected. The first full day back, I made the mistake of not spacing my meds out by at least an hour apiece, and therefore my painkiller (Tramadol) hit me like a ton of bricks--disorientation and hallucinatory dreams. Ugh.

Anyway, I think I'm feeling a bit better today; I just wish the stupid swelling would go down a bit and my nasal passages would clear up. But it's not really much worse than a very bad flu: not fun, but tolerable.

Good luck tomorrow, Mamaneedsanewjaw! You'll do great.

Cocomecrazy--I think you should talk to your professors and TAs well ahead of time, and explain the nature of the surgery (a serious one) to them. Be realistic: you may have to drop a class or be okay with a semester of lower grades. But I've found everybody at my university to be very supportive and understanding. If you let people know what's going on, they might be able to cut you some slack--or at least tell you what to expect if you can't keep up with the work.

Sun Oct 10, 2010 6:43 am

Coloradogirl- YIKES- that does not sound like fun at all! How long were you in the hospital? Sounds like you had an excellent nursing staff so I am sure that helped. It is downhill from here!!

By the way, have you tried Brethe right strips? Heard they may help.

Soooooooo nervous about tomorrow, my anxiety is off the charts!

See ya on the flip side!

#33 Post by **chicago29** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 7:53 am

@ColoradoGirl: Congrats on getting to the other side. Aren't the first few days awful?? I can't describe it to somebody that hasn't experienced it.

The good thing is I'm glad you're on the mend. Throwing up blood was one thing that scared the hell out of me and thankfully I didn't experience that. I got a bit nauseous the next day as I know I had blood draining into my stomach, but one dose of nausea medicine helped a great deal. Keep on top of your meds and rest. I wish I could tell you the swelling will go away soon, but it won't.

I'm getting close to a month and I still have very noticeable swelling in the sinus/nasal area. It flares up particularly in the morning after sleeping. The good news is the big swelling will probably start going down for you soon.

@mamaneedsanewjaw: Best of luck tomorrow! Try and relax today (I know, this is so much easier said than done). I will be thinking about you and I look forward to hearing from you on the other side!

#34 Post by **LeahRuth** » Sun Oct 10, 2010 3:08 pm

Ugh! I had some medication interactions and was unable to absorb any pain meds until yesterday. It was BAD. My doctor has me on oxycontin now and it seems to be working. I also take ibuprofen every 6 hours.

When I went to see the surgeon again Friday, he took out my splint and everything from my mouth and it was a huge relief. I now only have two heavy elastics that I can take out when I eat (drink).

I'm kind of curious about my incisions. I can open my mouth wide enough to see them and the whole area is like... white tissue.

Anyways, good news is that the swelling has really gone down the last two days and I have normal feeling everywhere except for the left side of my chin and bottom lip. It feels so tingley and weird.

#35 Post by **cocomecrazy** » Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:05 am

@coloradogirl

I did tell all my teachers about my surgery and that recovery time maybe be maximum of 6 weeks, but they said some people are able to go back to work/school earlier than that.

I read that you are a grad student, how are you gonna deal with catching up with your classes?

I get un-wired on the 27th I believe :/ hopefully, I'll be able to tackle school.

I'm also worried about loosing weight, and a lot of blood. I've gotten my blood withdrawn from me in the past, and it made me really nauseous like I passed out, and they didn't take out that much

As of right now, I currently weigh 109. Since I'm about to have my period, I'm on a hungry spree which is good because I need to gain weight. Since about a week ago, I've been eating burritos almost everyday to gain weight.

I have an under bite and a cross bite -so it's like a double whammie. And I know for sure that it'll be difficult for me to eat during recovery. And for sure, it'll be difficult for me to gain weight.

#36 Post by **LeahRuth** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:49 pm

@mamaneedsanewjaw I hope you're doing well today! Congratulations on joining us on the other side =D I wish you a quick recovery!

Today, I saw the surgeon again for my 1 week and he said everything looks great and I'm right where I should be. I'm so glad! Last week was awful with my medication complications and I'm so glad we got it all sorted it. I feel sooo much better... barely any pain now

Just a stiff jaw.

Annnnd, I finally set up a flickr for all my post op pictures. Feel free to check it out here and comment :]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54793913@N ... 026796785/

Thu Oct 14, 2010 5:56 am

On the other side. Tough stuff is all I can say!! A lot of this recovery is clearly mind over matter.

Will update my blog later today and post some terrible pics!

Hope everyone is doing well!

#38 Post by **Marisama** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:10 am

Congrats! Post when you update your blog please.

#39 Post by **chicago29** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:42 am

@mama: Congrats! I was hoping to hear from you soon. You're in Day 3 now, which is right at the worst of it. The next couple of days will be rough, but you should start turning the corner by the end of the weekend.

I wish you the best in your recovery!

Regards
Chicago29

#40 Post by **Rizzie** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:52 am

To mama: Hang in there! From everything I've read on here and in blogs, much of it IS mind over matter. It is only going to get better from here on...

I watched the video on your blog, and I'm looking forward to seeing the "new you" emerge. Stay positive! We are here cheering you on!

#41 Post by **cocomecrazy** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:25 am

post-op update:

I'm on a spitting/drooling spree. Blood in my drool has reduced. It's been a day since my surgery and so far I just feel sore not totally in pain which is good. Energy level is fine as long as I have my spitting/drooling container right below my face.

What's weird about my surgery is I don't have a splint :/ idk why but I'll ask my surgeon later. And the left side if my lower jaw is more swollen like more swollen than my right. My right isn't even bruised.

I thought they were gonna do both upper and lower jaw but they only did the lower. I had an under bite with a cross bite so my lower right jaw was longer than my left.... but idk why my left is more swollen than my left

#42 Post by **ColoradoGirl** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:39 pm

Glad to hear you're both doing well, mama and cocomecrazy.

10 days is *definitely* better. Hang in, buddies.

#43 Post by **Izzy1979** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:08 pm

Well unless my insurance doesnt go through, Im on for Tuesday Oct 19th, BSSO + chin reduction

Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:11 am

Good luck tomorrow Izzy.

Uggg have I had a rough week. Pain medicine made me naseous, naseau made me not want to drink, not drinking made me dehydrated, deyhydration gave me a migrane. No good weekend at all.

I did start feeling a bit better yesterday afternoon thank goodness. I have a follow-up with the surgeon tomorrow in detroit though so that means a three hour drive tonight and then three hour drive back tomorrow. Dreading that being in the car will set me back.

How are my other buddies doing?? Colorado girl how are you? Chigago aren't you a month out? HAS to keep getting better, right???

#45 Post by **chicago29** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:31 am

@mama: I promise you it gets significantly better after 2 weeks. Time starts to go by much faster at that point as well. The first 2 weeks really go by slowly, don't they?

I'm sorry you've had the difficulty with the meds. Luckily I'm one that seems to be able to tolerate most pain meds. I know a lot of people have the nausea, and that sets off an entire chain of unfortunate events!

Hang in there and try and at least stay hydrated. By this time next week you'll be feeling 100% better.

-Chicago29