I really don't have to much to say about the last couple of days...
Day 12
I actually drove my own truck today!! It was so exciting for me. It was a moment of independence that I haven't had for the last week and a half. The only thing that was disappointing for me was the fact that I couldn't sing to my favorite songs. =]
I went and visited my grandparents, bought some Egg Drop soup that I blended and sucked down. It was so nice to be able to taste something other than vanilla or chocolate Ensure shakes. Being out really wore me out and I was beat by the time I got home. But it was nice to get out.
Day 13
Today was busy! I went and ran numerous errands because I thought a friend was coming this weekend only to find out that they postponed for next week. Thats okay though, I felt accomplished today.
I have been pretty hooked on Orange Julius smoothies. I can't suck down anything very thick, so I am really happy to find something that I can drink.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Days 8-11
I have not been very good at blogging. But I figure that I will update anyway.
Day 8
This was the first day that I woke up and could actually see a difference in my swelling. It had finally gone down a bit! I did have to take some sleeping medicine to sleep through the night, but felt a bit more rested.
I really didn't do much on day 8. I did go out with my mom to run an errand at Target, and figured out that I am pretty physically weak right now, finding it hard to lift even laundry detergent. I can't wait to be able to eat an actual meal! I also discovered that Dairy Queen in our area has teamed up with Orange Julius, and that I can actually drink one of the smoothies that they have. This was heavenly!
Day 9
This was the day of my first follow up appointment. Before we headed over to see the doctor I went to see my grandparents. That was nice. Then we headed over to see the surgeon. He was thrilled with how I looked, said that the swelling should go down some more, but that it would probably still be there for a few weeks. He said that I was keeping my teeth very clean, which made me very happy, because I hate dirty teeth! He didn't loosen my rubberbands, but did say that he would probably do this the next week. I really hope that he does!!
Day 10
I went to a friends baby shower this day. It was hard for me because while I can talk, It is definitely hard to understand. I also wore out very quickly. When we got home I went out and watched my horses for a bit, until it started raining. I went to bed early because I was so exhausted, but I felt like this day was better overall.
Day 11
And here is today! I haven't done much. The swelling has gone down a bit more, and I am feeling better.
I haven't been on the high dose medication in days, and really think I could manage without the motrin, but am not yet ready to try it. I think that I will wait until I feel a bit less achy.
If people want to know about pain... I think that the first 5 days were pretty uncomfortable. I never found the pain overwhelming, but I could definitely tell that something had been done. I still can, but thats mainly from the numb areas that are coming back. I am feeling so much better.
I think the most frustrating thing for me is the fact that I can't talk. It is irritating to have to repeat yourself numerous times, and I find myself just not repeating anything that isn't super important. My jaw is also super tired from being in one position for so long, I literally can't move it at all. I am sure that this is a good thing, but I really can't wait to be able to open it, even just a bit.
Day 8
This was the first day that I woke up and could actually see a difference in my swelling. It had finally gone down a bit! I did have to take some sleeping medicine to sleep through the night, but felt a bit more rested.
I really didn't do much on day 8. I did go out with my mom to run an errand at Target, and figured out that I am pretty physically weak right now, finding it hard to lift even laundry detergent. I can't wait to be able to eat an actual meal! I also discovered that Dairy Queen in our area has teamed up with Orange Julius, and that I can actually drink one of the smoothies that they have. This was heavenly!
Day 9
This was the day of my first follow up appointment. Before we headed over to see the doctor I went to see my grandparents. That was nice. Then we headed over to see the surgeon. He was thrilled with how I looked, said that the swelling should go down some more, but that it would probably still be there for a few weeks. He said that I was keeping my teeth very clean, which made me very happy, because I hate dirty teeth! He didn't loosen my rubberbands, but did say that he would probably do this the next week. I really hope that he does!!
Day 10
I went to a friends baby shower this day. It was hard for me because while I can talk, It is definitely hard to understand. I also wore out very quickly. When we got home I went out and watched my horses for a bit, until it started raining. I went to bed early because I was so exhausted, but I felt like this day was better overall.
Day 11
And here is today! I haven't done much. The swelling has gone down a bit more, and I am feeling better.
I haven't been on the high dose medication in days, and really think I could manage without the motrin, but am not yet ready to try it. I think that I will wait until I feel a bit less achy.
If people want to know about pain... I think that the first 5 days were pretty uncomfortable. I never found the pain overwhelming, but I could definitely tell that something had been done. I still can, but thats mainly from the numb areas that are coming back. I am feeling so much better.
I think the most frustrating thing for me is the fact that I can't talk. It is irritating to have to repeat yourself numerous times, and I find myself just not repeating anything that isn't super important. My jaw is also super tired from being in one position for so long, I literally can't move it at all. I am sure that this is a good thing, but I really can't wait to be able to open it, even just a bit.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Days 6 and 7
Well I made it a week! Now I can't wait until I make it until week 2. =]
Day 6
Went and ran errands today. This was good and I was able to do it without wearing out to much. I was still pretty swollen, and it is kind of embarresing to be seen in public, but oh well!
I hadn't been sleeping at all through the nights after day 2, so I was pretty tired by the end of the day. I also started feeling extreme pressure in my jaw today.
Day 7 -
I woke up in the middle of the night with a raging ear ache. It was horrible and I can truthfully say that it hurt more than the surgery! I finally pulled myself out of bed and took some Hydrocodone, which I haven't had to take for two days. Then I went to bed and actually slept the majority of the night. It was great!
But even though I had slept better than I had in a week, I was still exhausted today. I pretty much laid around all morning, got up and ran an errand with my mom, where I fell asleep in the car, and then came home and lay around some more. But my pain level today was very tolerable. The pressure is the only inconveniant, horrible feeling.
My swelling looks to be a bit less today as well. Though I still have a giant balloon head, that makes me look like I gained 30 pounds. :)
Day 6
Went and ran errands today. This was good and I was able to do it without wearing out to much. I was still pretty swollen, and it is kind of embarresing to be seen in public, but oh well!
I hadn't been sleeping at all through the nights after day 2, so I was pretty tired by the end of the day. I also started feeling extreme pressure in my jaw today.
Day 7 -
I woke up in the middle of the night with a raging ear ache. It was horrible and I can truthfully say that it hurt more than the surgery! I finally pulled myself out of bed and took some Hydrocodone, which I haven't had to take for two days. Then I went to bed and actually slept the majority of the night. It was great!
But even though I had slept better than I had in a week, I was still exhausted today. I pretty much laid around all morning, got up and ran an errand with my mom, where I fell asleep in the car, and then came home and lay around some more. But my pain level today was very tolerable. The pressure is the only inconveniant, horrible feeling.
My swelling looks to be a bit less today as well. Though I still have a giant balloon head, that makes me look like I gained 30 pounds. :)
Monday, March 10, 2014
Days 1 - 5
I am going to be honest... the first couple of days after surgery were extremely miserable!! I even wished the horrible though of "why did I do this? I wish I hadn't" A lot of this had to do with the initial frustration at being at the hospital, and having to figure out the new routing.
Day 2
This day started with the nurse bringing me oatmeal and jello cubes for breakfast. Keep in mind I couldn't even open my teeth a centimeter. I was extremely frustrated that I coulnd't get any of the food down, but my mom saved the day and went to the cafeteria to buy some ensure. I didn't drink much of it. I was still to tired to concentrate on anything.
I was drinking a lot of water, having to get up to go the restroom a lot and sleeping. I also had to take a set of x rays at the hospital so that the Doctor could make sure it looked like everything was still together. That was tough and slightly embarresing, because the nurse wheeled me through a large portion of the hospital in front of a ton of people to get me there. =P But Oh well... the x rays themselves were okay, though laying down on the table was really difficult, as I hadn't had my head flat for a while.
That was day 2... boring and ready to go home.
Day 3 -
Still very ready to go home, brought oatmeal for breakfast again, but this time I just pushed it aside and drank some chicken broth and some apple juice. I had slept a bit better the second night, but was so ready to get home. At about 3:30 I was released for home. The drive wasn't to bad, and I yankked the jaw bra off the second I walked in the door.
I didn't eat to much this day. I was pretty emotional about everything to be honest. I was having a hard time drinking and eating, and I couldn't get my thoughts across very well. It was pretty trying there for a bit.
Day 4 -
I got up and went outside this day! I really needed that, and I got to see my horses from over the fence. It was just nice to feel the sun and outside fresh air. It didn't really wipe me out. I did have a friend visit, and I slept almost the entire time they were there. That was kind of disappointing to me, but I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I had another crying jag this day as well. I was having problems still with my nose being clogged, making it hard to breath, and I just broke down. This made it worse, but it also loosened up a huge blood clot that finally fell out. Gross, but it felt so much better afterwards.
Day 5 -
This was today, and It was a much better day. I went out for a drive with my mom, and this was nice. Got a drink and drove around, and then went to my grandparents and just sat around and chatted. I then went and visited my horses, and then went inside and watched a movie. I felt much better emotionally today.
I am also ready for this to be over. I want to be able to eat even something a little bit thicker than ensure. Right now even ice cream isn't possible. There just isn't a lot that is that thin!
Day 2
This day started with the nurse bringing me oatmeal and jello cubes for breakfast. Keep in mind I couldn't even open my teeth a centimeter. I was extremely frustrated that I coulnd't get any of the food down, but my mom saved the day and went to the cafeteria to buy some ensure. I didn't drink much of it. I was still to tired to concentrate on anything.
I was drinking a lot of water, having to get up to go the restroom a lot and sleeping. I also had to take a set of x rays at the hospital so that the Doctor could make sure it looked like everything was still together. That was tough and slightly embarresing, because the nurse wheeled me through a large portion of the hospital in front of a ton of people to get me there. =P But Oh well... the x rays themselves were okay, though laying down on the table was really difficult, as I hadn't had my head flat for a while.
That was day 2... boring and ready to go home.
Day 3 -
Still very ready to go home, brought oatmeal for breakfast again, but this time I just pushed it aside and drank some chicken broth and some apple juice. I had slept a bit better the second night, but was so ready to get home. At about 3:30 I was released for home. The drive wasn't to bad, and I yankked the jaw bra off the second I walked in the door.
I didn't eat to much this day. I was pretty emotional about everything to be honest. I was having a hard time drinking and eating, and I couldn't get my thoughts across very well. It was pretty trying there for a bit.
Day 4 -
I got up and went outside this day! I really needed that, and I got to see my horses from over the fence. It was just nice to feel the sun and outside fresh air. It didn't really wipe me out. I did have a friend visit, and I slept almost the entire time they were there. That was kind of disappointing to me, but I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I had another crying jag this day as well. I was having problems still with my nose being clogged, making it hard to breath, and I just broke down. This made it worse, but it also loosened up a huge blood clot that finally fell out. Gross, but it felt so much better afterwards.
Day 5 -
This was today, and It was a much better day. I went out for a drive with my mom, and this was nice. Got a drink and drove around, and then went to my grandparents and just sat around and chatted. I then went and visited my horses, and then went inside and watched a movie. I felt much better emotionally today.
I am also ready for this to be over. I want to be able to eat even something a little bit thicker than ensure. Right now even ice cream isn't possible. There just isn't a lot that is that thin!
Surgery Day
Surgery was scheduled to start at 9:00, so we had to be at the hospital by 7. When I first got there I was escorted back into the preop surgery room, which was just a row of beds with curtains around them. Here I changed into my gown, had an IV put in, and had a final talk with the anesthesiologists, and surgeons.
They then let my mom come in and hang out with me for a few minutes. They also came into give me a "happy medicine" that was supposed to help keep my nerves down. I don't remember anything after this point! My mom did tell me I was pretty crazy, and that I had asked if we could eat in the cafeteria the next day. =]
Then the lights were out for the next few hours. They flew by for me, surgery started at 9 and I didn't get out into the recovery room until a little after 5! Much longer than I had been told it would last. The surgeon said that my mouth was extremely small, and was a challenge to move around it. He also said that the one side of my jaw that he felt needed the most work had very little spongy bone in in, and that he had spent an hour alone chiseling out the nerve.
Then the lights were out for the next few hours. They flew by for me, surgery started at 9 and I didn't get out into the recovery room until a little after 5! Much longer than I had been told it would last. The surgeon said that my mouth was extremely small, and was a challenge to move around it. He also said that the one side of my jaw that he felt needed the most work had very little spongy bone in in, and that he had spent an hour alone chiseling out the nerve.
My surgery was both both top and bottom jaw surgery, with chin surgery as well. My top jaw had grown more on one side and pushed one of the bottom jaw joints up, leading to discomfort.
But anyway... the next thing I remember is becoming aware of being in the recovery room, with a nurse talking to me. I felt like he asked me if I hurt, or if I was nauseous 20 times! I remember more than anything just being sooo thirsty. I couldn't feel my lips or my cheeks, so the nurse spent a lot of time strawing me water... Haha! I also had to cough up as much as I could, because my Oxygen level was 87 and the nurse wasn't liking it. I had to wear an Oxygen tube for the entire 24 hours at the hospital.
The nurse then wheeled me into my room and this is where I had my first experience with nausea. The nurse kept apologizing, but It wasn't his fault. I was then stuck in bed got to see my parents, and a couple of friends, an then I was in and out for a while. Then I was given my first dose of ain medicine and threw it up, along with a ton of blood. I thought I was fine after a while, got up to go to the restroom and then threw up EVERYWHERE! All of the walls, the floor, myself... everywhere. There were a ton of blood clots, so the nurse said that I should feel better, and I did.
I also had to be threatened to be given a catheter to get myself to pee. I just didn't have to go, but I did NOT want a catheter, so I made myself go. It was much easier after the first time, but it took effort.
The first night was horrible. I didn't sleep well because the nurses kept coming to take my vitals, and give me medication.
I can't say I felt to much pain, but I did feel a ton of pressure on my face, like a horse was sitting on it. I had a "Jaw Bra" to keep ice on my cheeks, and bandages under my chin. I was definitely a sight, with my swollen lips along with all this!
Pre Surgery Preparation
I started my journey towards Jaw Surgery in 2002, though I didn't know that at the time. I spent the next four years in spacers, and in retainers to widen my jaw enough for braces to help. Then in 2005 I finally was able to get braces on. For the next couple of years I had many teeth pulled and some simple surgeries done to extract impacted teeth.
In 2010 I was told that Jaw Surgery would probably be a good option for me. So the next few years were spent getting very prepared for this. It has been a very long journey!
It was a hard decision for me to decide to go through with this surgery. I had a bite that was very unique and it did make chewing very difficult. But just thinking about going through the surgery was hard for me, as I had no idea what to expect.
After numerous orthodontist visits, and visits to the oral surgeon a date was set. My surgery was done officially on March 5th, 2014. This blog will be something for me to reference back to my recovery period.
In 2010 I was told that Jaw Surgery would probably be a good option for me. So the next few years were spent getting very prepared for this. It has been a very long journey!
It was a hard decision for me to decide to go through with this surgery. I had a bite that was very unique and it did make chewing very difficult. But just thinking about going through the surgery was hard for me, as I had no idea what to expect.
After numerous orthodontist visits, and visits to the oral surgeon a date was set. My surgery was done officially on March 5th, 2014. This blog will be something for me to reference back to my recovery period.
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