I woke up probably once every hour last night, until 6 am, when I slept until 8:25- success!
Around 5 am, I put some effort into trying to clean my mouth and brush my teeth. My upper lip is still very swollen, and I know that it is lined with stitches on the inside, so I am worried about messing with those when brushing my teeth. I am trying to take things slow and do more intense brushing once I can actually SEE my teeth and see what it is that I am brushing!
My mom has been pretty exhausted lately, I think it was from her terrible sleep at the hospital and she's trying to catch up now, but I have had to continue waking her up to give me my meds! Hopefully this changes as I continue sleeping longer periods, or I will end up missing all of my meds!
The swelling has definitely increased. I was really excited thinking I wasn't going to have to use my whiteboard, and I was doing so well talking and having people understand me, but now that the swelling has moved up to just below my eyes, rather than below my nose, it has become much more difficult to move my face and my lips! I received steriods through my IV constantly while in the hospital, and received a steriod shot in my butt right before leaving the hospital, which are used to help reduce swelling. have had my jaw bra with ice on my face nearly 24 hours a day since surgery, and am continuing to take my Bromelain tablets. I am not sure about their reaction with my other medications, haha, but I am hoping it's nothing negative and that the pills will help further reduce my swelling.
Can anyone post-op tell me how long it took for the lip swelling to decrease? My surgeon said it would be quicker than the swelling in my face, something like just a few days?
My eyes have been in pain the last few days. I know the nausea patch can cause your eyes to dialate and do crazy things, so I was going to take mine off today, but my mom just checked my ears and there is no patch anymore, so I am not sure what's going on. It's hard for me to focus on things and my eyes just hurt. I am wondering if this may just be the aftermath of the nausea patch.
I showered today! Actually, I sat in my bathtub in my swimsuit and my mom took the spray shower head and helped me wash my hair for me, but it was still amazing :) I even shaved my legs! Woohoo!
My neck has the most discomfort right now. I am really sore from sleeping sitting up, and it is also sore right below my jaw line. The rest of my face mostly just feels numb and stiff. Below my jaw line, it's tender for me to touch, and I think the bruising has began.
I told my boyfriend last night that he could come over today, but that was until I realized how much more swollen I had gotten and before I realized this constantly dripping bloody nose was not going away any time soon. ugh. Wish I could keep him away, but I think at this point he's going to show up regardless.
Starting weight: 132.8 lbs
Current weight: 129.6 lbs
I have really been trying to keep my nutrients up, but eating is not really on my mind. The little apple sauce packets have been a lifesaver, they have been SO easy to eat, and I have yet to spill on myself at all while eating them. I think that because they are so easy, it is keeping me from wanting to try other things, because I know anything else will be so messy. I have also been drinking Naked juice.
Braced Blogger | May 25, 2011 at 5:16 PM
Dani, you look great! You have no idea how many times i thought of you and Tina today - I was anxious to get home and check in with you. I Love this part of reading blogs because there's so much change going on and it's just constant. You have so much information to share in each post!
That was a great idea about wearing your bathing suit so you could shower/bath with some assistance. I am normally not shy around my boyfriend, but since i'll be a mess and all bandaged up and swollen, I'll be doing him a favor by wearing a bathing suit haha.
Do you know how much movement you had?
S N | May 25, 2011 at 5:39 PM
U look so good! Lol the last pic you look like ur like " I'm already over this". Love ur posts.. Very informative
Dani | May 25, 2011 at 8:21 PM
haha S N it was more like 'Mom, seriously, figure out how to work the camera already!'
Tara, I am not entirely sure, at my xray appointment, the surgeon that assisted my normal surgeon was the one who met with me, so he just showed me the xray but I didn't ask too many questions. The bottom jaw looked like it moved a LOT, and the genio looked like it barely did anything, but that was just my interpretation. I will be sure to ask at my first post-op appointment!
Anonymous | May 25, 2011 at 9:11 PM
Hi Dani! Your recovery seems so similar to mine. I was also on steroids in the hospital and my swelling peaked day 3/4. Those were also the worst days for me. Probably because I took my nausea patch off on day 3 and ended up puking that night...twice. But it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I took the patch off because every time I would look at the digital time on the stove, it was blurry and I didn't like that. Day 5 onward, things improved on a daily basis and quite significantly each day so you are almost there. One thing about the bromelain...I didn't start taking it until I was done with my antibiotic because I read that it increases the effectiveness of other meds. So keep that in mind as far as your pain meds, etc. I guess it could be a good thing as far as antibiotics go. You sound like you are in good spirits. That is good! My mom was soooo tired too. Same thing...uncomfortable "couch" at the hospital, had to wake up every 4 hours with me to give me my meds. Good thing for mothers, right!? When do you see your doc next?
Brent | May 26, 2011 at 7:09 AM
Hi Dani
Thanks for the update...remember your body needs lots of protein and energy to help recover (probably easier said than done). I hope you are able to get comfortable and some good sleep.
Your are in my prayers!
Brent
Dani | May 26, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Tina, my first post-op appointment is scheduled for Tuesday. Unfortunately, my OS moves between multiple locations constantly during the week, so my mom and I decided we would chose a closer location and wait until Tuesday, rather than going in Monday.
Brent, I remember reading everyone's blogs pre-op and planning out all of these foods I needed to eat, I was so determined to get a ton of calories in, but it is so much more difficult to do! It takes so much energy to eat, and because I don't have any hunger pains or desire to eat, it's hard to put my energy into eating! I am trying to improve this though.
whitneykendra | May 26, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Dani, absolutely everything in your post sounds so familiar haha. My mom was exhausted as well, but each night you both will sleep a little better and a little longer. I felt like a baby or something waking up every little while and wanting medicine and whining.
You'll continue to be exhausted the next few days but that will improve soon To be perfectly honest with you, the next couple of days are going to be the most difficult. It's when your swelling peaks, you start to get a little frustrated/anxious, emotions are high, etc. But hang in there! When you look back on it, it won't be a big deal. You sound like you are feeling so positive and doing well! Good for you!
Ellie | May 26, 2011 at 5:51 PM
Hey Dani! Hope today is going well. Check out this link from braces info about having a tongue piercing and jaw surgery... You should set them straight!
http://www.bracesinfo.com/can-you-have-tongue-piercing-while-getting-jaw-surgery.html
Anonymous | May 26, 2011 at 7:39 PM
Dani, as far as eating goes, I was the same way the first few days. Barely ate (injected rather) anything. Once I was able to open my mouth more after being debanded at my post-op appt, things totally changed. I am eating yogurt, protein shakes, blending up everything from lasagna to enchiladas. I am definitely not missing out on calories. So hopefully at your appt Tuesday, they give you some freedom of those rubberbands and then I guarantee you will be able to consume more. And you'll get your appetite back. The pain meds totally suppress your appetite.