second post-op appt, no more splint, no more bands!

Hi there!
Here is a video update about today:

I've slowly been returning to school doing random little things that couldn't wait.  I saw a patient yesterday while I was still banded shut and it went pretty well. I just said if you can't understand me I'll repeat myself or I'll write it down but we didn't really have any problems communicating.  My energy level is definitely returning.

At today's appointment they took the bands off and removed the splint.  I was nervous to open my mouth at first! It was so nice to finally brush my teeth.  Then they took out some of the stiches inside my mouth, I was really thankful that some of those areas were numb bc those stiches hurt coming out in the other areas that had feeling!  ouch.

day 8 updates- tequila sunrise and blenders

 Hi everyone,  Just thought I'd do a quick update with pictures, food info, and updates about pain.

Things that I've been eating recently that are good:
Greek yogurt thinned down with juice
soups blended with the immersion blender and strained
delicious homemade potato soup my mom made with milk and butter added! (strained)
boathouse farms drink (see picture below) + odwalla juice
ensure

About pain, I'm in very little pain, usually only when I wake up. I've been sleeping for 8 hrs a night which is wonderful, but the pain meds wear off by then.  I've only really been taking liquid ibuprofen for pain 400mg every 4-6hrs (two tabs worth) and that seems to nip it in the bud. A few times i've combined 400mg ibuprofen with 1/2 dose of percocet and some water to get it into the syringe and I call it my own tequila sunrise! lol

I have alot of numbness still and partial numbness in a lot of areas.  I get a lot of tingling sensations in my face, especially my chin, that feel like when your arm falls asleep and it regains feeling and it's almost like a squeezing sensation.

day 6

day 6

Day 7

Day 7

Day 8, mirror image from my webcam

Day 8

so many ways to blend/stain stuff

this is the best blender, wayy cheaper than a vitamix!

this drink tastes like a starbucks frappucino but has tons of added protein, and the  bottle with 4 servings costs less than a small frappucino!

video update, post-op day 6

Video update.  I think I said it all, good luck understanding me!

I just had my first post-op appointment today.  Surgeons took a peek around and said everything was healing fine.  Interestingly enough, they said even though the swelling is more on the right on the outside of my face, the inside of my mouth is swollen more on the left.

I'm just going to try straining everything from now on because I know I'm not getting enough calories.  Its hard with a liquid diet to get enough nutrition!

They also said that I'll be de-banded next week!  can't wait for that day.

Thank you everyone again for the tips about eating and everything else, they've really been helpful and encouraging.

life at post-op day 4

My life over the past couple days has been a cycle of taking medications on a schedule, eating and drinking as much as possible, and napping when possible.  It's kind of tiring to constantly be focusing on all of this but at least I know that I can take the time off of school and not worry about studying yet.

Today was definitely the best day so far, so I'm hoping everyday is going to get better from here on out.  I have a few new best friends:
liquid percocet
liquid ibuprofen
vasoline
eating syringes
straws

Eating is a tricky thing.  My mouth is banded shut with a splint (a retainer like thing) between the teeth.  When I eat this makes my teeth act like a sieve when anything that's not liquid tries to go through. I can drink water from a straw, it just goes slower then with the syringe. Here're some examples:
Good to eat:
a boost for breakfast and ensure for dessert (go to 56s)
milk
juice
broth
ensure
tomato soup
yogurt watered down with juice

not good to eat:
corn meal mush watered down
cream of wheat watered down
these things are too particulate and get clogged up in my braces

Before I forget I'd like to thank everyone that has been sending me their thoughts and prayers.  All of the moral support is really helpful.  I'd also like to say thank you to my mom's friends and my friends that have sent cards and supportive messages.  When you think things are tough, it really is nice to know that someone is there for you keeping you in mind.

Here are some pictures of each day since day 0, you can really see how much the swelling is going down!  I'll update more about the hospital experience later but everything was great, I love my team of doctors they are the best.

day 0. in recovery that afternoon

day 1. the hospital suction was my best friend

day 2, ready to go home later

day 3, my roommates travel neck pillow was a lifesaver

day 4, today.  my right side is actually more swollen than the left, the picture is just deceiving.  

this picture was from the beginning of the day, i'm even more yellow now

recovering at home

I'm currently at home recovering from jaw surgery.  Everything went as well as it possibly could have during the surgery and in the hospital recovering.  My top teeth are in front of my bottom teeth!!  Trying to keep my eye on the big picture here.

I'm sticking to the liquid percocet every 4 hours because I can feel the achy-ness/ pain starting to come back at the end of that time period.  Right now everything is revolving around getting enough liquids, taking medicines at the right time and trying to get rest.  Last night was difficult.  I find that if i'm sitting not moving around for long (like when you're sleeping haha) my nose will start to get stuffy and breathing gets more difficult.  more on that subject later.

Maybe I'll post a picture later, I seriously look like little miss piggy right now!

T -3 days and THANK YOU

Only 3 more days until the big day!  I'm really excited to get everything over and done with.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has written blogs like these and who has helped me out with a bunch of questions.  We all know that you go a little crazy before a surgery like this figuring out all the things you'll need for recovery not knowing what to expect.  For a lot of us, being a patient in the hospital will be a first time experience also which is nerve-racking.

So THANK YOU Jamie, Nikki, Nichole, Tara, Amanda, Catherine, Terra, Max, Amy, Gordon, Dani, Shane, Bracedmom and all the others that i've forgotten.  Your support and disclosure has been so helpful this far and I feel so much more prepared for what is to come.  Even though everyone is different and there is still so much unknown about what will happen I would probably be much more of a nervous wreck right now if it wasn't for you guys. :)

To anyone reading my blog for the first time please check out the links to these other people's great blogs on the right hand side of the screen.

a few last pre-op pictures:

need advice

Surgery is next week!  That snuck up quick. April 12th has been looming somewhere in the future and now its practically here.

The question I have for you fellow bloggers that have had surgery already and are recovering is;  How long did you need someone to take care of you?

My mom who works from home and lives far away (far enough a plane ticket is necessary) is coming to Boston to help support me through the recovery process.  I know at first I'm really going to need someone to help me take meds and eat and be in the hospital with me.  I'm guessing I'd need her to be here at least until the first post-op appointment?  It is scheduled for 6 days after.  That is already 10 days away from work for her.  As of now she's got her ticket here but no return ticket so I'm trying to think ahead to when she can get back home.

Any advice? suggestions?