I went to see my ortho today to get my loose bracket fixed. He was able to get the bracket reglued to the tooth without removing my archwire entirely. That was good news because I wasn't able to open my mouth wide so it would have been difficult to get the archwire out, especially from my back teeth. My ortho also replaced the bracket with one with a hook. I feel much better now that the bracket is fixed so I can put on the elastics on the hooks.
My ortho thinks he can resume orthodontic work in 2 weeks (6 weeks post-op). He needs to check with the OS first though. Hope I can get a little less swollen by then so I can resume orthodontic procedures. Anything to expedite the process is always welcomed.
A bit improvement since I got unwired last Friday. I can open my mouth a bit wider now and can brush my teeth without feeling much discomfort and "tiredness." I have been eating solid foods such as noodles. I still need to eat my meal with liquids so they can go down my throat easier. I can blend things up without having to strain. It truly opens up a lot of possibilities in terms of diet and food. I try to exercise my mouth a bit so I can gain some muscles. I hope to be able to chew soon...even if it's on soft foods. One day at a time!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Unwired!
I went to see my OS yesterday to get my wires out. My jaws have been wired together ever since my surgery so I was a bit nervous about how my jaws would hold up together without the wires. As much as I hated to be wired shut, I have grown to be dependent on them. They have given me assurance that they will hold up my jaws correctly.
The wires were clipped off and my plastic splint removed. The process took over 2 minutes and was pain-free. Feeling after wired removed: WEIRD. It's really hard to describe it, but to finally feel my front teeth touch each other on their own after some 31 years was just ODD. My jaws were sore and tender. The OS gave me a toothbrush and mouth wash to clean my teeth. I was anxious to finally brush the insides of my teeth, but to my surprise, I couldn't do it! I was unable to open my mouth more than say maybe 5 mm. I tried to stick the toothbrush into my mouth, but I could barely fit it in without feeling pain (that's how wide I could open my mouth). I did the best I could with the brushing but probably didn't do a very good job. The incision areas inside began to hurt. My jaws felt tired and weak.
My ortho didn't put many hooks on my teeth so there was a limited choice of where the guiding elastics could go. My OS had to put the elastics on my surgical hooks (which were on my canines). However, my lower left hook was attached to a loose bracket! I didn't even know I had a loose bracket and didn't know when it actually came off. But I still have to use that hook regardless. I quickly made an emergency appointment with my orthodontist for next week. But because of the holidays, I won't be able to go until next Thursday, Dec 28.
I tried to eat some well cut-up soup noodles at a Vietnamese restaurant the same day. Possible, but of course with lots of difficulty. I eventually gave up because it took a long time. I ended up drinking a bottle of Chocolate Milk instead. I was able to eat mashed potatoes with lots of gravy at night. For the most part, I am able to get the food inside my mouth, but can't get the food down my throat without pushing it down with some sort of liquid. It's still tough to eat. A bit better than being on a liquid diet since I get to eat foods with a little more substance. But it's still a challenge. My jaws and the incision areas remain sore and "tired."
My speech has improved dramatically. It's still not 100% but at least people understand me now! I am able to speak without people giving me a puzzled look.
I've posted my before and after pictures below!
5 days before Surgery (front) 18 days affter Surgery (front)
5 days before Surgery (right) 18 days affter Surgery (right)
The wires were clipped off and my plastic splint removed. The process took over 2 minutes and was pain-free. Feeling after wired removed: WEIRD. It's really hard to describe it, but to finally feel my front teeth touch each other on their own after some 31 years was just ODD. My jaws were sore and tender. The OS gave me a toothbrush and mouth wash to clean my teeth. I was anxious to finally brush the insides of my teeth, but to my surprise, I couldn't do it! I was unable to open my mouth more than say maybe 5 mm. I tried to stick the toothbrush into my mouth, but I could barely fit it in without feeling pain (that's how wide I could open my mouth). I did the best I could with the brushing but probably didn't do a very good job. The incision areas inside began to hurt. My jaws felt tired and weak.
My ortho didn't put many hooks on my teeth so there was a limited choice of where the guiding elastics could go. My OS had to put the elastics on my surgical hooks (which were on my canines). However, my lower left hook was attached to a loose bracket! I didn't even know I had a loose bracket and didn't know when it actually came off. But I still have to use that hook regardless. I quickly made an emergency appointment with my orthodontist for next week. But because of the holidays, I won't be able to go until next Thursday, Dec 28.
I tried to eat some well cut-up soup noodles at a Vietnamese restaurant the same day. Possible, but of course with lots of difficulty. I eventually gave up because it took a long time. I ended up drinking a bottle of Chocolate Milk instead. I was able to eat mashed potatoes with lots of gravy at night. For the most part, I am able to get the food inside my mouth, but can't get the food down my throat without pushing it down with some sort of liquid. It's still tough to eat. A bit better than being on a liquid diet since I get to eat foods with a little more substance. But it's still a challenge. My jaws and the incision areas remain sore and "tired."
My speech has improved dramatically. It's still not 100% but at least people understand me now! I am able to speak without people giving me a puzzled look.
I've posted my before and after pictures below!
5 days before Surgery (front) 18 days affter Surgery (front)
5 days before Surgery (right) 18 days affter Surgery (right)
Do I look different?? I am still a bit swollen on the cheeks so I look like I still have my baby fat!
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Last Day Wired
OMG! Today is my last day being wired! I get my wires cut tomorrow! I thought this day will never come. Finally, I can:
- Eat regular foods!
- Lick my lips
- Yawn
- Sneeze
- Scrape my tongue
- Blow
- Suck through a straw
- Whistle
- Talk!
Never knew that there are so many little things one can't do when teeth are wired together. Little things people often take for granted. But hopefully, by tomorrow, I should be able to do all of these things...I'll be happy if I can do 1/2 of these.
Unfortunately, being unwired doesn't mean that I'm all "healed." Some parts of my face are still stiff and can't move. I have no feeling to my upper lip and left sinus area. Still swollen and numb after 20 days. I can't even smile like I used to anymore...
Promise to post some before and after pictures next time...
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
18 days post-op
A slab of juicy prime rib...This looks mighty good after 2-1/2 weeks of liquid diet.... I can't wait until I get unwired this coming Friday! I know I still can't eat this just yet, but still...
18 days post-op. I wish I had better news to report, but I feel the same as I did 7-8 days ago. There hasn't been much improvements these past few days. I am still swollen in the same area. I wonder how long it is going to take to fully recover?
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Post-Op appointments
Yesterday, I went to get my post-op X-rays and check-up with my Oral Surgeon. The difference between the before and after X-rays is quite significant. Left X-ray is Before, and Right is After 
.
Procedure done: Move my lower jaw back, upper jaw forward and tilted to fit better with my lower teeth.
My surgeon said that everything looks good. I felt a lump on the left side of my sinus area (near my nose). Although it is still a bit swollen in that area, I could feel a solid lump when I press on it. The OS confirmed that it might be one of the metal plates. (You can see it on the After X-ray). Right now, you can't really tell because my face is swollen. So I asked the OS if the metal plate will stick out after the swelling is gone? He said he doesn't know, but I should just let everything heal first. And after 6 months if it still bothers me, I can have it removed. I can't imagine having to go through another procedure! The OS said it's something that can be done in-office, and simple. But still!! I don't want to go through anything anymore!
The other thing that I am concerned about is the very end of my jaw. There is a sharp bone there, and I think after all the swelling is gone, my bone is going to be more pronounced.
Today is the 12th day and I haven't seen much improvement for the past 3 days. I'm worried that I won't be any better.... hope not! So I will get unwired on Friday, December 22! Exactly 3 weeks (21 days) of being wired shut. Perfect timing before Christmas! I have abot 10 more days... oh, I can't wait!
.
Procedure done: Move my lower jaw back, upper jaw forward and tilted to fit better with my lower teeth.
My surgeon said that everything looks good. I felt a lump on the left side of my sinus area (near my nose). Although it is still a bit swollen in that area, I could feel a solid lump when I press on it. The OS confirmed that it might be one of the metal plates. (You can see it on the After X-ray). Right now, you can't really tell because my face is swollen. So I asked the OS if the metal plate will stick out after the swelling is gone? He said he doesn't know, but I should just let everything heal first. And after 6 months if it still bothers me, I can have it removed. I can't imagine having to go through another procedure! The OS said it's something that can be done in-office, and simple. But still!! I don't want to go through anything anymore!
The other thing that I am concerned about is the very end of my jaw. There is a sharp bone there, and I think after all the swelling is gone, my bone is going to be more pronounced.
Today is the 12th day and I haven't seen much improvement for the past 3 days. I'm worried that I won't be any better.... hope not! So I will get unwired on Friday, December 22! Exactly 3 weeks (21 days) of being wired shut. Perfect timing before Christmas! I have abot 10 more days... oh, I can't wait!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
A Few of my Favorite Things
Now being 9 days post-op, I've compiled a list of a few of my favorite things that helped me survive these first 9 days (in no particular order):
1. Syringes
There is some controversy about the use of syringes. Some people say don't use it because the pressure of the liquid can in fact hurt the incisions. Just don't push the syringe down so fast!! Duh!! I think using syringes during the first couple of days work like wonder. They are small so you don't have to open your mouth too wide. Plus, there is complete control over the amount of liquid the syringe expenses. Therefore, minimizing the likelihood of spills and choking. I love this thing! It really saved me!
2. Ice Packs
These things, as annoying and awkward as they are, work. They help reduce swelling. They also help maintain my head position when I sleep. With swollen cheeks, just imagine what would happen if my head fell to the left or right during my sleep. Ouch!
3. Nasal Sprays
I think back the number of times that I thought I would die because I couldn't breathe and then with a few sprays, my nasal passages clear up instantenously. There is blood clogs inside the nose and because the sinuses were impacted during the surgery, there will be congestion. I remember having a few panic attacks when I can't seem to get enough air through my nose. These things work!! I also bought Ocean's Spray, which is a saline-based solution, non-medicated, which allows frequent use.
4. My laptop
Boy, if I don't die of pain first, I would have die of bordem if I don't have my laptop! I depend on this machine every hour during my awake hours. Whether it is used to blog, or to chat, or to browse the internet, I love my laptop!!
5. Camera
It's always like to document your progress and see the improvements day to day. I have pictures of myself every day since surgery. It's nice to know that I've come a long way!!
1. Syringes
There is some controversy about the use of syringes. Some people say don't use it because the pressure of the liquid can in fact hurt the incisions. Just don't push the syringe down so fast!! Duh!! I think using syringes during the first couple of days work like wonder. They are small so you don't have to open your mouth too wide. Plus, there is complete control over the amount of liquid the syringe expenses. Therefore, minimizing the likelihood of spills and choking. I love this thing! It really saved me!
2. Ice Packs
These things, as annoying and awkward as they are, work. They help reduce swelling. They also help maintain my head position when I sleep. With swollen cheeks, just imagine what would happen if my head fell to the left or right during my sleep. Ouch!
3. Nasal Sprays
I think back the number of times that I thought I would die because I couldn't breathe and then with a few sprays, my nasal passages clear up instantenously. There is blood clogs inside the nose and because the sinuses were impacted during the surgery, there will be congestion. I remember having a few panic attacks when I can't seem to get enough air through my nose. These things work!! I also bought Ocean's Spray, which is a saline-based solution, non-medicated, which allows frequent use.
4. My laptop
Boy, if I don't die of pain first, I would have die of bordem if I don't have my laptop! I depend on this machine every hour during my awake hours. Whether it is used to blog, or to chat, or to browse the internet, I love my laptop!!
5. Camera
It's always like to document your progress and see the improvements day to day. I have pictures of myself every day since surgery. It's nice to know that I've come a long way!!
Friday, December 08, 2006
1 week Post-Op
1 week has passed. I feel better now. I think my case falls under the "better than normal" category. There is relatively no pain on the incisions anymore. I've stopped taking liquid Tylenol since yesterday because one, I don't need it, and second, the medication causes constipation. I'm still using the ice packs at night and about 2 hours during the day. The swelling is still there especially in the upper lip and cheeks areas, as well as my chin and neck areas. It feels very tight and stiff. My lower lip and jaw are much better. I can move my lower lip to talk (or slur) but the upper lip area is still a challenge. Some parts of my face are turning yellow which is a sign that the swelling is going away, slowly.
I've been eating watery porridge and potato soups my mom made. They hold my hunger down for about 2 hours. I've been drinking 1 bottle of Ensure every other day, and those lasts about 3 hours. I lost about 5 lbs so far, I think. My scale is not the best so I don't even know if it weighs correctly. I have 2 more weeks so I hope I get more variety. So far, these 2 items work for me. I'm not even worrying about nutritional value at this point. I just don't want my stomach to growl.
I can clean my teeth a bit better now. I use the non-alcoholic mouthwash and a child toothbrush. I can stick the toothbrush inside my mouth. Rinsing can be a challenge. I spend at least 10-15 minutes brushing my teeth and rinsing every time I do it.
I didn't use any of the zip-n-squeeze bags that I bought. They're now just sitting around collecting dust. I have been able to drink through the commuter cups and/or through spoons. The first few days, I drank through a syringe.
I am still very anxious to see how my face will "settle" and what I would look like after everything is said and done?!
I've been eating watery porridge and potato soups my mom made. They hold my hunger down for about 2 hours. I've been drinking 1 bottle of Ensure every other day, and those lasts about 3 hours. I lost about 5 lbs so far, I think. My scale is not the best so I don't even know if it weighs correctly. I have 2 more weeks so I hope I get more variety. So far, these 2 items work for me. I'm not even worrying about nutritional value at this point. I just don't want my stomach to growl.
I can clean my teeth a bit better now. I use the non-alcoholic mouthwash and a child toothbrush. I can stick the toothbrush inside my mouth. Rinsing can be a challenge. I spend at least 10-15 minutes brushing my teeth and rinsing every time I do it.
I didn't use any of the zip-n-squeeze bags that I bought. They're now just sitting around collecting dust. I have been able to drink through the commuter cups and/or through spoons. The first few days, I drank through a syringe.
I am still very anxious to see how my face will "settle" and what I would look like after everything is said and done?!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
4 days Post-operation!
Sorry it actually took me so long to post... the past few days have been kinda wacky for me as I have been recovering from surgery. I'll try to write down as much details as I can...
The days leading to the big day were kinda blurry to me -- I just remember being really damn busy at work. I had so much to finish up and projects just keep up popping up out of nowhere. I brought my laptop home over the Thanksgiving weekend and then every night thereafter. I worked until 10 or 11 at night and then just crashed sleeping with very tired eyes. The next day it was the same. On hindsight, this was probably best for me. Being super-duper busy at work helped keep my mind off the surgery. Not thinking about it helped reduce the anxiety and nervousness.
I needed to be at the hospital at 7:30am on Friday, December 1. My husband and I left the house around 6:30. Traffic was light and we got to Oakland Kaiser around 7:15am. I felt a bit nervous and anxious because my stomach felt pressured. But overall, I was relatively calm. My heart rate was normal and I don't remember having any panic attacks. We waited in this room for about 1/2 hour. Other patients are there, but it seemed like everyone has different surgeries to be done. One girl came in with her family and I knew that she would have the same surgery as me because she has a big lower jaw and she had braces on. They called me around 7:45 and made me sign some forms and gave me a wristband. We waited some more in the room. Then they called us into another private waiting room and I changed into one of those hospital gowns. I was cold so they gave me a warm blanket. More waiting and then another nurse came me to take me into another room for the IV. Like always, the nurse was unable to get through with one arm, so they had to do it the second time on the other arm. Although I'm not typically afraid of needles, the IV hurts. I wouldn have flipped if she couldn't get it in the 2nd time around. I went back to the same room after she was done and it was a little more waiting. Then another nurse came in with some pills and a cup of liquid that I need to take prior to surgery. There were 5 pills or so, all different sizes and color. The liquid was sour like Sweet Tarts but didn't really bother me as much, since I was so thristy and could use some fluids. Then the anethesiologist came in and gave us a low-down of the procedure including risks and what to expect. I asked about whether I will vomit afterwards and she said most likely I will, due to my body type and me being female. She left to get the surgery room ready and another 15 minutes passed. During this time, I was quite amazed at myself for being so calm. I don't even recall thinking about anything at all. I just know I need to do what I need to do. The anethesiologist came in and walked me through the halls. I said good bye to my husband. I went in the operating room and sat on the bed. The room was really cold but they warmed up the bed for me, as well as the blankets. It felt good. A couple of nurses came up and introduced themselves to me. I don't remember their names. The group took turns asking me what type of music I liked and where I worked, and what did my husband do... while hooking me up with the machines. I felt asleep afterwards....
I woke up in the recovery room. I don't know what time it was though... it must have been around noon. Nurses come by every so often to take my temperature, my pulse rate, and my blood pressure. I remember complaining about my sore throat. I have these ice packs around my cheeks and an oxygen mask on that made me feel really cold. Everytime I see a nurse or a different one, I complained about my sore throat. They just acknowledged it but do anything about it. The recovery room had quite a lot of people in there, not just medical personnel, but other patients. The guy next to me was talking really loudly so he must have some other surgery than the one I had! I felt very woozy and felt in and out of sleep. I couldn't sleep for long because nurses will come by and I was prepared to have them move me to my regular room. They finally did that around 2pm. I was wheeled up to the 8th floor. I got a private room, a small one, but private nevertheless. I again complained about my sore throat and motioned to the nurse that I wanted to take the oxygen mask off. But he said no, I can't. I finally saw my husband for the first time in the room post-surgery. He told me he spoke to the doctor and the surgery was very successful and lasted only 2 hours. Again, I was in and out of sleep. It's frustrating because I keep on waking up every 15 minutes. If I had been that sleepy, I should have sleep throughout but I didn't. I also worried that if I slept now, then how would I be able to sleep at night? But I couldn't help it all that much. I was drowsy. I think it was around 6pm when I finally felt less drowsy. I got up to use the restroom with help. I had a lot of secretions from my mouth, which had some blood in it. The secretions were basically very thick saliva. We finally were told about the catherer that can suck up all the saliva. This was the best thing ever. Too bad we couldn't take it home. I used the bathroom every 3-4 hours. Although I didn't drink anything, they had a lot of fluids going into my IV. They also injected a lot of medication through the IV, including antiabiotics, anti-flammatory, anti-swelling, and pain medications. They brought in some apple juice and jello for dinner and I drank some apple juice through a syringe. The apple juice gave me more saliva and mucus.
A couple of things that I was very grateful for: (1) I didn't vomit at all. I didn't even feel nausea which is really a blessing. I wouldn't know how to deal with it and knowing myself and my body, that was the one that I was fearful of, and (2), the nose congestation wasn't as bad. I was worried about that because if I can't breathe, I panic, which makes everything worse. Breathing through the mouth will be difficult. So for these 2 things, or the lack of them, kept me relatively stable. I slept and then woke up every hour on the hour. The nurses are again in and out of the room checking the vital signs and changing the ice packs. The night felt long because I keep on waking up and couldn't sleep much. I drank some more apple juice towards the morning. The nurse said I must be hydrated on my own before they can discharge me from the hospital.
I was discharged the next morning at 11am. My husband retrieved all my medications from the discharge pharmacy and drove me home. I don't remember much about the past 2 days just because it was pretty much the same. Woke up, ate, watched TV, went online, watched TV, ate, etc. The swelling hasn't really gone down yet. The pain is somewhat gone today because I didn't feel the need to take Tylenol during the day. I take it at night to help with the sleeping. Nasal congestion is still a problem. I can breathe through my noses for the most part, but there are times when I get a little bit congested and then I panic. I take very deep breaths, but it doesn't seem to help. The nasal sprays then come in handy. Food intake is still a problem for me. I don't think I have enough proteins and nutrients. I drink a lot of soups, but I'm not sure what they all equate to, in terms of nutruitional value. Today is Tuesday, and my 4th day since the surgery. I think I might be considered one of the lucky few. It hasn't been all that bad. There are problems here and there, but at least I can do most of the stuff by now. I took a shower yesterday and it felt good and refreshing. Right now, I need to start walking more, but I'm still afraid of breathing problems.
I think I'll be pleased with my results eventually...although it's hard to tell right now because my face is so swollen. My profile, for one, is night and day. My face is a lot shorter now than before. I had a pretty long face before. So I look different. Very different. The first time I looked into the mirror post-surgery, I didn't really recognize myself! So for me, it was dramatic, and that was what the doctor told me. The change is instantaneous. Years of braces wouldn't have nearly produced these same results, even impossible. So I'm glad I did this. I just can't wait until all the recovery is done, so I can at least "enjoy" the benefits. I still have about 6-9 months of braces, so I'm not completely done yet....
The days leading to the big day were kinda blurry to me -- I just remember being really damn busy at work. I had so much to finish up and projects just keep up popping up out of nowhere. I brought my laptop home over the Thanksgiving weekend and then every night thereafter. I worked until 10 or 11 at night and then just crashed sleeping with very tired eyes. The next day it was the same. On hindsight, this was probably best for me. Being super-duper busy at work helped keep my mind off the surgery. Not thinking about it helped reduce the anxiety and nervousness.
I needed to be at the hospital at 7:30am on Friday, December 1. My husband and I left the house around 6:30. Traffic was light and we got to Oakland Kaiser around 7:15am. I felt a bit nervous and anxious because my stomach felt pressured. But overall, I was relatively calm. My heart rate was normal and I don't remember having any panic attacks. We waited in this room for about 1/2 hour. Other patients are there, but it seemed like everyone has different surgeries to be done. One girl came in with her family and I knew that she would have the same surgery as me because she has a big lower jaw and she had braces on. They called me around 7:45 and made me sign some forms and gave me a wristband. We waited some more in the room. Then they called us into another private waiting room and I changed into one of those hospital gowns. I was cold so they gave me a warm blanket. More waiting and then another nurse came me to take me into another room for the IV. Like always, the nurse was unable to get through with one arm, so they had to do it the second time on the other arm. Although I'm not typically afraid of needles, the IV hurts. I wouldn have flipped if she couldn't get it in the 2nd time around. I went back to the same room after she was done and it was a little more waiting. Then another nurse came in with some pills and a cup of liquid that I need to take prior to surgery. There were 5 pills or so, all different sizes and color. The liquid was sour like Sweet Tarts but didn't really bother me as much, since I was so thristy and could use some fluids. Then the anethesiologist came in and gave us a low-down of the procedure including risks and what to expect. I asked about whether I will vomit afterwards and she said most likely I will, due to my body type and me being female. She left to get the surgery room ready and another 15 minutes passed. During this time, I was quite amazed at myself for being so calm. I don't even recall thinking about anything at all. I just know I need to do what I need to do. The anethesiologist came in and walked me through the halls. I said good bye to my husband. I went in the operating room and sat on the bed. The room was really cold but they warmed up the bed for me, as well as the blankets. It felt good. A couple of nurses came up and introduced themselves to me. I don't remember their names. The group took turns asking me what type of music I liked and where I worked, and what did my husband do... while hooking me up with the machines. I felt asleep afterwards....
I woke up in the recovery room. I don't know what time it was though... it must have been around noon. Nurses come by every so often to take my temperature, my pulse rate, and my blood pressure. I remember complaining about my sore throat. I have these ice packs around my cheeks and an oxygen mask on that made me feel really cold. Everytime I see a nurse or a different one, I complained about my sore throat. They just acknowledged it but do anything about it. The recovery room had quite a lot of people in there, not just medical personnel, but other patients. The guy next to me was talking really loudly so he must have some other surgery than the one I had! I felt very woozy and felt in and out of sleep. I couldn't sleep for long because nurses will come by and I was prepared to have them move me to my regular room. They finally did that around 2pm. I was wheeled up to the 8th floor. I got a private room, a small one, but private nevertheless. I again complained about my sore throat and motioned to the nurse that I wanted to take the oxygen mask off. But he said no, I can't. I finally saw my husband for the first time in the room post-surgery. He told me he spoke to the doctor and the surgery was very successful and lasted only 2 hours. Again, I was in and out of sleep. It's frustrating because I keep on waking up every 15 minutes. If I had been that sleepy, I should have sleep throughout but I didn't. I also worried that if I slept now, then how would I be able to sleep at night? But I couldn't help it all that much. I was drowsy. I think it was around 6pm when I finally felt less drowsy. I got up to use the restroom with help. I had a lot of secretions from my mouth, which had some blood in it. The secretions were basically very thick saliva. We finally were told about the catherer that can suck up all the saliva. This was the best thing ever. Too bad we couldn't take it home. I used the bathroom every 3-4 hours. Although I didn't drink anything, they had a lot of fluids going into my IV. They also injected a lot of medication through the IV, including antiabiotics, anti-flammatory, anti-swelling, and pain medications. They brought in some apple juice and jello for dinner and I drank some apple juice through a syringe. The apple juice gave me more saliva and mucus.
A couple of things that I was very grateful for: (1) I didn't vomit at all. I didn't even feel nausea which is really a blessing. I wouldn't know how to deal with it and knowing myself and my body, that was the one that I was fearful of, and (2), the nose congestation wasn't as bad. I was worried about that because if I can't breathe, I panic, which makes everything worse. Breathing through the mouth will be difficult. So for these 2 things, or the lack of them, kept me relatively stable. I slept and then woke up every hour on the hour. The nurses are again in and out of the room checking the vital signs and changing the ice packs. The night felt long because I keep on waking up and couldn't sleep much. I drank some more apple juice towards the morning. The nurse said I must be hydrated on my own before they can discharge me from the hospital.
I was discharged the next morning at 11am. My husband retrieved all my medications from the discharge pharmacy and drove me home. I don't remember much about the past 2 days just because it was pretty much the same. Woke up, ate, watched TV, went online, watched TV, ate, etc. The swelling hasn't really gone down yet. The pain is somewhat gone today because I didn't feel the need to take Tylenol during the day. I take it at night to help with the sleeping. Nasal congestion is still a problem. I can breathe through my noses for the most part, but there are times when I get a little bit congested and then I panic. I take very deep breaths, but it doesn't seem to help. The nasal sprays then come in handy. Food intake is still a problem for me. I don't think I have enough proteins and nutrients. I drink a lot of soups, but I'm not sure what they all equate to, in terms of nutruitional value. Today is Tuesday, and my 4th day since the surgery. I think I might be considered one of the lucky few. It hasn't been all that bad. There are problems here and there, but at least I can do most of the stuff by now. I took a shower yesterday and it felt good and refreshing. Right now, I need to start walking more, but I'm still afraid of breathing problems.
I think I'll be pleased with my results eventually...although it's hard to tell right now because my face is so swollen. My profile, for one, is night and day. My face is a lot shorter now than before. I had a pretty long face before. So I look different. Very different. The first time I looked into the mirror post-surgery, I didn't really recognize myself! So for me, it was dramatic, and that was what the doctor told me. The change is instantaneous. Years of braces wouldn't have nearly produced these same results, even impossible. So I'm glad I did this. I just can't wait until all the recovery is done, so I can at least "enjoy" the benefits. I still have about 6-9 months of braces, so I'm not completely done yet....
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