Day 11 Unwired...OH HAPPY DAY!

HALLELUIAH, PRAISE THE LORD I AM UNWIRED! As soon as the doctor clipped the first wire I felt some relief. It was an amazing feeling being able to talk, open your mouth, stick your tongue out and brush the tops of your teeth. It felt like my tongue was in a prison. You know I love games and I was getting good at charades to explain what I wanted but it was not that fun. Being able to talk and express my feeling was just plain wonderful. Even better than being able to talk was eating real food! I had us stop of one of the few fast food restaurants in my area to get some glorious mashed potatoes and my husband got a mexican pizza  and a few other items( it is a KFC/Taco Bell). I love mexican pizzas, it is one of my faves. I couldn't resist taking a small piece , sticking on my tongue, and sucking on it! It was like heaven on my tongue. I did have to spit most of it out but oh it was still tasty. I know sounds strange but you have know idea how food deprived I have been. How I miss bold flavors and textures. For the past 10 days, I have had watered down soups and smoothies. The mashed potatoes were so tasty. I know I will get board of soft foods but it is such a glorious step forward. Since I was little girl, I have always loved food. My dad helped me with this love. He always talked about enjoying your food and his favorite part of amusement parks was the junk food. You know I do feel blessed that I was raised to be able to eat for taste. My family never had a lot of money but we never went without food on our plates. I know in some parts of the world people eat for survival and taste has nothing to do with it.

One thing to be praying for is one of my incisions is open and just to be safe, he put me on antibiotics. They moved my lower left jaw about 10 mm forward and my right jaw about 8 mm forward. I have to wear rubberbands 24 hours a day and do some jaw strengthening exercises. Right now I can open my jaw a couple centimeters, but in 2 weeks the Dr wants me to be able to open them 30cm.   Anyways, I feel free and excited to be one step further in my recovery.

Day 9 & 10...

I have been feeling better but, mornings and sleeping have been rough. I wake up in the middle of the night and I know I need to drink or I will get dehydrated. It sounds simple but it takes me about an hour to drink 8 ounces in my sippy cup and probably 2 ounces fall out. I thought I was doing so good that I could come of pain meds. I have never really liked to take medication since I was young. Yesterday, I went to sleep with out pain meds and I also tried to sleep in my bed. Well, I guess I got ahead of myself . I woke up at 4am coughing up mucus, a bloody nose, and in pain.  The morning was a little of a set back but then I began to feel better. Last night (day 10), I actually slept in my own bed and woke up semi rested. When I woke up in the middle of the night I didn't get a drink, I just wanted to sleep. Well I woke up feeling sick and really thirsty. Thankfully, it didn't take to long after I drink some juice that I began to feel better. Today, I got to venture beyond the redwoods for the first time since my surgery. I thought I was doing really good , but it made me realize I still have a long way to go. My next step, in my recovery is getting unwired tomorrow. I am excited. I will be able to maybe eat without Derek having to help feed me. I will be able to have thicker soups, smoothies and shakes. I might be able to have some peanut butter or cookie butter. After getting my wires off, I will have rubber bands that help hold my jaw in place. Here's to my next

Day 8 ...moving on up

Yay week 1 is down ! I get my mouth unwired in 3 days! I am feeling better and better. I am getting more energy too because I am able to have stamina to eat more. It still takes a lot of time and 2 of us to help me drink diluted soups. Today, was my first strange blended food.Well, besides avocado and broth, I wanted sausage and cheesy hash-browns (with beef broth to make it able for me to drink it). It was quite tasty. I am sure there will be more crazy blends. I do miss real food but for now I am doing ok. My swelling has gone down a lot, but my bruising is getting a little more colorful. When I look in the mirror, I don't get freaked out anymore.  I was even able to brush a little on the inside of my my mouth with my infant toothbrush.   Watch-out, yeah there is one of those little things you take for granted.  I also have this plastic splint in my mouth too that food can get into. .It is no fun having a nasty taste in your mouth all the time, but it is getting better. Goodtimes. My back is a little better as I am able to walk and stretch more. I was able to walk outside a little, too bad it is a little rainy here. Also, I am not taking any pain meds during the day. I really didn't think I would feel this good so soon. YAY Thank you JESUS for carrying me through this! 

Day 6 and 7... On the upside

Day 6 was pretty good. I felt a lot better and not in so much pain. It is still hard for me to eat and it takes both of us to help me eat. I read that I wouldn't want much milk because your nose will be clogged and you can't blow your nose for 6 weeks. I really didn't think it would be this bad. I love milk products and they have a lot of calories. I thought that would last a day or two and then  I would be good to go. I don't like even a little bit of milk products in any smoothies or soups right now. It makes me get all phlegmy. Most of the soups I made have lots of milk because I wanted lots of calories. I hope I will be able to have more milk products soon. I have lost 10 lbs since my surgery, the good thing is that before surgery I gained 10 lbs. So I am at my natural weight but I don't want to lose too much more. Also, It is so weird that every time I eat it feels like my stomach is at war with me. Seriously, stomach you are not helping.

 I slept pretty good last night. I woke up after 4hrs, changed my ice, drink some food and went back to sleep for another 4hrs. That was happy. You know sitting this much and only able to sleep in one position can be painful for most people, but with someone that has chronic back pain  (rods and fusion) it is horrible. It is affecting every part of my body. My legs, arms, and neck are so tight. I try and lay down flat and do some mild stretches but it is so painful and takes a lot of energy.  Derek ( my husband) has been wonderful through it all. He gives me small massages and is so patient with me. Even in the hospital a nurse commented on how I have a great husband. I am so thankful to God for my Husband. He has been such a blessing to me. I feel so bad that he has to go through this.

Day 7 has been a little easier and I feel like I am going to keep improving. I haven't felt dizzy or nauseous. It was easier to do some walking around the house. I had my first bowel movement today and I did a little dance. So glad that is out of my worries and No more prune juice! My tummy doesn't hurt anymore when I eat. Woohoo! I really can't believe it has only been a week since my surgery. It feels like months. So glad that hopefully the hardest week is  under my belt. Thanks family and friends for all your prayers and love! I will load some pics up a little later!   

Day 4 & 5... Roller-coaster

Sorry I haven't written in awhile. I have had a little rough patch. Let me recap for you. Well day four WAS turning out my best day, my pain was down and I began to take diluted soup with a device the nurse gave me at the class. It took two of us to feed me but it was worth it. The soup tasted so good on my throat. It also took less time to drink , about 25 mins for a cup. I still was not getting enough calories. I was doing fine, getting ready for "bed" when it hit me in a flash... nausea and then it came... It wasn't as bad as I had envisioned but really I hate throwing up. I thought I had passed that milestone , but I guess I needed  the full experience. Let's just say the rest of the night and  day 5 was a battle, throwing up several more times and struggling to get any liquid down. One cup of ensure felt like 10 cups as it took over 2 hours to go down. I struggled with nausea and my stomach feeling like it was burning. I don't understand why every time I tried to "eat" my stomach hasn't leaped for joy. We are also trying to get my bowels a moving , drinking yummy prune juice and such. I hope that happens soon because that is not a journey I would like to go on. Day 5 has been the toughest day home so far. When your feeling horrible and it is hard to communicate, frustration becomes real. Bruising is starting to show on my face and neck. It is a nice green yellow. Don't be alarmed they told us bruising will happen and gravity takes it down .Thanks for encouragements, prayer and love.

Day 2 & 3... Swelling and Pain

Well before we were discharged from the hospital we asked for more pain medicine and nausea meds. It was a rough ride home. We live over an hour from the hospital and some of the road is rough and bumpy. Even parts I didn't think was bumpy I could feel rattle and jar my face. Praise the Lord I didn't throw up or get too nauseous. They only gave me Tylenol with codeine for pain and that just didn't cut it. Also, it tasted so gross I had to put it in a glass of juice.  My nose became stuffy and would often bleed. This made it harder for me to breath. I often had to remind myself to calm down and breath slowly. Nasal spray and Vaporizer were my friends. Because I was so stuffy, I didn't want anything with milk in it such as ensure. I tried diluted soup but it was too thick. I could only get down juices because I was too swollen.   Drinking takes 40 minutes for 9 ounces. I can't feel my face so I am often drooling or having juice spill out. So needless to say getting enough calories is a challenge and I was so hungry. I tried sleeping on a wedge but this made me more stuffy. I slept about3 hours that night. My husband called in for better pain meds and once we got that I was able to sleep more and began feeling better. Nurse says the swelling will increase over the next 5 days. Really I can't see how I can get any more swollen. I am constantly icing my face and sipping out of a sippy cup. Well I am glad I have 3 days under my belt.  

Day after

Doctors say everything went well. I slept a good amount. When I woke up I was quite nauseous and they gave me meds to help. I have not thrown up yet. I am in a lot of pain , but they give me pain meds pretty often when I ask. It is a crazy feeling.  I have remind myself to keep calm and not panic because having your jaw wired shut makes you feel claustrophobic. Also I have been a mouth breather for as long as I can remember and now I have to breath through my nose. I feel like I don't get enough oxygen.  It is really hard and frustrating not to talk with nurses or my husband. I had trouble looking into the mirror because I was so swollen I could hardly recognize myself. I know it is strange but I don't want to leave the hospital because they can control my pain and are here if anything goes wrong. Yet it will be nice to be in my own bed and at home. I should be leaving this afternoon 6/18. Peace out friends. Thanks for praying and the support.

The Day Before Surgery...Enjoy the Simple Things

So tomorrow is my surgery, It is crazy how time flies sometimes.  I have been preparing for this surgery for over a year and a half. Many people ask if I am excited, No I am not excited. I know what is coming is going to be challenging and quite painful.   However, the eventual benefits out weigh the temporary pain and discomfort. I am a little nervous, but I know God is in control. God has been so faithful to me and He has a plan and purpose.

As I think about this surgery, It is hard not to reflex on my back surgery. It was a life changing surgery and the hardest time in my life. Yes, jaw surgery is suppose to be a walk in the park compared to my double back surgery, but this surgery is still going to be not fun. I know pain, the kind of pain that is all consuming and takes control of your whole body. One thing back surgery did was make me appreciate the little things in life. During my back surgery, I had to learn how to walk again,  I had to have someone help me shower, bathe, and dress myself (to name just a few). I realized these things come so easy to many of  us and we don't appreciate it. I think this surgery will make me appreciate eating solid food, sleeping on my side, drink from a "normal" cup, kissing my husband, and talking effortlessly. There are many things in life we take for granted,  so here's to enjoying the small things in life. And so my jaw surgery journey begins...

Supplies

Before the surgery I read countless blogs and there is a great deal of info on what supplies you will need after the jaw surgery. It is important to talk with your doctor about your specific surgery as they can be quite different. I know I bought a few things I probably won't need. I started my shopping early because I live in the "country" and my closest store is 30 minutes ( they might not even have what I need). I will update this post after I have the surgery too.

Essentials:

• Ice packs (or even a frozen bag of peas at least 2) 
• Sippy cups/squirt bottle (preferably ones with soft tops)
• Blender 
• Vaseline and/or lip balm
• Baby toothbrushes 
• Baby spoons 
• Blended Soups
• Broths
• Puddings
• Juices
• Milk 
• Frozen fruit
• Humidifier/vaporizer (you can't blow your nose for 6 weeks)
• Kosher Salt to make Nasal spray or buy Nasal Spray

 Extras:

•  Other drinking cups, condiment bottles cut 
• Wedge sleeping pillow
• Back pillow (Bed Buddy) 
•  Bibs/Face cloths ( Or I cut up old T-shirts)
• Wheat Germ ( to add to smoothies)
• Prune Juice or Smooth Move Tea
• Wisp brushes
• Gatorade
• Ice Cream/Sherbert
• Yogurt/Kefer 
• Apple sauce
• Aquaphor (found in baby section of pharmacy for swelling)
• Bed Tray
• Pureed and Strained Soups ( I put them in muffin tins and frozen them)
• Kleenex with Aloe or Lotion
  
  
  What to Bring To Hospital:
  • Button up or zip Top ( your face will be swelled)
  • Drinking cups (sippy or squirt bottle)
  • Comfy clothes