Two weeks post-op report (brought to you by Ensure... !)

[Guest guest]

Good evening,

Two weeks ago, a few hours earlier than now, I was out of O.R. from my

orthognatic surgery.

Two weeks later, I'm happy to report the swelling is almost 70% gone today!

http://www.pbase.com/carbone/surgery

My nose hasn't seen a drop of blood in days, and I breath perfectly fine

since then. For those fearing the breathing problems, rest assured, you

have a tube inserted during the surgery, and the ain't coming out if you

can't breath " normally " on your own. They have equipment to monitor

the oxygen level in your blood, amongst other things, to ensure you do

have sufficient air. Also, you'll have oxygen with humidity in a mask that

covers like half of your face. I wasn't using it two days after the surgery.

Btw, bring lots of lipstick because this mixture of oxygen and water will

be drying your mouth and lips like never before.

Also, I've gained a pound! I can't believe this! I eat better (still baby

food), stuff that I like, and I discovered a few smoothie drink that are quite

good for the body (orange juice, vanilla yogourt, pineapple tidbits).

I took my first long walk yesterday. I went visiting my dentist (and friend).

She was thrilled to see me! And me to see her, as well. What normally

takes me 10 minutes to walk, took me 30 yesterday. That's because of the

piece of bones the surgeon took in my right hip.

I'm telling you, the worst part of all this isn't the mought numbness, the

dried lips, the wired shut mouth... It's the pain in the hip! At night, it

awakes me if I flip on it. At day, I can't find a suitable sitting / up

position.

I'm still pretty weak though. After my walk, yesterday, I must have slept

like two hours, if not more. And this afternoon, I did another " power nap "

of 90 minutes. I don't think I would have been able to return to work today,

unlike Dale! Btw, Congratulations Dale!!!

Tomorow is a big day. I'm meeting with my surgeon. The second time since

the surgery. That's also when she's supposed to show me how to remove the

rubber bands, so that I'll be able to eat " normally " again, soft food only. She

also will remove a piece of wire in the scare where she removed a piece of

bones. After that, it should start to hurt less and less.

The moral is as its top. In fact, I've never been happier. I think that all

the

stress that built up pre-op, now leaving, is making me fly, in some way. It's

a good sensation, I'm telling you. And no drugs to achieve it ;-)

Finally, it's also been two weeks today since I stopped smoking. I didn't have

a craving in two days now.

I've also " pre-spend " my savings so that I would be sure not to start smoking

again.. Kidding, it's not a good way. Pressuring someone to quit smoking is

the best way to make him/her smoke again.

But I did offer me a gift. From me to myself, with love, for having had a nice

recovery so far :-)

Well, that's it! Good luck to everybody else :-)

Ray

[Guest guest]

Way to go Ray - keep up the good work...!

Jay

> Good evening,

>

> Two weeks ago, a few hours earlier than now, I was out of O.R.

from my

> orthognatic surgery.

>

> Two weeks later, I'm happy to report the swelling is almost 70%

gone today!

>

> http://www.pbase.com/carbone/surgery

>

> My nose hasn't seen a drop of blood in days, and I breath

perfectly fine

> since then. For those fearing the breathing problems, rest

assured, you

> have a tube inserted during the surgery, and the ain't coming out

if you

> can't breath " normally " on your own. They have equipment to

monitor

> the oxygen level in your blood, amongst other things, to ensure

you do

> have sufficient air. Also, you'll have oxygen with humidity in a

mask that

> covers like half of your face. I wasn't using it two days after

the surgery.

>

> Btw, bring lots of lipstick because this mixture of oxygen and

water will

> be drying your mouth and lips like never before.

>

> Also, I've gained a pound! I can't believe this! I eat better

(still baby

> food), stuff that I like, and I discovered a few smoothie drink

that are quite

> good for the body (orange juice, vanilla yogourt, pineapple

tidbits).

>

> I took my first long walk yesterday. I went visiting my dentist

(and friend).

> She was thrilled to see me! And me to see her, as well. What

normally

> takes me 10 minutes to walk, took me 30 yesterday. That's because

of the

> piece of bones the surgeon took in my right hip.

>

> I'm telling you, the worst part of all this isn't the mought

numbness, the

> dried lips, the wired shut mouth... It's the pain in the hip! At

night, it

> awakes me if I flip on it. At day, I can't find a suitable

sitting / up position.

>

> I'm still pretty weak though. After my walk, yesterday, I must

have slept

> like two hours, if not more. And this afternoon, I did

another " power nap "

> of 90 minutes. I don't think I would have been able to return to

work today,

> unlike Dale! Btw, Congratulations Dale!!!

>

> Tomorow is a big day. I'm meeting with my surgeon. The second

time since

> the surgery. That's also when she's supposed to show me how to

remove the

> rubber bands, so that I'll be able to eat " normally " again, soft

food only. She

> also will remove a piece of wire in the scare where she removed a

piece of

> bones. After that, it should start to hurt less and less.

>

> The moral is as its top. In fact, I've never been happier. I

think that all the

> stress that built up pre-op, now leaving, is making me fly, in

some way. It's

> a good sensation, I'm telling you. And no drugs to achieve it ;-)

>

> Finally, it's also been two weeks today since I stopped smoking.

I didn't have

> a craving in two days now.

>

> I've also " pre-spend " my savings so that I would be sure not to

start smoking

> again.. Kidding, it's not a good way. Pressuring someone to quit

smoking is

> the best way to make him/her smoke again.

>

> But I did offer me a gift. From me to myself, with love, for

having had a nice

> recovery so far :-)

>

> Well, that's it! Good luck to everybody else :-)

>

> Ray

[Guest guest]

> Thanks Ray,

>

> And i know you KNOW what the night before is like...It's been so great to read

everyone's posts though, and to know what to expect. I hope i can post our

experiences

and hopefully do the same for anyone else about to go into surgery.

Congratulations on

your progress AND quitting smoking...no small accomplishment with all else you

are going

through!

>

> marcia

Thank you Marcia!

You know, a huge part of my success comes from members of this forum.

Cammie, for starters, and everybody else as well. Terrific group!

Ray

[Guest guest]

Bay--Bee:

" The moral is as its top. "

Not exactly.

The moral wasn't ever in discussion. en anglais, that means that you

were an ethical person, if your moral was at its top.

What you mean is, " the morale is at its top... meaning, " your spirits

are good. "

You morals haven't been in question, far as I know... You are an

ethical soul, as are most of us here...

Best, and hope all continues to go most well for you. Forgive,

please, that I continue to be a pedant...

C.

[Guest guest]

> Bay--Bee:

>

> " The moral is as its top. "

>

> Not exactly.

>

> The moral wasn't ever in discussion. en anglais, that means that you

> were an ethical person, if your moral was at its top.

>

> What you mean is, " the morale is at its top... meaning, " your spirits

> are good. "

>

> You morals haven't been in question, far as I know... You are an

> ethical soul, as are most of us here...

>

> Best, and hope all continues to go most well for you. Forgive,

> please, that I continue to be a pedant...

>

> C.

I think I should have wrote morale, with an " e " .. sorry... thanks for

pointing it out :-)

Ray