Re: Two weeks post-op report (brought to you by Ensure... !) - To Ray and Dale

[Guest guest]

Ray and Dale,

I'll use both of you as my inspiration when it comes time for my

surgery. You've got different experiences, but both of them are

positive. I'm hoping to get back to work remotely after one week,

and back to real work after two.

Tomorrow morning, (wait, check that this morning looking at the

clock) I get my surgical hooks and then meet with my OS for my

splint check and signing my rights away. Insomnia has set in again,

so I figure by the time I hit surgery next Tuesday I'll be sure to

sleep well for the first week.

Dale, keep up your energy, and enjoy those red bean soups. Ray,

congrats on staying off the ciggies, and keep dreaming of the non-

smoking gifts you're giving yourself!

Dammit

> 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