venting and other things,

June 22, 2004

Hey, !

I can definitely relate to your fear. I have a one year old, and I was worried

about all of the same things. The thing is, it all depends on you and your

situation. I was not wired, so I could talk, well, mumble, right after surgery.

I did not try to say too much around my son because I didn't want him to pick up

slurring his words.... but I did get in a few " I love you " s. I gets better

and I am talking pretty much normally now.

I have two older children and my husband works out of the house, so I had a lot

of help. I would get someone to stay with you if you can manage it, at least

for the first few days, then keep them there as long as you can

I was very careful the first few weeks, but I still managed to get bumped a few

times with flying legs and heads during nursings and diaper changes. I even got

knocked in the lips and, boy, with those hooks on I swelled up (even more) and

had a bloody lip. Now, if I can go through that and not mess up my jaw, it must

take a lot to move those plates~! So if it does happen, just keep it in

perspective. Try to shield yourself, of course, but don't worry so much about

things that haven't happened yet.

I was not on any liquid medicine. I swallowed pills from the get-go. I stayed

on a liquid diet (chicken broth, soup, shakes) for only a few days, then moved

to soft foods. Now, at 7 weeks tomorrow, I can eat anything as long as it is

not too hard (Biscotti) or takes a lot of chewing (chuck steak). In fact, I had

pizza last night!!! YOOHOO~!!!

I was constipated for a day. I did not take anything for it, and it went away

on it's own.

Oily skin? Oh yeah! I had the face you could fry an egg on if it wasn't for

all that ice This, too, shall pass.

I had natural childbirth with all my children. The pain from that is FAR WORSE

than this!!! But that being said, yes, you get over it faster. This surgery is

not that bad pain wise, but longer lasting. They are just different

proceedures, and until you go through both, you really can't compare the two.

Keep your chin up, and you'll get through it just fine!

~Cathy

June 22, 2004

Hi Cathy, WOW! Pizza last night? You amaze me. Your feedback was

incredible. I agree with what you said about not being able to

compare the two procedures until you get through the second one. The

dr. said that he hopes not to wire me, but there is the possibility.

I do have my sister taking care of my 9 month old for a week, so i am

thankful for that. Obviously, since she is a non-walker, there is a

lot of carrying. Funny thing is, this past week she has been more

snuggly and lovey. I LOVE it and feel like i am getting my big baby

fix before she will be away from me for a week. How are you doing

on numbness and i am trying to remember if you wrote, did you have

both uppper and lower surgeries? Kudos to you for three natural

childbirths! Wahoo~

Hey, !

>

> I can definitely relate to your fear. I have a one year old, and I

was worried about all of the same things. The thing is, it all

depends on you and your situation. I was not wired, so I could talk,

well, mumble, right after surgery. I did not try to say too much

around my son because I didn't want him to pick up slurring his

words.... but I did get in a few " I love you " s. I gets better

and I am talking pretty much normally now.

>

> I have two older children and my husband works out of the house, so

I had a lot of help. I would get someone to stay with you if you can

manage it, at least for the first few days, then keep them there as

long as you can

>

> I was very careful the first few weeks, but I still managed to get

bumped a few times with flying legs and heads during nursings and

diaper changes. I even got knocked in the lips and, boy, with those

hooks on I swelled up (even more) and had a bloody lip. Now, if I

can go through that and not mess up my jaw, it must take a lot to

move those plates~! So if it does happen, just keep it in

perspective. Try to shield yourself, of course, but don't worry so

much about things that haven't happened yet.

>

> I was not on any liquid medicine. I swallowed pills from the get-

go. I stayed on a liquid diet (chicken broth, soup, shakes) for only

a few days, then moved to soft foods. Now, at 7 weeks tomorrow, I

can eat anything as long as it is not too hard (Biscotti) or takes a

lot of chewing (chuck steak). In fact, I had pizza last night!!!

YOOHOO~!!!

>

> I was constipated for a day. I did not take anything for it, and

it went away on it's own.

>

> Oily skin? Oh yeah! I had the face you could fry an egg on if it

wasn't for all that ice This, too, shall pass.

>

> I had natural childbirth with all my children. The pain from that

is FAR WORSE than this!!! But that being said, yes, you get over it

faster. This surgery is not that bad pain wise, but longer lasting.

They are just different proceedures, and until you go through both,

you really can't compare the two.

>

> Keep your chin up, and you'll get through it just fine!

> ~Cathy

>

June 22, 2004

Well, even a fourteen month old wants to be held all the time! LOL I was so

exhasted, probably a lot from nursing. I was in bed for the first three weeks.

I would make ever longer trips out, but I would always end up dizzy or

lightheaded and just end up going back. The older children would bring me the

" baby " when he was tired and ready for bed. Then he could snuggle and nurse and

sleep next to me.

I was going nuts thinking about leaving him for a day while I was in the

hospital... I wouldn't want to be away from him too long. Of course, once I was

in the hospital, I didn't have the time or energy to worry about him. I just

had to trust that my mother was doing her job and caring for him. I guess I was

in survival mode. " First make it through this, then I can worry about that. "

By that time I was back home!

I had upper and lower surgery for an underbite. The pain was non-existent,

really. I was uncomfortable and hated the feeling, but it was not pain... it

was different. Numbness? Well, I was numb at first all over my face from my

eyes to below my chin... and from about an inch away from one ear all the way to

the other side. I am seven weeks tomorrow, as I said, and I am much better.

The last things to come back were my right nostril and my chin. I am still

having a tingling sensation in my chin, but all feeling is back everywhere else.

Mind you, I can feel my chin, it just feels like novacaine that hasn't worn off

all the way....

Hope that helps

~Cathy

Re: venting and other things,