Just had surgery~ Worse than I thought

[Guest guest]

Just had my surgery of upper jaw 2 vertical cuts, and one long

horizontal cut, and lower jaw 2 vertical cuts.

Not having a goodnight again. Wasn't able to stand up alone and

walk with normal breathing until finally, day 4? Stayed 23 hour at

hosp. Kept trying to vomit with my ng tube in. The second day I

thought I was dying. Couldn't breathe. Face swollen from below

eyes to below chin. Couldn't get any air through my nose. Any

little movement I made would make my heart rate increase, and

breathing! I pannicked when I couldn't get enough air.

Finally now, at day nine. I can walk and breathe normal. I eat

mashed potatoes, pudding, and soups. Still can't chew. My face is

still numb and swollen. I feel like I am going to lose my mind at

times because I am not able to do everyday things.

I actually thought that by day two I would be up and about in public

like others.

Right now my muscles in my jaw are aching and very annoying! So,

here I am.

[Guest guest]

Not sure of your name,

Hi, i am on day 6 of similar surgery with extras! I remember when i

got back from hospital i could not wait to get on this site to post

what had happened to me and i remember feeling, no one else scared

the shit out of me, i have to be careful of my words. Well, as

someone else said already, what we pass through makes us stronger

and the passing of time helps some of those feelings. i did not have

the best time either, but for all i had been through i feel as

though i did pretty well. i had my first crying episode last night

and it's not that easy to cry all swollen up like this. i cannot

sleep. i really cannot sleep. i think i am entering a panic phase

whereby 5pm,i get super annoyed that nighttime sleep will be coming.

i spent the entire night except for one hour in beginning and one

and a half at end, in a recliner chair. it was the only way i could

get any sleep. i was VERY fearful of the breathing issues you had,

but luckily, although i had them, they were not that bad. i was very

sick post surgery, but have been with all my other surgeries too so

i know it is an anestheisa thing. KEEP IN MIND. ALMOST ALL people

who go through this would go through it again because of the

outcome. i think you will be pleased. somone on the site said they

never wanted, ever again, to smile with their hand in front of their

mouth. Day by day, do what you can, but as you have seen, don;'t

overdo it. i am panicking as my 9 month old is coming home tmorrow

and i am not sure i can handle her. i will hvae some help, but she

was away for one week and although that was tough, it was best for

my healing. Keep checking in, you WILL get healthier.

> Just had my surgery of upper jaw 2 vertical cuts, and one long

> horizontal cut, and lower jaw 2 vertical cuts.

> Not having a goodnight again. Wasn't able to stand up alone and

> walk with normal breathing until finally, day 4? Stayed 23 hour

at

> hosp. Kept trying to vomit with my ng tube in. The second day I

> thought I was dying. Couldn't breathe. Face swollen from below

> eyes to below chin. Couldn't get any air through my nose. Any

> little movement I made would make my heart rate increase, and

> breathing! I pannicked when I couldn't get enough air.

> Finally now, at day nine. I can walk and breathe normal. I eat

> mashed potatoes, pudding, and soups. Still can't chew. My face

is

> still numb and swollen. I feel like I am going to lose my mind at

> times because I am not able to do everyday things.

> I actually thought that by day two I would be up and about in

public

> like others.

> Right now my muscles in my jaw are aching and very annoying! So,

> here I am.

[Guest guest]

Everything you said, I went through too. I had major axiety

attacks. Days 3 and 4 are THE worst. On the 4th day when my OS

called to see how I was, I was sitting on my bathroom floor, not

being able to move, right in the middle of a full blown axiety

attack. my mom was sitting with me. I begged and cried to the doc

to let me cut my bands. He prescribed me Valium and I had Xanax but

was too scared to take the Xanax because it makes you sleepy and

everytime I tried to sleep, I would stop breathing (congestion). My

mom finally convinced me to take a Xanax and it help immensly. I

continued to take the meds for a week and I can definitely say that

I could not have gotten through this without them (I am not a pill

taker, hate meds). I am 2 weeks post op and feeling great. Still

swollen and I finally figured out what I looked like. Ever seen The

Grinch? I look like a person from Whosville (I think that's what

thier called). Boy what a difference a few days make.

> Just had my surgery of upper jaw 2 vertical cuts, and one long

> horizontal cut, and lower jaw 2 vertical cuts.

> Not having a goodnight again. Wasn't able to stand up alone and

> walk with normal breathing until finally, day 4? Stayed 23 hour

at

> hosp. Kept trying to vomit with my ng tube in. The second day I

> thought I was dying. Couldn't breathe. Face swollen from below

> eyes to below chin. Couldn't get any air through my nose. Any

> little movement I made would make my heart rate increase, and

> breathing! I pannicked when I couldn't get enough air.

> Finally now, at day nine. I can walk and breathe normal. I eat

> mashed potatoes, pudding, and soups. Still can't chew. My face

is

> still numb and swollen. I feel like I am going to lose my mind at

> times because I am not able to do everyday things.

> I actually thought that by day two I would be up and about in

public

> like others.

> Right now my muscles in my jaw are aching and very annoying! So,

> here I am.

[Guest guest]

Is it ?

I also had serious sleeping problems post surgery. I found that to

be one of the most difficult parts of the recovery...when you cant

sleep (and I know what you mean...not even a wink), it makes you that

much more tired and frusterated.

I tried something a little unconventional, which helped

tremendously. I smoked a little bit of weed one night, which put me

out for about 12 hours of rock hard sleep. It also helped me sleep

the following nights (without smoking). I think once you get one

good night of sleep, your body is able to sleep again. Maybe there

is such a thing as being too tired to fall asleep?

Anyway, just wanted to share my solution!

-AJ

> > Just had my surgery of upper jaw 2 vertical cuts, and one long

> > horizontal cut, and lower jaw 2 vertical cuts.

> > Not having a goodnight again. Wasn't able to stand up alone and

> > walk with normal breathing until finally, day 4? Stayed 23 hour

> at

> > hosp. Kept trying to vomit with my ng tube in. The second day I

> > thought I was dying. Couldn't breathe. Face swollen from below

> > eyes to below chin. Couldn't get any air through my nose. Any

> > little movement I made would make my heart rate increase, and

> > breathing! I pannicked when I couldn't get enough air.

> > Finally now, at day nine. I can walk and breathe normal. I eat

> > mashed potatoes, pudding, and soups. Still can't chew. My face

> is

> > still numb and swollen. I feel like I am going to lose my mind

at

> > times because I am not able to do everyday things.

> > I actually thought that by day two I would be up and about in

> public

> > like others.

> > Right now my muscles in my jaw are aching and very annoying! So,

> > here I am.