Re: One Week + One Day Post Op

[Guest guest]

Welcome back, Maddie!!

(datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know how

our experiences have been thus far.

I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I had

upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do with

that I'm sure.

Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one of

my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But you

made it through, and it can only get better from here!

Good to have you back to the board!!

[Guest guest]

Welcome back, Maddie!!

(datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know how

our experiences have been thus far.

I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I had

upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do with

that I'm sure.

Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one of

my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But you

made it through, and it can only get better from here!

Good to have you back to the board!!

[Guest guest]

Maddie,

Thanks for the report. I'm having lower in a year, so it's good to

know what to expect.

>Protein spirulina shakes? Um, no.

I thought this was funny!

Thanks again, and good luck with your healing.

Luna

[Guest guest]

Maddie,

Thanks for the report. I'm having lower in a year, so it's good to

know what to expect.

>Protein spirulina shakes? Um, no.

I thought this was funny!

Thanks again, and good luck with your healing.

Luna

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the warm welcome, . I've spent most of the morning catching up

with you

and and it sounds like you're both doing well. I thought would have

had a

much rougher time, but here he is posting away. It took me a long time to be

able to focus

on anything -- a newspaper, a movie -- and the thought of composing sentences on

the

computer sort of scared me!

My big problem right now is downstairs. Any tips on getting my digestive tract

moving

along?

>

> Welcome back, Maddie!!

>

> (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know how

> our experiences have been thus far.

>

> I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I had

> upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do with

> that I'm sure.

>

> Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one of

> my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But you

> made it through, and it can only get better from here!

>

> Good to have you back to the board!!

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the warm welcome, . I've spent most of the morning catching up

with you

and and it sounds like you're both doing well. I thought would have

had a

much rougher time, but here he is posting away. It took me a long time to be

able to focus

on anything -- a newspaper, a movie -- and the thought of composing sentences on

the

computer sort of scared me!

My big problem right now is downstairs. Any tips on getting my digestive tract

moving

along?

>

> Welcome back, Maddie!!

>

> (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know how

> our experiences have been thus far.

>

> I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I had

> upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do with

> that I'm sure.

>

> Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one of

> my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But you

> made it through, and it can only get better from here!

>

> Good to have you back to the board!!

>

[Guest guest]

I am really glad you're OK.

I survived too! Saw the OS and OD today and they are happy. Message

from both being the more you do, the better you'll be. Unlike you,

i'm wired which makes things pretty difficult diet wise. My mainstay

is clam chowder liquified and strained and diluted with chicken broth.

I have been lucky with swelling and sensation. OS said 2 months ahead

of the norm for upper/lower/genio. But I did look vvvvv bad in

hospital! 3 sets of successive visitors walked past me.

Exhausted noew. Gonna continue with iron supplement thouh that makes

me nauseous. Got A grades on hygiene today which was my main concern,

Take care and keep on writing

>

> Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery December 8. I had

lower + paranasal

> implants (tiny implants near the curve of your nostrils) and an

injection of Restylane in my

> upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

>

> I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I mean, it was

weird. I was totally relaxed at

> the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have had something to

do with the nausea

> patch my doctor gave me the day before. I explained to her that I'm

a " thrower-upper. " I

> vomit very easily and thought I probably would after waking up from

surgery, so she gave

> me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a little spacy, thus

the lack of anxiety pre-

> op.

>

> The last thing I remember before being knocked out was telling my

surgeon that it was

> still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me they're moving me to

the gurney. I feel wet

> around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The anesthesiologist

says, " It's normal " and

> then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In the recovery room I

start shaking

> uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say " Wow, she's really

shaking. Give her some

> Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still cold. I ask,

through tightly banded teeth, if I

> can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the nurse can understand

me. I realize then

> that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for the first time in

my life.

>

> I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery room. I change

back into my own

> clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm wheeled down to the

patient pick up area.

> My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like yourself! " He was really

worried that I would look

> completely different.

>

> That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of a chocolate

protein shake and some

> chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember getting the zip-n-

squeeze bags and

> thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big enough. " I'm lucky if

I can get down 1/4 of the

> bags over the next three days.

>

> One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain medication! This sounds

worse that it was as I

> didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and without the

knockout medicine I didn't get

> any.

>

> The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the antibiotic they

give me -- clindimyacin

> (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of mind). Then I start

to vomit. The patch wasn't

> enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not food or medicine

for two days. Really

> awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a zeppelin at this

point. My doctor switches me

> over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back to life. I'm

able to eat a little and keep it

> down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I take a walk around

the block and start to

> feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in the dark so nobody

can see my swelling and

> bruises.

>

> On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat and drink the

better I feel. The funny

> thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up pre-surgery doesn't

appeal to me. Protein

> spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a craving for Chef

Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth and I am in heaven.

>

> Things have been getting better with each day. Swelling peaked on

Saturday for me (day 3

> post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises beside my mouth. It

really looks like I got

> beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I don't get more

than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> took my first daylight walk yesterday in the sunshine. It felt

wonderful. Of course, I

> collapsed into bed when I got home.

>

> So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I thought it would

be. And I only got lower

> and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must say, my jaw

doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> my mid-face area where I got the implants and my upper lip is like

a hockey puck from the

> injection. Vanity!

>

> Maddie

[Guest guest]

I am really glad you're OK.

I survived too! Saw the OS and OD today and they are happy. Message

from both being the more you do, the better you'll be. Unlike you,

i'm wired which makes things pretty difficult diet wise. My mainstay

is clam chowder liquified and strained and diluted with chicken broth.

I have been lucky with swelling and sensation. OS said 2 months ahead

of the norm for upper/lower/genio. But I did look vvvvv bad in

hospital! 3 sets of successive visitors walked past me.

Exhausted noew. Gonna continue with iron supplement thouh that makes

me nauseous. Got A grades on hygiene today which was my main concern,

Take care and keep on writing

>

> Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery December 8. I had

lower + paranasal

> implants (tiny implants near the curve of your nostrils) and an

injection of Restylane in my

> upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

>

> I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I mean, it was

weird. I was totally relaxed at

> the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have had something to

do with the nausea

> patch my doctor gave me the day before. I explained to her that I'm

a " thrower-upper. " I

> vomit very easily and thought I probably would after waking up from

surgery, so she gave

> me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a little spacy, thus

the lack of anxiety pre-

> op.

>

> The last thing I remember before being knocked out was telling my

surgeon that it was

> still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me they're moving me to

the gurney. I feel wet

> around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The anesthesiologist

says, " It's normal " and

> then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In the recovery room I

start shaking

> uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say " Wow, she's really

shaking. Give her some

> Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still cold. I ask,

through tightly banded teeth, if I

> can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the nurse can understand

me. I realize then

> that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for the first time in

my life.

>

> I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery room. I change

back into my own

> clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm wheeled down to the

patient pick up area.

> My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like yourself! " He was really

worried that I would look

> completely different.

>

> That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of a chocolate

protein shake and some

> chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember getting the zip-n-

squeeze bags and

> thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big enough. " I'm lucky if

I can get down 1/4 of the

> bags over the next three days.

>

> One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain medication! This sounds

worse that it was as I

> didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and without the

knockout medicine I didn't get

> any.

>

> The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the antibiotic they

give me -- clindimyacin

> (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of mind). Then I start

to vomit. The patch wasn't

> enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not food or medicine

for two days. Really

> awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a zeppelin at this

point. My doctor switches me

> over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back to life. I'm

able to eat a little and keep it

> down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I take a walk around

the block and start to

> feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in the dark so nobody

can see my swelling and

> bruises.

>

> On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat and drink the

better I feel. The funny

> thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up pre-surgery doesn't

appeal to me. Protein

> spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a craving for Chef

Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth and I am in heaven.

>

> Things have been getting better with each day. Swelling peaked on

Saturday for me (day 3

> post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises beside my mouth. It

really looks like I got

> beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I don't get more

than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> took my first daylight walk yesterday in the sunshine. It felt

wonderful. Of course, I

> collapsed into bed when I got home.

>

> So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I thought it would

be. And I only got lower

> and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must say, my jaw

doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> my mid-face area where I got the implants and my upper lip is like

a hockey puck from the

> injection. Vanity!

>

> Maddie

[Guest guest]

Hey,

Well.... good old-fashioned prune juice worked for me!

Things are often made worse by the iron supplements which constipate

you. They gave me Senecot (sp?) in hospital but prune juice was fine.

D

> >

> > Welcome back, Maddie!!

> >

> > (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> > recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know

how

> > our experiences have been thus far.

> >

> > I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> > your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> > Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> > chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I

had

> > upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do

with

> > that I'm sure.

> >

> > Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one

of

> > my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But

you

> > made it through, and it can only get better from here!

> >

> > Good to have you back to the board!!

> >

[Guest guest]

Hey,

Well.... good old-fashioned prune juice worked for me!

Things are often made worse by the iron supplements which constipate

you. They gave me Senecot (sp?) in hospital but prune juice was fine.

D

> >

> > Welcome back, Maddie!!

> >

> > (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> > recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know

how

> > our experiences have been thus far.

> >

> > I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> > your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> > Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> > chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I

had

> > upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do

with

> > that I'm sure.

> >

> > Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one

of

> > my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But

you

> > made it through, and it can only get better from here!

> >

> > Good to have you back to the board!!

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Maddie,

Took several days for my digestive system to get back in business

again, but it did so on its own Sunday/Monday i think. For me, I've

started adding Soy & Whey Protein Powder to almost everything I

drink, add calories and hopefully end my weight loss, and I think it

does good things to keep my digestive system moving along as well. At

least that's what my mom says

> >

> > Welcome back, Maddie!!

> >

> > (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> > recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know

how

> > our experiences have been thus far.

> >

> > I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> > your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> > Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> > chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I

had

> > upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do

with

> > that I'm sure.

> >

> > Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one

of

> > my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But

you

> > made it through, and it can only get better from here!

> >

> > Good to have you back to the board!!

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Maddie,

Took several days for my digestive system to get back in business

again, but it did so on its own Sunday/Monday i think. For me, I've

started adding Soy & Whey Protein Powder to almost everything I

drink, add calories and hopefully end my weight loss, and I think it

does good things to keep my digestive system moving along as well. At

least that's what my mom says

> >

> > Welcome back, Maddie!!

> >

> > (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> > recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know

how

> > our experiences have been thus far.

> >

> > I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> > your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> > Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> > chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I

had

> > upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do

with

> > that I'm sure.

> >

> > Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one

of

> > my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But

you

> > made it through, and it can only get better from here!

> >

> > Good to have you back to the board!!

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Glad to hear your docs say " the more you do, the better you'll be " . I

thought I had overdone it with finals and all, and was worried that

would ruin my recovery, but now that it's all over, I think it was

good for me to have so much to do immediately after surgery. There

were several rough moments, but this board really helped get my back

on my feet and back to the books

Wow, that is great news...2 months ahead of norm for swelling and

sensation!! Congrats!!! Congrats on the hygeine too. I'm starting to

get concerned about that, and really wish I could get a toothbrush

behind my teeth as its starting to feel pretty nasty back there!

Hang in there! Sounds like you're doing really well!!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Glad to hear your docs say " the more you do, the better you'll be " . I

thought I had overdone it with finals and all, and was worried that

would ruin my recovery, but now that it's all over, I think it was

good for me to have so much to do immediately after surgery. There

were several rough moments, but this board really helped get my back

on my feet and back to the books

Wow, that is great news...2 months ahead of norm for swelling and

sensation!! Congrats!!! Congrats on the hygeine too. I'm starting to

get concerned about that, and really wish I could get a toothbrush

behind my teeth as its starting to feel pretty nasty back there!

Hang in there! Sounds like you're doing really well!!

[Guest guest]

How do you keep your mouth clean if you can't even get a toothbrush

in? Especially if you are wired, what do you do to keep good oral

hygiene? I am still new to all of this and want to be as prepared as

possible.

>

> Hi ,

>

> Glad to hear your docs say " the more you do, the better you'll be " .

I

> thought I had overdone it with finals and all, and was worried that

> would ruin my recovery, but now that it's all over, I think it was

> good for me to have so much to do immediately after surgery. There

> were several rough moments, but this board really helped get my

back

> on my feet and back to the books

>

> Wow, that is great news...2 months ahead of norm for swelling and

> sensation!! Congrats!!! Congrats on the hygeine too. I'm starting

to

> get concerned about that, and really wish I could get a toothbrush

> behind my teeth as its starting to feel pretty nasty back there!

>

> Hang in there! Sounds like you're doing really well!!

>

[Guest guest]

How do you keep your mouth clean if you can't even get a toothbrush

in? Especially if you are wired, what do you do to keep good oral

hygiene? I am still new to all of this and want to be as prepared as

possible.

>

> Hi ,

>

> Glad to hear your docs say " the more you do, the better you'll be " .

I

> thought I had overdone it with finals and all, and was worried that

> would ruin my recovery, but now that it's all over, I think it was

> good for me to have so much to do immediately after surgery. There

> were several rough moments, but this board really helped get my

back

> on my feet and back to the books

>

> Wow, that is great news...2 months ahead of norm for swelling and

> sensation!! Congrats!!! Congrats on the hygeine too. I'm starting

to

> get concerned about that, and really wish I could get a toothbrush

> behind my teeth as its starting to feel pretty nasty back there!

>

> Hang in there! Sounds like you're doing really well!!

>

[Guest guest]

Prune juice, blended banana (for fiber) -- or stuff like milk of

magnesia. Don't overdo it, though. You can wind up with too much

action downstairs. The constipation is often brought on or aggravated

by the pain killers; the antibiotics can have exactly the opposite

effect. So take it easy, unless it's an ongoing problem you're well

familiar with.

Cammie

> >

> > Welcome back, Maddie!!

> >

> > (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> > recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know

how

> > our experiences have been thus far.

> >

> > I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> > your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> > Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> > chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I

had

> > upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do

with

> > that I'm sure.

> >

> > Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one

of

> > my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But

you

> > made it through, and it can only get better from here!

> >

> > Good to have you back to the board!!

> >

[Guest guest]

Prune juice, blended banana (for fiber) -- or stuff like milk of

magnesia. Don't overdo it, though. You can wind up with too much

action downstairs. The constipation is often brought on or aggravated

by the pain killers; the antibiotics can have exactly the opposite

effect. So take it easy, unless it's an ongoing problem you're well

familiar with.

Cammie

> >

> > Welcome back, Maddie!!

> >

> > (datlamb) and I have a thread going about our surgeries and

> > recoveries since last week ...so reading those will let you know

how

> > our experiences have been thus far.

> >

> > I can't believe you went home from the hospital the same night of

> > your surgery. There is no way I would have been ready for that.

> > Changing into my own clothes the next day to go home was quite a

> > chore, I couldn't imagine tackling that the day of surgery. But I

had

> > upper only, so the congestion and nosebleeds had something to do

with

> > that I'm sure.

> >

> > Sorry to hear about the med reactions and vomiting. That was one

of

> > my greatest fears, and thankfully I didn't have any of that. But

you

> > made it through, and it can only get better from here!

> >

> > Good to have you back to the board!!

> >

[Guest guest]

Dani,

I rinse immediately I finish eating as most things have a sediment

that I think can stick. I rinse until I can't see any more particles

coming into the sink. Now I can then get the softest baby toothbrush

with a tiny bit of normal toothpaste (no whitening versions) and give

the teeth and gums and wires a VERY gentle brushing. I hold my lips

wide on the sides with a teaspoon (I can now get a large one in).

Then I fill a small syringe with a curved spike full of saline

solution and squirt it over the incisions, back of the mouth,

everywhere really. Finally I rinse again with salt water. I was

using chlorahexidrine mouthwash but I know this can really stain the

teeth; the OS said I did it well enough so far to let this go. The

syringes with the curved spikes are really good for directing the

saline.

Hope that helps.

D

> > >

> > > Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery

> > December 8. I had

> > lower + paranasal

> > > implants (tiny implants near the curve of your

> > nostrils) and an

> > injection of Restylane in my

> > > upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

> > >

> > > I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I

> > mean, it was

> > weird. I was totally relaxed at

> > > the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have

> > had something to

> > do with the nausea

> > > patch my doctor gave me the day before. I

> > explained to her that I'm

> > a " thrower-upper. " I

> > > vomit very easily and thought I probably would

> > after waking up from

> > surgery, so she gave

> > > me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a

> > little spacy, thus

> > the lack of anxiety pre-

> > > op.

> > >

> > > The last thing I remember before being knocked out

> > was telling my

> > surgeon that it was

> > > still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me

> > they're moving me to

> > the gurney. I feel wet

> > > around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The

> > anesthesiologist

> > says, " It's normal " and

> > > then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In

> > the recovery room I

> > start shaking

> > > uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say

> > " Wow, she's really

> > shaking. Give her some

> > > Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still

> > cold. I ask,

> > through tightly banded teeth, if I

> > > can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the

> > nurse can understand

> > me. I realize then

> > > that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for

> > the first time in

> > my life.

> > >

> > > I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery

> > room. I change

> > back into my own

> > > clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm

> > wheeled down to the

> > patient pick up area.

> > > My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like

> > yourself! " He was really

> > worried that I would look

> > > completely different.

> > >

> > > That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of

> > a chocolate

> > protein shake and some

> > > chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember

> > getting the zip-n-

> > squeeze bags and

> > > thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big

> > enough. " I'm lucky if

> > I can get down 1/4 of the

> > > bags over the next three days.

> > >

> > > One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain

> > medication! This sounds

> > worse that it was as I

> > > didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and

> > without the

> > knockout medicine I didn't get

> > > any.

> > >

> > > The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the

> > antibiotic they

> > give me -- clindimyacin

> > > (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of

> > mind). Then I start

> > to vomit. The patch wasn't

> > > enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not

> > food or medicine

> > for two days. Really

> > > awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a

> > zeppelin at this

> > point. My doctor switches me

> > > over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back

> > to life. I'm

> > able to eat a little and keep it

> > > down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I

> > take a walk around

> > the block and start to

> > > feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in

> > the dark so nobody

> > can see my swelling and

> > > bruises.

> > >

> > > On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat

> > and drink the

> > better I feel. The funny

> > > thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up

> > pre-surgery doesn't

> > appeal to me. Protein

> > > spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a

> > craving for Chef

> > Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> > > boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth

> > and I am in heaven.

> > >

> > > Things have been getting better with each day.

> > Swelling peaked on

> > Saturday for me (day 3

> > > post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises

> > beside my mouth. It

> > really looks like I got

> > > beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I

> > don't get more

> > than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> > > took my first daylight walk yesterday in the

> > sunshine. It felt

> > wonderful. Of course, I

> > > collapsed into bed when I got home.

> > >

> > > So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I

> > thought it would

> > be. And I only got lower

> > > and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must

> > say, my jaw

> > doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> > > my mid-face area where I got the implants and my

> > upper lip is like

> > a hockey puck from the

> > > injection. Vanity!

> > >

> > > Maddie

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Dani,

I rinse immediately I finish eating as most things have a sediment

that I think can stick. I rinse until I can't see any more particles

coming into the sink. Now I can then get the softest baby toothbrush

with a tiny bit of normal toothpaste (no whitening versions) and give

the teeth and gums and wires a VERY gentle brushing. I hold my lips

wide on the sides with a teaspoon (I can now get a large one in).

Then I fill a small syringe with a curved spike full of saline

solution and squirt it over the incisions, back of the mouth,

everywhere really. Finally I rinse again with salt water. I was

using chlorahexidrine mouthwash but I know this can really stain the

teeth; the OS said I did it well enough so far to let this go. The

syringes with the curved spikes are really good for directing the

saline.

Hope that helps.

D

> > >

> > > Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery

> > December 8. I had

> > lower + paranasal

> > > implants (tiny implants near the curve of your

> > nostrils) and an

> > injection of Restylane in my

> > > upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

> > >

> > > I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I

> > mean, it was

> > weird. I was totally relaxed at

> > > the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have

> > had something to

> > do with the nausea

> > > patch my doctor gave me the day before. I

> > explained to her that I'm

> > a " thrower-upper. " I

> > > vomit very easily and thought I probably would

> > after waking up from

> > surgery, so she gave

> > > me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a

> > little spacy, thus

> > the lack of anxiety pre-

> > > op.

> > >

> > > The last thing I remember before being knocked out

> > was telling my

> > surgeon that it was

> > > still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me

> > they're moving me to

> > the gurney. I feel wet

> > > around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The

> > anesthesiologist

> > says, " It's normal " and

> > > then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In

> > the recovery room I

> > start shaking

> > > uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say

> > " Wow, she's really

> > shaking. Give her some

> > > Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still

> > cold. I ask,

> > through tightly banded teeth, if I

> > > can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the

> > nurse can understand

> > me. I realize then

> > > that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for

> > the first time in

> > my life.

> > >

> > > I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery

> > room. I change

> > back into my own

> > > clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm

> > wheeled down to the

> > patient pick up area.

> > > My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like

> > yourself! " He was really

> > worried that I would look

> > > completely different.

> > >

> > > That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of

> > a chocolate

> > protein shake and some

> > > chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember

> > getting the zip-n-

> > squeeze bags and

> > > thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big

> > enough. " I'm lucky if

> > I can get down 1/4 of the

> > > bags over the next three days.

> > >

> > > One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain

> > medication! This sounds

> > worse that it was as I

> > > didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and

> > without the

> > knockout medicine I didn't get

> > > any.

> > >

> > > The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the

> > antibiotic they

> > give me -- clindimyacin

> > > (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of

> > mind). Then I start

> > to vomit. The patch wasn't

> > > enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not

> > food or medicine

> > for two days. Really

> > > awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a

> > zeppelin at this

> > point. My doctor switches me

> > > over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back

> > to life. I'm

> > able to eat a little and keep it

> > > down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I

> > take a walk around

> > the block and start to

> > > feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in

> > the dark so nobody

> > can see my swelling and

> > > bruises.

> > >

> > > On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat

> > and drink the

> > better I feel. The funny

> > > thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up

> > pre-surgery doesn't

> > appeal to me. Protein

> > > spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a

> > craving for Chef

> > Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> > > boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth

> > and I am in heaven.

> > >

> > > Things have been getting better with each day.

> > Swelling peaked on

> > Saturday for me (day 3

> > > post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises

> > beside my mouth. It

> > really looks like I got

> > > beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I

> > don't get more

> > than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> > > took my first daylight walk yesterday in the

> > sunshine. It felt

> > wonderful. Of course, I

> > > collapsed into bed when I got home.

> > >

> > > So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I

> > thought it would

> > be. And I only got lower

> > > and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must

> > say, my jaw

> > doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> > > my mid-face area where I got the implants and my

> > upper lip is like

> > a hockey puck from the

> > > injection. Vanity!

> > >

> > > Maddie

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for thinking of me, .

I'm plugging along but already tired of the liquified foods. I'm tightly banded,

so it's a bit

easier than being wired -- less hardware in the mouth -- but basically the same

when it

comes to food. My mouth is totally clamped shut. Nothing's getting in there that

shouldn't. I'm fairly certain that I'm doing a terrible job with nutrition. I'm

not eating

enough and what I do eat is not very healthy. So far today: a half cup of

liquified

minestrone soup, a half cup of chocolate soy milk, one cup of liquified duck

soup from the

local noodle house (my first foray into " normal food " ), and lots of water. I

need to up the

protein and the vitamins.

So I've got this sallow look from lack of food and because I can't move the

muscles in my

face and can't smile, I look totally morose. Oh and the bruising adds a nice

touch, too. My

family is starting to get worried!

Sorry for the rant. Things are starting to get to me.

Maddie

> >

> > Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery December 8. I had

> lower + paranasal

> > implants (tiny implants near the curve of your nostrils) and an

> injection of Restylane in my

> > upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

> >

> > I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I mean, it was

> weird. I was totally relaxed at

> > the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have had something to

> do with the nausea

> > patch my doctor gave me the day before. I explained to her that I'm

> a " thrower-upper. " I

> > vomit very easily and thought I probably would after waking up from

> surgery, so she gave

> > me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a little spacy, thus

> the lack of anxiety pre-

> > op.

> >

> > The last thing I remember before being knocked out was telling my

> surgeon that it was

> > still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me they're moving me to

> the gurney. I feel wet

> > around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The anesthesiologist

> says, " It's normal " and

> > then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In the recovery room I

> start shaking

> > uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say " Wow, she's really

> shaking. Give her some

> > Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still cold. I ask,

> through tightly banded teeth, if I

> > can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the nurse can understand

> me. I realize then

> > that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for the first time in

> my life.

> >

> > I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery room. I change

> back into my own

> > clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm wheeled down to the

> patient pick up area.

> > My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like yourself! " He was really

> worried that I would look

> > completely different.

> >

> > That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of a chocolate

> protein shake and some

> > chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember getting the zip-n-

> squeeze bags and

> > thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big enough. " I'm lucky if

> I can get down 1/4 of the

> > bags over the next three days.

> >

> > One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain medication! This sounds

> worse that it was as I

> > didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and without the

> knockout medicine I didn't get

> > any.

> >

> > The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the antibiotic they

> give me -- clindimyacin

> > (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of mind). Then I start

> to vomit. The patch wasn't

> > enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not food or medicine

> for two days. Really

> > awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a zeppelin at this

> point. My doctor switches me

> > over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back to life. I'm

> able to eat a little and keep it

> > down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I take a walk around

> the block and start to

> > feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in the dark so nobody

> can see my swelling and

> > bruises.

> >

> > On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat and drink the

> better I feel. The funny

> > thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up pre-surgery doesn't

> appeal to me. Protein

> > spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a craving for Chef

> Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> > boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth and I am in heaven.

> >

> > Things have been getting better with each day. Swelling peaked on

> Saturday for me (day 3

> > post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises beside my mouth. It

> really looks like I got

> > beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I don't get more

> than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> > took my first daylight walk yesterday in the sunshine. It felt

> wonderful. Of course, I

> > collapsed into bed when I got home.

> >

> > So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I thought it would

> be. And I only got lower

> > and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must say, my jaw

> doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> > my mid-face area where I got the implants and my upper lip is like

> a hockey puck from the

> > injection. Vanity!

> >

> > Maddie

[Guest guest]

Thanks for thinking of me, .

I'm plugging along but already tired of the liquified foods. I'm tightly banded,

so it's a bit

easier than being wired -- less hardware in the mouth -- but basically the same

when it

comes to food. My mouth is totally clamped shut. Nothing's getting in there that

shouldn't. I'm fairly certain that I'm doing a terrible job with nutrition. I'm

not eating

enough and what I do eat is not very healthy. So far today: a half cup of

liquified

minestrone soup, a half cup of chocolate soy milk, one cup of liquified duck

soup from the

local noodle house (my first foray into " normal food " ), and lots of water. I

need to up the

protein and the vitamins.

So I've got this sallow look from lack of food and because I can't move the

muscles in my

face and can't smile, I look totally morose. Oh and the bruising adds a nice

touch, too. My

family is starting to get worried!

Sorry for the rant. Things are starting to get to me.

Maddie

> >

> > Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery December 8. I had

> lower + paranasal

> > implants (tiny implants near the curve of your nostrils) and an

> injection of Restylane in my

> > upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

> >

> > I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I mean, it was

> weird. I was totally relaxed at

> > the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have had something to

> do with the nausea

> > patch my doctor gave me the day before. I explained to her that I'm

> a " thrower-upper. " I

> > vomit very easily and thought I probably would after waking up from

> surgery, so she gave

> > me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a little spacy, thus

> the lack of anxiety pre-

> > op.

> >

> > The last thing I remember before being knocked out was telling my

> surgeon that it was

> > still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me they're moving me to

> the gurney. I feel wet

> > around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The anesthesiologist

> says, " It's normal " and

> > then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In the recovery room I

> start shaking

> > uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say " Wow, she's really

> shaking. Give her some

> > Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still cold. I ask,

> through tightly banded teeth, if I

> > can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the nurse can understand

> me. I realize then

> > that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for the first time in

> my life.

> >

> > I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery room. I change

> back into my own

> > clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm wheeled down to the

> patient pick up area.

> > My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like yourself! " He was really

> worried that I would look

> > completely different.

> >

> > That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of a chocolate

> protein shake and some

> > chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember getting the zip-n-

> squeeze bags and

> > thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big enough. " I'm lucky if

> I can get down 1/4 of the

> > bags over the next three days.

> >

> > One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain medication! This sounds

> worse that it was as I

> > didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and without the

> knockout medicine I didn't get

> > any.

> >

> > The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the antibiotic they

> give me -- clindimyacin

> > (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of mind). Then I start

> to vomit. The patch wasn't

> > enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not food or medicine

> for two days. Really

> > awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a zeppelin at this

> point. My doctor switches me

> > over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back to life. I'm

> able to eat a little and keep it

> > down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I take a walk around

> the block and start to

> > feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in the dark so nobody

> can see my swelling and

> > bruises.

> >

> > On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat and drink the

> better I feel. The funny

> > thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up pre-surgery doesn't

> appeal to me. Protein

> > spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a craving for Chef

> Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> > boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth and I am in heaven.

> >

> > Things have been getting better with each day. Swelling peaked on

> Saturday for me (day 3

> > post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises beside my mouth. It

> really looks like I got

> > beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I don't get more

> than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> > took my first daylight walk yesterday in the sunshine. It felt

> wonderful. Of course, I

> > collapsed into bed when I got home.

> >

> > So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I thought it would

> be. And I only got lower

> > and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must say, my jaw

> doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> > my mid-face area where I got the implants and my upper lip is like

> a hockey puck from the

> > injection. Vanity!

> >

> > Maddie

[Guest guest]

Hang in there, Maddie! I'm right there with you! I'm so tired of

Ensure and Boost and soups, but I've gotten a creative second wind

about the whole diet thing.

For breakfast I have a bottle of chocolate royale ensure (i think

it's ensure plus, with extra protein or something), blended with a

skippy squeeze stick (peanut butter in a convenient 1 serving size

tube), and 1 scoop of the soy and whey protein powder. I've found I

have to eat before I try taking a shower or I get so shaky its

ridiculous. So, I " eat " that for breakfast every day. It's nearly 500

calories right there, with lots of protein.

I've also gotten more creative with blending things. Today I was

really wanting to feel " normal " again, so I got my mom to make a

typical dinner, and then found a way to blend everything for me. So I

had seasoned chicken strips (not breaded), mashed potatoes, and green

beans for dinner and it was wonderful!!

My other favorite so far was the cheddar potato bacon soup. The taste

wasn't fabulous, but at least I felt full afterwards, which seems to

be really hard to do on a liquid only diet.

But I certainly don't have the diet down yet, as I'm still unhappily

losing weight, although not as quickly as I was last week.

Hang in there, we'll make it through together!! We'll graduate

to " mush " in no time

[Guest guest]

Hang in there, Maddie! I'm right there with you! I'm so tired of

Ensure and Boost and soups, but I've gotten a creative second wind

about the whole diet thing.

For breakfast I have a bottle of chocolate royale ensure (i think

it's ensure plus, with extra protein or something), blended with a

skippy squeeze stick (peanut butter in a convenient 1 serving size

tube), and 1 scoop of the soy and whey protein powder. I've found I

have to eat before I try taking a shower or I get so shaky its

ridiculous. So, I " eat " that for breakfast every day. It's nearly 500

calories right there, with lots of protein.

I've also gotten more creative with blending things. Today I was

really wanting to feel " normal " again, so I got my mom to make a

typical dinner, and then found a way to blend everything for me. So I

had seasoned chicken strips (not breaded), mashed potatoes, and green

beans for dinner and it was wonderful!!

My other favorite so far was the cheddar potato bacon soup. The taste

wasn't fabulous, but at least I felt full afterwards, which seems to

be really hard to do on a liquid only diet.

But I certainly don't have the diet down yet, as I'm still unhappily

losing weight, although not as quickly as I was last week.

Hang in there, we'll make it through together!! We'll graduate

to " mush " in no time

[Guest guest]

Yep....

I have gone back to Ensure Plus. It's not nice. BUT it is a complete

food and has 350 calories in a small bottle. So I tell myself that

it's just another medicine and FORCE two a day so that I don't worry

as much as you seem to be about the food thing. It's less than two

cups to get down. Everyone tells me that the body needs protein to

heal. I also drink a fruit protein drink called Isopure which isn't

great either (thoug Passion Fruit is my favourite). It counts towards

fluid intake (for the first time in my life I am doing 10 glaases

water....) and each bottle has 40g of protein.

I was a bit overweight 9a bit of that conscious as I bulked up on

carbs before all this) but have lost 13lbs since December 7. OS told

me not to worry, that this will plateau as the body's metabolism

responds effectively to being 'starved " of what it's used to. The

process of oral hygiene is also a real disincentive to eat. BUT

there's no getting away from it - I have to give my body the fuel it

needs to respond and heal. I also think that this experience will

change my attitude to food longer-term. Less about indulgence and

more about eating right as well as well. In fact, I tell myself

that's one of the plusses on offer here.

I was also lucky because the friend who looked after me from the

beginning was a real " tough love " mum with four daughters. She flew

over from the UK to be with me and I did what she said. tell your

family to get firm with you. You have to eat.

D

> > >

> > > Okay, so I'm finally back to report on my surgery December 8. I

had

> > lower + paranasal

> > > implants (tiny implants near the curve of your nostrils) and an

> > injection of Restylane in my

> > > upper lip, courtesy my surgeon.

> > >

> > > I had absolutely no anxiety about the surgery. I mean, it was

> > weird. I was totally relaxed at

> > > the hospital, joking with the nurses. It may have had something

to

> > do with the nausea

> > > patch my doctor gave me the day before. I explained to her that

I'm

> > a " thrower-upper. " I

> > > vomit very easily and thought I probably would after waking up

from

> > surgery, so she gave

> > > me a patch to put behind my ear. It made me a little spacy,

thus

> > the lack of anxiety pre-

> > > op.

> > >

> > > The last thing I remember before being knocked out was telling

my

> > surgeon that it was

> > > still raining. Then, I hear voices telling me they're moving me

to

> > the gurney. I feel wet

> > > around my eyes and say " Why am I crying? " The anesthesiologist

> > says, " It's normal " and

> > > then I hear my surgeon say " You did great. " In the recovery

room I

> > start shaking

> > > uncontrollably. I'm freezing. I hear a nurse say " Wow, she's

really

> > shaking. Give her some

> > > Demerol. " I start to warm up a bit but I'm still cold. I ask,

> > through tightly banded teeth, if I

> > > can have another blanket. I'm amazed that the nurse can

understand

> > me. I realize then

> > > that my lower teeth are behind my upper teeth for the first

time in

> > my life.

> > >

> > > I get warmed up and am moved to another recovery room. I change

> > back into my own

> > > clothes (a nurse helps me) and in an hour I'm wheeled down to

the

> > patient pick up area.

> > > My boyfriend squeals, " you still look like yourself! " He was

really

> > worried that I would look

> > > completely different.

> > >

> > > That night is pretty much a blur. I have a bit of a chocolate

> > protein shake and some

> > > chicken broth but I have no appetite. I remember getting the

zip-n-

> > squeeze bags and

> > > thinking, " What, these little bags aren't big enough. " I'm

lucky if

> > I can get down 1/4 of the

> > > bags over the next three days.

> > >

> > > One big gaff -- I'm sent home without pain medication! This

sounds

> > worse that it was as I

> > > didn't have much pain. But I did need sleep and without the

> > knockout medicine I didn't get

> > > any.

> > >

> > > The next two days are rough. I start to gag on the antibiotic

they

> > give me -- clindimyacin

> > > (not sure of spelling, I've blocked it out of mind). Then I

start

> > to vomit. The patch wasn't

> > > enough. I wasn't able to keep anything down, not food or

medicine

> > for two days. Really

> > > awful. Oh, and my face is about the size of a zeppelin at this

> > point. My doctor switches me

> > > over to penecillin and I slowly start to come back to life. I'm

> > able to eat a little and keep it

> > > down and this helps immensely. Saturday night I take a walk

around

> > the block and start to

> > > feel a little human. Of course, I am walking in the dark so

nobody

> > can see my swelling and

> > > bruises.

> > >

> > > On Sunday things start to pick up. The more I eat and drink the

> > better I feel. The funny

> > > thing is, all of the healthy stuff I picked up pre-surgery

doesn't

> > appeal to me. Protein

> > > spirulina shakes? Um, no. On Sunday I get a craving for Chef

> > Boyardee mini-ravioli. My

> > > boyfriend liquifies them with some chicken broth and I am in

heaven.

> > >

> > > Things have been getting better with each day. Swelling peaked

on

> > Saturday for me (day 3

> > > post-op). I'm still have these terrible bruises beside my

mouth. It

> > really looks like I got

> > > beat up! I still sleep a lot during the day and I don't get

more

> > than 4 or 5 hours at night. I

> > > took my first daylight walk yesterday in the sunshine. It felt

> > wonderful. Of course, I

> > > collapsed into bed when I got home.

> > >

> > > So on the whole -- it's been much harder than I thought it

would

> > be. And I only got lower

> > > and some implants! Maybe I'm just a wimp. I must say, my jaw

> > doesn't bother me a bit. It's

> > > my mid-face area where I got the implants and my upper lip is

like

> > a hockey puck from the

> > > injection. Vanity!

> > >

> > > Maddie