4 days post-op

November 26, 2004

Hi

Well…I am 4 days post-op. Had Upper Lift and Lower advancement done

on Monday late afternoon. Spent Monday night in ICU – which was

absolute hell I found, due to the tube stuck down my throat. I was

so relieved to get it out. I spent Tuesday night in hospital too and

then on Wednesday I begged the doctor to let me go – I felt pretty

okay. I went home and Thursday was a bad day – pain has started.

Slight pain of where I can feel the cuts. But major pain from the

exploding headaches. I have pain medication, but can only take every

6 hours – through a syringe. I am tightly banded shut – this is one

area I did not expect to be so bad….the not being able to communicate

properly and the really only being able to take in liquids through

the teeth in small spaces – I think I didn't realize how bad this

would be. But I am adjusting. Have lost 3KGs (about 6 ½ pounds I

think). Am I eating enough or getting enough in to heal okay??: I

am generally giving about 2 shakes a day (Ensure etc), 1 mug of soup,

and about 1 litre of Energy and sports drinks (PowerAde and Red

Bull), a few cups of water. Is this enough? I am trying, but have

completely lost my appetite, get full so easily and it is all such an

effort.

I am very frustrated not being able to speak really – I get bad

headaches when I try to speak. Is it better though for the healing

process to try and speak as much as possible or to rest my mouth?? I

am paranoid about relapse and feel so delicate.

I get tired really easily….walking up the staircase gets me out of

breath.

I have absolutely no bruising! It is really unexpected, as I am one

of those people who bruise from the slightest knock. I am just

really swollen of course, but no bruising. I think it has more to do

with my genius surgeon than with me! My profile is lovely – I can

see how amazing it will look when the swelling goes down – so weird

to have a perfectly in line profile. My nose is swollen but I can

see it has also widened slightly – which I am happy about. It was

really small and I think it looks better.

Another person (can't remember who) was commenting on the dot they

have between their eyebrows on forehead – I read about it just before

I went in. I woke up to a dot/bump there too and so realized what it

was – where something (a stake was mentioned!) was placed to line up

my midlines etc. I am not worried about it – it is small and will go

away (and is really the least of my worries).

I see the surgeon again on Tuesday morning. He will do x-rays. I

hope to get the bands off next week Friday. I cannot imagine going

back to work in a few weeks like this.

I had many things to ask and say, but forgotten. Will post questions

when I think of them.

This recovery is hard….very hard….but at the same time I feel

positive.

Bye - Nadine

November 26, 2004