Re: Lets Talk Antibotics - Hi IRISH!

[Guest guest]

Hi Irish! How are you doing? It's nice to see you popping in here

from time to time to help out.

>

> Hi Jane,

>

> Hang in there ... I know it is a challenging recovery. One that

> most people do not understand. You can start looking normal and

> talking normally, however, until you are eating as you used to and

> until you are fully healed, it can be difficult both emotionally

and

> physically.

>

> 8 weeks is a long time for a splint. I had one but it came out on

> week 3. You are almost there ... again, hang in there. You won't

> believe it now, but there will come a time when this will all be a

> distant memory.

>

> Hm ... how long before I could open enough to eat normal food. You

> are testing my memory ... I don't really remember. What I do

> remember is when I was finally given the go-ahead from the surgeon

> to eat anything ... I do remember going to Burger King, ordering a

> cheeseburger only to find out that I couldn't open my mouth wide

> enough to fit it in. I found that surprising and amusing. Didn't

> take me long to squish it flat and get going. I also remember it

is

> all gradual. Once I got the go-ahead, it didn't mean it was easy.

> All of those facial muscles you haven't used need to be re-

worked.

> I remember foods like salads were really tough to chew and eat for

a

> really long time and I still haven't figured out why. I wish I

could

> remember at which week I could do what, but what you will find is

> that even though it will be ok'd by the doctor, it will take a good

> bit of time before you feel like you are eating as you used to and

> without thinking about it. But emotionally, once you are given the

> go ahead for real food, it is freeing to know that it's under your

> control now and you can start into that phase.

>

> It may take months before you are comfortable chewing a steak. You

> may find things like a grilled fish like salmon will be easier to

> manage, while giving you the texture you are probably craving. I

> never thought I'd crave something like salmon but it was my first

> real meal and I'll never forget how wonderful it was. Just know

> that it will most likely take longer than you may have intended. I

> do know that I wasn't prepared for that.

>

> After-affects for me ... I still have lingering numbness in my

> bottom lip and middle of my chin, unfortunately. More than I had

> hoped. I don't post this to scare anyone but I have to be honest.

> My bottom lip feels like it does when novacaine is wearing off.

2.5

> years of that feeling may seem unbearable, yet you'd be surprised

> how one can get used to it. I do wish and hope the rest of the

> feeling will return but don't know for sure at this point.

>

> How was my recovery as far as pain ... pain was not as bad as I

> thought it would be. I never took a prescribed pain reliever ...

> just Motrin. It never took the pain completely away but it was

> certainly manageable. Can't remember when I became pain-free.

> Eating? Challenging and frustrating at first, things get easier

> once the surgeon says to try more things, patience. Emotions? Ups

> and downs are so expected. I found that once I started looking

more

> like myself, everyone around me thought I should be fully healed

and

> back to normal. That was difficult because everyone around you

> expects you to be 100% (because you look it!) yet you continue to

> tire easily. That was frustrating because very few people know how

> much energy you need to heal from this surgery, while having a

> limited diet. Be kind to yourself because those around you just

> don't have the ability to know ~exactly~ what you are going

> through. It's not their fault, they just haven't gone through it.

>

> Ok, this post is getting way too long. I hope something in here

was

> helpful. If you can mentally get to a place that reminds you that

> this is temporary (although it seems like time is really dragging

> now!!!), it will be helpful for you.

>

> Best of luck and continued good healing!

> Irish!