on liquid diet and numbness post-op

[Guest guest]

Hi

Excellent suggestion regarding diluting the boost drink with some

milk. I think I'll try some of that later on today. I had to avoid

too much milk the first couple of days because my nasal passages were

all blocked up and milk apparently increases the mucus. Today I am

happy to say I am breathing a little better. The boost drink flavor

is definitely a must to chase down that horrible horrible taste of

liquid penicillin. I have to take it every 6 hours and it is enough

to want to make me vomit. Sorry:-( But the whole medicine taking

scenario has really cut down on my appetite. I have now lost 6 lbs so

am hoping I'll get my appetite back again.

My surgeon said I would have to be on a clear liquid diet for at

least the first week. This means apple juice, cranberry juice,

chicken broth, non-concentrated pineaplle juice, lots of water, Boost

or Ensure. Basically you'll figure it out because you'll see that you

don't have that much space to get stuff through your mouth so

anything that has a lot of consistency you won't feel comfortable

with. Next week I get to start the milkshake and smoothies when I get

less tight elastics put on. My mom made for me some frothy hot

chocolate last night to try to get some more calories into me but the

froth was just too difficult for me to get down so I mixed the hot

chocolate until the froth dissipated. My favorite thing so far

believe it or not has been apple juice which I find real refreshing

and chicken broth with an egg beaten into it.

I think the arnica cream will work just fine for you. Everyone is

amazed by how little bruising I have - just one spot underneath my

chin. I think I really have to thank the arnica for this. In terms of

numbness mine is not as bad as I expected. I'd say I'm numb from

beneath my eye sockets to where my neck starts. Actually, I'm numb in

certain spots and in others I'm very tender, it hurts when I press

too hard. My nose on the first day (as you can see from the pictures)

was very swollen and I couldn't feel it at all. Today on day 3 the

swelling has already gone down a lot and I am starting to get

sensation back. I also pretty much have a lot of sensation in my

bottom lip which I was surprised about. My top lip is a different

matter but I'm sure that will come back eventually. I'll try to post

another post-op pic of me today so that you can see how my swelling

is going down.

Sara

> > Well I survived another day pretty well:-)

> >

> > Today I woke up with my first mini-panic attack. During the night

> my

> > nose had blocked up completely and I felt I couldn't breathe.

> > Thankfully I remembered Dr. Sachs telling me that if something

> like

> > that were to happen to put my finger into the side of my mouth

and

> > gently pull back one of my cheeks to allow more oxygen to get in.

> > Once I did that I calmed down and proceeded to sniff Afrin and

> > Flonase like there was no tomorrow. I'm pretty resigned to the

> fact

> > that I'll be stuck with this cold for at least a week.

> >

> > Today my left jaw joint is pretty sore. I keep on worrying that I

> am

> > unwittingly moving it out of the right position. It just feels

> like

> > it wants to go somewhere else and the pressure is painful. Not

> major,

> > I want to cry pain but uncomfortable. I have been applying ice to

> it

> > throughout the day and took some tylenol and codeine this

morning.

> > I'm pleased to say I was able to sleep for 6 hours straight last

> > night and for another four hours this afternoon so sleeping is

not

> > proving as problematic as I anticipated. I sleep with my head up

> > which has really helped the swelling. Not much more swelling to

> > report from yesterday so I think what you can see in my 24 hrs

> post

> > op pic is the peak of my swelling. Only one bruise has come out

> > underneath the bottom left of my chin. I have been applying

arnica

> > cream to help it reabsorb.

> >

> > Eating is a real struggle. I love food and I never thought I

would

> > say these words. I feel exhausted just drinking a cup of apple

> juice.

> > I had chicken broth with a blenderized egg mixed in today for

> dinner.

> > I was able to eat only one small soup bowl of it. Hopefully later

> I

> > will feel more up to it. While eating I heard a strange popping

> sound

> > in my left side and I got really scared. Thank goodness for this

> > board because I know that these popping sounds are normal.

> >

> > I also had my first proper post-op bath today. The nurse gave me

a

> > bed bath while in the hospital which was real nice but just

> sitting

> > in my bath tub today with the bathing salts my fiancee bought for

> me

> > was wonderful. I feel almost like a new person. My nose started

> > itching and tingling today. That got me real excited because it

> means

> > I'm already regaining sensation. Slow little steps but I think

I'm

> > doing well so far.

> >

> > More to come soon.

> >

> > Sara