Re: Greetings this Morning & Hi to rest of the Caboose for June

[Guest guest]

I meant to say I'm taking the Ensure High Calcium chocolate. It's

delicious.

>I'm taking the Boost High Calcium Chocolate which seems to hit the

>spot.

Hopefully after I get home from motel in a couple of days, I will be

able to eat other blenderized foods. At motel it's just easier with

premade as I don't have my blender here. I may try some cream of wheat

later.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Hi Shirley,

I'm not sure what a " bed buddy " is, but if it's like the bed/lounge

pillow with arms that I had, I found that it was most comfortable

when I put some small flat cushions (bought at the local fabric

store) just in front of it, to lessen the sharp angle. That way I

could lie flat at about a 45 degree angle. The arms helped me from

slipping onto my side, although after about a week, I did manage to

work myself onto my side inside the bed pillow and woke up with a

pretty sore face the next morning! Most of the time, though, it

worked well.

Try a baby toothbrush for the brushing (a good friend sent me a

Tigger toothbrush).

Hope that helps, happy healing!

> Well, I'm feeling a little better this am. Slept in two hour

> increments, with fresh ice every two hours. I'm still swollen,

but

> have been told I can go to heat now & took off the lower bandage.

> Any ideas on how best to position the " Bed Buddy " for maximum

effect?

>

> I'm black and blue from chest to chin, the rest isn't too bad. It

> looks like I might have stitches on sides of jaw. I'm still quite

> swollen. Some the black & blue is probably a result of my having

to

> have the jugular vein IV. And because I can't get that wet until

> tomorrow I have to hold up on a nice warm shower today. OH...I

was

> looking forward to that hot shower today & washing my hair.

>

> I found two things to be immensely helpful - the whiteboard (small

> about 6 x 10 inches) and pen was indispensable when I came out of

> recovery. That first night when I was still intubated (with both

NG

> tube and airway tube), it was the only way I could communicate my

> problems. The pulmonologist was calling the shots as to when they

> would pull the airway tube which didn't occur till next morning.

I

> had 6 people present for pulling of tubes including 2 oral

surgeons,

> pulmonologist, his resident, nurse, and another doctor actually

> pulling tubes.

>

> The other item found very helpful is the Zip n Squeeze ice/heat

> wrap. The ones at the hospital were too big, but had to use them

as

> the nurses didn't want to keep putting the zip n squeeze ice

packets

> in freezer. Now I'm out of hospital I am using it especially for

> the heat.

>

> Other hints: Taking the hydrocodone & liquid antibiotic with

Boost

> Breeze (comes in a berry or tropical fruit)- that allows more

> protein while I'm trying to take meds. Followed by a water

chaser.

> Makes it more tolerable. Walgreen's has the Boost Breeze. I'm

> taking the Boost High Calcium Chocolate which seems to hit the

> spot. I also chase it with water to keep the mucous less thick in

> my throat.

>

> Since they worked on my nose, too, I take the Afrin 2x a day and

> Ocean Spray any time I want.

>

> I didn't need the syringe, as I've been able to drink from cup

from

> the beginning (albeit messy at times). I'm not wired shut, have

no

> splint, just banded and can open my mouth about a fingers width.

>

> Numbness isn't too bad, still very numb around left nostril and

> above. (They worked on the turbinates). The lower lip is

swollen,

> but feeling is returning the lower jaw and palate, etc.

>

> I've been told to start rinsing with peridex and brushing outside

of

> teeth (not that should be fun with rubber bands on). Tomorrow I

see

> the surgeon again. Today the asst. surgeon is suppose to call and

> see how I'm doing.

>

> , just wanted you to know I'm thinking you all on the caboose.

>

> Shirley

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

I have the Bed Buddy. ( - it's different from the pillow you're

talking about, so I thought I'd try to help.) I used it along the

side of my face - from ear to under my chin. It helped me not to

roll over, since I was worried about " squishing " things. (even though

my Surgeon said I didn't need to be.) I'd use it on one side for

about 10 minutes and then switch ... usually falling asleep

thereafter. It worked wonders all along my jaw line - seeping into

my cheeks, my nose, my mouth and my chin area.

Hope that helps!

Take care,

Carol

> > Well, I'm feeling a little better this am. Slept in two hour

> > increments, with fresh ice every two hours. I'm still swollen,

> but

> > have been told I can go to heat now & took off the lower

bandage.

> > Any ideas on how best to position the " Bed Buddy " for maximum

> effect?

> >

> > I'm black and blue from chest to chin, the rest isn't too bad.

It

> > looks like I might have stitches on sides of jaw. I'm still

quite

> > swollen. Some the black & blue is probably a result of my having

> to

> > have the jugular vein IV. And because I can't get that wet until

> > tomorrow I have to hold up on a nice warm shower today. OH...I

> was

> > looking forward to that hot shower today & washing my hair.

> >

> > I found two things to be immensely helpful - the whiteboard

(small

> > about 6 x 10 inches) and pen was indispensable when I came out of

> > recovery. That first night when I was still intubated (with both

> NG

> > tube and airway tube), it was the only way I could communicate my

> > problems. The pulmonologist was calling the shots as to when

they

> > would pull the airway tube which didn't occur till next morning.

> I

> > had 6 people present for pulling of tubes including 2 oral

> surgeons,

> > pulmonologist, his resident, nurse, and another doctor actually

> > pulling tubes.

> >

> > The other item found very helpful is the Zip n Squeeze ice/heat

> > wrap. The ones at the hospital were too big, but had to use them

> as

> > the nurses didn't want to keep putting the zip n squeeze ice

> packets

> > in freezer. Now I'm out of hospital I am using it especially for

> > the heat.

> >

> > Other hints: Taking the hydrocodone & liquid antibiotic with

> Boost

> > Breeze (comes in a berry or tropical fruit)- that allows more

> > protein while I'm trying to take meds. Followed by a water

> chaser.

> > Makes it more tolerable. Walgreen's has the Boost Breeze. I'm

> > taking the Boost High Calcium Chocolate which seems to hit the

> > spot. I also chase it with water to keep the mucous less thick

in

> > my throat.

> >

> > Since they worked on my nose, too, I take the Afrin 2x a day and

> > Ocean Spray any time I want.

> >

> > I didn't need the syringe, as I've been able to drink from cup

> from

> > the beginning (albeit messy at times). I'm not wired shut, have

> no

> > splint, just banded and can open my mouth about a fingers width.

> >

> > Numbness isn't too bad, still very numb around left nostril and

> > above. (They worked on the turbinates). The lower lip is

> swollen,

> > but feeling is returning the lower jaw and palate, etc.

> >

> > I've been told to start rinsing with peridex and brushing outside

> of

> > teeth (not that should be fun with rubber bands on). Tomorrow I

> see

> > the surgeon again. Today the asst. surgeon is suppose to call

and

> > see how I'm doing.

> >

> > , just wanted you to know I'm thinking you all on the

caboose.

> >

> > Shirley

[Guest guest]

Where did you all buy your lounge pillows/bed buddies? I really want

one but can't find them. L

[Guest guest]

Good morning! I have found them at Bed, Bath & Beyond stores mainly.

But I do know that Walmart and Target type outlets carry them too.

I've bought a couple for my kids at Bed, Bath & Beyond near where I

live. (I live quite close to Mall of America actually and there is a

store right in there, plus two more stores in neighboring towns by

me). I think the store is nationwide, but I don't know this for

certain.

I haven't needed the bed lounge actually. Luckily, last year my

husband and I bought a Tempur-pedic Swedish Adjustable Bed, and I can

adjust the head and foot of our bed....it's wonderful!

I developed some low back problems almost two years ago due to a work

injury, and couldn't cope with the back pain and sleeping on our old

mattress (it wasn't really 'old' actually it was only a couple years

old, so we gave that to our oldest son). Anyway....that's what led me

to buy the Tempur pedic adjustable bed....it's been heaven sent for me

and I love, love, love my bed. It came in really handy last year when

I had a breast reduction done and needed to sleep a bit elevated, and

now again with this jaw surgery/facial reconstruction, it again is

proving to be a big, big help to me.

I don't know where you're from but you could go online to local

retailers like Target or Walmart, or even Sears might carry the lounge

pillows and see if they have them. They're not terribly hard to find

I don't think; some are just better quality than others, but for short

term use most of them should work ok.

Good luck!

Judy

> Where did you all buy your lounge pillows/bed buddies? I really want

> one but can't find them. L

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Judy. I have looked at BB & B and Target and haven't seen

them, but maybe I'm not looking in the right place. I'll ask next

time. I could try WM and Sears, too.

I have a new Beautyrest pillowtop mattress I bought in

January. It completely solved my chronic lower back pain. Amazing what

a difference a good mattress can make!

Luna

[Guest guest]

L,

I found the Bed Buddy at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Carol

> Where did you all buy your lounge pillows/bed buddies? I really want

> one but can't find them. L

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I'll try there again. L