Re: Welcome back Carol

[Guest guest]

Sara,

Thank so much! It's good to be home. I'm still feeling a bit " poopy "

but I'm just taking it one hour at a time. I'm resting, often and

trying to drink as much as I can. I saw my Surgeon Monday for my

first post-op appointment and he said I didn't have to stay on a clear

liquid diet for 7 days ( like I had originally thought ) but should

use my blender and be adventurous. Adide from Ensure, juice and

water - I haven't really gotten bold yet - but I'm thinking about it.

As long as I'm in the bathroom often, my boyfriend doesn't keep

shoving cups in my hand!

Thanks again ... just for being here. 3 months to go for you, right?

Carol

> Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy today but

> given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site, it

will

> get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't forget

to

> drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever you

may

> need to vent out.

>

> Sara

[Guest guest]

,

Yes, good to be home and on my own couch surrounded by my own

things. Unfortunately, I can't answer my *own* phone (giggle) but

I'm dealing with it. I'm glad you're doing well and are out and

about. I'm scheduled to go back to work 15 days post-op. Any

feedback on how realistic you think that is? Also, you're talking?!

Please, please, please tell me your secret. I force the words out

(like my surgeon told me to) and still am having tons of trouble

being understood - even by myself. I'm running out of notebooks and

my hand hurts from writing so much! Any advice you can give will be

really, really, really appreciated!

Thanks a bunch,

Carol

> > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy today

but

> > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site, it

> will

> > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

forget

> to

> > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever

you

> may

> > need to vent out.

> >

> > Sara

[Guest guest]

Yann,

Yeah, keeping sane is what it's all about these days. Thanks!

My Surgeon said that the noises are amplified as are the movements I

feel. Things are just settling in ... so as long as I remember

that ... I'm okay.

Drinking, drinking, and drinking some more,

Carol

> Hi Carol - from your original post, it sounds like you're feeling

as

> expected Like everyone says, remember that the next day is

always

> better than the previous. That's the only thing that kept me

> relatively sane.

>

> Don't worry too much about the way your bite feels - I'm sure it

feels

> all wrong and very alien. I found the occasional

> snapping/popping/cracking sounds scary, but I now recognize them as

my

> jaw just shifting a tiny bit under the splint as my jaw muscles

slowly

> adapted. It just felt a lot stronger and louder at the time.

>

> Just remember to keep drinking 2 litres a day if you want to feel

> better sooner... it's a LOT of hard swallowing from morning till

> night, but it's worth the trouble and it's not for too long.

>

> Yann

[Guest guest]

Carol

That is funny what you said about your boyfriend. Mine did the same

thing. AS soon as I would wake up in the morning, he would shove an

Ensure in my hand. Then a couple hours later, another one. I think

he wanted me to drink 10 a day. After pushing many away, I usually

drank 2 per day. Not to mention all of the water he was forcing me

to drink. I know that he just wanted to make sure that I got better,

so that is the only thing that kept me from banning him from my

house because he was truly driving me crazy.

As for moving on to blended things, I would definitely like to, but

it is just too hard for me handle thick liquids (even 2 weeks post

op). Most of my swelling is gone now, but I still have some in my

cheeks. I think once that goes away, I can work on thicker meals.

I had my 2 week follow up with my surgeon yesterday, and he said if

all keeps going well, he will unwire me after 5 total weeks, which

for me , will be some time around June 1st. Let the count down

begin! )

> > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy today

but

> > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site,

it

> will

> > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

forget

> to

> > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever

you

> may

> > need to vent out.

> >

> > Sara

[Guest guest]

Carol

Now that most of my swelling has gone down, people are starting to

understand me. I couldn't understand myself either. Each day, I am

easier to understand. I don't answer my phone unless it is some one

that knows I have had the suregery, adn knows why I am talking the

way I am. You really need to ake it slow with the talking. I found

early on that the more I talked, in the beginning, the worse I felt.

My boyfriend stayed with me for the first 5 days after surgery, and

I was actually a bit relieved when he went home because I just

wanted to talk to him while he was here. Believe it or not, talking

is the worst thing you can do in the first few days. Picture it like

this, if you break your arm, even with a cast you are not going to

start lifting heavy objects right away. Your jaw is no different.

You need to try and rest it as much as you can in the beginning, and

it will come to you in time.

I give myself a couple of hours each day to have people over, or to

go out of the house, but I still get tired way too easy. However, I

need the human interaction or I'll go crazy. The worst thing about

all of this is sitting at home watching TV and seeing food

commercials all day long. I can't wait to finally eat some real food.

> > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

today

> but

> > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site,

it

> > will

> > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> forget

> > to

> > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when

ever

> you

> > may

> > > need to vent out.

> > >

> > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Oh ooops ... what I meant was three weeks!

> > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy today

but

> > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site, it

> will

> > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

forget

> to

> > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever

you

> may

> > need to vent out.

> >

> > Sara

[Guest guest]

,

Yeah, I've thought about putting up a " no boyfriends allowed " sign

during certain portions of the day! But, the truth is, I'm really

greatful to have him by my side. He sits and reads while I nap and

holds my hand when the pain gets to me.

So, I'm only 6 days post-op and I'm glad to hear that at two weeks

post-op someone else is also not finding it so easy to do all the

blending. I thought it was only me! I think being wired shut with

this darn splint - there just is so little room for the liquid to

flow. So, when I tried banana ... I was excited about the first

handful of sips and then frustrated when I couldn't sip anymore. I

think I'll trying sticking with thinner things and see how that goes.

<shrug> It's certainly a learning process.

Congrats on the good news from your Surgeon! I was told 8 weeks

wired ... and originally set up a removal date of June 29th. I guess

time will tell if that changes.

Counting down with ya!

Carol

> > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

today

> but

> > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site,

> it

> > will

> > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> forget

> > to

> > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever

> you

> > may

> > > need to vent out.

> > >

> > > Sara

[Guest guest]

,

Ok, so maybe then I'm just trying too hard, too soon. I'm very

swollen (and the swelling is moving down my face) so perhaps I need

to rest my bones and muscles a bit more before pushing those words

out.

I completely understand about getting tired. I get these winds of

energy where I feel great for a couple of hours and then pay the

price when I realize I've pushed myself too hard. Gotta slow down!

Oh yeah ... commercials STINK!!! Did you know that there is a

channel dedicated to just FOOD!? Who thinks up this stuff?! haha

Take care,

Carol

> > > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

> today

> > but

> > > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this

site,

> it

> > > will

> > > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> > forget

> > > to

> > > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when

> ever

> > you

> > > may

> > > > need to vent out.

> > > >

> > > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Carol...

Maybe not being able to answer your phone isn't such a bad thing...

that Do Not Call list seems to have a few leaks!

I have three words for you... Dry Erase Board! (and FAT markers) It

makes it so much easier than notebooks, and your hand isn't quite as

cramped!

Good to see you can still have humor... this will continue to get

better!

Kate

> > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

today

> but

> > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site,

it

> > will

> > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> forget

> > to

> > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever

> you

> > may

> > > need to vent out.

> > >

> > > Sara

[Guest guest]

...

oh, if only we all could have a boyfriend like that! I'm seriously

considering hiring a boyfriend for post-surgery... Wanted: single

nurturing male with good sense of humor and a strong stomach. Does

not need to know way around kitchen, just needs to know how to

operate a blender! In my case, part-time dogwalker is a bonus!

Kate

> > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

today

> but

> > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this site,

> it

> > will

> > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> forget

> > to

> > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when ever

> you

> > may

> > > need to vent out.

> > >

> > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Kate

That is so funny! It really was great having him home for my surgery

(work has moved him to a different state). I can honestly say that

having him here was the single most important thing to my recovery.

Don't get me wrong, all of my family and friends have been great,

but it really lifted my spirits to have him tell me I was beautiful

even though my face was swollen, I drooled all over myself, and I

couldn't talk. ) He was all prepared to be " nurse ratchet " , and

I was surprisingly able to do many things for myself. I'm sure this

was quite a relief to him as he has never really had to take care of

anyone but himself. I just wish he could have stayed longer because

being all emotional after this surgery just makes me miss him even

more.

> > > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

> today

> > but

> > > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this

site,

> > it

> > > will

> > > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> > forget

> > > to

> > > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when

ever

> > you

> > > may

> > > > need to vent out.

> > > >

> > > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Kate,

Oh my yes ... I totally agree!

I've started to screen my calls and answer only if it's someone that

knows what I'm going through and my limited ability to speak. So

far ... so good.

The swelling seems to have subsided a bit more on the inside and

today I was able to put the notebook down and try just using my

mouth. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. But it sure felt good to

try.

I have a couple of those boards - thanks for the advice - but so far

have opted not to use them. I'm what some people call a " pack rat "

and so I thought it might be of some interest, or at least have some

entertainment value, to hold onto the notebooks and take them out

when all this is said and done and just ponder how time has flown by

and how pleased I am that I went through all of this. (keeping

positive that I will be thrilled with the results!)

Oh yes ... I'm giggling all the way ... most of the time.

Take care,

Carol

> > > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

> today

> > but

> > > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this

site,

> it

> > > will

> > > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and don't

> > forget

> > > to

> > > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when

ever

> > you

> > > may

> > > > need to vent out.

> > > >

> > > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Carol,

so funny about the pack rat habit... that's me to a " T " :-) I'd have

to force myself to use a board for that very reason, but I also began

using it to develop pattern recognitions for exams last year so I

think I could incorporate it to break the habit of saving memoirs. I

still have a box of notes passed during class from friends,

boyfriends, etc. from high school! Packed along with those is a pair

of gym shorts, uniform skirt, demerits (all for tardiness :-P ), and

who knows what else... and that box is just from HIGH SCHOOL!! LOL

I don't know if I could add anymore to my collection - my apartment

isn't big enough! But if I could just get my hands on my impression

molds....

Kate

> > > > > Welcome back Carol! I bet you must be feeling pretty poopy

> > today

> > > but

> > > > > given what other post-surgery veterans have said on this

> site,

> > it

> > > > will

> > > > > get better, i'm sure of it. Hang in there! Rest up and

don't

> > > forget

> > > > to

> > > > > drink lots of liquids and remember we're here for you when

> ever

> > > you

> > > > may

> > > > > need to vent out.

> > > > >

> > > > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Kate,

It would seem that you and I belong to the same Pack Rat Club! I

actually have a handful of boxes that are what I call my " save

stuff " . Every few years I take one out and look through it. I cry

and I laugh. The stuff that causes no emotion gets tossed and the

rest gets repacked to be enjoyed years down the line. It's a problem

I have, I know this. But it's not one that I'm looking to correct

anytime soon. I guess once I start running out of closet space!

Thanks for making me smile ... and even giggle!

Take care,

Carol

> > > > ,

> > > > Yes, good to be home and on my own couch surrounded by my own

> > > > things. Unfortunately, I can't answer my *own* phone

(giggle)

> > but

> > > > I'm dealing with it. I'm glad you're doing well and are out

> and

> > > > about. I'm scheduled to go back to work 15 days post-op.

Any

> > > > feedback on how realistic you think that is? Also, you're

> > > talking?!

> > > > Please, please, please tell me your secret. I force the

words

> > out

> > > > (like my surgeon told me to) and still am having tons of

> trouble

> > > > being understood - even by myself. I'm running out of

> notebooks

> > > and

> > > > my hand hurts from writing so much! Any advice you can give

> will

> > > be

> > > > really, really, really appreciated!

> > > > Thanks a bunch,

> > > > Carol