Life after surgery

[Guest guest]

Before I got lower jaw surgery I went out of my way to research the

procedure. I asked the surgeons questions,went on the internet, and I

even got some books from the library. I was told that having surgery

was going to be just like when I got my wisdom teeth out, and the

doctors made me believe that I would heal within a few months. Well

They were wrong!!!! Now I'm just going to explain what it's really

like to wake up after surgery, the crap that the doctors and websites

go out of their way to cover up.

THE FIRST 2 WEEKS: I woke up and my mouth was full of blood, my whole

body hurt, and it felt like there was a hot cat on my face. I looked

like Mr. Potato Head and I couldn't feel my face. I was so hungry and

the only thing I could drink was nasty broth, and even then I could

still taste the blood in my mouth. The painkillers didn't do much

because I was in constant pain. I couldn't sleep, sit down, or stand

up without feeling pain. I was always hungry and the liquid diet made

my stomach feel terrible, and it took forever to eat finish food that

wasn't comepletly liquid. I'm not exaggerating it was really that

bad, infact I remember looking out of a window and then wanting to

jump out of it.When I woke up I could feel the liquid moving in my

face and my neck hurt because of all of the pillows I had to use. My

breath smelled terrible, so thank God I couldn't open my mouth.My

lower lip and my chin was numb so it was a challenge to control my

drooling.

WEEK 4: Most of the swelling went down and I felt well enough to

return to school. But, I still felt pain in my joints and the inside

of my mouth hurt because it was all cut up. And lucky me, I still had

more swelling that made me look like I had a double chin. My head

looked even bigger because I lost about 10 points after the surgery.

Even worse, I had dark bruises and veins on my face. Soon the bruises

turned into dry skin and then I was left with scars that covered my

entire left cheeck. Imagine having to hear " What's wrong with your

face? " everday for three months. When I saw the doctor he just

shrugged and told me to GO BUY SOME MAKE-UP!!!!!!!! talk about

sympathetic. The surgeons made me feel guilty because they would say

that I looked like another person, and they talked to me like they

gave me a new face and that just made me feel like a was a plastic

barbie who looked like a monster before the surgery. I felt stupid

and fake until I told myself one day, " Whatever girl you were fine

before the surgery and anyways no one even noticed that your chin

moved forward less then an inch, it's not like anyone is mistakening

you for someone else so who cares if you look a little better. "

THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED: I continued to have the same problems that

I experienced in week 4, except not as bad. It's been almost 6 months

and I still can't feel my lower lip or my chin, and I still can't

open my mouth that wide. I'm writing this information only to help

and even though I had to go through hell for this surgery I would do

it again in a heartbeat ( a very hesitant hearbeat), even if it means

having a numb lower lip for life ( AWH the risk of having no good

kissy kissy). Don't get this surgery just to make yourself look

better, get it because you need to improve health problems. If

something goes wrong you'll feel really stupid for cutting yourself

up just to look beautiful. I'm just telling this story because I wish

that someone would've told me the truth before I got my surgery.