Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Hi , I know exactly how you feel. I hated having to go to the physio every day for the first week. I felt like such a circus freak! (And I looked like one too, I might add) Then, about 16 days post-op I went out in " public " public (ie not part of the healthcare system!) and it was fine. Of course, I had stopped drooling by then, but I still had to be careful about hiding my face if I ate something! I still got some odd looks from people, but I just thought to myself, " Yes, I *know* I my face is swollen, but it's not permanent, ok! " But don't feel you have to go anywhere until YOU want to. It's YOUR face! Glad things are going better for you. I have two elastics that I'm supposed to take out to eat and rinse, but sometimes I'm just too lazy to put them back on, or I forget. And sometimes, especially in the mornings when I wake up, I have to take them out because it's so sore. Well, that's enough of my rambling. Keep us updated on your progress! Tarryn > Hi everyone! > > So I am almost to 2 weeks post op (12 days to be exact, but who's > counting...) and I have only left my house once to go to my first > post-op appointment, and twice just for a drive to get out of the > house. I made this huge deal last night and tonight because I > refuse to go anywhere. Is anyone else in this same situation? No > one seems to understand that despite feeling " okay " , I don't look > even remotely good, I still drool a lot, I can't talk right, and > again, I look like a swollen bruised crazy! I am for sure getting > very rambunctious being here, but really don't feel like I can face > anyone. I swear, I feel like I'm going to stay home until my splint > comes out, I can talk, and I can eat like a normal person. (I'm > going double crazy because it's the biggest b-b-q weekend ever here > in Kansas City.....AAAHHHH!!!!) > > Aside from all of that, things are going " better " . I can definitely > see signs of things getting easier and easier, but still very slow > progress. My surgeon expects me to remove 8 rubber bands 4 times a > day to do my jaw exercises, but I find it so much better just to > leave them off for a large portion of the day. Again, anyone else > have that issue? > > Thanks - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 , I think we are ALL counting. I'll be at the four week mark on Wednesday. Time just can't go by fast enough for me. I've been a lot like you over the last month. Aside from two doctor's appointments and the occasional car ride to the store just up the block ... I really had no desire to go anywhere. I have a great support system - that just can't seem to understand. I went back to work at 2 weeks but kind of " hid out " in my cubicle. When I got home I stayed home. I try to remind myself that people, overall, are good. But, I swear I see them staring and pointing and commenting - and it freaks me out. My boyfriend managed to get me out today to go to a local aquarium. It was loud - so he couldn't hear me to begin with - let alone understand my jarbled speech. And the cafe' ... <sigh> ... all that yummy food and I'm drinking a dam iced tea! It's just not fair. I came home very hungry and very tired. So ... where is the advice in all this mess? I'd say just do what feels right to you - in your gut ... in your heart. Take it at your own pace and don't push yourself. Each day gets easier - as you've learned. And the day will come when you'll be back out in it all ... when you're ready. And watch out - Memorial Day Weekend 2006 ... we are gonna BBQ like there's no tomorrow!!! (sorry, I'm wired/splinted ... no bands) Take care, Carol > Hi everyone! > > So I am almost to 2 weeks post op (12 days to be exact, but who's > counting...) and I have only left my house once to go to my first > post-op appointment, and twice just for a drive to get out of the > house. I made this huge deal last night and tonight because I > refuse to go anywhere. Is anyone else in this same situation? No > one seems to understand that despite feeling " okay " , I don't look > even remotely good, I still drool a lot, I can't talk right, and > again, I look like a swollen bruised crazy! I am for sure getting > very rambunctious being here, but really don't feel like I can face > anyone. I swear, I feel like I'm going to stay home until my splint > comes out, I can talk, and I can eat like a normal person. (I'm > going double crazy because it's the biggest b-b-q weekend ever here > in Kansas City.....AAAHHHH!!!!) > > Aside from all of that, things are going " better " . I can definitely > see signs of things getting easier and easier, but still very slow > progress. My surgeon expects me to remove 8 rubber bands 4 times a > day to do my jaw exercises, but I find it so much better just to > leave them off for a large portion of the day. Again, anyone else > have that issue? > > Thanks - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Hi Carol and Sorry to jump in on your discussion, but all your talk reminded me of when I was about 3 weeks postop, and I went to the grocery store to stock up on some more Ensures. I was bagging my groceries after having paid for them, and a mother and child were being checked through after me. I saw the child looking in my direction, and overheard him saying to his mom " whoa, look at those teeth, I thought they were REAL at first!! " and immediately panicked that this kid was making fun of me, my puffy face, and my splint! Well, I grabbed all my groceries in an attempt at a quick getaway, since I was super embarassed. When I turned around I realized the child was talking about an older gentleman behind me who had just pulled out his dentures!! It was kind of funny and made me realize that, sure my teeth/splint looked weird, but hey, out of two sets of funny looking teeth, mine aren't the ones that kid noticed! Anyhow I just thought I'd share that. obviously, after all you've been through, the last thing you want to worry about how you look to strangers! - > , > I think we are ALL counting. I'll be at the four week mark on > Wednesday. Time just can't go by fast enough for me. > I've been a lot like you over the last month. Aside from two > doctor's appointments and the occasional car ride to the store just > up the block ... I really had no desire to go anywhere. I have a > great support system - that just can't seem to understand. I went > back to work at 2 weeks but kind of " hid out " in my cubicle. When I > got home I stayed home. > I try to remind myself that people, overall, are good. But, I swear > I see them staring and pointing and commenting - and it freaks me out. > My boyfriend managed to get me out today to go to a local aquarium. > It was loud - so he couldn't hear me to begin with - let alone > understand my jarbled speech. And the cafe' ... <sigh> ... all that > yummy food and I'm drinking a dam iced tea! It's just not fair. > I came home very hungry and very tired. > So ... where is the advice in all this mess? I'd say just do what > feels right to you - in your gut ... in your heart. Take it at your > own pace and don't push yourself. > Each day gets easier - as you've learned. And the day will come when > you'll be back out in it all ... when you're ready. > And watch out - Memorial Day Weekend 2006 ... we are gonna BBQ like > there's no tomorrow!!! > (sorry, I'm wired/splinted ... no bands) > Take care, > Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 , Thank you SO much for sharing! I really needed to smile tonight. Thanks to you ... I did!!! Take care, Carol > > , > > I think we are ALL counting. I'll be at the four week mark on > > Wednesday. Time just can't go by fast enough for me. > > I've been a lot like you over the last month. Aside from two > > doctor's appointments and the occasional car ride to the store > just > > up the block ... I really had no desire to go anywhere. I have a > > great support system - that just can't seem to understand. I went > > back to work at 2 weeks but kind of " hid out " in my cubicle. When > I > > got home I stayed home. > > I try to remind myself that people, overall, are good. But, I > swear > > I see them staring and pointing and commenting - and it freaks me > out. > > My boyfriend managed to get me out today to go to a local > aquarium. > > It was loud - so he couldn't hear me to begin with - let alone > > understand my jarbled speech. And the cafe' ... <sigh> ... all > that > > yummy food and I'm drinking a dam iced tea! It's just not fair. > > I came home very hungry and very tired. > > So ... where is the advice in all this mess? I'd say just do > what > > feels right to you - in your gut ... in your heart. Take it at > your > > own pace and don't push yourself. > > Each day gets easier - as you've learned. And the day will come > when > > you'll be back out in it all ... when you're ready. > > And watch out - Memorial Day Weekend 2006 ... we are gonna BBQ > like > > there's no tomorrow!!! > > (sorry, I'm wired/splinted ... no bands) > > Take care, > > Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Carol - I agree! Thanks for a great story. I think a lot of us need a good " smile/laugh " . Need I say it hurts to laugh and smile?! :-) I remember a story about a week ago where someone thought there was a fly or bug on their face as a result of the numbness wearing off. That very thing happened to me today. It freaked me out, but as it kept happening, it just kept making me laugh. Funny stories are always welcome here! :-) -- miss_redagain2005 <no_reply > wrote: , Thank you SO much for sharing! I really needed to smile tonight. Thanks to you ... I did!!! Take care, Carol > > , > > I think we are ALL counting. I'll be at the four week mark on > > Wednesday. Time just can't go by fast enough for me. > > I've been a lot like you over the last month. Aside from two > > doctor's appointments and the occasional car ride to the store > just > > up the block ... I really had no desire to go anywhere. I have a > > great support system - that just can't seem to understand. I went > > back to work at 2 weeks but kind of " hid out " in my cubicle. When > I > > got home I stayed home. > > I try to remind myself that people, overall, are good. But, I > swear > > I see them staring and pointing and commenting - and it freaks me > out. > > My boyfriend managed to get me out today to go to a local > aquarium. > > It was loud - so he couldn't hear me to begin with - let alone > > understand my jarbled speech. And the cafe' ... <sigh> ... all > that > > yummy food and I'm drinking a dam iced tea! It's just not fair. > > I came home very hungry and very tired. > > So ... where is the advice in all this mess? I'd say just do > what > > feels right to you - in your gut ... in your heart. Take it at > your > > own pace and don't push yourself. > > Each day gets easier - as you've learned. And the day will come > when > > you'll be back out in it all ... when you're ready. > > And watch out - Memorial Day Weekend 2006 ... we are gonna BBQ > like > > there's no tomorrow!!! > > (sorry, I'm wired/splinted ... no bands) > > Take care, > > Carol --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2005 Report Share Posted May 30, 2005 Well glad I could put a smile on your faces. I hope laughing didn't hurt too much ! When I was 1 week post op one of my more creative friends decided to get me a gift to help me " get my jaw back into top chewing condition " . He brought over a rubber steak chew toy that was meant for dogs! It was pretty funny, but I felt bad when I had to run out of the room crying from the pain of laughing lol. Anyhow, I'm sure you two will both have your fair share of funny moments during the process too, and hopefully be able to look back on some of them with a bit of a smile - > Carol - I agree! Thanks for a great story. I think a lot of us need a good " smile/laugh " . Need I say it hurts to laugh and smile?! :-) > > I remember a story about a week ago where someone thought there was a fly or bug on their face as a result of the numbness wearing off. That very thing happened to me today. It freaked me out, but as it kept happening, it just kept making me laugh. > > Funny stories are always welcome here! :-) -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2005 Report Share Posted May 31, 2005 , I'm sure you're right. Carol > > Carol - I agree! Thanks for a great story. I think a lot > of us need a good " smile/laugh " . Need I say it hurts to laugh and > smile?! :-) > > > > I remember a story about a week ago where someone thought there was > a fly or bug on their face as a result of the numbness wearing off. > That very thing happened to me today. It freaked me out, but as it > kept happening, it just kept making me laugh. > > > > Funny stories are always welcome here! :-) -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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