Well, some things are getting better, some are about the same. My nose is so much clearer, which is really nice. I'm hoping I don't have to take Sudafed crushed up at all anymore, because it's disgusting crushed up and really hard to swallow because it's so small. At the same time, it's better than not being able to breathe!
The swelling seems to have stabilized. It's gone down a lot since the hospital, but now it's not going down any more.
I know I need to be eating more, but nothing sounds appetizing. Three or four times today I went up to the kitchen to grab some soup or a smoothie. But one glance at the basket of KitKats on the counter and anything I could eat suddenly seemed totally repulsive. I think the main problem is not having options. I really like food, and I like thinking occasionally during the day about what I'll eat next. Usually it's cereal. I know, it wasn't made for dinner, but it's so good! There's no fun in eating when my choices are so restricted. I think I'll ask for some little ice cream cups, like the ones Edy's makes that are a single serving in all different flavors. Then I can look forward to picking out a milkshake flavor that evening. I hope that helps, because right now every little thing exhausts me. I usually have SO much energy, so that's a big change for me. I used to be able to commute 3 hours a day, work a draining job for 9 hours, and go to school full-time online. Now all I do is schoolwork, and that's all I could possibly do in the day. It's frustrating.
I'm adding in job-hunting tomorrow, though. The commute was bad at my peak, I don't want to do it now. Plus the doctors I work for are not very understanding and will not accept that I don't have the same kind of energy. If I could find something in special education, where I really want to be, now, that would be so ideal.
I hope that everything is going well with everyone! Pictures will come soon.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Day 6
First of all, I wanted to list out the things that have been helpful to have.
At the hospital-
*LOTS of really nice, soft tissues. I didn't bring any, and went through 5 boxes of gauze, at least, before anyone could bring me any. After that, I still went through 3 big boxes of tissues. I hope that my nosebleeds were a little out of control, because I haven't heard of other people having quite that issue. Still, it never hurts- all that does hurt is having to use hospital tissues! Very rough.
*Button-up PJ's- Because when you finally get your ticket out of there, of course you don't want to be pulling a shirt on over your face
At home-
*It's a little pricey, but I would really recomend a VitaMix blender. I got it from my parents for a combination birthday/Christmas present. It is amazing. You can make anything in it. Of course, you probably aren't interested in salsa or peanut butter (but you will be!) but you can just toss in some veggies and make raw vegetable soup that is wonderful and good for you. It makes incredible smoothies, too. I know I was told no smoothies with berries because the seeds will get stuck in the splint, but this blender actually gets rid of all those as well. Pretty much everything I've eaten since surgery has been made from this thing.
*Okay, it sounds weird, but cloth diapers work really well for keeping you from drooling all over yourself. I have one tucked into my shirt all the time, and hold one underneath my mouth when I'm trying to drink something. It's weird, yes, but much better than sitting in your own spit!
Well, on to day 6. Things are going better. I was absolutely unable to take any liquid/ground up meds last night. My surgeon had told me that I was not only allowed, but encouraged to stretch my jaw as far as it will go within the rubber bands. It's just far enough to squeeze a skinny Advil tablet in there. It's really tough to swallow, but a lot better than what I had been taking. So I'm taking a lot of Advil every 6 hours, and it pretty much takes care of the pain.
The swelling is about the same since yesterday, and the bruising is starting to really come in, coming upwards from my chest, which is the opposite of what I thought would happen. My lips have almost completely peeled, and the places they split in the hospital are pretty much healed. They're still huge and not even close to closing- I really hope I can do that again before the splint comes out in 6 weeks! All in all, I feel like I'm looking a lot less terrifying, but I've still got a ways to go before I want to go out in public!
The hunger is not bad yet, maybe because I'm pretty sure I'm required to drink twice as much water as I normally do and that's keeping me full. Whatever, it works for me, because drinking is so messy and it's much worse when it's something other than water.
Hope everyone is doing well!
At the hospital-
*LOTS of really nice, soft tissues. I didn't bring any, and went through 5 boxes of gauze, at least, before anyone could bring me any. After that, I still went through 3 big boxes of tissues. I hope that my nosebleeds were a little out of control, because I haven't heard of other people having quite that issue. Still, it never hurts- all that does hurt is having to use hospital tissues! Very rough.
*Button-up PJ's- Because when you finally get your ticket out of there, of course you don't want to be pulling a shirt on over your face
At home-
*It's a little pricey, but I would really recomend a VitaMix blender. I got it from my parents for a combination birthday/Christmas present. It is amazing. You can make anything in it. Of course, you probably aren't interested in salsa or peanut butter (but you will be!) but you can just toss in some veggies and make raw vegetable soup that is wonderful and good for you. It makes incredible smoothies, too. I know I was told no smoothies with berries because the seeds will get stuck in the splint, but this blender actually gets rid of all those as well. Pretty much everything I've eaten since surgery has been made from this thing.
*Okay, it sounds weird, but cloth diapers work really well for keeping you from drooling all over yourself. I have one tucked into my shirt all the time, and hold one underneath my mouth when I'm trying to drink something. It's weird, yes, but much better than sitting in your own spit!
Well, on to day 6. Things are going better. I was absolutely unable to take any liquid/ground up meds last night. My surgeon had told me that I was not only allowed, but encouraged to stretch my jaw as far as it will go within the rubber bands. It's just far enough to squeeze a skinny Advil tablet in there. It's really tough to swallow, but a lot better than what I had been taking. So I'm taking a lot of Advil every 6 hours, and it pretty much takes care of the pain.
The swelling is about the same since yesterday, and the bruising is starting to really come in, coming upwards from my chest, which is the opposite of what I thought would happen. My lips have almost completely peeled, and the places they split in the hospital are pretty much healed. They're still huge and not even close to closing- I really hope I can do that again before the splint comes out in 6 weeks! All in all, I feel like I'm looking a lot less terrifying, but I've still got a ways to go before I want to go out in public!
The hunger is not bad yet, maybe because I'm pretty sure I'm required to drink twice as much water as I normally do and that's keeping me full. Whatever, it works for me, because drinking is so messy and it's much worse when it's something other than water.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Days 1-5
Do you count surgery as day 1, or is it day 0? Whatever, I had surgery early in the morning, so I think I get to count it as a day.
Surgery went off without a hitch, starting right on time at 8. We were there at the time we were told to be, 6:30, and the check-in wasn't even open yet! Too bad I wasn't allowed to eat- one last bagel from their cafe would have been so good!
Once we got in there, they got me all dressed and in a bed. The surgeon and anesthesiologist came by, and they put in my IV (gross!) They put something in there to relax me and I don't remember anything after that at all (I guess it really worked) I'd be interested to know how much longer I was in there, because that was a good 20 minutes before surgery was supposed to start. I'm also interested in hearing what I was doing during that time!
The next thing I knew, I was in the recovery room. I was pretty disoriented, but didn't care enough to be concerned. I don't really remember anything about that place, except that there was someone moaning a few beds over and that was pretty annoying. They moved me up to the ICU for the night, I'm not really sure why. They said it was standard if you're as swollen around the face as I was. I was doing fine with breathing until around midnight, when I woke up and my nose was gushing blood. That was pretty continuous until around 5 in the morning, and since then it's been really on and off. It's still leaking a little bet, but it doesn't gush as much.
Day 2 they moved me down to a regular floor, which was much nicer. The point of the ICU is that you get a lot more attention, but I think they were short a person. I was only checked on when I called for someone, and then I didn't get any medication for about 45 minutes, when I rang for it a few more times.
My room was really nice- it had a couch and its own bathroom, as well as a lovely view out the window of a brick wall. I'm not sure what the point of the window was.
By that night I was really stuffy from the constant nosebleeds and in a lot of pain. It turned out that the doctor in the ICU had decided not to give me my main pain medication because I have reddish hair and redheads are prone to bleeding while on this medication. So I had been taking the supplemental meds as my main meds, and nothing as a supplement. When they called my surgeon to check on that, it was a very quick conversation and I got my main meds at 6. After that the pain was much better.
The pain was better, but that night I did have a bad anxiety attack- my nose was so stuffy and my face was so swollen, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I had read about that happening, so I knew to expect it, but it's really hard to comfort yourself by saying "I knew this would happen, and nobody's died from it so far" when all you can think about is that you can't breathe.
By Friday, my fourth day in the hospital, I was going nuts! I was told I would be released by 4, and started counting the minutes around 2. That made it even harder that I didn't get released until 6!
Things have been going okay at home. My biggest problem is that it's really hard to take the pain meds. I can't take the liquid Percocet at all. I've always been totally disgusted by liquid meds. I have to hold my breath while pouring them for anyone else to keep from gagging. The first couple doses were hard, but last night I actually threw up (for the first time since surgery!)while trying to take the dose. This morning I tried again, and started gagging as soon as I looked at it (not a pleasant experience when your jaw is broken in multiple places!) They gave me huge Motrin pills as well, which my mom has been grinding up and dissolving in gingerale. But it's so big- usually about 40 mL, and it tastes like soda with chalk in it. I almost got sick the last time I took it, so I'm afraid that one isn't going to last much longer either. The pain is getting pretty bad, which makes it much harder to try to keep taking liquids like I'm supposed to. It's already 5, and I've had less than half of what I'm supposed to throughout the day. Did anyone else have the same experience or have any ideas to try? I almost want to be back in the hospital, getting nice shots of morphine in my IV rather than this horrible stuff, but I don't think that's an option.
I'm glad that the worst is over with, and praying that I never, ever have to do this again.
Surgery went off without a hitch, starting right on time at 8. We were there at the time we were told to be, 6:30, and the check-in wasn't even open yet! Too bad I wasn't allowed to eat- one last bagel from their cafe would have been so good!
Once we got in there, they got me all dressed and in a bed. The surgeon and anesthesiologist came by, and they put in my IV (gross!) They put something in there to relax me and I don't remember anything after that at all (I guess it really worked) I'd be interested to know how much longer I was in there, because that was a good 20 minutes before surgery was supposed to start. I'm also interested in hearing what I was doing during that time!
The next thing I knew, I was in the recovery room. I was pretty disoriented, but didn't care enough to be concerned. I don't really remember anything about that place, except that there was someone moaning a few beds over and that was pretty annoying. They moved me up to the ICU for the night, I'm not really sure why. They said it was standard if you're as swollen around the face as I was. I was doing fine with breathing until around midnight, when I woke up and my nose was gushing blood. That was pretty continuous until around 5 in the morning, and since then it's been really on and off. It's still leaking a little bet, but it doesn't gush as much.
Day 2 they moved me down to a regular floor, which was much nicer. The point of the ICU is that you get a lot more attention, but I think they were short a person. I was only checked on when I called for someone, and then I didn't get any medication for about 45 minutes, when I rang for it a few more times.
My room was really nice- it had a couch and its own bathroom, as well as a lovely view out the window of a brick wall. I'm not sure what the point of the window was.
By that night I was really stuffy from the constant nosebleeds and in a lot of pain. It turned out that the doctor in the ICU had decided not to give me my main pain medication because I have reddish hair and redheads are prone to bleeding while on this medication. So I had been taking the supplemental meds as my main meds, and nothing as a supplement. When they called my surgeon to check on that, it was a very quick conversation and I got my main meds at 6. After that the pain was much better.
The pain was better, but that night I did have a bad anxiety attack- my nose was so stuffy and my face was so swollen, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I had read about that happening, so I knew to expect it, but it's really hard to comfort yourself by saying "I knew this would happen, and nobody's died from it so far" when all you can think about is that you can't breathe.
By Friday, my fourth day in the hospital, I was going nuts! I was told I would be released by 4, and started counting the minutes around 2. That made it even harder that I didn't get released until 6!
Things have been going okay at home. My biggest problem is that it's really hard to take the pain meds. I can't take the liquid Percocet at all. I've always been totally disgusted by liquid meds. I have to hold my breath while pouring them for anyone else to keep from gagging. The first couple doses were hard, but last night I actually threw up (for the first time since surgery!)while trying to take the dose. This morning I tried again, and started gagging as soon as I looked at it (not a pleasant experience when your jaw is broken in multiple places!) They gave me huge Motrin pills as well, which my mom has been grinding up and dissolving in gingerale. But it's so big- usually about 40 mL, and it tastes like soda with chalk in it. I almost got sick the last time I took it, so I'm afraid that one isn't going to last much longer either. The pain is getting pretty bad, which makes it much harder to try to keep taking liquids like I'm supposed to. It's already 5, and I've had less than half of what I'm supposed to throughout the day. Did anyone else have the same experience or have any ideas to try? I almost want to be back in the hospital, getting nice shots of morphine in my IV rather than this horrible stuff, but I don't think that's an option.
I'm glad that the worst is over with, and praying that I never, ever have to do this again.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Here we go...
12 hours from now, barring any unforseen problems, I'll be in surgery. Eek! It definitely came up quickly. I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be- most things are purchased, and what isn't my mom is going to get while I'm in the hospital. Most of the time, living at home post-college is kind of lame, but this is one time it's most definitely NOT! I won't list out what all I've bought right now, but I will make a list of what's been helpful post-op!
The final list of what will be happening tomorrow is as follows: a septoplasty, to make room for the movements made in the 3 piece Lefort 1, and a sagital split osteotomy and genioplasty on the bottom.
I am rather upset about one thing. When my friend had knee surgery this summer, we totally sent her in there geared up to meet a hot young doctor. As Kelly said, that probably won't be happening in this case!
Short term, I'm most nervous about breathing issues. I've read about people having some tough times with that, and that freaks me out. Long term, I wonder how hard it's going to be adjusting to the new look. Sure, I don't like my current profile too much, but it is me. After all these big changes, I wonder how I'll feel about it.
As for last meals... I have basically used surgery as an excuse to eat whatever I want for the last week. Last Friday a friend held an early Thanksgiving dinner for me, and since then I've pretty much been full all the time. I went out for Mongolian BBQ tonight (delecious stir-fry!) and am wrapping up my weekend of gluttony with an extremely crunchy chocolate chip cookie. And I just ate the last bite, so no more real food for 6 weeks :(
I'll leave you with a Halloween picture... who am I? Hint: I made good use of the braces
Well, the "Add Picture" option is not so much working, and I have to be at the hospital bright and early, so I guess you all will just have to wait for Halloween :)
The final list of what will be happening tomorrow is as follows: a septoplasty, to make room for the movements made in the 3 piece Lefort 1, and a sagital split osteotomy and genioplasty on the bottom.
I am rather upset about one thing. When my friend had knee surgery this summer, we totally sent her in there geared up to meet a hot young doctor. As Kelly said, that probably won't be happening in this case!
Short term, I'm most nervous about breathing issues. I've read about people having some tough times with that, and that freaks me out. Long term, I wonder how hard it's going to be adjusting to the new look. Sure, I don't like my current profile too much, but it is me. After all these big changes, I wonder how I'll feel about it.
As for last meals... I have basically used surgery as an excuse to eat whatever I want for the last week. Last Friday a friend held an early Thanksgiving dinner for me, and since then I've pretty much been full all the time. I went out for Mongolian BBQ tonight (delecious stir-fry!) and am wrapping up my weekend of gluttony with an extremely crunchy chocolate chip cookie. And I just ate the last bite, so no more real food for 6 weeks :(
I'll leave you with a Halloween picture... who am I? Hint: I made good use of the braces
Well, the "Add Picture" option is not so much working, and I have to be at the hospital bright and early, so I guess you all will just have to wait for Halloween :)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
This takes skill...
Here’s a pretty recent picture so you can see the glamorous, hook studded smile I’m sporting. They aren’t too noticeable in most pictures (but in some lighting, the flash ricochets off them enough that I’m worried about the photographer’s eyes) In person, they look pretty funny. I’ll post a close up picture sometime, but now on to the story.Yesterday, for the second time in as many months, I broke the same bracket on the top right side. Was I chewing gum, or hard candy, or any of the things they suspected at the orthodontist? Nope, just talking. One minute I’m having a carefree conversation, the next I’m chomping on free floating wire, hooks, and bracket grit. Apparently the ICE brackets have much less give, and I keep catching my lip on the surgical hook next to that bracket. All of that has been weakening the bracket to the point that it just pretty much explodes!
It was an interesting trip to get it fixed today, because I didn’t see my normal ortho or her staff. A new ortho was there (like, brand new) who I had met briefly before but who hadn’t seen any of my records. A lot of confusion ensued, as it does anytime I see someone new for my mouth, be it there or at the dentist. I’m sure you all can relate! Take this conversation:
“Bite together… bite together please… could you bite together? Meredith?”
“Umm… I am.”
“You are? Oh, wow, you are. We’re going to fix that, right?”
Then the assistant, who didn’t believe the wires were segmented and was sure I had cut it for some reason, really wanted to unband and redo the whole top with one wire. Thus I learned to PAY ATTENTION when someone is working on your mouth! They probably haven’t dealt with mouths as complicated before! Fortunately, I whipped out all my orthodontic knowledge to explain the reasoning behind the three separate wires, and she put it back the way it was.
In the end, it all got straightened out. Everyone was very nice, but it’s such a hassle for everyone involved that I try to avoid seeing other orthodontists as much as possible. I got a steel bracket to replace the one that’s been falling apart and was sent home, hopefully for the last time before surgery. (Even though it's still 2 months off, getting started on my 'lasts' is kind of exciting!)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Phew!
I'm in a much better mood today, so I'll try to explain myself a little more clearly! I have to say I'm sooooo grateful for the support of other people going through the same things! Rita and Anya, thanks so much for your comments.
In general, I'm pretty okay with the whole process. But on days when I'm already frustrated, it's a very easy thing to fixate on! I do believe wholeheartedly that it's going to be worth it, but I can't wait for it to be done. And I've been very blessed to be able to find ways around things. Although I lost the classroom job, my job in the doctor's office is going great and letting me have lunch almost every day with my college roomate, who got me the job. Definite blessing. And since I had to defer my admission to a special ed Master's degree program once they moved my surgery to August (should have been tomorrow, actually!) I've discovered that an online program would be more affordable, as reputable as I need it to be, and much easier to do with my schedule. Like anything else, you just have to keep an eye out for the good. I totally believe in the whole when God closes a door, he opens a window thing... some days I just don't feel like looking for the window, you know?
The surgical hooks aren't even that bad- they rubbed a lot the first week. Now there's just a few on the bottom that hurt a few days each week, probably because of how tightly I pull my lip in to close my mouth. I mainly just hate how they look! I'll put up a few pictures soon, so you all can see how funny-looking they are. But they have their advantages- now I plan to dress up as Darla from Finding Nemo for Halloween- the little girl with even more mouth gear than me!
In general, I'm pretty okay with the whole process. But on days when I'm already frustrated, it's a very easy thing to fixate on! I do believe wholeheartedly that it's going to be worth it, but I can't wait for it to be done. And I've been very blessed to be able to find ways around things. Although I lost the classroom job, my job in the doctor's office is going great and letting me have lunch almost every day with my college roomate, who got me the job. Definite blessing. And since I had to defer my admission to a special ed Master's degree program once they moved my surgery to August (should have been tomorrow, actually!) I've discovered that an online program would be more affordable, as reputable as I need it to be, and much easier to do with my schedule. Like anything else, you just have to keep an eye out for the good. I totally believe in the whole when God closes a door, he opens a window thing... some days I just don't feel like looking for the window, you know?
The surgical hooks aren't even that bad- they rubbed a lot the first week. Now there's just a few on the bottom that hurt a few days each week, probably because of how tightly I pull my lip in to close my mouth. I mainly just hate how they look! I'll put up a few pictures soon, so you all can see how funny-looking they are. But they have their advantages- now I plan to dress up as Darla from Finding Nemo for Halloween- the little girl with even more mouth gear than me!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
update
Warning- this may not be a pretty post. Braces and I are not getting along right now.
Well, the way the job/surgery battle played out wasn't good. I asked for assurance from the principal that I had the job before changing surgery. He said I unofficially had the job, we just needed a contract and it would be official. So I got on the phone and changed surgery to November 10. I called to let him know, and his first words were, "About that job..."
I didn't get the job. And other appointments had already been scheduled during my surgery time (they go like hotcakes, apparently) so I also lost the surgery date.
Fortunately, I've since gotten another job working as a receptionist at a doctor's office. It's not something I want to do long-term, but they say they'll be okay with me taking a few weeks off so I'm okay with answering phones and working on insurance (I certainly have experience with that part!)
I'm just SO sick of the waiting. I want the surgery done, I want the braces off. At this point, I would settle for just losing the surgical hooks (the orthodontist was going to charge me to get rid of those, so I'll have them for 7, count 'em, 7 months before I even have surgery) But I'm just so tired of the whole process I could scream. I know that when it's over it'll feel like such a short time, but right now it feels like I'm going to look like this for the rest of my life.
Well, the way the job/surgery battle played out wasn't good. I asked for assurance from the principal that I had the job before changing surgery. He said I unofficially had the job, we just needed a contract and it would be official. So I got on the phone and changed surgery to November 10. I called to let him know, and his first words were, "About that job..."
I didn't get the job. And other appointments had already been scheduled during my surgery time (they go like hotcakes, apparently) so I also lost the surgery date.
Fortunately, I've since gotten another job working as a receptionist at a doctor's office. It's not something I want to do long-term, but they say they'll be okay with me taking a few weeks off so I'm okay with answering phones and working on insurance (I certainly have experience with that part!)
I'm just SO sick of the waiting. I want the surgery done, I want the braces off. At this point, I would settle for just losing the surgical hooks (the orthodontist was going to charge me to get rid of those, so I'll have them for 7, count 'em, 7 months before I even have surgery) But I'm just so tired of the whole process I could scream. I know that when it's over it'll feel like such a short time, but right now it feels like I'm going to look like this for the rest of my life.
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