Day 1: Post Surgery

As I left off of the last post – my night in the hospital was less than ideal.  Being woken up several times, sore throat from the tube, no ice water, blah blah blah.  I was updating Facebook, reading emails and such in the middle of the night.   I think I ended up playing Words with Friends against my dad at 5am because I had given up on sleeping.  I stopped asking for help to go to the restroom – I would just unplug my monitor and move on.  I ended up just buying my time until The Mr. or Dr. D showed up. 

The Mr. got to the hospital around 6:30am and Dr. D got there around 7am.  I got a good check up from the Doc.

Sean, Jim, and Richard showed up around 8am. It was good to see them and very nice for them to stop by.  Everyone said I looked pretty good.  I guess I did – The Mr. helped me brush my hair, brush my teeth and wash my face before people showed up.  Frankie D showed up shortly after Sean, Jim and Richard left.  I enjoyed my breakfast of Muscle Milk and then some hospital food – chicken broth, bad coffee, and some more cherry jello.  We waited around for a few hours and watched the Today show.  I finally got my discharge paperwork around noon, while enjoying some more Muscle Milk.  The lady said it would take 10-15 minutes or more for someone to come get me.  No sooner did I have my clothes on and using the restroom was there someone there to pick me up in a wheel chair.  That was the speediest service all day!


This was early in the morning – obviously still at the hospital.


Later in the afternoon/evening.  Still puffy.  Oh so hot, right?

I look a bit better without the ice on since it’s not adding 5 lb to my face. 

I rested for most of the afternoon in the bed.  Had a smoothie for the rest of my lunch and some banana pudding a little later one.  You can see my coconut water in the background of the pictures too.  Sometimes I just want water but I know I have to have something with some calories in it so I don’t wither away.  I had a nice bath and felt like a million dollars afterwards. 

I watched some TV and dozed off.  People called and texted and such to check on me.  It was all very nice and appreciated.  I am doing well and still feeling good overall.  It’s pretty difficult to eat – I get food all over my lips and such because I can’t feel them all the way (just partially).  Eating is a lot of work and makes me tired.  Dinner was some portabello mushroom bisque from Campbell’s – all blended up in the blender.  It was pretty delicious and something that I will have to have again once I can chew up those delicious little mushrooms.  Yum!

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Surgery Day

I didn’t take any photos of myself when I got to the hospital yesterday. I am pretty sure I looked a lot like I did on January 29 – except I don’t think my hair looked quite as styled. 

 

I went back into the holding cell right around 8:30am and got changed into my awesome hospital gown that could be hooked up to like a vacuum cleaner attachment and you can control the temperature of the inside of your gown.  It was bizarre.  I opted for warm blankets, thank you very much. 

I asked Dr. D if I was going to get double D’s – he said that they wouldn’t got below the clavicle.  Fine.  I got hooked up to the IVs, talked to the anesthesiologist, you know – the normal stuff.  I don’t remember getting wheeled back into the OR or getting out of the OR.  Apparently I was in Recovery for ~1 hour before I started to even wake up…and even then my eyesight was really, really blurry. 

The Mr. got hourly updates from the OR but apparently the surgery didn’t take nearly as long as the surgeon's expected.  They also felt like it went very well and was exactly what they expected. 

I had to stay in Recovery for another half hour to get my pain managed – I think I told them I was a 5 our of 10 when I woke up.  Most of my pain felt like it was in the jaw socket.  Everything else felt like some pressure but it was mostly really tight in the socket.  It was easily managed with the Percocet that the hospital provided.  While I laid there, I got pretty hot – like sweaty hot.  I was feeling nauseous and light headed so they took one set of blankets off of me.  I couldn’t get to my room and into a lighter weight gown fast enough.  I felt so much better after I got changed as you can see below. 



Two thumbs up – I was feeling pretty okay at this point.  Check out the hot hair!   I was mostly happy to see familiar faces and get awake, have something to drink, and maybe take a nap.  I got back into the room at 2pm. 

Since I didn’t get back to my room until after lunch was brought around, I had to ask for something to eat around 4pm.  I don’t think I even could feel how starving I really was.  I had to stop eating at midnight the night before and I had my last meal at 8:30pm or so.  The chicken broth that was brought to me was seriously the best tasting broth I’ve ever had.  Dinner was brought around a little later.  They were so kind to provide me with a popsicle that I couldn’t even fit into my mouth.  I think I consumed something ridiculous like ~300-500 calories that day.  That was not good.  I think that’s in part where some of my nausea came from.

Dr. D stopped by my room around 8 or 9pm.  I was fading in and out when he came by because I was tired.  He said I looked good and went over some basics with me.  All was good and The Mr. headed home for the night. 

That one night in the hospital was seriously the longest night ever.  I was so aggravated that night at midnight I was posting statuses to facebook.  I was actually sound asleep when I got woken up at midnight.  Seriously, all I wanted was a glass of water.  Then I was awake and needed pain meds at 1:30.  Awake again at 2:30. Awake again at 3:30. Awake again at 4:30, then 5, then 6… I hope that tonight is better but I’m not holding out a lot of hope or anything. The only difference is that I don’t have someone on the other end of a button to come to my beck and call. 

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Pre-Op Photos

Part of me can’t believe that I am about to post these pictures on the world wide web – but I had told myself I would have full disclosure here for anyone this would help (even if that’s some of my relatives or children or friends of friends or total strangers).

 

First photo is a normal photo of me.  I took these photos on January 29 – two days prior to surgery.  This is where my jaw was “trained” to sit – so the bite and my face look pretty normal. 
 

 

 

This is a photo of my actual bite – with my lower jaw set into the socket of my upper jaw.  It’s difficult to smile in a position like this only because it’s not what I’m used to.  You can tell a definite difference in my chin in this picture.  It’s set back in my face. 


This photo is the real story teller.  You can see the lack of chin and how my front teeth sat on my bottom lip to push it out. 

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One Week Out

If I were one to count down, I would be saying there are 7 real food chewing days left before I am introduced to a non-chewing diet.  This should be interesting. 

I have been trying to make the best of these last few weeks of “real food”.  To the point that today I was craving a milkshake but decided to snack on some bread instead.  Why? Because I’m going to be sucking every meal through a straw or off a spoon or however non-chew diets work for 6 weeks.

I do need to ask Dr. D about how exactly one transitions back to eating real food.  I can’t imagine on day 42 he says “Alright, Michelle!  Things look great! Have a hamburger or hot dog tonight!  Maybe even eat some raw carrots and celery. Yum!” 

I should just take it one step at a time – but I think about these things.

Since I am using this as a way to document all of my experiences with this whole surgery, I should also mention I had my pre-assessment at The Saint today.  All was well.  I think the nurse (Mrs. Butts – I can’t make this stuff up) now knows me better than any of my friends.  One of the questions was the height of the steps in my house… weird.  She swore it had something to do with orthopedic surgeries.  Riiiight.  Anyway – I am almost surprised they didn’t ask for our gross family income or something.  I think some of the questions were related to the government and Mr. Presidente getting all up in our bees-wax.

Of course I couldn’t leave there without meeting with the financial lady.  When I got dressed this morning I mentally went through about 5 outfits before landing on the one I finally wore.  There were two factors that kept me changing my mind: (1) it was windy, chilly and rainy and (2) I had to talk to the finance lady and I wanted to see what all of my options were before she forced me to throw a credit card down on the table to pay in full.  We discussed all of my options (well, all TWO of them…pay in full and get an extra 10% discount or pay half and only get the original 75% discount).

Yeah.  Seventy-five percent discount because I was considered “self-pay”.  I get excited when I get a pair of pants or a sweater for 75-85% off.  I am trying to figure out how come I didn’t have the same level of excitement when I was told about this discount.  I mean, it’s like this surgery is on the clearance rack!  Let’s look at it like that…  you know, it’s so cheap, I couldn’t just leave it on the shelf!

The Mr. is going to be my nurse.  We have moved a mini-fridge upstairs for my convenience during the first few days at least.  I also get upgraded to the side of the bed closest to the bathroom.  It’s the little things, ya know?  He’s going to be working on his mad Call of Duty skillz during my naps and general drooling time.  (I felt the need to note this so that maybe I’ll remember to follow up on how this has really played out…)

As my entertainment, today I bought a 2000 piece puzzle and a 750 piece puzzle.  I also have a goal of finishing my cross-stitching that I started early in college (like circa 2004…yeah, that long ago!).  So I will rest my weary jaw bone and try to accomplish some goals all at the same time.  Kill all the birds with one massive couch sitting rock.  That’s me.

I need to take and post some “before” shots so that perhaps we’ll see the difference on here.

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In hindsight...

My last post should have more appropriately said something along the lines of “My teeth gleamin’ like I’m chewing on aluminum foil.” 

 

And my orthodontist should have a sign that says:  “Call me George Forman, ‘cause I’m selling everybody grillz.”

Oh, Nelly.  You are so poetic.

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Robbed the jewelry store...

 

 

…and told them to make me a grill!  If you thought my last grill was sweet – this grill is sah-weet! 

Actually, it’s essentially the same grill – just with some new hardware. 

I got the surgical hooks put on my wires today.  Look how excited I am…  The hooks really aren’t too bad.  They feel cumbersome in my mouth and the bottom row is rubbing the inside of my lip – but that is to be expected.  It took a little while to get them in because they had to place them individually, then put the wire in and look at it…take it out, and then wash, rinse, repeat.

I know the hooks aren’t so obvious to most people – but I feel like they are screaming “look at me!!” 

I was told that these come off as soon as the oral surgeon releases me back to the orthodontist to finish his work.  That’s about the 6 week mark when the surgeon (hopefully) gives me a clean bill of health.  That’s also the day that I get told that I can eat things like hamburgers and steaks and pork chops and anything that requires chewing again.  Yay!

 

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…I am on the schedule

…at “The Saint”, as my oral surgeon calls the hospital that I am going to be at.

I mentioned back in April that I had gotten braces to align my teeth for jaw surgery.  I wish I had written more about some of my crazy orthodontic appointments. 

You know, like the time I had to lay out a schedule for my orthodontist to show him that if we didn’t do some cutting in January then we wouldn’t be cutting until April (because of my old man’s work travel schedule).  He wasn’t a fan of having to come take care of me while Mr. Dr was out of town… and I wasn’t a fan of waiting until April since we had been discussing January 2012 since January 2011.  But it’s okay.  His thing is teeth…I guess my thing is being organized, scheduled and prompt.  I think he could use someone like me in his office – although the medical world and their sluggish nature would just grate on every single on of my nerves.

At any rate…I mentioned in that post that I would document the experience.  I didn’t document a whole lot up until this point.  It’s pretty uneventful.  If you’ve had braces – you’ve lived my last 12 months..except when you’re on the docket for surgery you get impressions done every other time you go once you get close to surgery time.  I had three sets made with one more happening before surgery.  Probably one shortly after surgery and then obviously a final one (at a minimum) for retainers.

FAQ’s:

(1) Will your jaw be wired shut??  I bet your husband will be happy about that!
Nope.  They will wire me closed during the surgery to make sure that they get “perfect” alignment, but I will be cut free before I wake up.  There will be rubber bands in my mouth to guide my jaw in my new bite.  I’m not sure how tight these rubber bands are going to be – but I have a feeling they are going to be tight.  Apparently if one breaks, I have to take the other off and then go to the office to be put back on.

(2) ZOMG, you are going to wither away. What are you going to eat???
ZOMG!  I be on a “non-chewing” diet for 6 weeks.  That’s vague as ever, right?  Basically it means that my teeth cannot come in contact with each other for 6 weeks.  After 6 weeks, I suppose I’ll have to take them out for a nice dinner and reintroduce them, otherwise it could get awkward.  Diet could (and may) include things like scrambled eggs, oatmeal, smoothies, mashed potatoes, apple sauce, pudding, jello, ice cream, etc etc.  The diet WILL NOT include hamburgers, steak, corn on the cob… so don’t bring them buy for me.

(3) I bet that’s going to be really, really, really painful! I feel for you.
Well, apparently your lower jaw is numb for the 6 weeks or so.  Or at least that’s what I’m told.  To me that says “cake walk” in the pain department – maybe some Aleve or Tylenol or something.  I brought this up with the oral surgeon – he said those weren’t strong enough pain meds.  So this stuff must be something fierce if numbness can’t hold it back.  We’ll see – I’ll have to come back and report on that.

(4) How long are you going to be out of work?  What’s your schedule??
Schedule:
Jan 16 –Surgical Hooks (I am sure they are as pleasant as they sound)
Jan 23 – Pre-assessment at the hospital + write “The Saint” a big fat check
Jan 24 – Pre-op with the surgeons – Dr. D and his Enforcer.  I hope I can get a picture of these guys.  Apparently they are the best and come highly recommended…and they are funny. Win-Win.
Jan 31 – D-Day.  Let’s get this girl a new grill.  Maybe some D cups while I’m under, too??

I will be out of work for at least 2 weeks…maybe 3-4 weeks.  But at least 2 full weeks.  Raise your hand if you want to come kick it with me while I’m out… We can watch Dr. Oz and other non-food related shows.

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2012: To resolve or not to resolve

That’s the question on most people’s minds right now right? 

First of all – how tired are you of reading about what people’s New Year Resolutions are?  I’m sure your blog feed is FULL of them all and you probably clicked “Mark All As Read” :-) 

At any rate, feel free to click “read” if you so desire.

I’m not completely sure if I want to set a baseline of resolutions for 2012.  I have no idea where this year is going to take me.  At the beginning of 2011 I knew I wanted to lose a few more pounds, start running, take & pass the PE… 

This year?  I have no idea what I am doing post-January.  Heck – I’m not even sure what January holds for me. 

I have seen around blog land some folks who do monthly goals.  I think for a while I am going to try this monthly goal thing.  (I will probably have to set a reminder on my phone so I don’t forget about setting my monthly goals… how sad is that?!)

January Goals

1. Jaw surgery. Get it done. Survive it. Keep eating enough calories when I am only able to consume liquids… so I don’t look like skeletore. Yeah, let’s get that done. :-)
2. Run the Greenville News 5k on January 21.  This depends on the un-scheduled surgery date that I am *patiently* waiting to be scheduled…
3. Finish 3 books.  Should be easy if I’m laid up on the couch, right? :-)

 

Anyone have any good suggestions for me?  What should my 2012 goals be?

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Windows Live Writer

I am giving Windows Live Writer a whirl for my blogger.  The blogger format essentially makes me want to pull my hair out…not to mention the fight I have every time I want to upload pictures or make a list or change the font.  You have to go start messing with the html settings.  When I want to blog or write, I just want to type as fast as I can think and be done with it.  Frankly, I don’t often proofread my posts either – which is one reason why I could never be a blogger for a living.  Sometimes my posts are all stream of consciousness and I like it like that.

I heard about Windows Live Writer through a blog that I regularly follow because I love her house.  Centsational Girl is a great website and she shared her blogging secret way back in September 2011.  I bookmarked it then (since I was hard and heavy studying) and swore I would come back to it.  New year, new leaf, more blogging? (maybe). 

So here I am – giving the new program a go.  So far, I am in absolutely love!

I am off for a run because the weather is beautiful outside.  Hopefully this program will get me more into putting my thoughts down so that I can have something to come back and look at some day. 

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How Did I Win the Weight Loss Journey?

First of all, please ignore my absence - I can't ever promise regular blogging.  Also, please excuse my bad pictures. :)

I have had several people ask me a lot of questions about losing weight.  A lot of them fall into some semblance of:
(1) How'd you do it???
(2) What? Did you stop eating?
(3) So,are you hungry all the time?

The answer to these is:
(1) Hard work
(2) No
(3) No

I have spent a lot of time and energy changing my diet (in the terms of nutrition, not weight loss fad) and changing my lifestyle.

One of the things that helped me a lot was getting familiar with portions and making those portions SUPER easy to measure out for breakfast and lunch at work.  The little container below is 1 cup.  Most cereals are a 1 cup serving (except the one below, which is 3/4 cup - but usually I eat a cup and adjust the calories accordingly).  This is part of my breakfast.  The other part is normally a piece of fruit and a cup of coffee - with a splash of cream and Splenda.

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