3 weeks and 5 days post op. I am so bored. Having been patient enough to sit through X Factor, I am now being forced to watch A Night with Will Young. Fabulous Darling. Waiting for Match of the Day.
Back to the whole flawed jaws thing.. today has been horrendous. I visited the dental hospital yesterday and they said I needed to persist with the elastic bands as the centre line of my front teeth still requires a bit of tweaking for it to be perfect. It's probably only about 1mm out but I suppose that having gone through everything I've gone through, we may as well get this thing done properly. I also asked the orthodontist to take out the dissolvable stitches out as they hadn't dissolved and they felt quite uncomfortable. I have to say that it was bloody painful. I had read up on this beforehand and most people say they just felt a slight pulling. I was prepared for that. What I was less prepared for was feeling as though they were slicing open my gums and my upper labial frenum (that little piece of stringy tissue that connects your lip to your gum - I Googled that by the way) with a blunt stanley knife. It was so sore. Nevertheless, I was a good little soldier and didn't utter one swear word whilst they went about their snipping and pulling. I think that's why today is horrendous, it just feels really aggravated. They left a small bit of suture (stitch) in that really sore part of the inside of my upper lip. I saw it today and proceeded to pull it out myself without causing any real discomfort.
I also found out that the left side (lower) was actually infected which is why it is more swollen than my right side. I thought it was as it feels a lot more swollen and I sometimes get that metallic taste. So for the last few days I have been gargling with hot salt water. They haven't prescribed any antibiotics. I also went to see my Doctor on Thursday. He suggested I go back to the gym now starting with low intensity cardio work. It was music to my ears as I have really missed the whole gym thing. So, I went back on Friday morning and did some fairly slow pace treadmill and bike work. Loved it. The doc also signed me off of work until the end of September.
The fact that the swelling keeps going up and down is frustrating. Just when you think you are making progress, BANG, Errol the Hamster makes an appearance in the bathroom mirror whilst I'm shaving. It's not just the look of it, I feel as though I have a gimp mask on (complete with snooker ball gag) Just for the record, I have never worn a gimp mask nor do I wish to ever wear one.
Time for bed I think, I am shattered. Good night all.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Day 22
So just over 3 weeks post op and I'm starting to have more 'up' days than 'down'. Credit to the England Test Cricket side who have helped enormously! It's still odd looking at my new face in the mirror. I find myself scrutinising every last detail and wondering whether that's how the final result will look or whether the swelling is still affecting it. I'm pretty sure that I'm nowhere near the final result though, the swelling is still quite bad although it is improving. My left side is definitely more swollen than my right and I'm not sure why but I'm told that this is fairly normal.
I'm starting to be a bit more adventurous with my food now. I'm still not allowed to chew and my mouth is still invaded by tight elastic bands which prevent me opening my mouth too wide. You can't keep a greedy man down though and so I recently tucked into a Singapore Fried rice (drowned in 3 pots of curry sauce to make it easier to swallow). There were strips of meat in there as well which I just cut up a little and then swallowed straight down. Don't forget that I couldn't really chew properly before the op (hence the surgery) so to me, swallowing food without chewing it properly is standard practice. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed it even if it did take me a whole episode of "The Borgias" to get through it!! I'm still eating in front of a mirror too because the numbness in my lower lip and chin means that I don't know when I'm getting food all down my face!
The numbness either side of my nose has reduced significantly but lower lip and chin are still completely dead. Not too worried at the moment as it is very early days in that regard but it makes it difficult to drink and kissing the wife and kids is a strange sensation. (Always been that way with the Mrs though ha ha - just kidding honey!). I am still getting strange tightening, spasms and pins and needles in my face though which I presume is the nerve endings regenerating.
My speech has improved a bit but it is still very tiring to talk, probably because the muscles need exercising although I can't do that until the bands come out and allow me to open my mouth properly. Laughing is still painful and sneezing is even worse!! I find that excessive talking aggravates the swelling anyway so it's best I continue to keep quiet.... off fishing on my own it is then.
The elastic bands appear to be doing their job and the mid-line (the line between the centre top two and bottom two is almost perfectly aligned). Hoping I can get these elastics off soon though, they are not nice.
Back in to see the orthodontist this Friday - I'll try and do another update then.
I'm starting to be a bit more adventurous with my food now. I'm still not allowed to chew and my mouth is still invaded by tight elastic bands which prevent me opening my mouth too wide. You can't keep a greedy man down though and so I recently tucked into a Singapore Fried rice (drowned in 3 pots of curry sauce to make it easier to swallow). There were strips of meat in there as well which I just cut up a little and then swallowed straight down. Don't forget that I couldn't really chew properly before the op (hence the surgery) so to me, swallowing food without chewing it properly is standard practice. Anyway I thoroughly enjoyed it even if it did take me a whole episode of "The Borgias" to get through it!! I'm still eating in front of a mirror too because the numbness in my lower lip and chin means that I don't know when I'm getting food all down my face!
The numbness either side of my nose has reduced significantly but lower lip and chin are still completely dead. Not too worried at the moment as it is very early days in that regard but it makes it difficult to drink and kissing the wife and kids is a strange sensation. (Always been that way with the Mrs though ha ha - just kidding honey!). I am still getting strange tightening, spasms and pins and needles in my face though which I presume is the nerve endings regenerating.
My speech has improved a bit but it is still very tiring to talk, probably because the muscles need exercising although I can't do that until the bands come out and allow me to open my mouth properly. Laughing is still painful and sneezing is even worse!! I find that excessive talking aggravates the swelling anyway so it's best I continue to keep quiet.... off fishing on my own it is then.
The elastic bands appear to be doing their job and the mid-line (the line between the centre top two and bottom two is almost perfectly aligned). Hoping I can get these elastics off soon though, they are not nice.
Back in to see the orthodontist this Friday - I'll try and do another update then.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Day 18
Hi this is Jodie, Wayne's better half. I thought I'd post an entry on his blog as he's left himself logged in. Besides, his blog is starting to become pretty boring so I thought I'd give you my view on how things are going.
Let me just get this off my chest to start with. I have not stopped running around after him. His constant groaning and demanding, not to mention that bloody door bell he keeps ringing. He calls on me for everything, tissues, soup, drinks, straws, tablets. I think he forgets that I am also single handedly looking after a 2 year old and a 4 month old. I know he's in recovery but I am absolutely shattered! I don't begrudge it really, that's what love is about. Plus I am keeping track of every last thing I'm doing for him - he is gonna owe me big time. I mean fancy restaurants, flowers, doing all the housework - you name it.
Anyway I should really give you a bit of an update as to how he is progressing. His swelling has gone down quite a bit but he still looks like Popeye with an abscess. It is starting to take shape now though and you can sort of see how the final results may look (Wayne insists he can't see hardly any progress at all though). I don't think he is in much pain although I do think that things must still be pretty uncomfortable as he often gets intense pins and needles in his face. He still complains about the elastic bands that he has to wear. They do look tight but they do a good job in keeping his mouth shut. It's the only thing that keeps his whinging to a manageable level. He still can't eat or chew and I think that he is missing his favourite foods. In fairness though, over the last couple of days he has been a bit more upbeat and positive and I hope that continues - for both our sakes. Still can't bring myself to kiss that big fat face of his though, it doesn't matter, even if I did he wouldn't be able to feel it.
Confession time... I suspect that most of the people reading this who know Wayne have realised that that everything written above was actually written by me... Wayne. I just thought I'd try and write the blog from Jodie's perspective albeit a bit tongue in cheek. I don't think she is resentful (as I might have made out above), Jodie isn't that sort of person. She has been so supportive and exactly what I've needed. Thanks Mojo, I love you. I'm signing off now, it's taking me long enough to drink this bottle of wine through a straw as it is, without trying to type at the same time.
Let me just get this off my chest to start with. I have not stopped running around after him. His constant groaning and demanding, not to mention that bloody door bell he keeps ringing. He calls on me for everything, tissues, soup, drinks, straws, tablets. I think he forgets that I am also single handedly looking after a 2 year old and a 4 month old. I know he's in recovery but I am absolutely shattered! I don't begrudge it really, that's what love is about. Plus I am keeping track of every last thing I'm doing for him - he is gonna owe me big time. I mean fancy restaurants, flowers, doing all the housework - you name it.
Anyway I should really give you a bit of an update as to how he is progressing. His swelling has gone down quite a bit but he still looks like Popeye with an abscess. It is starting to take shape now though and you can sort of see how the final results may look (Wayne insists he can't see hardly any progress at all though). I don't think he is in much pain although I do think that things must still be pretty uncomfortable as he often gets intense pins and needles in his face. He still complains about the elastic bands that he has to wear. They do look tight but they do a good job in keeping his mouth shut. It's the only thing that keeps his whinging to a manageable level. He still can't eat or chew and I think that he is missing his favourite foods. In fairness though, over the last couple of days he has been a bit more upbeat and positive and I hope that continues - for both our sakes. Still can't bring myself to kiss that big fat face of his though, it doesn't matter, even if I did he wouldn't be able to feel it.
Confession time... I suspect that most of the people reading this who know Wayne have realised that that everything written above was actually written by me... Wayne. I just thought I'd try and write the blog from Jodie's perspective albeit a bit tongue in cheek. I don't think she is resentful (as I might have made out above), Jodie isn't that sort of person. She has been so supportive and exactly what I've needed. Thanks Mojo, I love you. I'm signing off now, it's taking me long enough to drink this bottle of wine through a straw as it is, without trying to type at the same time.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Day 15
Day 15 and I am feeling right fed up. I shouldn't moan because according to the orthodontist all is going well and according to family and friends, I am looking better each day. I just can't see it. I'm still checking mirrors, reflections etc but can only see a very minor improvement. I can't even blame the painkillers for my moods anymore because I stopped taking them... well besides the fact that they tasted disgusting, they stopped nature taking its course and that was more painful than my face! Sorry, too much info again? I'm still swollen, in fact I think I look like one of those old cartoon characters whose face has been blown up with a bicycle pump.
Here are a few of the things I am still unable to do:
I promise to try and make the next post a bit more positive.
Here are a few of the things I am still unable to do:
- Chew
- Smile
- Say more than a sentence or two without getting face ache
- Go a whole day without falling asleep about 5 times (perhaps that's just my laziness gene).
- Feel my cheeks, chin(s), bottom lip.
- Play football (although I couldn't play before either)
- Brushed my teeth - well sort of. Even though I could only reach about 25% of the surface area of my teeth it still felt like heaven.
- Drank from a cup - well sort of. I dribbled most of it. It's hard when you can't feel your bottom lip!
- Did some work up the allotment - well sort of. I held the carrier bags whilst my brother filled them up with the fruits of our (my) labour.
- Spent some quality time with my wife and kids up the park - well sort of. I went to the park about 3 minutes walk away from my house, sat on a bench pretty much the whole time (20 mins) and then came home and fell asleep.
I promise to try and make the next post a bit more positive.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Day 10
I'd thought I'd post a message tonight... mainly because I feel I have a duty to the millions of you who read this inspirational account of one man's emotional journey to maxillofacial perfection. Ok ok so there's no way to make this shit exciting but I suppose it offers a break from the rioting and economic meltdown news stories.
I am so fed up with all of this now. Before I went through with this, I did loads of reading up on what it would feel like post op, both mentally and physically. I read endless accounts of people measuring their ever reducing swelling, millimetre by millimetre. Everyone jumping into bed with each other on internet chat message boards sharing their stories along the lines of "hey don't worry, it's normal to feel down at about day 10, keep going, you can do it" and "wow you look so like amaaaazing in your post op photos". I thought it was ridiculous. All these people are just after a tiny crumb of comfort or ego-boost from somebody who might live thousands of miles away and may have had a similar sort of operation... why?
So that wasn't going to happen to me. I have the support of a very loving family and this is something I've wanted all my life. I was in the hands of a good surgeon and was fit and healthy. For me the main issue was going to be the lack of food and drink.... except that it's not. I have become that person who is now checking for signs of swelling going down every couple of hours. Examining every minor contour of my face wondering whether that is how it is going to stay or whether it is just swelling. I even signed up to this jaw surgery forum online! (Although I haven't written anything on there....yet). I feel more nervous now than I did 11 days ago, wondering what the final results will look like. Will I have cheeks like Droopy Dog for the rest of my life? Will I have lips like Leslie Ash after a botox overdose? Will I ever get any feeling back in my lower face? I don't know the answer to any of these questions at the moment although those who have visited have promised me that things are improving rapidly. Bless em.
Tonight, I have had the most intense tingling in my face since the op. It's not painful but it is a very uncomfortable sensation, throbbing and pins and needles type thing with an occasional electric shock thrown in. It makes my whole body cringe. My understanding (based on the weirdos experiences on the internet forums) that this is a good sign, in that it signals the nerves regenerating. Whether that is true or not I don't know, but it is a damn sight more comforting than thinking that it may be relapse and that my face is gonna fall off within the next 10 minutes.
Back to the dental hospital tomorrow. I suspect that means one thing. Elastic bands. Lots of them. All pulling in different directions to help the "tweaking". Ah well, its the home straight I suppose. Six months and then it should be braces off and smiles all round. For now, it's back to the soup, mashed potato and trifle all washed down with fizzy cocodamol. Yum. I'll let you all get back to your riot updates.
I am so fed up with all of this now. Before I went through with this, I did loads of reading up on what it would feel like post op, both mentally and physically. I read endless accounts of people measuring their ever reducing swelling, millimetre by millimetre. Everyone jumping into bed with each other on internet chat message boards sharing their stories along the lines of "hey don't worry, it's normal to feel down at about day 10, keep going, you can do it" and "wow you look so like amaaaazing in your post op photos". I thought it was ridiculous. All these people are just after a tiny crumb of comfort or ego-boost from somebody who might live thousands of miles away and may have had a similar sort of operation... why?
So that wasn't going to happen to me. I have the support of a very loving family and this is something I've wanted all my life. I was in the hands of a good surgeon and was fit and healthy. For me the main issue was going to be the lack of food and drink.... except that it's not. I have become that person who is now checking for signs of swelling going down every couple of hours. Examining every minor contour of my face wondering whether that is how it is going to stay or whether it is just swelling. I even signed up to this jaw surgery forum online! (Although I haven't written anything on there....yet). I feel more nervous now than I did 11 days ago, wondering what the final results will look like. Will I have cheeks like Droopy Dog for the rest of my life? Will I have lips like Leslie Ash after a botox overdose? Will I ever get any feeling back in my lower face? I don't know the answer to any of these questions at the moment although those who have visited have promised me that things are improving rapidly. Bless em.
Tonight, I have had the most intense tingling in my face since the op. It's not painful but it is a very uncomfortable sensation, throbbing and pins and needles type thing with an occasional electric shock thrown in. It makes my whole body cringe. My understanding (based on the weirdos experiences on the internet forums) that this is a good sign, in that it signals the nerves regenerating. Whether that is true or not I don't know, but it is a damn sight more comforting than thinking that it may be relapse and that my face is gonna fall off within the next 10 minutes.
Back to the dental hospital tomorrow. I suspect that means one thing. Elastic bands. Lots of them. All pulling in different directions to help the "tweaking". Ah well, its the home straight I suppose. Six months and then it should be braces off and smiles all round. For now, it's back to the soup, mashed potato and trifle all washed down with fizzy cocodamol. Yum. I'll let you all get back to your riot updates.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Day 7
It has now been one week since the surgery and, believe it or not, that time has passed seemingly quickly. In terms of progress I am eating slightly more now (today I've had weetabix, yoghurts and a tuna mayo sandwich) although it's a struggle. Part of the struggle is that I still don't have any real appetite. I know! Me! With no appetite??!?! Perhaps it's the painkillers. The other part of the struggle is the whole ritual I have to engage in every time I do eat. Remove bands, press bell chime to order food (just kidding), take smaller mouthfuls than a weaning baby, try and suck food through middle of mouth to avoid food sticking in bands. That in itself takes ages. Then I embark on the cleaning part. Mix mouthwash with water and carefully syringe into my mouth making sure every remaining crumb is removed. Actually that isn't as easy as it sounds when your mouth is numb! I can't get a toothbrush in there yet. Then I have to put the elastics back on. I am fed right up with it.
The swelling is going down a fair bit although at the moment it would be hard to tell me and the Churchill dog apart. In fairness, although I'm having a bit of a whinge in this post, I don't feel too bad considering it is only a week since the op. I'm fairly optimistic about the results but its hard to be 100% positive when you're not 100% sure about how your face will look once the swelling has gone. I should stop thinking about it really, apparently the residual swelling can take 4-6 months to disappear completely.
I have been making the effort to get up, showered and shaved but the tiredness is still there. I fell asleep watching TV this afternoon and woke up drenched in dribble. I might go out for a short walk in a bit, not because I feel particularly energetic, more because the wife doesn't want me dribbling around the house! I'll keep the blogs to every couple of days or so for a while... unless people are finding this a particularly useful sleeping aid??
I know I can't eat grapes etc but please feel free to make donations to my nominated charity - the SSAC foundation.
SSAC is the Stella, Steak and Chips foundation. All donations will be used to purchase said items to the value of monies received as and when I am able to stuff my face again.
The swelling is going down a fair bit although at the moment it would be hard to tell me and the Churchill dog apart. In fairness, although I'm having a bit of a whinge in this post, I don't feel too bad considering it is only a week since the op. I'm fairly optimistic about the results but its hard to be 100% positive when you're not 100% sure about how your face will look once the swelling has gone. I should stop thinking about it really, apparently the residual swelling can take 4-6 months to disappear completely.
I have been making the effort to get up, showered and shaved but the tiredness is still there. I fell asleep watching TV this afternoon and woke up drenched in dribble. I might go out for a short walk in a bit, not because I feel particularly energetic, more because the wife doesn't want me dribbling around the house! I'll keep the blogs to every couple of days or so for a while... unless people are finding this a particularly useful sleeping aid??
I know I can't eat grapes etc but please feel free to make donations to my nominated charity - the SSAC foundation.
SSAC is the Stella, Steak and Chips foundation. All donations will be used to purchase said items to the value of monies received as and when I am able to stuff my face again.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Day 4
Had a fairly good nights sleep and feel a bit better for it. Swelling has gone down a bit more although strangely it feels much tighter around the front of my face today. Nausea still there but nowhere near as bad as it has been. I dread taking the painkillers. They are soluble but they taste horrible and trying to drink them back quickly through a straw is not easy. I'm still prone to dribbling a lot too. The problem being that I am still completely numb around my mouth and chin so my bottom lip just tends to fall open! It's really quite attractive ha ha.
Had to go back to the dental hospital for a check on the elastics they had fitted previously. They were fine although they thought it would be nice to add an extra one in which runs diagonally from my top right canine to bottom left canine. I have to take this out when I try to eat which is bloody awkward.
Have managed a couple of weetabix today and some milkshake but got on the scales and have already lost 10lb since going in to hospital. Really need to force some more food down me as I am feeling quite weak now.
Overall I'm fairly upbeat about things and how it's all panning out. I do get times during the day where I just feel miserable but I tend to use these times to have a sleep. I think it's just a case of getting through each day for the time being and not expecting too much too soon. Been nice to have some visitors as well, helps break it up a bit. Apologies if I've dribbled on anyone.
Had to go back to the dental hospital for a check on the elastics they had fitted previously. They were fine although they thought it would be nice to add an extra one in which runs diagonally from my top right canine to bottom left canine. I have to take this out when I try to eat which is bloody awkward.
Have managed a couple of weetabix today and some milkshake but got on the scales and have already lost 10lb since going in to hospital. Really need to force some more food down me as I am feeling quite weak now.
Overall I'm fairly upbeat about things and how it's all panning out. I do get times during the day where I just feel miserable but I tend to use these times to have a sleep. I think it's just a case of getting through each day for the time being and not expecting too much too soon. Been nice to have some visitors as well, helps break it up a bit. Apologies if I've dribbled on anyone.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Day 3
The quietness I was anticipating failed to materialise as the poor old guy next to me gargled and choked his way through til sunrise and the horrendous nausea I felt yesterday continued through the night and into this morning. I put it down to the drugs and the practice nurse tended to agree with me. The antibiotic syrup tasted disgusting on the way down but when you then have to cough it back up through a mostly closed mouth, trust me it's not good. Apparently it was that antibiotic and the Tramadol causing the intense nausea, so we agreed to stop it. Settled for a much simpler routine of cocodemol every four hours. I was actually wondering whether they'd let me home given that I hadn't really eaten anything since Sunday. So I forced down another yoghurt in an attempt to convince them that I was "fine".
I was told the swelling was already starting to go down a bit which was reassuring, although I couldn't help wondering what the final result would feel and look like and whether it would have all been worth it.
I had to have a meeting with the dietician before I left although I didn't get much from her that I didn't already know. I knew I had to eat, I knew I had to build up my calorie intake and I knew that I probably wouldn't be tucking into a T-Bone steak for a while yet. "Start off with soft foods" she said..... no shit sherlock!! Anyway I sat there and nodded for a few minutes before she toddled off.
I was picked up at 1pm and got home shortly after. I was nervous about my daughter's reaction. My boy is too young to know though. I was right to be nervous. As I walked up the garden path her face was one of shock, she sort of knew who I was but looked scared stiff as I got closer. I tried to mumble a lively "hello" to reassure her but it didn't really work. I didn't push it as I didn't want to scare her even more so I walked upstairs and just broke down in tears. That was probably the toughest part of this whole ordeal so far.
She did start to come round slowly and it wasn't long before she was reaching for her Doctor's case in a bid to make me feel better. Bless her. It was good to be home and the familiar sound of family life made me feel much more relaxed. Nice to get back in my own bed as well!
I was told the swelling was already starting to go down a bit which was reassuring, although I couldn't help wondering what the final result would feel and look like and whether it would have all been worth it.
I had to have a meeting with the dietician before I left although I didn't get much from her that I didn't already know. I knew I had to eat, I knew I had to build up my calorie intake and I knew that I probably wouldn't be tucking into a T-Bone steak for a while yet. "Start off with soft foods" she said..... no shit sherlock!! Anyway I sat there and nodded for a few minutes before she toddled off.
I was picked up at 1pm and got home shortly after. I was nervous about my daughter's reaction. My boy is too young to know though. I was right to be nervous. As I walked up the garden path her face was one of shock, she sort of knew who I was but looked scared stiff as I got closer. I tried to mumble a lively "hello" to reassure her but it didn't really work. I didn't push it as I didn't want to scare her even more so I walked upstairs and just broke down in tears. That was probably the toughest part of this whole ordeal so far.
She did start to come round slowly and it wasn't long before she was reaching for her Doctor's case in a bid to make me feel better. Bless her. It was good to be home and the familiar sound of family life made me feel much more relaxed. Nice to get back in my own bed as well!
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Day 2
Not a good day today. Felt awful, not just physically but also mentally. I keep urging myself to be positive as I know that will help my recovery. I just haven't got the energy, all I want to do is close my eyes.
The nausea isn't helping. I'm not sure whether it's down to the heat or the drugs or both but I feel so sick, even the thought of the ice cream that tasted so good yesterday just turns my stomach. They are playing about with the drugs a fair bit today, intravenous, soluble, broken up tablets, suppositories (sorry) and it has taken its toll. On top of this I had to go to the dental hospital where I was fitted with some very 'snug' elastic bands just to help guide everything into its final position. The orthodontist was very nice about it though!
So back onto the ward and Jodie, who had come with me to the dental hospital, stuck around a bit longer for more photographs and a chat. What an absolute angel and I miss her and the kids like mad.
I was then moved to a completely different part of the hospital ahead of my planned discharge tomorrow. If I'm honest, I don't feel well enough to go. At least this ward is a bit quieter.
The nausea isn't helping. I'm not sure whether it's down to the heat or the drugs or both but I feel so sick, even the thought of the ice cream that tasted so good yesterday just turns my stomach. They are playing about with the drugs a fair bit today, intravenous, soluble, broken up tablets, suppositories (sorry) and it has taken its toll. On top of this I had to go to the dental hospital where I was fitted with some very 'snug' elastic bands just to help guide everything into its final position. The orthodontist was very nice about it though!
So back onto the ward and Jodie, who had come with me to the dental hospital, stuck around a bit longer for more photographs and a chat. What an absolute angel and I miss her and the kids like mad.
I was then moved to a completely different part of the hospital ahead of my planned discharge tomorrow. If I'm honest, I don't feel well enough to go. At least this ward is a bit quieter.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Day 1
Still on the morphine. Patient Controlled Analgesia or "PCA" (is there no getting away from the work related acronyms?). This means I can dose myself up as much as I like - well within a prescribed limit anyway - at the press of a button. So that's exactly what I do. All day.
Was feeling a bit down this morning, not sure why. Perhaps it had something to do with the massive face and that every time I sat up or leaned forward I oozed a mixture of blood and saliva from my mouth and nose. An improvement on last night though when I filled a whole bowl of vomited blood (graphic enough for you yet?)
As the day progressed though I started to feel a bit better. Jodie came to visit at 2pm and I was literally counting down the minutes until she arrived. Out came the camera for the mug shots and for this visit I stayed awake for the whole hour! By tea time was sipping through a straw (a 50/50 mix with air anyway, which gave me nightmare hiccups) and even ate 2 tubs of vanilla ice cream. Nothing keeps me off of food for that long.
It's 10.55pm now and the nutter next to me has finally stopped banging on about having a sleeping pill. Moaning and groaning about the pain he was in - he doesn't know what pain is..... imagine not knowing when you'll be able to eat your next extra large kebab and chips!
Was feeling a bit down this morning, not sure why. Perhaps it had something to do with the massive face and that every time I sat up or leaned forward I oozed a mixture of blood and saliva from my mouth and nose. An improvement on last night though when I filled a whole bowl of vomited blood (graphic enough for you yet?)
As the day progressed though I started to feel a bit better. Jodie came to visit at 2pm and I was literally counting down the minutes until she arrived. Out came the camera for the mug shots and for this visit I stayed awake for the whole hour! By tea time was sipping through a straw (a 50/50 mix with air anyway, which gave me nightmare hiccups) and even ate 2 tubs of vanilla ice cream. Nothing keeps me off of food for that long.
It's 10.55pm now and the nutter next to me has finally stopped banging on about having a sleeping pill. Moaning and groaning about the pain he was in - he doesn't know what pain is..... imagine not knowing when you'll be able to eat your next extra large kebab and chips!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Day 0 - Day of surgery
Pre op: Didn't get much sleep, beginning to wonder whether I've been put onto a psychiatric ward with all of these strange people around me! It's 7.30am and I'm first on the list so go in to have my operation in about an hour. Feeling a mixture of emotions from excitement to nervousness to plain old fear. All the staff are excellent though. This is the first time I've ever been to hospital and the work that people do there is nothing short of amazing. Anyway, going in shortly so just time for a few last minute phone calls and texts...
Post op: Well any fear I had about the general anaesthetic were completely unfounded. It was exactly as I was told it would be - straight to sleep and then awake in what seemed like an instant. It wasn't an instant though, apparently I was in surgery for 4 hours and in recovery for another 3.
It was a bit of a blur coming round from the GA but I recall feeling very relaxed and relieved to be awake! Stayed drowsy for the rest of the day, even when Jo came in I was drifting in and out of sleep. I knew she'd be upset when she saw my face, mind you, I looked hideous! I was very swollen and bloody but exactly as expected. The first thing I noticed was my complementary nose job. Where the upper jaw had been brought forward, it had lifted the tip of my nose which was drooping more and more with age!! Then I saw the teeth. My top teeth were actually biting over my bottom teeth - result! Plus I hadn't yet had elastics fitted so I could open and close enough to get a sense of how the final result may look.
All in all... wow... what a day. Glad it's over though.
Post op: Well any fear I had about the general anaesthetic were completely unfounded. It was exactly as I was told it would be - straight to sleep and then awake in what seemed like an instant. It wasn't an instant though, apparently I was in surgery for 4 hours and in recovery for another 3.
It was a bit of a blur coming round from the GA but I recall feeling very relaxed and relieved to be awake! Stayed drowsy for the rest of the day, even when Jo came in I was drifting in and out of sleep. I knew she'd be upset when she saw my face, mind you, I looked hideous! I was very swollen and bloody but exactly as expected. The first thing I noticed was my complementary nose job. Where the upper jaw had been brought forward, it had lifted the tip of my nose which was drooping more and more with age!! Then I saw the teeth. My top teeth were actually biting over my bottom teeth - result! Plus I hadn't yet had elastics fitted so I could open and close enough to get a sense of how the final result may look.
All in all... wow... what a day. Glad it's over though.
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