It's now been a full week since surgery & I'm definitely feeling on the mend. Today I went with my Mum to see a movie & wandered around Garden City for a bit without getting any horrified stares (I did plaster makeup over my bruises though!).
I'm still swollen but it has definitely gone down a lot. A lot of my mouth & face is still completely numb and some has just partial feeling. Pretty much from my eyes down is feeling a bit fuzzy. My whole face & particularly my chin feels totally strange - like it's pulsing & spasming although its not actually moving. Apparently this is a good sign that circulation is happening & nerve sensations are returning.
My bruising has started to ease today - the dark red bruising is turning lighter purple & the blue has gone green/yellow. The bruising & swelling are both actually disappearing a lot quicker than I thought.
Due to the lack of sensation I'm finding it pretty much impossible to do things I normally would, like purse my lips, suck through a straw, lick my lips, rub lips together (like you do when you put on lipstick) - that's very strange!
I'm also struggling a bit with blocked sinuses, particularly on the left (it seems like the breathing tube in my RH nostril helped keep the sinus open & that doesn't get blocked as easily). The nose spray is starting to work & using the humidifier at night is helping a lot. Monday night I had my first full nights sleep! Very excited by that. Every other night I have woken up every hour or so.
I'm eating quite a bit now & although it takes me a while & I have to mash it up a bit, it's sooo good not being on liquids! My mouth has been quite sore today (Tuesday) - all over, but particularly my palate, stitch lines (which are right at the base of the gums where the lips start on both jaws), my outer lips & just inside my lips by my canine teeth where I've had elastic bands.
I've actually been pretty lucky with the elastics - some surgeons tightly band, but mine didn't & he's also pretty understanding about them. He would prefer me to keep them on all the time, but if I get very sore or claustrophobic he's fine about taking them out for a bit. I've had my elastics out most of today & I'll leave them off tonight so my lips get a chance to heal.
I had a Surgeon checkup on Monday at 11.30am. It lasted all of 2 minutes! Just enough for him to check my bite, look at my swelling & ask if I had any questions or concerns (which I didn't), so he was happy with my progress & wants to see me in another week.
I also have an Orthodontist appointment next Tuesday 21st October which will be 2 weeks post-op. There's a possibility I may get my splint out then, but to be honest I think that's unlikely. My bet is that the Ortho will want to see me in another 2 weeks & will leave the splint in until that appointment (which will be 4 weeks post-op). The splint has 2 purposes - (1) to help my jaws learn my new bite and (2) to help keep the top jaw's shape during the healing process since it was cut into 3 parts. If my Ortho takes out the splint then there's only the tiny titanium plates/screws to hold my jaw together while it heals. However, I will be VERY happy if he takes out the splint at 2 weeks! It's the most annoying & uncomfortable thing - like having a mouthguard in while trying to chew, talk, etc.
Tuesday morning with a lot of makeup covering the bruises!
I'm still swollen but it has definitely gone down a lot. A lot of my mouth & face is still completely numb and some has just partial feeling. Pretty much from my eyes down is feeling a bit fuzzy. My whole face & particularly my chin feels totally strange - like it's pulsing & spasming although its not actually moving. Apparently this is a good sign that circulation is happening & nerve sensations are returning.
My bruising has started to ease today - the dark red bruising is turning lighter purple & the blue has gone green/yellow. The bruising & swelling are both actually disappearing a lot quicker than I thought.
Due to the lack of sensation I'm finding it pretty much impossible to do things I normally would, like purse my lips, suck through a straw, lick my lips, rub lips together (like you do when you put on lipstick) - that's very strange!
I'm also struggling a bit with blocked sinuses, particularly on the left (it seems like the breathing tube in my RH nostril helped keep the sinus open & that doesn't get blocked as easily). The nose spray is starting to work & using the humidifier at night is helping a lot. Monday night I had my first full nights sleep! Very excited by that. Every other night I have woken up every hour or so.
I'm eating quite a bit now & although it takes me a while & I have to mash it up a bit, it's sooo good not being on liquids! My mouth has been quite sore today (Tuesday) - all over, but particularly my palate, stitch lines (which are right at the base of the gums where the lips start on both jaws), my outer lips & just inside my lips by my canine teeth where I've had elastic bands.
I've actually been pretty lucky with the elastics - some surgeons tightly band, but mine didn't & he's also pretty understanding about them. He would prefer me to keep them on all the time, but if I get very sore or claustrophobic he's fine about taking them out for a bit. I've had my elastics out most of today & I'll leave them off tonight so my lips get a chance to heal.
I had a Surgeon checkup on Monday at 11.30am. It lasted all of 2 minutes! Just enough for him to check my bite, look at my swelling & ask if I had any questions or concerns (which I didn't), so he was happy with my progress & wants to see me in another week.
I also have an Orthodontist appointment next Tuesday 21st October which will be 2 weeks post-op. There's a possibility I may get my splint out then, but to be honest I think that's unlikely. My bet is that the Ortho will want to see me in another 2 weeks & will leave the splint in until that appointment (which will be 4 weeks post-op). The splint has 2 purposes - (1) to help my jaws learn my new bite and (2) to help keep the top jaw's shape during the healing process since it was cut into 3 parts. If my Ortho takes out the splint then there's only the tiny titanium plates/screws to hold my jaw together while it heals. However, I will be VERY happy if he takes out the splint at 2 weeks! It's the most annoying & uncomfortable thing - like having a mouthguard in while trying to chew, talk, etc.
Tuesday morning with a lot of makeup covering the bruises!
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