Day 5: I am going to be brutally honest. Day 5 was miserable. I shed quite a few tears and questioned my decision to go through this surgery? Just be prepared for the emotions on Day 5. It all goes up from there though! 🙂
My husband has been so loving and caring during this journey. He hugs me right when I need a hug, he grabs my hand when I need his touch and he reassures me that I am beautiful. I wrote this note to him last night and he replied right under it. Love him!
The swelling was obviously at peak on Day 5. I couldn’t hardly even mutter a word and my face felt like an elephant was sitting on it. I felt claustrophobic and could hardly swallow. Concern was weighing heavy on my heart whether I should go to the ER or not.
Thankfully my wonderful orthodontist text and reassured me that Day 5 is usually the worst. She said tomorrow will be better. I fell asleep praying that she would be right.
My sleep at night is not too good. I can’t quite get comfortable since I am use to sleeping on my stomach and side. Hoping I will readjust so I can get some decent sleep. My mouth gets really dry too, so my orthodontist suggested Biotene. My husband went to Walgreens at 10:00 at night to get me some. He is such a trooper. It helped with my dry mouth. I am going to continue to use it.
Day 6: Praise the Lord. MUCH better day. I woke up less swollen and just a better overall attitude.
Isn’t that picture amazing? I am so happy with the outcome of my jaw already! It’s going to help alleviate so many pain problems, sleep problems and eating issues once recovery is complete.
I feel like Jen once again. The light has been noticed at the end of the tunnel. Eating is getting somewhat easier today even though it is very hard to eat. It tires me out but I push through because I know my body needs the calories for healing. Here is a snapshot of what my table looks like when I sit down to eat.
This happens every six hours as I have to take all my medicines every six hours. Hubby graciously is there with me every step making sure I get the right dosages, prepares my warm salt water rinse, prepares my peroxide solution for my nose, washes my jaw wrap, and puts the ointment on the incision at my ear. It is usually a 45 minute routine but does it so graciously for me every time. He has been a blessing for sure.
I still do not have any feeling in my chin so I am still drooling a lot. Thank goodness for towels. One is toting around with me 24/7. Drinking is still a challenge but thankfully my oldest daughter M fixed a sippy cup for me so I can get smaller drinks. It really is helping. My left ear has been very painful since the feeling has came back there where they cut out the condyle bone. I’m going to ask the surgeon tomorrow if that is normal?
Yes, speaking of surgeon, we head three hours to Raleigh tomorrow for my one-week check-up. Can’t wait to let you know how it goes.
Thank you ALL for praying and your encouraging words. It truly makes this journey so much more tolerable. Today has just been a wonderful day. I hope each day continues to be better like this :).
I am just now seeing this and what great timing! I was told that my 14 yer old son will most likely need to get this done as well. Thank you so much for blogging about it!
Hi Jen, Hope today finds you feeling a little bit better then yesterday and with each passing day better then the day before. What a difference on how you look from the two pictures up above. An amazing improvement, your jaw is so straight. You look absolutely wonderful. You must be so excited! Can you imagine when you are all healed how you will feel, you have to be on cloud 9. When all the pain is gone and you no longer have to sit down to a meal of medicines 🙂 you will look back and know it was all worth it. Your husband is a dream come true along with your lovely girls. That in it’s self is the best medicine, you have a great family who loves you and their care surpasses anything else. I was so touched by your reply to my post in your blog Days 1 through 4. I too love how your blog has brought about a friendship. We may never have met in person but I couldn’t have asked for a better caring friend my self. Maybe one day we will be fortunate enough to meet in person. Here I wanted to make you feel better and I come away from reading your reply feeling great. To think that my posts can be uplifting for you and something you thought about when going into surgery now isn’t that something! Thank you for your kind words. To think I found your blog by pure accident one day when looking up information on Florida. Your Blogging site came up on posts you made when you lived there. As I too lived there many years ago I was interested in reading what you had to say. The rest is history I was hooked and have enjoyed reading your blogs ever since. God works small miracles <3