Since not much has changed in the past few days, I haven't posted. I didn't think that my daily menus would be thrilling reading material.
I went for my three week check up today. Big Doc came in to check on me and said that everything looks perfect. He is very pleased with how things turned out. Unfortunately, Little Doc had her baby early and I haven't been able to see her. The doctor that took over my case is one of the ones that I started with a year ago. He has been so patient with answering all of my questions. They said I am past the window for complications and infection so I am cleared to go back to Rhode Island! They gave me my record and everything. They told me that if we head back this way (for a visit or to move back), to stop on in so they can check things out. (Bonus if we come back at the 3 month or 6 month mark!)
I've been more adventurous with my food choices in the past couple of days. Doing this makes my jaw tired. The doctor likened it to pulling a hamstring and then going to try and run a marathon. I am not chewing, but I am eating solid food. He said that I can open my mouth a little. He also said that I do anything but chew, so I do. I've had turkey this week and cupcakes....oh delicious cupcakes. The only thing that I have to watch out for are foods that scratch. I am trying to "eat" one meal a day. Any more than that my jaw gets really achy in the evenings. I've tried using the straw, but it's pretty uncomfortable and impossible at this point.
On the bright side, I can smile a little bit. The most exciting thing - I have feeling back on most of the right side of my face. My big boys are excited because I can feel it when they kiss me on the cheek! There is a little strip on my chin that is still tingly. The right side is still pretty tingly except for my top lip. It's getting there...it won't be long until I back to normal!
Now the wait begins for the braces to come off....
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Day 17 - Must Have List
I did a LOT of googling to get ready for the surgery. I read so many blogs, they all started to run together. They were all over the board of what you HAD to have for recovery.
Here's what I ended up getting or bringing with me from Rhode Island:
Here's what I ended up getting or bringing with me from Rhode Island:
- Carnation Instant Breakfast - Chocolate
- Jillian Michael's Whey Protein Powder - Vanilla
- Metamucil Powder
- Red Pillowcases
- Bike Bell
- White Board and Marker
- Small Legal Pads
- Markers
- Tissues
- Dental Wax
- Wii games
- Books for the Nook
Here's what I ended up REALLY needing:
- Carnation Instant Breakfast
- White Board and Marker (in the hospital only....my cheap pen ran out)
- Legal Pads and Markers (only about 3 days after I got home. I was talking after that)
- Tissues...LOTS of tissues.....double ply tisues
- Dental Wax
- Metamucil (especially at the beginning....less now)
Things that I didn't need at all:
- Bike bell (I rang it twice. Both times were because my 4 year olds wanted to be helpers.)
- Red Pillowcases (No nasty drool. Maybe I was just lucky!)
- Jillian Michaels Whey Protein (It was DISGUSTING! I took it back to Sam's)
- Wii games (I wasn't holed up in my room like I thought I would be.)
Things I wish I had from the beginning:
- HMR Protein Shakes - I like the vanilla ones.
So, the big "take home" points:
- Get a protein shake that you can eat every single day. You can live off of protein shakes for 6 weeks. You can't live off of them if they make you want to gag. Bonus points if you can add fruit to it.
- Figure out in advance what soups you can eat. I am picky-ish, as I have mentioned. I threw away a lot of soup in the first few days because they were too thick or smelled funny or looked wrong or whatever.
- Find a soup with calories. Cream soups are the best. Chicken broth goes through the tube very easily, but it doesn't stop the hunger. A creamy soup has some substance, which fills you up. (Two of my favorites - Chicken Pot Pie soup from Jason's Deli and Chicken and Dumplings "gravy" from Cracker Barrel.)
- If you don't have children to keep you occupied, you will need something to do. Daytime TV is pretty mind-numbing. A Wii game or a good book will help you pass the time.
- Get good tissues. You will need them.
Finally, the best advice I got from the doctor - Get up and move. The more you move, the better you feel. Take a walk. Go shopping. Get moving. When you are vertical, gravity helps with the swelling.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Day 16
So, I missed a day. There wasn't much to tell yesterday. I am feeling good and eating well. I see no reason to drink every single meal. The doctor said that I couldn't chew, not that I couldn't eat. I try to eat one meal with substance every day. It makes me pretty tired, so I am not getting much more adventerous than that. Tonight, my meal with substance was grilled chicken and applesauce. Now, I love me some homemade ranch dressing. I really would eat homemade ranch dressing with my tube. Because that is pretty disgusting, I use it to help get the solid food down. Tonight, I had my heart set on this chicken and ranch dressing. I cut the chicken SUPER small. (It was smaller than the pieces I cut for my 10 month old baby.) I then ate it just like the BBQ earlier this week. Please don't think that I am downing a pound of chicken. I shared half of a chicken breast with the baby. He probably got more than I did. I ate the applesauce side dish with the syringe, but no tube.
So, you are probably wondering what else I am eating. My meals go something like this:
- Breakfast: Protein Shake with fruit (usually peaches or pineapple) and Chocolate Milk OR Chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast with a little peanut butter and half of a banana
- Lunch: Soup of some sort
- Snack: Another protein shake
- Dinner: Soup, applesauce, chocolate milk OR something with substance (like tonight's chicken)
- Snack: PUDDING!
My goal every day is to get enough protein to not be hungry. So far, it's working. I would guess that I am getting about 1000 calories (sometimes more, but not usually less) and close to 80 grams of protein. I am having some serious food cravings. I want a salad so badly!! That will be one of the last things I will be able to eat because it's hard to chew. I can think of 5 different salads that I would LOVE to eat. I guess there are worse things I could be craving! :-)
Tomorrow is going to be a gear recap. I bought a lot of "stuff" in preparation for the surgery. Some of it never got used.
So, you are probably wondering what else I am eating. My meals go something like this:
- Breakfast: Protein Shake with fruit (usually peaches or pineapple) and Chocolate Milk OR Chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast with a little peanut butter and half of a banana
- Lunch: Soup of some sort
- Snack: Another protein shake
- Dinner: Soup, applesauce, chocolate milk OR something with substance (like tonight's chicken)
- Snack: PUDDING!
My goal every day is to get enough protein to not be hungry. So far, it's working. I would guess that I am getting about 1000 calories (sometimes more, but not usually less) and close to 80 grams of protein. I am having some serious food cravings. I want a salad so badly!! That will be one of the last things I will be able to eat because it's hard to chew. I can think of 5 different salads that I would LOVE to eat. I guess there are worse things I could be craving! :-)
Tomorrow is going to be a gear recap. I bought a lot of "stuff" in preparation for the surgery. Some of it never got used.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Day 14
Today was a beautiful day in Virginia. It was the kind of day that makes me want to stay here for ever and NEVER go back to winter. It was 70 degrees and it's February. I could get used to recovering in this tropical weather. We took advantage of the day by going to the zoo. The doctor said that the more I walk, the better I will feel. I took that to heart and off we went. Even more exciting....I was able to "eat" some BBQ from Doumar's. Drinking from a straw was mildly easier than yesterday, so I had a chocolate milkshake and a few sips of Limeade too. I ate the (VERY MINCED) BBQ with a fork. I put a little bit as far into my mouth as possible and swallowed. It was so very It gets stuck between the splint and the braces and under the plastic that goes across the roof of my mouth. It was pretty gross, but totally worth it.
Speaking of a nasty mouth, this splint is totally getting in the way of my oral hygiene. I am pretty diligent about keeping my teeth clean. I like to have a clean mouth. The backs of my teeth are getting a little fuzzy. I was able to get the toothbrush in my mouth today to clean the back of my teeth. I forgot to ask the doctor if I can use the waterpik to clean my mouth, but that will certainly be question number 2 next week. Luckily, I am due for a routine cleaning a couple of weeks after the splint comes off.
I am getting easier to understand when I talk. My big boys have taken to asking my to repeat everything that I say. They think it is funny. I am not comfortable enough to make a phone call to someone other than my husband, but I can order for myself when we are out and about. People are very patient, which I appreciate.
All in all, it was almost a "normal" day. I am looking forward to being back to normal. It won't be long now. (If 4 more weeks isn't long.....)
Speaking of a nasty mouth, this splint is totally getting in the way of my oral hygiene. I am pretty diligent about keeping my teeth clean. I like to have a clean mouth. The backs of my teeth are getting a little fuzzy. I was able to get the toothbrush in my mouth today to clean the back of my teeth. I forgot to ask the doctor if I can use the waterpik to clean my mouth, but that will certainly be question number 2 next week. Luckily, I am due for a routine cleaning a couple of weeks after the splint comes off.
I am getting easier to understand when I talk. My big boys have taken to asking my to repeat everything that I say. They think it is funny. I am not comfortable enough to make a phone call to someone other than my husband, but I can order for myself when we are out and about. People are very patient, which I appreciate.
All in all, it was almost a "normal" day. I am looking forward to being back to normal. It won't be long now. (If 4 more weeks isn't long.....)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Day 13 - Two Week Check Up
Wow! I can't believe that it has already been two weeks since the surgery! There are so many days when I feel like I am never going to be back to normal. Today was one of those days.....then I saw a picture of myself at about 5 days past surgery. When I look at that, I realize how far I have come.
Today was my 2 week check up at the hospital. 7 out of 8 surgical residents were out of the clinic today, so I saw someone relatively new. (Relatively because he was on my case LAST YEAR when this whole process started, but he did not actually perform the surgery. The actual surgeon had her baby last week, which is a funny story for another time!) Anyway, he was able to answer all of my questions and said that everything looked good. Big Doc (the O6 select who was the attending for the surgery) was also out of the office for the day, so I got to meet the O6 who used to be the head of the department and actually signed off on the surgery a year ago after a heart to heart with my orthodontist. It was quite a blast from the past at the clinic today. The bit of information that I did learn today is that I lost 200 mL of blood during the surgery. The expected blood loss for an upper jaw surgery alone is 400 mL and I lost half of that. I am obviously a surgery rock star! :)
In other news, today is Mardi Gras, which, forever and ever at my house, means pancakes for dinner. Who I am to let a little thing like a wired jaw keep my from my heritage. Doc said that I could eat anything I want as long as I don't chew. He also gave me the okay to remove the rubber bands keeping my jaws in the correct alignment to eat. Furthermore, he indicated that I could use any means necessary (tongue, roof of mouth, etc) to get food down my throat as long as chewing is not considered "any means necessary." I decided to take him at his word. I cut my pancakes into Joshua (my 10 month old) sized bites. I drenched said bites with syrup and slid it into my mouth with Joshua's baby spoon. I got it to the back of my throat and swallowed. Really, I only tasted the syrup, but that was good enough. I got my pancakes and I didn't compromise my recovery. Double win!
As for the concern about the dizziness, he was baffled. He told me to eat a little more and drink a little more and report back next week. I did do a little driving today and I didn't have as much of the dizzies this afternoon. He suggested a balance issue that will clear itself up in due time. Makes sense seeing that the biggest thing that made me dizzy was the off ramp on the drive home.
Challenges today:
1. I am hard to understand. My brother told me that I sound like I am playing Chubby Bunny (you know, the game where you shove marshmallows into your mouth and try to say "Chubby Bunny") by myself. It is frustrating because I am working so hard to talk and people look to my mom for a translation or ask me to repeat myself. It was hard enough getting it out the first time.
2. Life is tiring! I am worn out at the ends of the days.
Good things about today:
1. I wore my contacts for the second day in a row. The swelling made my eyes fat and the medicine made them dry so contacts just weren't working.
2. I went to visit my Grandma today for the first time since the surgery. She is always glad to see me!
Today was my 2 week check up at the hospital. 7 out of 8 surgical residents were out of the clinic today, so I saw someone relatively new. (Relatively because he was on my case LAST YEAR when this whole process started, but he did not actually perform the surgery. The actual surgeon had her baby last week, which is a funny story for another time!) Anyway, he was able to answer all of my questions and said that everything looked good. Big Doc (the O6 select who was the attending for the surgery) was also out of the office for the day, so I got to meet the O6 who used to be the head of the department and actually signed off on the surgery a year ago after a heart to heart with my orthodontist. It was quite a blast from the past at the clinic today. The bit of information that I did learn today is that I lost 200 mL of blood during the surgery. The expected blood loss for an upper jaw surgery alone is 400 mL and I lost half of that. I am obviously a surgery rock star! :)
In other news, today is Mardi Gras, which, forever and ever at my house, means pancakes for dinner. Who I am to let a little thing like a wired jaw keep my from my heritage. Doc said that I could eat anything I want as long as I don't chew. He also gave me the okay to remove the rubber bands keeping my jaws in the correct alignment to eat. Furthermore, he indicated that I could use any means necessary (tongue, roof of mouth, etc) to get food down my throat as long as chewing is not considered "any means necessary." I decided to take him at his word. I cut my pancakes into Joshua (my 10 month old) sized bites. I drenched said bites with syrup and slid it into my mouth with Joshua's baby spoon. I got it to the back of my throat and swallowed. Really, I only tasted the syrup, but that was good enough. I got my pancakes and I didn't compromise my recovery. Double win!
As for the concern about the dizziness, he was baffled. He told me to eat a little more and drink a little more and report back next week. I did do a little driving today and I didn't have as much of the dizzies this afternoon. He suggested a balance issue that will clear itself up in due time. Makes sense seeing that the biggest thing that made me dizzy was the off ramp on the drive home.
Challenges today:
1. I am hard to understand. My brother told me that I sound like I am playing Chubby Bunny (you know, the game where you shove marshmallows into your mouth and try to say "Chubby Bunny") by myself. It is frustrating because I am working so hard to talk and people look to my mom for a translation or ask me to repeat myself. It was hard enough getting it out the first time.
2. Life is tiring! I am worn out at the ends of the days.
Good things about today:
1. I wore my contacts for the second day in a row. The swelling made my eyes fat and the medicine made them dry so contacts just weren't working.
2. I went to visit my Grandma today for the first time since the surgery. She is always glad to see me!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Day 12
I am worn out! I am feeling better and I get a little big for my britches. We took the boys bowling today. They bowled two games. My mom sat and held the baby (until he got fussy and only wanted mommy) and I stood at the lane and helped the boys bowl. By helped, I mean I directed as best as I could and I made sure that none of their appendages went IN the ball return. Nothing too taxing. I guess it was the standing. Add a trip to the grocery store and a walk for the dog and I am done for the day.
I have mentioned that eating has been a bit of a challenge. What I failed to mention is that I have some serious quirks when it comes to food. I have texture issues...things need to look and smell how they are supposed to taste....nothing can mix. This whole idea of "just blend it up" has been very difficult for me. The doctor told me that I could eat anything I wanted. He's had patients blend up a pizza. The thought of that makes me hyperventilate. There would be too much going on in a syringe full of blended pizza. BUT!!! We went out for lunch today and my mom had some BBQ. We live 10 minutes from the North Carolina state line....we have been known to drive to North Carolina for lunch just to get some "authentic" Carolina BBQ. But, I digress. She had some BBQ and it really smelled amazing. I had some cream of potato soup juice that was delicious, but a girl can get tired of some soup. I decided to get some BBQ (no bread, no slaw, just BBQ)to go. I brought it home, blended it up with a little sauce and some water, and spooned it into the syringe. It was a little thick for the tube, so I cheated a little and put the syringe tip in my mouth. It was a little watery for good BBQ, but MAN WAS IT GOOD!!!
I topped the day off with a Pina Colada. (No rum, but it was good enough that I only missed the rum a little bit.) My Pina Colada treat was my dinner, but I am going to have to ration it. It was my HMR Vanilla Protein Shake, Frozen Pineapple, and Toasted Coconut Ice cream. The ice cream added more calories and fat in 1/2 cup than I think I ate during the entire first week, but MAN WAS IT GOOD!! It was dinner and dessert rolled up in one. No pudding tonight.
The only challenge today is that I miss my husband. We are a military family, so we are used to separation, but usually it is him gone, not me. We have skyped with him just about every day and we talk and text throughout the day, but I really want a hug from him.
All in all - it was a good day! Tomorrow I am headed back to the surgeons for my week 2 check up.
I have mentioned that eating has been a bit of a challenge. What I failed to mention is that I have some serious quirks when it comes to food. I have texture issues...things need to look and smell how they are supposed to taste....nothing can mix. This whole idea of "just blend it up" has been very difficult for me. The doctor told me that I could eat anything I wanted. He's had patients blend up a pizza. The thought of that makes me hyperventilate. There would be too much going on in a syringe full of blended pizza. BUT!!! We went out for lunch today and my mom had some BBQ. We live 10 minutes from the North Carolina state line....we have been known to drive to North Carolina for lunch just to get some "authentic" Carolina BBQ. But, I digress. She had some BBQ and it really smelled amazing. I had some cream of potato soup juice that was delicious, but a girl can get tired of some soup. I decided to get some BBQ (no bread, no slaw, just BBQ)to go. I brought it home, blended it up with a little sauce and some water, and spooned it into the syringe. It was a little thick for the tube, so I cheated a little and put the syringe tip in my mouth. It was a little watery for good BBQ, but MAN WAS IT GOOD!!!
I topped the day off with a Pina Colada. (No rum, but it was good enough that I only missed the rum a little bit.) My Pina Colada treat was my dinner, but I am going to have to ration it. It was my HMR Vanilla Protein Shake, Frozen Pineapple, and Toasted Coconut Ice cream. The ice cream added more calories and fat in 1/2 cup than I think I ate during the entire first week, but MAN WAS IT GOOD!! It was dinner and dessert rolled up in one. No pudding tonight.
The only challenge today is that I miss my husband. We are a military family, so we are used to separation, but usually it is him gone, not me. We have skyped with him just about every day and we talk and text throughout the day, but I really want a hug from him.
All in all - it was a good day! Tomorrow I am headed back to the surgeons for my week 2 check up.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Day 11 - 2 weeks until we go home
It was a rainy Sunday in Virginia. Luckily, it was a good day to rest. I thought this was going to be a boring post, but as usual, there is never a dull moment in my life. While we were Skyping with Daddy, Jeffrey smacked me in the face. I yelled and dropped him off my lap. He left crying...I was crying....my dad came running.....Russ jumped up of the sofa in Rhode Island. Quite the drama. Never fear, I am fine. He didn't hit me nearly as hard as I thought he did at the time. We kissed and made up and everything is fine.
In other news, I have feeling from my lip and up on the left side of my face! Still a little tingly on the lower left, but it's getting better. The right side is a WHOLE different story. It is still pretty swollen and it feels very tingly from my nose up to my eye socket and down to my chin. It's on the list to discuss with the doctor. Luckily, the crazy sinus pressure is gone. Now it's just swelling pressure. Just a little uncomfortable sometimes, but not enough to need medicine.
I am eating better and I am feeling better. (Coincidence??) I still get very dizzy sometimes, especially in the afternoons. Also on the list to talk to the doctor about. There are some others.
Questions I have for the Doctor at 2 weeks past surgery:
1. How much longer do I have to sleep on my back? (It's uncomfortable and I sleep better on my side)
2. Why am I still so swollen and tingly on the right? Is there anything else I should be doing?
3. Why am I so dizzy in the afternoons? I get dizzy when I have the baby and am looking up at him. I am dizzy when I stand up too fast. I am dizzy when I put my head on the pillows at night.
4. Could I get some new tubing and new syringes so I can eat?
5. I know how to put in elastics. If I pop another one, should I just put a new one in?
6. Am I on track to go home next week?
So, that's where we are. I am spending the evening looking for delicious soup recipes on Pinterest. There is only so much chicken broth a girl can eat. Since I can't find a potato soup that makes me happy, I am exploring other options.
In other news, I have feeling from my lip and up on the left side of my face! Still a little tingly on the lower left, but it's getting better. The right side is a WHOLE different story. It is still pretty swollen and it feels very tingly from my nose up to my eye socket and down to my chin. It's on the list to discuss with the doctor. Luckily, the crazy sinus pressure is gone. Now it's just swelling pressure. Just a little uncomfortable sometimes, but not enough to need medicine.
I am eating better and I am feeling better. (Coincidence??) I still get very dizzy sometimes, especially in the afternoons. Also on the list to talk to the doctor about. There are some others.
Questions I have for the Doctor at 2 weeks past surgery:
1. How much longer do I have to sleep on my back? (It's uncomfortable and I sleep better on my side)
2. Why am I still so swollen and tingly on the right? Is there anything else I should be doing?
3. Why am I so dizzy in the afternoons? I get dizzy when I have the baby and am looking up at him. I am dizzy when I stand up too fast. I am dizzy when I put my head on the pillows at night.
4. Could I get some new tubing and new syringes so I can eat?
5. I know how to put in elastics. If I pop another one, should I just put a new one in?
6. Am I on track to go home next week?
So, that's where we are. I am spending the evening looking for delicious soup recipes on Pinterest. There is only so much chicken broth a girl can eat. Since I can't find a potato soup that makes me happy, I am exploring other options.
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