Leaving Hospital, Friday, July 20

At 5 a.m. Friday morning, I had not been awakened to take my pain meds through the night, and I knew I would be going home later that day. The pain was pretty bad. I was trying so hard not to take any more IV pain meds (Dilaudid, which is of the morphine family), but I was so nervous as to what the pain would be like if I didn't take it. So, at 5 a.m., I rang for the nurse and got my IV pain meds. I was a happy camper and was able to finally go back to sleep. It is hard to describe the intense pressure a surgery like this creates. I mean the idea that I have stitches in my sinuses, my jaw was broken and reattached with titanium plates, my lip was stretched so much that it looked like it might bleed from underneath...ouch. 

That morning, however, I was ready to come home. I had enough of the hospital and the sterile environment. I worried though how my body would react to the outside world, how would I breathe around all the dust and dog hair in my house? Would the heat bother me? And, who would take care of me at home like the nurses had done? I didn't have a button to push at home to request any little thing my heart would desire or worse yet...need. My honey is busy with his burgeoning law practice, and I was worried he would be too busy to really care for me the way I thought I would need it.

Day 2 Post Surgery

I was feeling quite a bit better at this point. I am only allowed liquids for 6 weeks. I was served things like soup, yogurt, milk, juice, and tea, oh and of course Ensure!!!!

This is how far I can open my mouth, even now, on Day 8.

Another shot of my swelling. I am unable to smile at this point.

Post Surgery and First Day After

This is right after surgery. I had to memorialize the tube in my nose, which goes down my throat.

I am not feeling too well here, but I am actually thrilled that my nose and throat tube has been removed. The previous night had been very rough, as I had the tube down my throat, and dry heaved every hour on the hour all night long. They were giving me nausea medication, but it was not working. Dry heaving caused my nose to bleed terribly so it was a horrendous night and I really wanted to be put out of my misery. Not to mention I had a challenged Nurse's Aide, who really should probably consider a new profession. If I had not been so challenged in my own way that evening, I would have had a few more choice things to say to her. Luckily I couldn't talk very well and spent the time with my head inside my pink basin instead of spewing at her! Said Nurse's Aid in the pic below.

I also had a 98 year old roomie whose name was Gertrude. I learned a lot about her while in the hospital with her. She was the cutest lady and I learned to love how she laughed. But, those first couple of nights, I did not feel so warmly towards her, as everything really got on my nerves. It's rough when you're dry heaving, can't speak, face feels like it is exploding, can't sleep, nurses waking you up every hour, and the best part is that Gertrude's nurse treated her like she could not hear, but she could. So, Anita (the nurse) would speak in this very high pitched tone of voice and sort of draw out everything she said as if she were talking to a baby. But, see I was privy to conversations between Gertrude and her niece who took care of her, and the woman could hear a whisper. Interesting. I had nothing better to do people, except listen to the entertainment around me!

Oh and in case you were wondering why the 98 yr old was in the hospital, she has diverticulitis. But, she could haul her own IV pole to the bathroom herself. She had this habit of going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and would never turn on the light, and she would leave the door open. So, I, in my oxy stupor, would stumble to the bathroom with my own IV pole, and well, it's just too cute to get mad at a 98 yr old taking that much care of herself. I patiently waited in line for the bathroom in my hospital room.

This is the very first picture I took of myself (my photographer had fled). My nose is quite crusty with dried blood. I also had a procedure whereby the doc scraped my nasal passages because mine were 1) too narrow and 2) quite damaged-I believe by allergies, constant blowing?? So, I had very clogged sinuses and still do to some degree. I also have stitches in my sinuses in addition to the stitches on the tops of my gums.  I am not allowed to blow my nose, and instead have to breathe the stuff inward to dispose of it.

Jaw Surgery, Tuesday, July 23-All You Ever Wanted to Know

This is right before I was hauled back to the operating room. I had my own professional photographer (Mario) who thoroughly documented the event, and he was blown away by the beautiful hat from Cheshire Medical's Wardrobe Unit. 

For those of you who are curious, and I really don't have anything better to do at the moment than write all about my experiences of late, I had surgery for TMJ ( Temporomandibular Joint Disorder). 

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are often incorrectly called TMJ, which stands for  temporomandibular joint. (http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/temporomandibular-disorders).

Symptoms include (and I will only include those that apply to me): 

• Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide
• Limited ability to open the mouth very wide
• Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth (which may or may not be accompanied by pain) or chewing
• A tired feeling in the face
• Difficulty chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite – as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
• Other common symptoms of TMD include headaches, neck aches, earaches, hearing problems, upper shoulder pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitis).  (http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/temporomandibular-disorders).

The above is why I had to have surgery. As the surgeon explained to me, it is a quality of life issue. Yes, I probably could have lived with it, but I would have been living with a LOT of pain for the rest of my life.

The procedure involved cutting both my cheek bones to pull the top jaw forward. The cuts were made at the top of my upper gum line so there is no outward evidence of such an invasive procedure. He also stretched my upper lip otherwise it would have been too tightly attached to my gums?? My face is still numb-8 days removed--and parts of it will be numb for months. He also cut a nerve on the right side of my face that will regenerate, but in the interim, it causes twitching in my face which is annoying and itches. My palette and upper teeth are still numb-8 days removed.

A Law School Carol Part 1

I'm Back

I am bored with life. Bored with where I live. Bored. Bored. Bored. Some days I wonder if I have just become down right complacent. Other days I feel I'm on the verge of a miraculous breakthrough, and others a breakdown. I continue to have peaks and valleys, but the peaks are getting higher and the valleys not quite as low.

I really hope to get an interview in Texas. May the universe be on my side on this one.

That is all I have for now.

Yo Baby Yo Baby Yo!

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