[Super Duper Fantastic] ISFP/INFP. 4w5. World Explorer. Super Hero. Rose-colored Glasses.

Aren’t these absolutely fascinating to look at? You get to see all the nuts and bolts of the operation. Click on the photos for a larger view!

It irks me that the screws seem to be facing such arbitrary directions, but whatever – they get the job done! There are no visible scars, but if you run a finger along my lower jaw on each side, you can feel the gap in the bone. Kinda creepy, but neat too.

From the surgery until forever, I’ll have these titanium plates and screws in my face! They fortunately do not set off any alarms. Here are a side view and a full view of my head:

Throughout this entire process, one thing is certain: I am not alone.

It doesn’t matter that it is only my face that’s affected; everybody is wonderfully supportive. Rather than lock myself up at home, I go out quite a bit. By week three, I was not so swollen and had the energy to go out. I’d make sure to bring enough food to last me the duration of the outing. While everyone else is enjoying their food or booze, I down an Ensure Plus beforehand and hang out with my own beverage [non-alcoholic preferred]. Alcohol, like most everything else, just doesn’t taste the same with the splint in.

In doing so, I find out that many I encounter have known someone who has had jaw surgery or are going to have jaw surgery at some point. What I don’t understand is why I don’t see more of them out and about. Before this, I’d never run into those people?! Are they just locking themselves up during the healing process? Or perhaps they heal much quicker since their procedures may not be as dramatic as mine? One week out of the social loop compared to seven?

After many calls and emails, I was finally able to secure an appointment for next week. There’s no guarantee that the bands and splint are coming out, but at least I’ll have gotten checked up on. One of the bands from my braces fell out too, so the sooner I take care of the bands/splint, the sooner I can make an appointment to see the orthodontist to fix that. I’ll also be able to go to the dentist! I am in dire need of a cleaning, considering everything’s been SHUT for the last six weeks. Absolute grossness is all I can say.

The hospital enjoys toying with my mind. I’ve come to that conclusion.

After postponing my surgery for three months [and only after several false potential appointment alarms], they’re now messing with when I can get my bands/wire removed. So the surgeon got sick, but that doesn’t mean his residents can’t relieve me of this liquid diet of no foreseeable end. Seriously. We’re calling them every day, leaving messages, and getting no responses.

The earliest date they gave me for an appointment was March. That’s more than a month away, and it’s after all the Lunar New Year festivities that I’ve been anticipating for the last few weeks. It’s out of the schedulers’ scope, really, so I just need to get in touch with a resident or the doctor himself.

*shakes fist*

All we can do is keep calling.

In the meantime, I’ve got COBRA payments to make as it appears that this whole thing won’t be finished for a while longer. My supportive coworkers have been the saving grace. I can take time off as necessary to rest, which will also allow me time to sort things out with the new house. You know, things like picking out cabinets, counters, and floor tiles.

Oh, and RV made me the most delicious guacamole shake today – avocados, chicken broth [lots of it + water], cilantro, onion, and mild salsa [because the spicy stuff really kicks your throat when it goes straight back].

All this counting down to when I can eat again, and I knew it would be too good to be true. I received a message yesterday. It was the oral surgeon’s office calling to reschedule. Of course, they don’t just call my cell phone, so I get the message right away. Instead, I have to call back on Monday.

So not fair.

This will surely result in a delay of splint removal. I’m hoping it’s not for more than a week because the Lunar New Year approaches. That means family feasts. I’ll need time to reacquaint my jaw to that chewing motion.

Hi there, it’s been about one month after surgery. I have been back at work for a week and a half. The liquid diet is definitely taking its toll, and I am on power-save mode. Luckily, that’s been okay at work. We don’t have any major deadlines that require overtime or anything, so I have been slowly getting back into gear. Aside from low energy, I am feeling pretty good. My face hurts now and then, but not to the point of being unbearable. At night, if my jaw feels clenched and uncomfortable, I take a little pain medicine, so I can fall asleep. I have read on some forums that some experience pain below the ears, and I haven’t had that. *phew* Still feeling numbness in the lower left lip + chin in that area.

Total weight loss has been around seven pounds. My clothing is loose, and I refuse to buy anything tighter because I can only assume that I will gain it all back as soon as the chompers are working. One more week until I may possibility be free of the splint/bands. Not free completely because they will replace them with removeable bands, but that opens a lot of doors in terms of what I can consume! *fingers crossed that I hear good news next week* It’s hard to smile when you’ve got a splint and bands in place. I’m hoping all the smiling and laughing is good exercise for the jaw because I’m doing a lot of it these days. My friends are hilarious, what can I say?

In the meantime, I have gone on select outings. As seen in the last entry, a Gaga-themed party. Also the birthdays of a few friends, along with a soup party this past weekend. It was hosted at the new house since we didn’t really have another venue. RV and Keane moved the couch in, so there was seating for all. It was a good time, and I can see the house being a great spot to host gatherings in the future. The kitchen needs some work though, so I have to get on that soon.

The parents are back from vacation, so RV is relieved of food duty for the time being. One more week, so excited!

I visited the oral surgeon this week, and I’m on the right track. I’m scheduled to have the bands replaced with removable bands in three weeks. THREE WEEKS! That’s a lot longer than I expected, but at the same time, it’s not without good reason. I have to be patient with the healing of the jaw. These things can’t be rushed. I’m off of the prescribed mouth rinse and most of my medications. The only one left is the antibiotics that I’m finishing up. I don’t hurt enough for me to take the pain medication regularly, so that’s good. I’m hoping these three weeks pass by quickly because five weeks is a long time to run on liquids. I’m getting hungrier by the day!

In terms of eating out, I really can’t. Even what I would normally consider to be liquid isn’t enough for me to drink out in public. Last night, we went to a Thai place for dinner. I’d already eaten, so it was more for RV. We ordered two dishes, so that he would have something for lunch the next day. So as not to appear suspicious, I filled up my plate, and when nobody was looking, we’d swap. So silly!

Oh, and thank goodness for health insurance! I received my itemized statement today. When I saw the total, ZOMG. Anyone want to take a guess on how much it was? I was in the operating room for seven hours, and anesthesia cost about 1/3 of the operating room.

I thought this photo might be amusing to some. It was taken five days post-surgery. As you can see, SWOLLEN.

For the first week or so, I was eating from these giant syringes from the hospital. Basically, I was so swollen that I couldn’t really suck liquids through my teeth, so I had to put the food into syringes and just squirt them into the back of my mouth. It was a very tedious process, and eating a meal took way longer than it was worth.

And of course, here’s a photo of what it means to be “banded shut.” The orthodontist put in some hooks before surgery, so that once everything was in place, the surgeon and his team could simply wrap rubberbands in the appropriate places to keep my jaw from moving.

I soon upgraded to spoons that were not so big that I’d get soup all over my face, but they were small enough to push the liquids right into my mouth. Then, I started eating out of certain small cups that wouldn’t allow liquids to dribble down my face. Finally, bowls were included in the list of drinkable dishes. I could finally say goodbye to the syringe diet and consume mass quantities of soup and blended rice porridge.

Thank goodness! I think so far I’ve lost 5 pounds max. I’ve regained some of it too. Sorry for the quality of the photos! We took everything with the iPhone. And for those wondering, straws are impossible with the splint in. :( I’ll have to save the bendy straws for when there’s more room in my mouth.

I’m doing it. I’m posting a before and after photo.
The before photo was taken in the pre-op area. I was obviously goofing off with the free time between changing into the gown and getting hooked up onto the anesthesia. Poor RV was holding his eyelids open since it was so early in the morning.

The after photo was taken after the bandage holding the ice pack to my face was removed from my head. I don’t actually look too bad [which is why I'm feeling okay about posting the photo].

It’s not easy to compare the two because in one I’m smiling. I will have to wait until the bands are removed for the smiling photos!

I subsequently ballooned up in the face and was left with bunch of bruises of many different colors. I think there’s still some yellow fading from the neck area. My skin was stretched so taut that it was all shiny. It was not attractive at all. Since then, I’ve lost the puffy face. I’m now willing to go out in public.

The only parts that I’m self-conscious about are eating and talking in public. All I can do is slurp liquids, and that’s not exactly very polite. Plus, if there are any particles in the soups that don’t fit through the gaps in my teeth, I can’t really eat anything until I’ve cleaned up that mess. And talking in public? Still a bunch of muffled mumbling that is understandable to most if they just listen close enough.

Lesson #1: If you can afford one, get a Vita-Mix. Otherwise, don’t skimp out on blender usage. Blend everything if you have to!

Since I’m banded shut, I’m still on a liquid diet. The first week consisted mostly of clear liquids and Ensure. In the second week, I’ve added rice porridge and even carrots. This is all made possible by the Vita-Mix that my parents have. It is absolutely amazing, and if you’re a juice/smoothie/soup junkie, it is essential. It turns all the bumps and lumps of porridge and carrots into liquid. And lately, the family’s been indulging on Dungeness crab! They finally decided to throw some of it into the Vita-Mix with some soup, and ZOMG – SO GOOD. They got their Vita-Mix from Costco, in case anyone else is looking for one!

Lesson #2: The correct bowl, spoon, or cup is crucial.

Maximizing the amount of food that ends up in the mouth rather than the chin and clothing depends greatly on what you use. Find out what works for you and make sure to keep ‘em washed and handy! What worked in week #1 was the syringe. I’ve since moved on up to a spoon, and then to a cup, and then to a bowl. I now use a combination of bowl and cup, depending on the consistency of the drink. I think I drink more than a gallon of liquid a day. I’m very amazed with myself!

Lesson #3: Rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse. Even if you don’t feel food particles, they are there in your mouth. Use a Waterpik if you have to! Practice circulating the water in your mouth to get good flow going.

I figured out a more effective rinsing method, so now I know that the inside of my mouth is cleaner than it was getting before. They stress oral hygiene because the incisions are still healing, and since I’m banded shut, I can’t really get in there to brush the tongue and the area behind the teeth. YUCK! Having a Waterpik certainly helps too.

Lesson #4: As cruel as it may seem, having people eating lots of delicious foods around you isn’t such a bad thing. In fact, everything smells fantastic, and you can just imagine those same flavors in the liquids you’re drinking.

Today, I went out and saw some friends. They say that I don’t look so puffy, but that’s because they didn’t see me days ago when I actually was very swollen. I saved them from the trauma that it would have caused, haha. Anyway, it was a wine tasting event, so luckily, not too food heavy – just some cheese, meats, and fruit to pair. I don’t get easily irritated by being surrounded by the smells of food too much. Perhaps that was what my parents intended when they took RV and me to dim sum the other day. Of course, I could only sit there and drink tea! And having to stare at Dungeness crab for the entire week, I’ve become as numb as my face!

Lesson #5: Even walking is exercise!

It was good to get out of the house. Plus, we walked there from RV’s apartment, which is about 1.5 miles away. That’s the most walking I’ve done since surgery, and I was pooped. We walked most of the way back too. Considering the hills from the FiDi to Pac Heights, it was a much needed workout. The problem with being cooped up and sitting around most of the day was that my body immediately converted to jelly. I’m serious! I would sit in a spot too long, and the jelly parts of my body would mold into the shape of the surface I was on. It really scared and grossed me out, so I’m motivated to walk longer distances for the exercise. It’s hard to participate in any strenuous activity, so I’m hoping a few random exercises will help. In fact, just from walking the 2.5 miles today, my legs have regained some muscle. It’s not just squishy jelly anymore.

Being on a liquid diet means I’m trying to make up for the quality of the meals with the quantity of the meals. I am constantly thinking about what I will be drinking next. There isn’t really all that much else going on. I’m just trying to stay warm, healthy, and healing.

Jen sent me these recovery friends. They’re super cute, but I seriously wish they’d start talking to me. I feel like I’ve got cabin fever, even though I’m technically not cooped up inside all day long. I’m out and about, but I’m only exposed to my family, RV, and a few random strangers who I’m not even able to communicate with.

It’s a Thursday night. Normally, I’d be out with friends. I miss them. :(