Jaw Surgery Forums » Post-Surgery and Recovery Questions

Day 4, how to cope

(18 posts)
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  1. RachelM
    Member

    Hi Kellie, Sorry you've had such a rough night. Trust me though that you're going to start to feel a whole lot better very soon. Day 4/5 is usually the worst for everyone because the swelling is at it's worst. But from then on it just gets better and you'll start to sleep better. I really feel for you having your mouth banded shut. I only had two elastics so was able to open my mouth just fine. How are you finding breathing through your nose? There are some relaxin breathing technique things on youtube which might help when you panic. I remember how hard it was to swallow any fluids so it's just a case of tiny sips for now. It will get better though I promise. Try to be as positive as you can be and try to get up, shower, and get dresssed every day. It'll really help. And if the sun is shining today (it is here in Manchester) then go for a little walk. It'll help with your swelling. Don't worry about scaring people. What matters is your recovery! All the best :-)

    Posted 8 months ago #

  2. kscott
    Member

    I feel so disheartened, especially after feeling a little okay yesterday, I want to rip everything off and breath again.

    My mouth is fully wired and my nose is still blocked from surgery, it gets a little better every day but it's not clear yet. Breathing is done through my teeth a lot, sounds quite strained, so the more dry my throat is the harder it is to breath, and then swallow any water and I'm so tired as I've not managed a proper ' meal' yet.

    I dont know where to start today :(

    Posted 8 months ago #

  3. RachelM
    Member

    Have you had a shower or bath yet today? If not then start there. The warm air will help with your blocked nose. One step at a time. This WILL get better

    Posted 8 months ago #

  4. kscott
    Member

    Bath down, soup warming up.
    *phew*

    The day time makes things much easier to deal with things. I get much less freaked out.
    *Breaths*

    I'm pretty sure if someone had told me before surgery what this would be like then I would have chickened out. It's weird thinking that it's done now. Tough. That I cant go back and change anything, its happened and I just have to deal with it.

    Posted 8 months ago #

  5. Georgina
    Member

    sorry to hear you had a rough night :( hope you have a better night tonight, and remember to think positive and thats its not going to be this hard every day and night :) things will get better :)

    Posted 8 months ago #

  6. Seraphina
    Member

    Hi there! When I read your original entry on this thread, I nearly screamed (obviously could not really though since my mouth is banded shut too, haha). EVERY last thing you were afraid of, worried about, mulling over and over and over in your head - I feel it too! If it helps you at all, you're definitely not alone. I just had my surgery 5 days ago, and even though I would seek out and find occasional encouraging words from people already all healed up saying that they never regretted the surgery, I would have moments of difficult breathing, hunger, or just plain frustration that made me want so badly to just remove everything myself and YAWN or COUGH or LICK MY LIPS again. :((( Then, to counter these horrible moments, there are the better ones, the ones that gave me some hope , that made the days seem to go by a little less slowly.

    Ask your doctor if s/he could possibly give you a nasal spray for your nose. I had quite a bit of congestion the first few days, and using Afrin really helping drain out some of that. Warm baths, fans, air conditioning, anything to just relax and BREATHE, no more panicking. Remember that your surgeon did keep in mind how to improve your ability to breathe while s/he was fixing your bite. It's all a part of the package.

    I don't have much advice, but I can offer you some empathy. Right in the same situation with you! Rough nights, stiff neck/back from sleeping propped up for the first time in my life, hungry for something other than sugary shakes or bland broths, regretting that I truly did not enjoy my ability to eat crunchy things and breathe out of my mouth if I had to prior to surgery, being upset with myself for taking for granted the weightiness of the actual procedure and that 6 weeks is actually QUITE long... but we will make it. Have faith. We're not alone. So many folks have had similar procedures, and so far, I gladly still have never come across someone who has said it was not worth it after everything.

    May your road to recovery be more like smooth sailing with each passing day~

    Posted 8 months ago #

  7. jawbreaker911
    Member

    27 days till d day!

    Posted 8 months ago #

  8. kscott
    Member

    Hello again guys,

    Thank you so much Seraphina!
    Now I'm at the end of day 10 I'm feeling so much better.

    My nose is a lot clearer. I'm starting to "eat" a bit more and generally feel a little bit more independent. One of my new favourite things is having a bath. I feel so much more human afterwards, I can do my hair, get dressed and feel a bit more normal.

    Its nice to read another 6 week story, so many people seem to take the bands off after 2, 3 or 4. Totally jealous of them! I'm managing Ensure more now and over the course of yesterday I managed a whole can of soup! I feel much better for it, now the medication doesn't make me feel sick.

    As more of an update I went for my first surgeon visit, he was thrilled with me and my face, I think he wanted to do a happy dance. He said I'm doing awesome and my teeth are sparkly clean, yay! I was so worried about not cleaning them properly, a baby toothbrush is so so helpful.

    Just got 5 more weeks to go....
    I've started knitting to pass the time. Scarves for everyone!
    :)

    xxx

    Posted 8 months ago #

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