So tomorrow is my last appointment with my surgeon before surgery and I would like to make sure I have everything answered and all the important questions addressed. But what to ask? I suppose I'd like to know how I am going to look appearance wise post-op - the final outcome. I'd also like to know a little bit more about the genioplasty procedure I am having. My biggest concern is being wired shut for two weeks. What happens if I get sick and have to vomit? Could I choke on it? I know in the hospital I'll have nothing to come up, but what about when I've been home and eating for a few days? What happens when you have the urge to yawn or sneeze? What if I have a panic attack because I feel like I cannot breathe?
Another big concern is nerve damage and numbness - so I've begun taking Vitamin B12. I plan to sleep as elevated as possible for as long as I can and utilize the ice packs as much as possible. The combination of being cooped up in my room and limited breathing gives me claustrophobia. I'm wondering for those of you who have had the surgery, how long was it before you were able to get up, go outside and go for a walk? I think this will be my saving grace, throw on a headscarf and take a walk outside, get some fresh air.
As the big day approaches, I've been getting more and more nervous! I feel like I'm having so much operated on compared to most people with both jaws and genioplasty. Hopefully I'll put some of those nerves to rest after my appointment tomorrow. Till then!
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I was supposed to walk from the very first day after surgery - I didn't much for the first week because I had a bone graft out of my hip and that was really painful for me. Walking helped my swelling go down and helped me focus on things other than the pain, not being able to breathe, etc.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't wired, but I was banded shut so tightly I couldn't even force my jaws open - AND I was lucky enough not to puke - but I, too, asked my doctor and she said that when it happens, just hold back your cheeks and it'll be fine - maybe not fun, but you won't choke because it's all liquid. And if you're really wired, they'll give you wire cutters.
Not going to lie, yawning and sneezing suck. And it's scary to sneeze - yawning caused my jaw to spasm pretty badly, but there was no way for me to control it. I just dealt with it.
If you swell as badly as I did, breathing will be rough - but as long as your fingernails and lips aren't blue, you're getting enough air. Concentrate on breathing. Make sure you have all the tools you have to help you breathe - the nasal spray (and now that I know that the swelling/breathing stuff only lasts a week, I might think about using the nasal spray more often than it says - there was always an hour or two before I "could" take it again, and it was the most miserable. Have a humidifier and stuff to clean out your nose - q-tips in peroxide were great. It doesn't last forever, and you'll forget about it quickly (I can barely remember what it was like now, but reading my journal I know I was freaked out). I hear hot showers help, though I wasn't allowed for a bit and it was difficult once I was able because of the bone graft.
Keep your chin up. Things feel scary and it's pretty tough that first week, and then 3 weeks later you'll feel like you'll never be normal again, but now I'm edging on a year out and I barely think abotu my jaw :)
Thanks so much for the advice and support Stephanie! Having the bone graft on top of jaw surgery must have been difficult! Fortunately my surgeon has encouraged me to get up and walk around as soon as I get home. I also think that will help me mentally with my claustrophobia and fear of not being able to breathe. I'll definitely be sent home with wire cutters so I'm comforted by just having them in possession. My surgeon has a good sense of humor - I asked him about sneezing - he said "just let it out - no need to hold back" to which I hesitantly replied "Ooookay". I have to say I'm not nearly as nervous now as I was a couple months ago - I'm sure it'll increase as the big day approaches, but I am excited to which I credit the advice and support and experiences I've been lucky enough to have shared with me. I'm glad everything went well with your recovery, Stephanie! I hope I'll be in the same boat. :)
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