Posted by dirtywater on January 31, 2008 at 21:58:34:I am back in my apartment after spending 3 days in the hospital and 14 days at my mom's house. During the first week of recovery, I saw major improvements with each passing day. The pace of my recovery is now slowing, although I can still see progress every few days in the reduction of swelling in my face.
I am still hesitant to judge my sleep, but so far it is very promising!! I have noticed no signs of apnea yet. Have had copious dreaming; I dreamt before the surgery, but it was often accompanied by apnea. The only problem with my sleep right now is the jaw pain and sometimes a stuffy nose. I am slightly disappointed that the pain is still a problem. I was hoping I could stop using Percocet at night, but I may have to order a refill and continue using it. Some nights, the Tylenol just doesn't cut it. In addition to the jaw pain, I got a sore throat a couple of days ago and that has been really annoying me too. Once the pain is gone, I look forward to great sleep!
Saw the surgeon yesterday; she was very happy with my progress. The incisions inside my mouth closed up a couple of days ago. I have an open bite on the left side but she said not to worry too much; the teeth will sometimes drop down on their own to close the bite, and if not, the orthodontist can take care of it (I had braces before the surgery and I still have them). I'll resume orthodontic treatment in 2 weeks.
One puzzling issue: my smile is asymmetrical. It was always a bit asymmetrical, but it looks especially strange now. The surgeon insists that the surgery did not cause any paralysis and I trust her judgement here. I think what's happening is that because I can't feel my lower lip, I'm not moving it correctly. I'll just have to wait and see what happens. She thinks I'll probably regain all or almost all of the feeling in my lower lip and chin; it will take time though.
I saw the hospital bill via my insurance company's website. Total amount billed: $81,000!! The surgeon's and anesthesiologist's fees have been settled. Just waiting for the insurance to settle the $59,000 hospital fee. Yikes!! Of course, the negotiated reimbursement will be a fraction of the $59,000. Gotta love our insurance system...
From time to time I crave real food, but the blenderized food hasn't been bad so far. My mom got creative with the blender and managed to give me a varied diet of nice mushy food. I've started seeking out non-blenderized foods that are soft enough to swallow without chewing: applesauce, yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, etc. I had tiramisu a few nights ago and it was divine!
I'm back at work half-time now. I'm going to try to spend most of that time in the office (10 minute walk from my house), although I know there may be days when I have to work from home. Overall my energy level is pretty good, but if I overdue it one day I will feel it the next. So I'm trying to take it easy and do everything in moderation.
This site has been extremely helpful in preparing me for the surgery. My parents were impressed at the level of preparation that I put into the surgery, and part of the credit goes to this group for sharing all your experiences and advice. So thanks to all of you for that! This site is an amazing resource and inspiration.
Jeremy
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