Four Weeks Post Op!

Four weeks post op!! I can't begin to tell you how glad I am that breathing difficulties are now behind me, as are syringes. Thank God! Those first 10 days were the toughest. Here's my profile as of today (left), and my face from the full front view (below right).

I've been eating a much more "normal" diet, consisting of cream of wheat, lots of fish, cottage cheese, and mixed-berry milkshakes. Oh, AND dark chocolate. It melts on your tongue. How convenient is that? My weight fluctuates between 135 and 137 lbs. I just hope I don't ballon up after I can chew again.

As I mentioned earlier, tomorrow I'm going in for another follow-up appointment with Dr. Li, my 3rd since the surgery. I also have my 2nd MLD appointment in the afternoon. It felt good the first time. So good, in fact, that I actually dozed off for a few minutes.

All Sorts of Sensations

This photo was dated three days ago, when I went to a shooting range in Texas with a couple friends. I was running around rubberband-free. Then someone left a comment about how his/her surgeon said rubberbands help train your jaw muscles to get used to their new positions. So I've put them back on since, one on each side. Plus, my OS, Dr. Li, never told me to go completely rubberband-free. I just thought that I didn't need them, and that my jaws felt strong enough (yes, I cut corners sometimes).

My lower lip on the right side, and my right chin, have been numb ever since the surgery. If I pressed them, I'd get the same feeling as if my leg had fallen asleep and I got up and tried to walk around somehow. Tingling, numb, and uncomfortable. Last night, they started doing that all on their own, no pressing required. Even now, as I type this, I could feel my right chin tingling. Not exactly pins and needles, but close. Is this because the nerve ends are attempting to reconnect? Also, my jaws - the bones and muscles - get sore, not terribly so, just enough to tire easily.

My next appointment with Dr. Li is tomorrow. I go back to work a week from today. Tick tock. Oh my, that means today is four weeks post op. Whoa.

I'm very fortunate to be able to take this much time off. Now I'll go enjoy what's left of it. Curl up on the couch with my cashmere blanket, read a good book, and have some fish, and soup. Life is good.