Day-5 (Monday)

Okay...for those of you who don't frequent my Facebook feed, an excerpt from last night:

Venturing out to a movie (because I like to torture myself with the smell of popcorn and nachos that I can't partake in).
Nate: Happy Date Night!
Me: Sorry I look like this.
Nate: It's ok, it's why I waited until dark to take you out.
Me: Burst into uncontrollable laughter which causes mass pain because I can't smile much less laugh. Oh my goodness. Too much.

(FYI: He was joking, it was totally hilarious.)


Moving on to today, it was my first day on my own and I had to make the 40-minute drive to the Air Force Academy to get my stitches out. As I was driving myself there, I started to worry a little that they might not let me on Base (or back on Post) because my distorted face looks nothing like my ID photo.  But it wasn't an issue, they didn't say anything at all!  I'm not sure how I feel about that?  Maybe slightly offended? I made it there and back just fine, but I was completely exhausted for the remainder of the day. 

Dr. Z said my bite looks perfect and that I still don't need bands or a splint (insert internal smile as I still cannot muster an external one on my frozen face)!    He also said that on a scale of 1-10 (worst-best) for healing at a week out, I'm at a 9.  Considering I'm only Day-5 post-op, I suppose that means things are healing pretty well.  The stitches came out painlessly.  He was surprised when I told him that I'm getting feeling back everywhere, but said that is absolute best case scenario, so more good news.

He asked me if this "process" was harder or easier than I had expected.  I'm glad to say it's been so much easier.  I'm not saying that it hasn't been hard...it has.  But it hasn't been anywhere near as hard as I had anticipated, which I'm grateful for.  

He also asked me how I'm liking my new bite.  I told him I love it (which I do)...but that I'm not quite on board with my new face yet.  (He might have looked slightly offended, lol)...but quickly reminded me that I'm only 5 days post-op and I can't judge yet because there is still sooooo much swelling.  Yeah, easier said than done.  But I'm trying.

I asked how long it'll take for all the swelling to go away.  He said 90% would be gone in the first 4-weeks, but that the remaining 10% can linger for 3-6 months.  I can deal with that.  As long as most of it goes away.


Nightmares.
So on most of the jaw surgery blogs I've followed, it's been common for people to dream about food they aren't allowed to eat.  Most people consider these dreams to be amazing.  Not me.  In my dreams, it starts out awesome, I'm chowing down on a steak or a hamburger...or some other delicious food that requires lot's of chewing and biting.  The food is always amazing and I eat all of it, but then as soon as I take the last bite...I remember that I'm not allowed to eat these foods and I panic and run to the mirror.  When I check my reflection, my jaw is messed up and my overbite is back and then it flashes to my surgeon telling me that there's nothing he can do to fix it now.  So yeah, I'm a serious rule follower, but being haunted by food even in my dreams is quite sad and pathetic!  I usually end up waking up and actually having to go check my bite in the mirror to make certain all is good before I can go back to sleep!  Hopefully these nightmares won't continue for the entire 6-weeks!

Stitches out, still bruised and swollen.

Later in the day, the swelling had gone down some.