life on the liquid diet

I’ve had a lot of people at work ask me what I’ve been subsisting on the past few weeks…  While I started off with a lot of Slimfast and Ensure, I can only handle so much sweetness (and so much dairy).  I am also in love with Naked fruit smoothies, especially the Mango (which I can get in ½ gallon jugs) and the Strawberry-Banana…  Once again, that’s a lot of sweet.  Life got a whole lot better when I realized how well canned soups blend up – for Memorial Day “grilling out”, I pureed a can of Campbell’s Chunky Steak and Baked Potato soup – heavenly.  My favorite right now (it’s even today’s lunch) is the Chunky Chicken and Corn Chowder.  Oh, so good. J  I haven’t really been able to make myself do too much with protein powder or any other “healthy” (yet medicinal) products…I am super-duper picky and if I even get a bad thought about a food item, I can’t make myself eat it.   I still can’t eat applesauce 20 years after my mom crushed a pill into it for me to eat (I had a hard time swallowing pills) – it tasted so bad that I still get that horrified sensation just thinking about applesauce… 

 

I suppose the soup is also the reason that I haven’t lot THAT much weight. J  A good or bad thing, depending on your perspective.  I lost 10 pounds pretty rapidly, but I hit a plateau as I started dancing again and returned to work – the extra activity really spiked my appetite, so I’m eating a lot more. 

 

Did I mention the crazy dream I had a week or so ago?  I’ve been having a lot of weird dreams lately (even without the pain meds!)…  In this one, my bottom braces fell off.  I went to the ortho and they told me that I didn’t need them anymore and not to worry about it.  Then I go home and look in the mirror…and realize that only the wire fell out and I still have all the bottom brackets…and I now have 3 ROWS of bottom teeth, like some sort of alien.  And they’re still crooked.  Eek!

back to the grind

Not having a pleasant week.  On top of the "tingles" (which feel more like electric shocks sometimes), I had to go back to work...which is less of a distraction from my face and more of a complication.  :P  So tired and cranky this week!

On a good note, though, I did find these little disposable toothbrush thingies that are small enough to fit into my mouth and reach my back teeth.  Phew!  I feel so much better when I can brush!  They were kinda pricey, but worth it during this hellish period of not being able to get my regular brush in my mouth without pain...

More advice please!

OK, I have more questions for "those who have gone before me".  Yeah, I'm sure I could have asked my surgeon, but I forgot and he just left for India for 3 weeks...  So:

How long does it take these dissolvable sutures to actually dissolve? 

How do you handle the whole oral hygiene aspect of this?  I was told I was OK to brush my teeth, but it hurts to try to open my mouth wide enough to really do this, plus the toothpaste burns when it hits certain areas of my mouth!  I spent the first two weeks just rinsing the heck out of my mouth with the Rx solution I was given and/or water as needed and brushing my tongue with a flat tongue brush.  The Rx solution is known to really cause stains on the teeth, so I'm worried about that.  I did manage to brush really well the other day, but like I said, it hurt and burned.   Not fun!  Any tips?

Oh, and if any of you liquid dieters have a Camille's Sidewalk Cafe nearby, their Tuscan Tomato soup and Banana Split smoothies are excellent!  We treated ourselves to takeout last night...

2 Week Check-up

Just returned from my second visit with Dr. Desa, post-surgery. He said I look fabulous (well, those are my words) and that my bite is great. I can ditch the outer-most rubber bands that I was wearing, and just wear the two up front. I had told him that the two outer ones kept disappearing during the night - either snapping or slipping off. He said I didn't need them. Yea! As for food, I will continue to drink my breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next two weeks, then start in on the soft foods for two weeks and then I should be good to eat most anything (avoiding super hard stuff, but I do that anyway because of the braces). I have another checkup in two weeks and four weeks...

My main complaint today is that my eye is watering. I'm assuming it's because I'm still a little puffy under the eyes and so the near contact is causing me to tear up. It's not all the time, but when it does happen, it's freaking annoying! :P Oh, well...

It's been a lovely day really. I had my first cup of coffee in two weeks (and spilled most of it on my shirt), but had enough energy and time to really get some stuff done - laundry, gardening, other yardwork, sorting through papers and picking up my office...it's been nice to feel almost normal!



As you can see here (aside from my lovely gardening sunburn), I'm still a little swollen in the nose and cheeks, but not nearly as bad as before. The feeling is coming back as well. I am still numb in the lips, chip, nose, and parts of my cheeks (mainly the center of my face) but everything is tingling away and I don't think it will be that much longer. I want my lips back - the whole food and drink on chin thing is getting old!

check-up

Well, my first week post-surgery check-up with Dr. Desa was short and sweet.  He poked around my gums, squeezed my cheeks and sent me on my way, more or less.  He said I look "good", which I'm assuming is a relative term.  I don't think I look "good" by any means.  I look like a swollen muppet.  But maybe that's just me.  He said the swelling would continue to go down (phew) and that I should call him if it got worse (meaning I have an infection) and to keep wearing the rubber bands and eating.  So, yeah, nothing too exciting.  i go back in next week for a second (and I assume last) check-up, and then I'll be released back to my orthodontist's care.

need advice from those who have been there before me...

Post-Surgery Pals - question:  I've been spitting a little bit of blood.  Not a lot, but I'm not sure where it's coming from and wondering if other people had the same issue after surgery.  I have my next appointment with Dr. Desa tomorrow and will bring it up with him, but my DH suggested I ask you all for advice. 
I'm thinking it's from my nose.  I'm pretty congested and figure it's the constant sniffling brought about my by Claritin D that's causing my nose to be extra dry.  And since my nose is still pretty swollen and numb, naturally it would drain into my throat instead of, well, coming out my nose. 

Today was the first day of near-normalcy.  I slept in, but have actually been up and at the computer most of the day, working on the Jr. League yearbook (I'm the editor this upcoming year).  It would be really nice to get it all done while on sick leave, but I'm guessing that I won't be all my reports in time...  Now I'm going to drive (first time all week) to the library and to the Jr. League retail store to make some deliveries.  And I'm thinking about getting a milkshake.  Despite the lack of hunger, everything I've had this week has been pretty darn healthy.  Time for something fun.  Then back home to to laundry, my half of the household chores (aren't I lucky - he does the kitchen and bathrooms, I vacuum and dust), and maybe sew something.  We did take a nice long walk with the dog last night (hour-plus) so maybe I'll try that again this evening...  Who knows...the driving alone will probably make me nap-ready before 4 p.m. :)

Bruising

I'm turning yellow...


I'm attempting to smile in this one. Can you tell?

is it over yet?

Ok, I knew this was going to suck, but man... The only thing on tv all day are food ads. If I see one more Whopper Jr. ad, I'm going to attempt to scream (now exactly sure I'd make any noise at this point).

Tuesday night, the DH and went to a Science Cafe (basic concept is that they bring a scientist/doctor/etc to a bar and give a lecture while we drink - love it). This week was about the Science of Attractiveness. Generally speaking, the more symmetrical your face, the more attractive people will fine you. You know what? I am not attractive right now - the right side of my face seems far more swollen. There is definitely no symmetry.



I know, I'm just whining and feeling sorry for myself, and I'm going to be very happy with the results, post-swelling. Sorry to complain. Going back to bed... :) Happy Saturday everyone.

some pics

Wednesday, May 6 - contemplating last cheeseburger...

Mmm..gonna miss this for a while



Thursday, May 7, Pre-surgery:


Friday, May 8, post-surgery:

The DH got a little drowsy too...

home...

Surgery went well, I'm told. Pretty swollen and stiff today. I was
discharge from the hospital at about 1:30 and then had to stop by my
surgeon's office for a quick checkup.

I'm on the mini laptop in bed, but as soon as I feel up to digging my
camera out my bag, I'll post a few photos...a couple of Happy Aimee
with her last cheeseburger and a couple of me in the hospital, pre and
post op. I am so swollen, I look like Cameron Diaz...as Priness
Fiona from Shrek! One the bruising kicks in and the color is correct,
Ill be totally Fiona-fied!

--
Aimeé Owen

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room. ~Kurt Vonnegut

thanks!

Thanks for all the well wishes.  The cheeseburger for lunch was great.  The frozen mini pizza for dinner was awful, so my DH went and got me some Pizza Hut breadsticks at like 10:30 tonight.  (I have until midnight, right?)  I think I'm ready.  OK, that's a lie!  But I am tired, so I think my day is over... 

Last day of eating for a while...

I should have put makeup on before snapping this photo. Wow, my face is pink first thing in the morning! Well, there are my beautiful surgical posts. They sure make sushi fun last night, and my lips are torn up this morning. Oh, course, having used barely any wax in the past 16 months, I'm not about to start now.
Today is the last day of chewing, so my work buddies are taking me to Stella's, this awesome little hole-in-the-wall hamburger stand. They serve the burgers on napkins! :) Can't wait!
Then, I'll head to my last dance practice for a while, and try to get some major shimmy time in while I can...

I've been waiting so long for this - I can't believe it's tomorrow!

hooked

My surgical hooks were put on today.  The assistant that tried to put them on last week was giving tips to the one that actually did it today.  Nice. :)

Two more days!  Starting to get nervous...  My wonderful husband took several days off work, and had been setting up our bedroom with the DVR so I can have more cable TV than necessary. :)

I grilled myself a big steak last night, had sushi tonight, and am going for huge greasy cheeseburgers with the work crowd tomorrow... I swear, I've put on 10 pounds in the past two weeks, but it should come right off...