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3 weeks post-op and I don’t have a good title for this post, because really nothing has happened recently. The bands are still on. I still have a liquid diet. I drink soup out of a cup. Spoons are still very difficult. So far it’s been

• ensure/boost
• cream of chicken (and variations, herbed, etc.)
• tomato soup (and variations, basil, smoked bacon flavor, etc.)
• blended chili (just a little) – my bands always break after trying to “eat” this
• creamy poblano queso soup
• chipotle tomato (super spicy, don’t recommend for < 2 weeks post op)
• melty water ice
• melty mini haagen-dazs ice cream
• cold smoothies/shakes (wawa is good for this – you can add protein to them!)
• blended black bean cilantro soup
• beer

I can smile a bit more,  the incision above my gums hurts less. I haven’t taken any pain meds, although after a day of talking heavily with friends my mouth really hurt that night and the day after. However there’s no jaw pain.

I’ve still got some numbness in my face around my nose on the right side. Which is probably why it’s a little droopy there.

I can’t wait to have a doughnut.

Got out of the house to go get a haircut.

And blended chili is great. Just a little bit, just to get the major chunks out. Cook it then you can drink it out of a cup.  My teeth can open just a little bit with the bands to get it through.

It’s a bit messy, but whatever. Something different than smoothies/ensure/boost/soup. I’m going to have fun with the waterpik tonight, though.

Not much has changed. Still have the bands. Bands break, I replace them. Some pain went away in the upper right of my face, where it was also more swollen than the rest of my face at one point.  Less pain when I move my face muscles too. Today was the first day without any painkillers. Overall swelling is down more.

I still don’t have some feeling in my upper lip, and it does still hurt to smile from the incision/stitches, so this is all you get!

I’m working from home for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday was extremely tiring. The first day back at work, and by 9pm I was done. I had to go in early for the xrays, and the less than usual calorie intake that I’ve been getting didn’t help, but I’ll be adjusting that soon.

So last night I got a ton of sleep, and promised myself I’d get a super smoothie in the city today. I think it’s the first thing I had in a week where I considered myself to be “full”. I’ve got some ingredients at home that my mom left to play with, soup and Ensure gets boring after a couple days.

I tried drinking through a straw and it was a total failure. I just drank out of the cup, which was a success, but messy. I also had coffee now that I’m off antibiotics and painkillers, and I think I’ll reward myself with a beer when I get home.

Went to the doctor today for my post-op. Everything was looking fine! I still have to wear the bands for some weeks, which I’m prepared for.

Here’s the much awaited x-ray. I haven’t seen my bite this aligned since…I don’t remember when.

And ow. Yawning is painful.

Bands finally snapped last night. Putting them back in was no big deal though.

And not as puffy today! I woke up at 7, took a bunch of meds, and was ready to work by 9am. The day was fine, even with the meds I was only a little loopy.

And I finally shaved! The swelling is really coming  down.

No more updates for a while, I’m going to go for my post-op checkup and take it from there.

Less swelling, less stuffiness, less pain. I stopped icing and moved to heat pads for the day. I was less sleepy today after meds, and I didn’t need a mid-day 4 hour drug coma! Eating water ice today was a success! I just had to let it all melt so that I could basically drink it. Maybe ice cream later.

Tomorrow I’m going to try to work from home. I’m getting a little restless not having anything to do all day other than drinking food that Adrianna  makes me food and playing video games, and I feel like I’ve got some mental focus back now so I’m really looking forward to some activity.

While the pain and swelling are controlled with meds and heat and ice paks, I still have my jaw wired shut via bands. I still get some dizziness if I move my head too fast, or if I lean over a little too much. There’s some discomfort if I try to talk or smile too much. I still have to sleep upright otherwise stuff will come out of my nose. I’m still on a mostly liquid diet and that’s not going to change any time soon, since my jaw bones still have to recover.

But I feel almost “normal” now, aside from a few side effects of the drugs. And the part about not being able to use my mouth for anything . And having a poofy face. But, a world of difference from day 0.

Here’s a combined progress photo of right after braces (1 year ago), right before surgery (5 days ago), and today.