19 months post op

Just a quick update... here's a picture of me from last October... my 30 year reunion from high school.

All is well. I have most, if not all, of my feeling back. I never did lose feeling in my lips (thankfully!). I feel normal, like this is how I've always been. It's fun running into people who knew me before surgery and to see them looking at me intensely... I always ask if they think I look different and then tell them why.

I'm sleeping much better. I'm feeling like a normal person. I don't feel like I always have to smile so people don't see my "deformity" (lack of lower jaw and chin). I saw some pre-op pictures today and I'd love to post some pre and post op pictures. Probably will someday soon...

Bye for now.

I feel like I have marbles in my mouth!

As my mouth heals, the insides of my cheeks are thick (probably with some scar tissue) and it feels like I have marbles or cotton stuffed in my cheeks! I'm feeling self conscious again about talking and hoping that extra tissue will break down over time. Also, doing some massage on it, both inside and out! My kids are always saying, "Mom! Why do you always have your hands or fingers in your mouth!?"

Another good/bad thing is I can eat more (good) so I'm gaining weight back (bad)!

I have a recheck with the ENT today and my septum still feels crooked, making my right nostril smaller than my left. That gives me more air flow into my left nostril and it is really getting on my nerves! Looking forward to talking with the doctor today.

Truth is... I'm a little weary of this process right now. It doesn't help though, that this week has been hard. When you're a mom of 4 (23, 21, 17, and 14) anything that they go through (that you know about), you go through and life is hard at those ages! I love them, they are constantly in my prayers, and I am okay... just weary.

I can't stop picking my nose!

Sick, I know, but you try having nose surgery and keeping your fingers out of there! It's crusty and so rewarding... that's all I'm gonna say.

successful septum surgery...

I'm back from surgery. Dr. ICAMP (I care about my patients) did a great job. I was able to have IV sedation. My nose is swollen inside so I can't really tell if it's going to be straight yet. I'm also dripping watered down blood so I have a gauze mustache - 'got milk'? I'm taking vicoden for the pain but it's very localized. I feel like I have a broken nose but the meds are really working for now. I was home about 1:00 pm, slept for a while, then got up and ate something and now I'm watching TV. I also watered my plants. Don't know how I'll feel tomorrow, but I expecting the best.

more surgery tomorrow...

Well, it's been 5 months and I am going in for my septoplasty tomorrow morning. I haven't been thinking about it at all until tonight. I just watched some youtube videos and now I'm nervous! I guess I was just thinking it will be nothing compared to the double jaw, chin surgery. It may not be anything compared to that, but I think it will still be another recovery. I'm not looking forward to it. I'm getting a little tired of not feeling normal!

zing... what was that!?

Yesterday, I was standing in the kitchen and all of the sudden something snapped inside my face. It felt like a rubber band in my mouth but I didn't have any in there. My face was sore up by my nose. I couldn't figure it out until last night. Then, I realized it must be one of the stitches Dr. G used to hold my nose in place. He put some really strong stitch in a figure 8 on the outside of my nostrils to keep them from spreading out. I saw him this morning and he checked out my plates and screws and agreed that it was that stitch. Apparently it tore through the muscle and it is very sore. I don't need it anymore because my nose is healed and in place so that's good news.

My septum surgery is scheduled for June 12th (I hate to wait that long!). We have so much going on for the end of the school year so I had to move it from May 15th.

On a recovery note, I'm leading worship at church on Sunday for the first time since Jan. (pre-surgery) and it was weird singing last night. We practiced for several hours last night and it was strange singing. My face feels stiff, some of the numb areas are starting to wake up and I'm at an uncomfortable phase. Not numb, not totally feeling... Dr. G said a lot of people think this is a frustrating phase. After taking 3 months off, I'm scheduled a lot for the next 3 months. I'm sure it will get better but I'm feeling a little self-conscious right now and not looking forward to singing in front of people on Sunday. The good news is we have a really great group of people and they'll be totally supportive and cool about the whole thing!

That's it for me...

2 more opinions on my crooked septum

Hey... just a quickie here... I saw 2 surgeon's this past week. A cranial-facial surgeon and another ENT. Both said my septum was probably too long since my jaw was moved up and shorted. Both thought it would be best to trim the septum and place it back into the nasal spine. [None of this 'I'll just remove your nasal spine, you don't need it anyway' bullpoop! Dr. Country Club is out... yeah!] I have to schedule a CT scan so the doc can see the full picture and come up with the best plan with no surprises. BTW, the cranial-facial guy is my brother-in-law; he's out of the city and out of network as far as our insurance goes. I'm going to the ENT who is excellent, she has done surgery on me and 2 of my kids in the past... and, I trust her! I think I'll call her Dr. I Care About My Patients or Dr. ICAMP for short.