Jaw Journal

  • Jaw Journal

    Day 4: Confessions of a Socialite

    Pain: 5-6 Numbness: Still my entire lower lip and chin. I’ve started to feel a few painful spasms in my chin, though, along with the continuing tingling and “sunburned” feeling I have in my lower lip. Nausea: None! Today is the last day of my new patch, though… Today was a good day, overall. I woke up in pain, having skipped my pre-dawn dose of painkiller last night. Once we got it under control, though, I had a good amount of energy. We took a field trip to my parent’s house this afternoon, where I hunkered down in a great chair with Frodo pup in my lap for a few…

  • Jaw Journal

    Day 3: Sleeping Beauty

    Pain Level: 3 Nausea: on and off all day, but not as bad as yesterday Swelling: going down! Still definitely large and uncomfortable, but I don’t look quite as boxy as I did yesterday. I’ve been much better about icing today, which has helped tremendously. (Also, a tip for those of you recovering from jaw surgery, too: If your chin/lip is numb but itchy, applying ice alleviates the itching to some degree. Ice has kept me from going crazy!) I’ve mostly slept today, utterly exhausted from the past few days,  I think. My pain has been ok, though, which has allowed me to sleep quite a bit longer than the…

  • Jaw Journal

    Day 2: The misery is coming! The misery is coming!

    If you don’t like to talk about vomit, you’d better stop reading here. Sorry… It’s just been one of those days! I had been prescribed an anti-nausea patch that I put on before surgery. I didn’t experience even a little nausea with that patch, until about 5 am this morning, that is. Vomiting was one of my biggest fears about recovery–and for good reason, I’ve discovered. Throwing up is bad enough when your mouth is functioning properly. But vomiting through sealed teeth? Oh man. THAT sucks. Because of the nasty start to my day, I’ve felt pretty queazy and exhausted all day. Also, because of the nasty start to my…

  • Jaw Journal

    Day 1: My new doppelgänger

    Pain Level: 3 Food consumption: All syring-fed liquids. Naked brand juice is tasty and filling, and chicken broth is savory and delicious. Numbness: My entire bottom lip and my chin are all numb. Yesterday the whole bottom half of my face was numb, so I’m thankful that it seems to be getting better already. I’ve felt some tingling and itching in my lower lip/chin.   Didn’t get a ton of rest last night. For some reason, I would wake up every hour. Not usually because of pain, really. I think it might be because I’m sleeping upright. My sweetie pie slept on the floor next to the bed, and would…

  • Jaw Journal

    The Beginning of the End…

    Although you may have come to love and anticipate the style of Lindsay’s posts, you must endure her husband posting on her behalf for at least one day. I am Brandon and I am here to report the details of the largest event in the Jaw Journey thus far. In case she hasn’t told you herself, or you haven’t noticed this about her, she is an extremely prepared person. Printed out charts. Prepared frozen meals. Costco trip. You get the picture. Bilateral mandibular maxillofacial surgery (that’s not even the technical term), originally scheduled for 3:00pm, had been fortunately rescheduled for noon. That meant that we arrived at Penrose St. Francis…