• Jaw Journal

    Day 13: Cheek Ripping

    Pain: 1 Nausea: None. Swelling: Almost completely gone. I still have a mild “double chin” look, but my face no longer resembles the jowly face of Alfred Hitchcock.  Numbness: My lips and chin are in a constant state of burning turmoil these days, which is, of course, a great sign of nerve health and healing. Sometimes, though, the burning/itching/tingling makes me want to pull my hair out. Going insane is a small price to pay for getting out of chronic pain though, right??? Today I had my second follow-up with Dr. D’Addario. The minute I walked into the office, everyone on the staff started telling me how great I look.…

  • Jaw Journal

    Day 11: 25 mm and a Toddler

    I haven’t written in a few days because, at first, nothing had really changed and I didn’t have much to say. Then I didn’t write because I had a HORRIBLE day of HORRIBLE pain and nausea (yesterday), and didn’t feel like blogging. But today, I’m much better–a whole new woman, in fact–and have some fun things to share. Pain yesterday: 9 Pain today: 2 Nausea yesterday: 8 Nausea today: none! Swelling is almost unnoticeable on both sides! Numbness: My lip has started to give the sensation of pain whenever anything comes into contact with it. It’s like the nerves know something is happening, but can’t quite get things straight yet.…

  • Jaw Journal

    Day 5: All You Need Is Love…and Condiment Bottles

    Pain: 6-7 Numbness: Same. Nausea: Bad this morning, but passed without incident. Back this afternoon after my 3 hour nap, but went away after tomato soup. My day of socializing yesterday caught up with me last night and this morning, and my pain was the worst it’s been. After my 4 and 9 am doses of food and meds, I slept until about 11. When I woke up, my mommy had replaced Brandon as my caretaker for the day! (Brandon had to go back to work. Rats.) Good thing my mom has an iPad to keep her company…I was pretty boring and sleepy all day. My dad came by around…

  • 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 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…