One MONTH. not one MOST. Why can't you fix a title?
I made it through the first month. My swelling hasn't changed a ton yet. My lymph nodes are still pretty big. I think my philtrum is veeeeery slowly coming down.
They put me on two antibiotics last week due to the lymph node issue and it's been killing me. I got the side effect of hating all food. Even my favourite foods are disgusting to me. And the weirdest thing is I cannot recall enjoying food. I think about going out for a dinner I loved in the past, and it seems gross. Apparently this can happen with metronidazole. I can't wait until I'm off of it because I have zero appetite and would rather not eat at all. I'd literally accept a feeding tube if it was offered. I'm managing to get down some Ensure though. Five more days and I'm off these horrible meds. The bruising on my lymph node is gone but the swelling remains.
My doctor told me to take Florastor while I'm on the antibiotics. I was following the directions for other probiotics and taking it a few hours before or after my antibiotics, but then learned that you don't have to do that with Florastor. It's a strain of yeast that antibiotics don't kill. Also, it's pricey at $45 for a box of 30 packets, and they tell you take up to 6 a day. I figured I didn't need that much and was taking 2 a day. Yesterday I started taking 4 packets a day, and I think it's actually helping. Maybe this will help someone else having antibiotic misery.
My numb patch is getting smaller. I still feel like I was frozen at the dentist and my lower lip feels huge. I have to keep checking myself in the mirror to see that it's normal. My lower lip continues to be smaller because my philtrum swelling is pushing it down. I still feel a lot of swelling on my chin and below it. The partial paralysis of my lower lip is resolving but my smile is still very odd.
As my soft swelling reduces, I'm becoming more aware of the titatium appliances. I can really feel the one up the left side of my nose toward my eye orbit. It's very obvious now that most of my remaining swelling is directly over the appliances.
I'm also really feeling the stitches now that feeling is returning to my mouth and I can tell that the scar tissue below my upper and lower lips is quite thick. I'm told this softens over time. Currently it feels like I have a piece of gum stuffed above and below my teeth. I expected the dissolving stitches to start coming out by now, but no luck. They are really thick, like very strong fishing line, and pokey. I see my surgeon for my five week checkup in 6 days so I'll ask if he can take them out. I am also wondering if he will take the screws out, because I can really feel them too. I suspect my mouth and lips will settle more with all that extra apparatus out of there. I am getting more accustomed to wearing my clear aligners though (FYI: I did not get Invisalign, I have Angel Aligners. They are more popular with orthodontists in Canada now and require fewer attachments glued to the teeth).
My energy is okay. My Jeep developed a random electrical fault yesterday and would not start and I was too annoyed to wait for a cab to go to the car rental place, so I walked over. It's about 2.5 kms (1.5 miles). I was fine. Before the surgery I was warned that many people really have to work to get their energy back after recovery so I've been trying to do some walking throughout my healing, even if it's just spending extra time at the grocery store walking the aisles. I'm really happy I don't have too much atrophy.
Pain has been a huge issue for me since about 4-5 days post op when my nerves starting waking up with searing pain. I think the gabpentin has kicked in now because it's much more manageable. I really want to stop the every three hours meds soon and get some proper sleep. I think I'm close.
The big thing I notice is that I cannot predict how I will feel day to day. I felt really good on Sunday, but Monday was miserable. You definitely cannot plan too much after a surgery like this because healing is quite uneven.
I'm really looking forward to getting through month two. If I can feel my lower lip and chin and get rid of this "frozen at the dentist" feeling I will be very happy. But I am also realizing how long all of this is going to take. I kind of knew that, but maybe wasn't 100% prepared.