UPDATE! 4 Weeks Post-Op

WEEK 2
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​EATING
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6 weeks liquid diet turned into me going out to a restaurant and ordering ribs and mac & cheese not even 2 weeks after surgery!!

11 days post-op

The meat fell off the bone during the taking of this photo which was a perfect indication that it was soft enough to try! While it took me a while to eat, I enjoyed every bite!

​I’m healing at the speed of lightning! I still won’t be able to eat anything hard or crunchy for 4 months because of the fragility of my face as everything continues to grow back, BUT chewing wise I’m already able to have pasta, ground meat, fish, rice, sautéed veggies & more! My expectations of losing weight during the recovery of this surgery, assuming I would be on a liquid diet, are probably not going to pan out...especially because I can't eat salads, my go to healthy meal...BUT ​I CAN TOTALLY DO THIS!! Instead of being starving and frail like I thought, I will be fueled and energized, getting stronger with every passing day!

SIDE NOTE: I have been experiencing something called "First Bite Syndrome" in relation to the part of my surgery that fixed my Eagle Syndrome. The first bite of every meal I have triggers a sharp cramp of sorts in my salivary glands. I am hoping this will go away soon but I have also talked to other Eagle Syndrome patients who ended up permanently dealing with this side effect.  

​APPEARANCE

I’m feeling much more confident as the swelling goes down in my face and my neck. Noticing the changes in my profile as I finally have a chin and my nose is extra perky. While I knew my face would look different after surgery, it was never my main concern as I would do anything to be out of pain. It is an added bonus to like the way I look!

Top Left: Pre-Op, Top Right: 1 Day Post-Op, Bottom Left: 1 Week Post-Op, Bottom Right: 2 Weeks Post-Op

​WEEK 3
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​PAIN

After 3 weeks I’m still struggling with the same pain I had before surgery. Dr. Wolford said it will take months for that to go away as there was so much damage before replacing my joints. Waiting patiently with nothing to try or do seems like it would be easier, but for me it’s been far more difficult. When I was actively seeing professionals, trying treatments and appliances, I felt proactive. Somehow, as discouraging as most of the outcomes of this journey have been, I felt in control when I was still looking for answers. This is kind of my last chance. My final thing to try. Sitting back and waiting to see if it worked feels a little like torture, especially when I still have to wake up 3 times a night to swap ice packs and can’t go an hour without one. 

The plates above my upper lip have been the weirdest to get used to. While my metal TMJs bang around as my soft tissue grows back, the metal above my lip, along with numbness as my nerves grow back, make it impossible for me to smile with my lips open. When I talk it still sounds, feels and looks bizarre. I’m definitely looking forward to the healing process being complete as it’s been uncomfortable adjusting to my new joints with all the additional swelling and numbness. However, I feel extremely fortunate to already be where I’m at. I got to leave Texas TWO WEEKS EARLY because of how far along I am. I hadn’t taken any pain killers after I left the hospital, my swelling was way less than anticipated and I could already open my mouth 30 mm! 

@linzybinzy120 Jaw-surgery or not this has to be relatable□□ #goodhairday #badfaceday #mirrorcheck #selfie #lol #jawsurgery #update #blogger ♬ My Heart Will Go On (Titanic) - Maliheh Saeedi & Faraz Taali

TRANSITIONING 

​Since I’ve been back home I’ve managed to walk over 10,000 steps everyday. I’ve been seeing my friends and making soft meals in my own kitchen. I’m able to distract myself with the people and places that bring me the most joy in this world and to me there’s truly no greater healing device. Heading into week 4 post-op my goals are pretty much the same: Stay optimistic and keep distracted.