Day 49 - Final Post

So today is day 49 I now believe, and am sad but also happy to say that this is probably going to be my final post. Nothing much new is happening now in regards to my jaw, my swelling is still reducing and sensation finally returning however bottom lip and chin still pretty numb.

I am managing to eat more and more food as long as still relatively saucy so either lots of gravy etc, however eating is still a messy procedure so apologise in advanced to all my work colleagues whom are going to have to endure my terrible eating habits at this present time.

I do look different unfortunately I now look even younger then I did before and with this new haircut my mother kindly told me I look approximately 12 years of age, if I didn't look on the bright side and see how jealous all my friends and family will be when I am 40 looking a mere 29, I would actually be offended alas I am not. I may even use this to my advantage and see if I can get child tickets when out!

I am petrified of going back to work due mainly to the eating issues but also still so ridiculously tired, I am trying to get up earlier each day at moment to prepare me for the 05:30 starts and 13 hours shifts however so far I set my alarm for 07:30 and managed to drag myself out at approx 09:30 next week should be interesting. However as it is count down to my holiday in January I need to get this body into a better beach shape otherwise I am going to interpret a beached whale look, so back to the gym I will be going once back on home turf, Portsmouth. Just reminded myself I must ring them and restart my membership as I temporarily cancelled it whilst having this op and also need to ring occupational health at work as missing my flu jab and need Hep A booster :(

Thank you to everyone who has cooked, cleaned, lifted my spirits or in anyway just helped me in the past 6/7 weeks. It would have been a very boring few months without you all. I still have a little way to go especially getting my braces off and so therefore will probably post something once that happens as is nice for me to look over as well even if no-one else reads it.

Day 44 - Return to looking normal

I am just about starting to look like a normal human being now, swelling has drastically reduced and am happy to go out in public, however not yet to eat as bottom lip and chin still extremely numb and mouth only opens about a finger wide so eating is still a messy issue.

Wednesday night decided to be spontaneous and went to see the new bond film... Skyfall with Luke and some other friends, this was actually better then I thought it would be, one of first Bond movies I have actually sat and watched the whole way through. Didn't get home though until gone 1am though but was well worth it.

Anyway I had my hospital appointment on Wednesday now have the go ahead to eat proper food and chew!!! My surgeon is happy with the swelling reduction etc and therefore does not need to see me again for 3 months, however I am still under the orthodontic team in regards to my brace. Hopefully getting the surgical hooks removed in 2 weeks yes, as since my feeling is returning to the inside of my mouth I am unfortunately now able to feel the chunks of flesh that these hideous hooks are gorging out of me. I am also hoping and praying that since the hooks are coming off this so means that my elastics will be finished as well as I will have nothing to hook them onto and will be able to exercise my jaw until it opens a normal amount to at least fit a grape in. Instead I am currently having to cut my grapes into 2 or even sometimes 3 pieces.

So I think this is going to be one of the last blogs I ever do as not much is changing now in regards to my jaw and it's becoming more of a general rant he he.

Day 42 - Errands

My last two days have been filled running so many errands for people, this is a role that my mummy normally does however since she has not been allowed to drive I have taken over. I have had to take old people to hospital appointments, had to do food shopping for the elderly and generally other errands here there and every where. A crazy life from where I was a week ago, relaxing before returning to work.

So something unbelievable happened to me as well on the way back from my boyfriends house last night. It was past midnight and I was toodling along the road in my car when all of a sudden the car behind me started driving very close, when going round the corner he then put his blue sirens on and pulled me over!!! I had no idea it was policeman as they were in an unmarked vehicle. Thinking oh s*** I pulled over, got out and they proceeded to tell me the reason for pulling me over is my car was marked on their system as stolen!

'You heard right....STOLEN!' 

There had to be a mistake, I brought this car brand new from the manufacturer !! Then his colleague pointed out they wrote the number plate down wrong....phew! However that was not the end of the matter he proceeded to interrogate me to why I was up this way of the country as my car is registered down in Portsmouth! Then he told me off for cutting the corner to which my response was ' Who doesn't at this time of night when you have a vehicle driving up your arse' Yes I spoke back to policeman with hindsight probably not the best thing I could have done but I was only having banter with them due to their mistake. They did admit it was because they thought they were in for a chase with a stolen vehicle and that I had highly disappointed them with my normality. This did make me chuckle they let me go in the end with just caution not to cut the corner in future.

I have the hospital tomorrow hopefully will be less eventful then this evening. I am hoping to get to the bottom of why I cannot open my mouth and get the go ahead to start chewing... no more soup for me!

Day 40 - Weekend Bliss

I had the most amazing weekend shopping in Basingstoke was wonderful, got some more xmas pressies, must confess though I am rather a bah humbug! Just finding it more difficult the older my family members become, enjoying buying toys for the children though, maybe we should all go back to our childhood and have Lego and Barbies etc for presents.

On Sunday went for a wonderful walk up at Blackdown was a truly stunning day, sun shining however still very cold approx 3 degrees Celsius, so scarves and coats still needed. The dog had a whale of a time running in and out of the puddles and bracken and I enjoyed a phenomenal chat with my newly acquired man and best friend. 

Also discovered a new sensation white wine with a straw, this was a God-send after coming home from my blissful weekend to find my brother had dumped everything he no longer wanted in the 'spare room' as he stated which is currently my bedroom! Also washing up piled up and clothes washing just dumped by machine, when questioning this 18 year old on why this was so his response was he doesn't know how to sort the washing he might end up shrinking it or changing the colours!!! Anyway instead of shouting I turned to the bottle, managed to cook myself a beautiful lasagna to calm myself put it down for one minute and the sodding dog ate it! Well as you could probably tell I lost the plot tears came, and the poor dog got the brunt of my emotion with me shouting explicits at him. Luckily for him he is a cute Labrador and by morning was forgiven, hindsight is wonderful.

In regards to my jaw, had a little bit of pain probably 3/10 over weekend just due to the cold weather etc and the metal work however nothing a dose of calpol couldn't deal with. I am looking forward to getting these elastics off hopefully soon as still can't open my mouth very wide at all. The feeling is starting to return more everyday to lips and I can now LICK MY LIPS!!! This is such a bonus as lips are drying out horrendously due to this wonderful winter weather.

Anyway a busy week ahead.... including hospital appointment will update again soon.

Day 38 - Return

My swelling has gone down a lot I can now feel cheekbones, and the sensation is starting to return in my lips although constantly feels like pins and needles. Still swollen slightly more on my right side but hopefully this will go.

Mum has now returned safe and sound after finally having her op yesterday. So now although I am still resting it is my turn to look after like she did so lovingly for me and to drive her around. This is good but I am surviving on so little food and nourishment especially not drinking enough water that I feel faint and worn out so quickly too. However I managed to clean the house for her and get together even a wardrobe and chest of drawers in spare room with a little help from a friend :) So everything is coming together nicely, she was so pleased with what I had achieved just seeing the smile on her face was enough.

Today is my dad's birthday so

'Happy Birthday, dad' 

We met up at a small local pub for a drink which was nice, had my first fizzy drink since op shhh don't tell surgeons, was good although still have to use a straw. Lots of people still ask about my braces and the elastics keeping my mouth closed as obviously I still talk differently and some words are difficult to pronounce and for others to understand. Tend to sound like Johnathon Ross pronouncing my 'R's wrong. People still think I am crazy for going through this but I don't regret it... yet... just wish the feeling in my lips would return slightly faster.

Stopped off at a friends for a bit and had a good laugh and pick me up just what the doctor ordered. Looking forward to a day out tomorrow xmas shopping in Basingstoke, never been there before but heard good things so high expectations.

Day 36 - DIY

As you can probably see I have decided to do these blogs every other day now, nothing much new is happening in regards to my jaw just still same old ache and annoying elastics. Only thing I would say is the gap when I open is ridiculously small hence making it sometimes near impossible to eat. 

This picture shows how wide I can currently get it try getting food through that gap! Will have to talk to surgeon and team about this when next see as not impressed, even if I can start chewing how am I going to get any food in there worth chewing!

So yesterday drove to see mum in hospital she is looking a lot better and is awaiting a second operation which was suppose to happen on Tuesday but has not and didn't happen today (Wednesday) either so holding out hopes for tomorrow. When driving back I did not anticipate the rush hour traffic and in total ended up driving for over 4 hours in one sitting and thus falling asleep at the wheel almost. Luckily I stopped at Tesco and to wake myself up did some food shopping as nothing at Mum's was of a small enough size for one's mouth.  

Spent today (Wednesday) cleaning house, and putting together furniture before mum's return home. However this proved difficult and thus several swear words may have exited my mouth due to Ikea furniture but if I must say so myself I am impressed with my own handiwork. 

My jaw is highly annoying me today and have only managed to eat 1 weetabix all day and even that took a good hour or so to consume. Just nothing seems to go in and stay in, only 1 more week till my appointment hopefully can sort this issue out. 

Day 34 - Turn for the worse

Well well well, what can I say about yesterday and today my life literally got shaken up overnight. Sunday morning 02:30 phone call from brother to say my mother had had a heart attack and was currently in a hospital having emergency surgery a good 3 hours drive from my home.

This all came as an absolute total shock as you can imagine and my main priority was to make sure mum was alright so I drove to my dear friends house and he drove the rest of the 2 hour trip there at 4 in the morning! It felt so surreal as if I was in a dream, when arriving at hospital mum was already out of the operation and feeling much better although slightly out of it on morphine etc. We then headed back home late morning after explaining to the campsite people the situation and took the dog back with us so I could put him in kennels for the time been. One thing I would say is the drive back was beautiful (well the bits I remember, apparently I fell asleep and the dog and my brother leaving my poor friend Luke to drive the lonesome drive on his own).

Today (Monday) I have spent the day cleaning, and doing loads of jobs that needed to be done like post office, shopping etc and have decided that tomorrow will be driving back to Kent to see mum (2 1/2 hours( away and then will for the mean time live at her house in Haslemere as slightly closer and can try and get house sorted ready for her return from hospital. I am so grateful to everyone in last 2 days who have helped me out, offered me support and prayers.

'Thank you'