2 Month (8 week) update - Back to work for Pinski !

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Ola', Mama!

Holy Crap! Where did the time go? One day I'm on the couch watching "The Price is Right" with ice bags on my face, and before you know it, I'm back at work!
Man, I enjoyed not working, but truthfully I was getting a little bored that last (7th) week.
I am fortunate to have had so much time off, actually.

The feedback I'm getting at work (about my appearance) is very good. The general consensus is, is that I look more rested, a "little bit different", and a little bit younger. Hmmm. I guess that's pretty good, eh'?

My energy level is great. My boss told me that I didn't have to "hit the ground running" when I returned, but there is just so much to do that it's tough to pace myself. It also doesn't help that I'm a little on the hyper side, but so far I'm holding up pretty well. I need to build my stamina a little bit, but I'm doing pretty well and getting A LOT accomplished. They definately saved plenty for me to do so I wouldn't be bored upon my return :-)

As far as the MMA/GA part goes, I think any further recovery is going to be slow.
Now that the Ouch Bars are gone, and the swelling is pretty much gone, it's just going to be a matter of time for my nerve-endings to connect so I can get some feeling back in my mouth.
Right now, most of my top and bottom teeth are still numb, as is the roof of my mouth (my hard pallet) and most of the area around my chin.
All that numbness is still making it quite tough to eat, limiting what I can eat. Dr KL said that I shouldn't push it, because if I try to eat foods that are too hard, it could slow down the healing and even possibly cause a set back. Wouldn't want that, now, would I?
Needless to day, I still get kind of bummed around meal time.

....and one more sTrAnGe thing that's happening is my chapped lips....make that my chapped lip - *singular*. The top one is fine, but the bottom one gets all dry and always needs to be moisturized. I don't understand why that is, but I'm sure it'll get better eventually.

Oh!! ...and I booked a night at the Bay Sleep Clinic here in San Fran for my 3-month follow-up sleep study. I can't wait to know what my numbers are now. I'm bettin' they will be good. Paul thinks so too because he says I sleep quietly (even on my back) and I continue breathing without gasping, snoring or snorting.
....and I really don't feel exhausted any more. Tired? Sure, but at least I'm not falling asleep at the wheel on my way from home from work at 4:30 in the afternoon, like I once did. (uh, ya, I kept that from you for a *reason* ma!)

So, there you have it. I have made more interesting and informative updates, but this is all ya get this time.

much love;
Pinski
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6 Week Update - ...and doing pretty well !

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Hey, Mom!

Things are coming along pretty well. I thought that since the Ouch Bars have been removed, things would really change a lot (especially in the eating department), but they actually haven't all that much.

I suppose it was an unrealistic expectation to think that I could miraculously start eating a lot of food that I couldn't eat before, but I have since learned that it's just going to take time before I can eat like a normal person.
Since our company from Ireland has been here for the past few days, we have been going out to eat a lot, but it took a few meals to realize what I should have already known. When I "bite off more than I can chew" (ar,ar!) I wind up bummed with a really sore jaw, and being that I'm a slow learner, I've done this more times than I care to admit.
Let me just say: I desperately miss double-bacon cheeseburgers, pizza and steak! Oh well, I'll live....

I know I've posted a series of "Before and After Pics", but I thought I'd just put some "Then and Now Pics" right here.

.......THEN..............

..........and NOW.

So, what do you think? Significant? Not? I'm still getting used to the different-looking me. I definately like my profile better (what with a chin now, and my nose it a little "tipped-up"), but from the front, I'm still trying to get used to it. My nose seems wider and I feel like my cheeks are chubbier, making my eyes seem sunken. I *do* like the fact that those deep smile lines on either side of my nose have softened. Some people say I look a little younger. Not as much as I'd like, but beggers can't be choosers!! :-)

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Sleep continues to be great, although I don't think I'm having much luck transitioning in to a "nose breather" as opposed to a "mouth breather", like Dr. KL said I probably would. I still wake up with a very dry mouth most of the time which is just like it used to be.

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Fortunately, I *think* I'm starting to get a little bit more feeling in the left side of my teeth which is enabling me to eat stuff a little bit easier. Still not EASY, but a little easier.

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We have had a great time with Vince and David and I think they've really been enjoying San Francisco and the Bay Area. They'll be heading back to Ireland (via NYC) on Saturday and I will have one more week before returning to work on the 28th. Hopefully, they'll have fond memories of their vacation, and if they forget any part of it, they can refer to the 1,754 pictures they took!! :-) kidding...

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Anyway, that's about it for now.

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Much love:

Pinski

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Week 5(ish). Goodbye Ouch Bars!!

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Hi Mom!

Sorry I'm a little late with my weekly update, but I wanted to wait a few days so I could also include the good news that I got my Ouch Bars taken out today. Yay!

Before...................................After!! Ta-Dah!!

Actually, it was a pretty easy procedure. Other doctors actually consider it an out-patient surgical procedure, but this was done right in his office, using only novicane and it was really not bad at all. I did save a dose of pain meds for this occasion (previously okayed by the doc), so that may have made it even easier.

Daisy was there to help the good doctor and the whole procedure took less than a half an hour. In fact, it was even easier than getting a cavity filled.

Any way, the Ouch Bars are now out of my mouth, and I am allowed to start chewing soft foods, and not just soup, smoothies, yogurt and pulverized food from the Cuisinart. Alla-Louie!! This will be a big boost for my mental health, as I was getting really tired of my dietary limitations.

Before leaving, I asked if everyone in the office would pose for a quick pic for the bloggie, and even though a couple of the ladies deemed it "a bad hair day", I convinced them that it's only going to be in my blog, and not in People magazine....so they reluctantly agreed.

Left to Right: Linda, Daisy, Moi', Juanita and Dr Li. (A fine lookin' bunch, they are!)

So, I was 193 lbs. on surgery day, and now I'm at 178. (down 15#). I'm hoping to only gain about 5 pounds back, so I have a bit of eating to do! I figure 183 lbs. is a good weight for me.

Also, after I return to work on the 28th, I'll definately start going to the gym again, since I've gotten a little"soft".

I talked to my boss the other day, and he let me know that when I come back to work,

I don't necessarily have to "hit the ground running" and can take a little time to re-acclimate. That's a good thing, since I'll have been away for 7 weeks. Wow. Time flies.

Tomorrow, our friends from Ireland (Dave and Vince) will be visiting for the week and staying with us for a few nights, so we will take them to see all the sights (Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Union Square, Fishermans Warf, Golden Gate Park etc.) and we are even going to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on a day trip. I've not done a whole lot in the past 5 weeks (other than some semi-long walks, and re-finishing this table:-),

...so it will be a good way to start building my stamina so it won't be so tough getting back to work.

I'm going to hold-off on this weeks "Before and After" pics because I'm really not looking any different from last week, but I will post some next week for sure.

Lastly, my sleeping (the whole reason I've gone through all of this) has been fantastic. I am so rested, have been sleeping quietly. and feel like even though there's been some rough spots, it's been totally worth it.

Well, that's about it for now, so toodles!!

love always;

Pinski

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1 Month Update; Time continues to fly!

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Hey Mom;

Wow !! It's hard to believe that a month ago today, I went under the knife for my MMA/GA operation. In some ways, it seems like it happened months ago, and in other ways it feels like it was only last week. Would I do it again? Yes, I would. This whole experience has come with a lot of challenges, but all in all, I think it has benefitted me a lot.

Of course, I wasn't too crazy about having to go in for "ICU Part Deux", but that couldn't be avoided. I guess that's what makes me "unique".

I won't be able to really know HOW MUCH I've benefitted until I do another sleep study (which won't be for another 2 months), but Paul has said I am sleeping as quiet as a mouse (and this is while sleeping on my back, which is amazing!) , I continue breathing, and no more gasping!
Also, I used to be able to nap in the afternoons (when given the opportunity) quite easily, and now napping is not as easy as it used to be. I think that's because I get a much better and restful sleep at night now and don't need the naps as much.

However, I still have a long way to go. Especially in the "getting the feeling in my mouth and chin back" department.
After the first surgery 4 weeks ago, I was able to feel much of my chin still, most of my pallet (the "roof of my mouth"), and most of my teeth on both sides, but after the 2nd surgery, my chin is tingly but much more numb, my pallet has nearly no feeling yet, the teeth on my left side have nearly no feeling as well, and the teeth on my right side have very little feeling. I'm sure that with time, I will gain more feeling in my chin, pallet and teeth, although I know it will probably take quite a bit more time.

At this point, (as I have mentioned before), I'm really getting tired of the liquid diet I'm on and can't wait to start nibbling on soft foods.
Fortunately, last night Paul and I sat down to our first real dinner at the table in over a month.
On the menu was crab-stuffed salmon, creamed corn, and a nice ripe sliced avocado with italian dressing on it. All with no chewing required. It was really representative of things starting to "get back to normal".

Pain-wise, there's not that much now. Just a lot of "tightness".... as if my teeth and jaw were in a vice. I went ahead and took the pain meds for possibly longer than I needed to. There were a few times when I missed taking the pain meds on time, and it was quite uncomfortable, so that's why I continued with them.

I'm still getting used to my new look. I do like my new profile. I have more of a chin now (yay!), and my nose is "tipped-up" just a litle bit. From the front is a different story. My right cheek is still a little bit swollen on the right side, so becasue of that, my eye loooks a little "sunken" and my nose seems wider than it used to be. Also, the crevices on either side of my nose have lessened and I'm told I look a little bit younger. Hmm.

I stopped by work on my way home from my last Dr KL appointment and those who saw me said they thought "I look different". Not having facial hair probably contributes to the "looking different" as well, but I think the overall change is fairly subtle.

So lastly, I've update the "Before and After Pics" page with more photos, but I don't think you'll notice too much of a signifigant change from last weeks pics. Maybe a little less swelling.

Well, that's about it for now. Thanks for al the e-mails and care packages throughout all of this. It's really helped. Have a great 4th of July!!

much love;

Pinski

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