So, On to Wednesday

OK, so on Wednesday I went in for a visit with Dr Movahed (surgeon).  He was beside himself with how well I'm doing  He, and everybody at the office, was surprised that I was talking at all or doing much of anything that I'm doing.  They were all quite happy for me.

There was one thing that I found surprising and somewhat disconcerting.  The roof of my mouth has felt very different since the surgery; there is a very definite ledge on the roof of my mouth just about where it transitions from "mouth" to "throat".  I figured this was the dreaded surgical splint that I had read about.  I found out that I don't have a surgical stint, that's the actual roof of my mouth.  That ledge is not the edge of the splint, it's the edge of my skull that he moved for the lower jaw placement. Eh?! *shocked*  That threw me off for about two days.  It weirded me out every time I would swallow and my tongue would push against it. *shiver*

Dr Movahed also removed my external stitches so I have a little more freedom in washing my hair and face.  Still not supposed to scrub at them or damage the area but I can accidentally bump them without too much issue.  I need to keep antibiotic ointment on them for the next 4-5 days, then I switch over to Mederma to reduce the chances of permanent scars.

We talked about several questions I had (like when will I be able to hear right again - 1-1.5 months; is the ear pain normal - yes, 1-1.5 months; how long will I have the bloody seepage from my sinuses  - at least 2 months, etc.).  Then he gushed some more about how well I'm doing.  As I was leaving, his patient care coordinator gave me a goodie bag.  So sweet of them!  And then they gushed about how well I was doing, "Oh wow, I can't believe how well you're talking!  You look so good!" and so on.

Since Jamie had some things to drop off at work and the surgeon's is a whole two miles from his office, he decided to stop by there.  I chose to go in and see people.  Everyone said the same things about how I'm talking and looking, etc.  It was nice to spend some time out with people, but it was time for me to go pretty quickly.  I fell asleep in the car on the way home and passed out for about an hour once we were home.  All in all, not a bad day.

I think being surrounded by so many people (some who know how things are supposed to go) and still being this impressed was the first time I started to truly understand how lucky/blessed/adjective of choice I am.  I really can't say it's been as bad as I had read or imagined it would be.  But considering what I've had done I really should be a lot less together than I am.  While I would be happy to be giving this part a miss, I am beginning to understand just how bad it *could* be.  So, to all concerned; from health care team to friends & family to any "other" factors:  Thank you.  There is going to be whining in the future.  Please do think that that complaining lessens my gratitude for all that I've received.