Surgery Update Day 5

Well hello all... today was a great day in recovery land. Started out fairly ordinary (noticed more bruising this morning) but my improvements are coming along very quickly at the time of this writing.

At this time, I am feeling my bottom lip for the first time since surgery - which is remarkable progress...it's still numb of course, but I can move it, feel it, and suddenly over the past few hours, I can control it - which has finally put an ending to my wonderful drooling...lol

I had a talk with Carman my son today. He was fearful that people would possibly think I was off my rocker for posting these developments on my blog. I think he understands now that this type of thing is not out of character for me to do (my life is an open book - I try not to hurt other people, but really I don't feel I have anything to hide) and that I'm actually providing a bit of a service for people who might be thinking of wanting this operation but didn't know what to expect. I've received emails from people telling me that they think it's great what I'm doing and that I'm actually a bit brave **** I don't mind that... :-)

Before this operation, I had nothing to go on - just what the literature said and what people told me...and of course, I found out later, a lot of stuff they hold back from you because it may prevent you from doing something that ultimately you should do.

You see, the people that have this type of surgery done - you never see them out in the daylight or in public until they look 'presentable' so you never really get the full idea of what they've gone through. Once they have made it through this difficult phase such as I’m experiencing now, their natural advise is to encourage you to go through with the operation, because they feel so much better themselves.

They hold back the tough stuff...I believe - for fear that you may not do it.

I choose a different route... I think people should see these pictures, realize that everyone has this happen for a time, and the ending result is well worth the few weeks of discomfort.

I will admit to you as well at this time that I have only experienced 'discomfort' and not 'pain' - which is exactly what Dr. McDonald told me to expect.

The discomfort is in not being able to use your mouth properly, and your jaws being a bit sore and stiff. It's not totally bad...like I posted earlier - I lived through kidney stones 5 times - this is a cakewalk.

Anyway, the picture above is from very early in the day today - I have improved greatly since then...

Another reason I have been able to improve so quickly I believe, is because I have not allowed myself to stay couped up in the house. I'm trying to get out and about as much as possible. Bill McDonald told me my recovery starts in my mind, and I'm out to prove him right.

Late this afternoon, Carman, Erin and little Emma came by and we went to the water park. I really think Emma helped in my improvement. Erin had told Emma that I had an 'operation' but how much could a 2 year old understand about such things - but Emma came right to me - then was shocked at my appearance and cried, but then became very accepting again very quick; so much so that we held hands at the park and walked around together.

I could see 'other people' staring at me a bit...but Emma was fine with me - and so was I...it was all good...

I had a bit of a laugh. I had to go to the men's room while there and this young boy about 7-8 came in after me. He came up beside me as I washed my hands and he washed his...very typical thing... I finished while he was still at the sink and walked out to find a woman who was obviously his mother standing outside the door. She looked at me with my puffed out bruised face and immediately threw open the door and yelled at the kid to make sure he was alright.... hmmmmm

Good lesson there... but hey Emma didn't see that - she just saw me...

Great kid...

Take care all…