Day 18 post-op

Monday 7th May
Not too much has changed with my swelling but i'm starting to get more feeling in my lips and chin :)  Smiling is gradually becoming easier, but still feels weird. I went to the cinema on Friday to see I Feel Pretty which is a comedy so my face hurt a lot afterwards😂. I also had a sleepover - it was meant to be a Eurovision sleepover but we got the date wrong - so we watched Britains Got Talent and I made an Oreo milkshake. I managed to sleep a bit upright on the sofa.

This bank holiday has been sooooo hot so i've tried to make the most of the sun (whilst occasionally icing my face!) We went to a river yesterday and out on our boat today. I resisted jumping in the water! The elastic band on my front teeth accidentally pinged somewhere at the beginning of the trip so I didn't have one on the whole day-oops. I managed to suck on a tuna sandwich today but mostly ate Pombears and cake, so was craving some vegetables for tea. I blended up carrots, broccoli, parsnips and a steak pie and had sweet potato too - it ended up being A LOT of food!!

Definitely filled me up

A chin!

2 weeks post-op!

Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd May

I can't believe it has been two weeks already since my surgery! My face is slowly getting back to normal - the swelling is just a bit lopsided. My bottom lip is still quite numb and feels really big. Yesterday I had mashed sweet potato and I blended up a vegetable pastry pie and, although it looked like vomit, it tasted great. I also ate a whole magnum which was an achievement. I ate too much chocolate and woke up covered in spots this morning!

Today I had my first bike ride - it was nice and sunny but I was very slow and unfit! I made sure I had my tightest elastics in so my jaw wouldn't wobble around too much😂. We bought some jelly and custard on the way. Someone from a job I applied for phoned me back today so I had to speak on the phone but he said he could understand me!😆  I am nearly able to smile now, just a bit awkwardly and painfully. These photos were taken when I took my bands out so it was easier!

Yummy

Day 11 and 12 post-op

Monday 30th April and Tuesday 1st May
I didn't do much yesterday as I was very tired, but managed to apply for some jobs. I also played a bit of tennis in the evening as I was getting restless (not sure if i'm allowed to really) but it felt good to be hitting again, even if I didn't move much! I had blended sausages and mash (with pesto) that evening which was surprisingly tasty!
Today I went to the hospital again for another follow up. My surgeon said all was looking great and changed my bands, but said I was still too swollen for any x-rays. He also told me I can start lying a little flatter when I sleep which is good! My next appointment is in two weeks.
My face still looks the same - I think at this point I look pretty normal to members of the public but I still feel swollen! The feeling has started to come back in my chin and cheeks but I still feel numb in my bottom lip and just below my eyes.

Before and after: amazingly my teeth don't stick out anymore! This pic really shows how my nose has changed too!

Day 9 and 10 post-op

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April
Yesterday I went to watch my tennis club play a match - I can't wait to be able to play again! I ended up babysitting for a lot of it, which was exhausting, especially when even just talking takes a lot of effort. I said hi to someone who I went on holiday with last year and he just looked at me blankly - i'm assuming he didn't recognize me which is very weird! I had blended chilli for dinner - yum. I tried to suck on chips but it was not successful😒.

I still can't talk that well or smile, but the swelling is slowly going down, it's just puffy around my jaw. I'm also a bit worried that my face is lopsided but I'm hoping it's just uneven swelling. Pain levels still pretty low - except for my cheek keeps getting caught on my brace! :( I had Weetabix this morning and a cup of tea which was a first! I'm meant to be going to a waffle house with my friends later - think I will get someone else to order a milkshake for me!

The extent of my smile

Definitely lopsided!

Update: the milkshake was GREAT.

Day 7 and 8 post-op

Thursday 26th and Friday 27th April
Yesterday and today I haven't really felt pain at all, just tingling sensations, so I didn't take any painkillers again. I've also finished my course of antibiotics now so am medication free! I've been going on walks outside to keep my muscles working and to get out of the house. I'm starting to get bored of Netflix so may move on to painting and drawing, and my friends are coming over tonight (I will have to tidy my tip-like room!) 😊

I didn't sleep that well last night - sleeping upright is annoying and uncomfortable. My face is pretty similar to before - maybe a little less puffy- but i'm beginning to regain feeling in my bottom lip I think. The swelling looks much better than I thought it would considering it's only been a week! I also drove for the first time again today :)

My soft meal of choice so far is blended curry! I've also started to be able to use a straw again which i lost the ability to do for a bit.

The tip of my nose is still defying gravity

Side profile coming along nicely!

Met an owl on the way!

Day 6 post-op

Wednesday 25th April
Today I went for a walk in the countryside! It was good to get outside and exercising a bit and I didn't feel too tired 😊. The swelling has gone down a little but I'm still pretty puffy and yellow. I'm not in too much pain today so haven't taken any painkillers (but it does really hurt when I laugh!)
I've managed to have a lot of Fortisips and scrambled egg - planning to have sweet potato and blended mince meat for dinner. I have already lost about 4kg!

Still struggling to smile!

Day 4 and 5 post-op

Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th April
On monday (yesterday) I woke up with a very yellow chin and neck! I seem to have skipped the other bruising colours and gone straight to the final stage! Yesterday I managed to eat shepherds pie with the mince blended, and some prune juice, which was my first proper meal😀 I also had soup for lunch and a Fortisip for breakfast. As well as mouthwash, i've started to be able to brush my teeth (kind of) with a small children's brush.

Today (24th), I went back to the hospital for a follow up appointment. It was my first trip out the house since I came back- I was quite self conscious and mostly covered my chin(s) with ice packs! I saw my surgeon and orthodontist and both thought all was looking good😊. My orthodontist changed the elastics as i'm not able to change the back ones and said that the yellow colour will probably spread down to my stomach. He said my teeth looked nice and clean, before proceeding to find a piece of potato! He also said that I should get my braces off in 12 weeks time😍. I'm really excited that I finally have a chin and my teeth are matching up! It's weird smiling with my mouth closed (and even being able to shut my mouth properly) as i haven't been able to do that since I was about 12.

I've started laying off the codeine as it was making me very tired and, particularly today, the pain has started to settle a bit so i've just been using ice packs. I do take a codeine before bed though. I'm also still numb in my cheeks, bottom lip and chin.