Making progress

The word of the day: progress.

I feel I've been making progress with each and every passing day. It's been 18 days since surgery. I feel like I've gotten my energy back. In fact, I've done some fairly tough yard work, and felt fine afterward.

Swelling is minimal. Most people haven't noticed it, but I still do. This is what I look like now:

I've had several people compliment me on my "new look." Some said they didn't recognize me when they first saw me. Kind of weird.

I'm eating more and more soft foods, including stuff that doesn't have to be blended or mashed. I won't post all the pictures but they include pancakes, spaghetti and other pastas, soft bread, cheesecake and soft desserts, baked potato and chili fries. I'm still drinking various shakes and smoothies, just because they're good for you and nice to have in between meals. My weight has stabilized.

It's getting easier and easier managing my rubber bands -- taking them off and putting them on. Every time I take them off, I do jaw exercises, stretching my mouth by yawning and closing repeatedly. This is as big as I can open right now:

My mouth is still numb in certain parts: the roof of my mouth and my upper gums, specifically. It's a little weird eating and brushing when you can't really feel.

My nose has constantly trickled a bit of blood since the surgery. That stopped just a few days ago. Pain has also gone away.

I've been hanging out more and more with friends and family. I'm understandable now to everyone, even with bands in.

Nothing else too exciting going on. I've been trying to keep busy with various things while I'm out of work. This is my last week before I return. In the meantime, here's to more progress.

Rubber band man

It's all about the rubber bands now.

Exactly two weeks have gone by since surgery, and recovery is moving nice and steady, docs say. In fact, I visited Dr. Relle for post-op part two and he described my recovery as "boring," which he meant as a good thing.

My swelling is minimal. I can eat soft foods. I have no pain, and feel great.

My weight has stabilized. I've lost no more weight from the first week to the second, and only 5 pounds total. Relle said before surgery to expect to lose about 10 percent of my body weight, or about 16 pounds in my case. It looks like that won't happen.

My only obstacle now really is managing my rubber bands. For the next two weeks, I will need to continue wearing my bands throughout the day, taking them off to eat, brush and exercise my mouth.

Those bands, in case you want to know what they look like, attach to my braces on the sides of my mouth and also on two hooks implanted within my front gums. Sounds and looks painful, but it's not. Here's what the front bands look like:

During the appointment, Dr. Relle removed the bands and said I could put them back on when I arrived home. With my mouth free for several hours, I visited my buddy Tim in Redondo Beach while I was in the area (I had to make fun of him for getting older -- it's his birthday today). We walked around his neighborhood and to a juice bar. I drank a smoothie out of a straw for the first time, with ease I might add. And it awesome being able to open my mouth and be understood clearly while I made fun of him.

During the drive home, I opened and closed my mouth repeatedly. Other drivers on the freeway must have thought I was crazy. When I finally made it home, I ate, brushed, and placed the bands back in. It was great while it lasted.

Once I return to work one week from Monday, I will need to take the bands off and on in between interviews and such. Starting two weeks from now, I have permission to go through the day without rubber bands, and use them only at nighttime.

As for food, I keep on trying new dishes. Here are two more, which I had yesterday and today:

This is one of Carla's specialty dishes blended up. It's called Guatemala Pie, a delicious creamy, spicy chicken casserole. Notice the food processor, blender and steamer (for baby food) on the top. It blends great (thanks Vanessa!).

This next one is pasta fagioli on bread, with bread crumbs on the side. Another delicious one, courtesy of Marie. And she brought plenty for leftovers. Thanks a bunch!

Survival kit

Say you too have a bite that needs fixin' with a bit of surgery. Or say, God forbid, you get into a bad accident and your mouth hits the steering wheel. Or let's just say you make me really mad and I take it out on your jaw.

These are some things that you will not be able to live without during jaw surgery recovery. Here are just a few things that have been life-savers for me.

Clockwise from top left:
- Nasal spray: You will get mucus, most of it bloody mucus, it will dry, and you are forbidden for 6 weeks from blowing your nose. This liquid wets everything up there without damaging your insides. Once the junk is all moist, you can un-embarrassingly pick your nose with a tissue using your finger. I prefer the pinky.
- Temporal thermometer: You want to be sure you don't get a fever, and this of course will immediately tell you. You can't use a mouth thermometer, and most people don't really like to put thermometers in other places. Most people.
- Carmex: Without being able to lick your lips, they will get drier than the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Carmex or Vaseline will do the job.
- Ensure (or my cheap asses case, Equal): Contains many of the daily nutrients you need in liquid form. Comes in strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and "Man this stuff gets old quick." No, it's actually pretty tasty.
- Mustard/ketchup bottles: Probably the most valuable player in the survival kit. For the first week, I used this device anywhere from 10-15 per day to feed and hydrate myself. Just point and shoot. Get at least four of them.
- Kleenex (or cloth): There will be mucus, blood and drool dripping everywhere. Use this instead of your shirt.
- Jaw bra (with ice and heat packs): Dr. Relle's office was kind enough to provide the jaw bra with four ice/heat packs. Besides pain meds, this setup provides the best relief to get you through the pain. Equally important, the heat/ice packs get you looking less and less like Shrek with each day (i.e. it helps decrease swelling).
- Baby toothbrush: Soft and small to help clean your sensitive teeth.

Other important recovery items not pictured include:
- White board: You won't be able to talk much in the first week, and when you do, you'll be hard to understand. Save yourself the trouble and just write what you want to say.
- Humidifier: Again, to prevent drying.
- Hydrating drinks: Gatorade, Pedialyte, cranberry juice and orange juice are my faves.
- Prune juice: To help battle constipation caused by pain reliever.
- Medication: It's prescribed for you to use, so use it. The strong pain meds helps you cope with pain, and will get you through the uncomfortable nights of having to sleep sitting up (you have to keep your face elevated always).
Get refills well before you run out. The last thing you want is to run out when your jaw feels like it's about to fall off.
And for your other non-jaw surgery prescriptions, be sure to chat with your doc before the surgery. Remember, you can't open your mouth to take any pills you may have to take. Prepare for that.
- Loved ones: Without these people, there is no recovery. You won't be able to use the items above in the first days because you won't be able to get them yourself. These people become your caretakers from the moment you're carted to your hospital bed (in my case, even more so than the nurses). Thank you Carla and mom.

In other news today:

My mouth felt uncomfortable most of the day. I didn't have any pain, but felt as though all I wanted to do was clinch my teeth constantly. It may have something to do with these damn rubber bands pulling on my teeth constantly ... maybe?

For my soft meal today I had breakfast for dinner: biscuits and gravy with spicy sausage. Delicious.

After eating, I did the routine of stretching my mouth and then brushing for a good five minutes and replacing the rubber bands. I can fit my finger in my mouth, but not much more. It's getting easier by the day to remove and install the four tiny bands. I face a mirror and use tweezers.

Man v. Food (jaw surgery edition)

Can you guess what this is?

I'm sure you guessed the rice and beans. But what about the third item? That, my friend, is a tamale with some salsa and Tapatio on top of course.

This was my second non-liquified meal since my surgery on April 12. The first meal was mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. It's not easy eating, but it sure is satisfying.

I can't bite my food, and can open my mouth only enough to fit a toothbrush. So what I have to do is use a flat spoon (in this case a spork), slip the food past my teeth, and use my tongue to slide the food down my throat. I take a sip of my drink to help moisten everything.

The past few days, what I've been doing -- and what I hope to continue doing until I'm able to eat hard food -- is continue the liquid diet throughout the day. That diet consists of Complete Breakfast, Ensure with some protein mixed in a couple of times a day, fruit smoothies, a ton of water (hydration is very important), and various juices. The highlight will be dinner, when I will eat a mashed up meal. Carla has talked about making biscuits and gravy, hamburger, and pizza using recipes she's found online. Any other suggestions?

Not being able to eat solid food was one of my biggest worries heading into the surgery. In hindsight, it hasn't been that bad. Sure I crave an In-N-Out burger, nachos and pizza. But the way I see it, the liquids taste good, I'm eating fairly healthy and getting all the nutrients I need, and I'm really going to appreciate eating normal again once it's time. Plus, it's going to be nice to use actually bite food using my front teeth, something I haven't been able to do in years.

In other news, today I had my first orthodontic appointment since the surgery. And Dr. Montano and staff were blown away. They were surprised how fast I've healed (I have little swelling now) and how well my bite turned out. Montano said he was also surprised Dr. Relle did not place a splint in my mouth, something he said he typically does. That splint would sit on the roof of my mouth, take up valuable space, and essentially hold my top teeth in place. Apparently my bite fit so well after surgery, it wasn't needed.

Montano expects rubber bands to be in place just a bit more. I will return to Montano in two weeks for another checkup, and then a week after that to have a new wire placed. Looks likes it's all coming together just fine.

Good weekend, bad weekend ...

It was a weekend of bliss ... and torture.

I spent a bulk of the weekend actually hanging our with friends, instead of being holed up at home. On Friday night, I watched a movie with some old pals. On Saturday, a bunch of friends came by the house for a pool party (without any actually swimming, though). Though it was difficult not being able chat and joke as usual, it was great being social and around some good people. Shout out to those thoughtful, kind folks who brought me some goodies: Kat, Marie, Karen, Mom and sis-in-law.

That was the bliss -- but then there was the torture.

Friday's get-together was a barbecue. On the menu: ribs, steak, chips and guacamole. On Saturday, friends ate chips and dip, ceviche with tostadas, cake, loads of booze, and yes, pizza. And I could eat none of it.

Then on Sunday, it hit the fan, literally. A week-plus on a liquid diet and Vicodin every day when you're not used to it is bound to catch up on your body. So what happened exactly? Let's just say I spent a good part of my day in the bathroom. I spent the other part hydrating, taking laxatives, drinking prune juice, and doing anything else that could cure me. The experience was one of most uncomfortable feelings I've ever experienced.

By the time that torture passed, I figured I might as well go one extra mile. I grabbed some tweezers, faced the mirror and took out each of my four rubber bands that are shutting my mouth. It wasn't too tough, actually, and I'm sure it'll get easier and easier. Carla rewarded me with mashed potatoes and mac-and-cheese (after whipping both into a sort of puree; see picture below).

I could open and close my mouth slightly, but could not bite down. I had to use my tongue to maneuver food around my mouth and then down my throat. With food dripping down my lips and on the table, I felt like a toddler. And though the food was mushed up, the taste was dead on. It was delicious.

After eating, I brushed my mouth and tongue thoroughly, and it felt great.

As a whole, my mouth is bothering me less and less. Even pain has subsided, and I drank no pain reliever all Sunday.

This coming week: an ortho appointment, more practicing taking off and putting on rubber bands, another post-op appointment (this time with Dr. Relle), and perhaps some new foods.

Post-Op (with exclusive X-Ray)

Just returned from my post-op appointment in West Los Angeles. It was just a short check up, and essentially everything is checking out fine, the doctor said.. I was given a baggy of tiny rubber bands, made an appointment for next week and was sent on my way. For this coming week, I will be able to take off these bands to eat soft foods (think mashed potatoes), brush my teeth, and do mouth exercises (opening and closing). And then put them right back on.

The highlight of my appointment, however, was this X-Ray. This is the monster they've created:



Now is that crazy, or is that crazy?

The doc (I visited Dr. Walline today -- one of the two doctors who operated on me -- while Dr. Relle is on vacay) took out my bands connecting my teeth in my mouth, and asked me to open and close my mouth several times. The movement felt ... unnatural. Like a robot. Weird how you can not use something for just one week and it seem foreign once you use it again.

I don't have to take out the bands if I don't want to, apparently. I can leave them in and remain on an all liquid diet. But I think it would be nice to eat soft foods now, practice using my mouth again and, of course, brush. Carla hasn't said anything, but I'm sure my mouth doesn't smell nice.

I also weighed myself today. I've lost nearly 5 pounds in one week. Not too bad in my opinion.

A week ago today

A whole week. Man, that flew by. A lots changed, sure, but still a lot hasn't. My teeth are still banded shut. My face is still swollen. No surprise there. I feel a million times better, though, than just a few days ago.

I managed to run some errands today, which involved having to communicate with people. I didn't get any weird reactions, but a few asked about my mouth. It hurts a bit to get slurred words out. But I think I was understood just fine. Energywise I felt OK, but a bit sluggish after being out just a few hours.

My buddy tagged along with me to Costco. I asked him if I looked weird. To him, he said, I just looked swollen, but to strangers, "They probably just think you're chubby."

These two pictures below were shot a week apart.

In this one, I'm in my hospital bed after the surgery. Face is humongous:

This one was taken today, a week after the surgery. Face a little less humongous:

I'll post before/after shots, including from the sides, after this ordeal. Tomorrow: post-op.

Three things ...

Nearly a week down and really there's only three things that I'm struggling with now. I'd say that's OK considering everything I could complain about:

1) Sleeping: I have yet to get a good night's sleep. It seems that as soon as I lay in bed, the pain increases and I just can't get comfortable. I've woken up an average of about five times to get ice, take meds, or just adjust.

2) Drooling: I can't feel half of my lips and the result is more slobbering than my shih tzu. I look like a fool having to wipe my mouth every five minutes.

3) I never noticed how many dang food commercials were on TV. Restaurants, grocery stores, even this gourmet pet food looks delicious. And I can't eat any of it. This Ensure really can't compare with this Doritos Taco. I'm getting ready, though. I'm making a list of food I will eat as soon as I am able.

Other than those three things, everything else is getting more and more manageable. I can walk around and do chores. Liquids aren't too bad. I've got a bunch of things to keep busy. So far, so good.

A routine

I've gotten into a routine of sorts the last few days and it goes like this: wake up, drink lots of liquids, start watching the Dodgers, take pain reliever, watch Matt Kemp hit a homerun, take a nap, wake up, drink more liquids, watch Kemp hit another homerun, etc.

It has gotten a bit easier the last few days overall and not just because the Dodgers are kicking arse. Swelling has gone down a bit. I feel energy coming back slowly but surely. I'm able to get up and actually do stuff, like get the paper. But it's weird to feel winded after taking shower, for example.

I'm spending most of my days lying on the couch, watching TV, drinking lots of liquids, icing my face and just sleeping. Nothing too exciting. I'm counting down to 11 a.m. Friday. That's when the bands get snipped and I can start eating soft foods, like mashed potatoes.

And by the way: I likely wouldn't have made it out of the hospital if it weren't for the wifey. She's been helping me through every step. So, thanks. I love you.

I made it

Relax, relax I made it.

I'm not looking good, but I've made it. Don't know how really. I don't remember much of what happened. I was on the operating table one minute, and me and the docs were chatting it up about booze. Next thing you know I was out, then awake - mouth shut. Some kind of cruel trick. The following hours were just wooziness. What I do know now is this:

- Everything went smooth on the table. It all took about 6 hours. Dr. Relle did not have to place a splint in my mouth. So now my teeth are just banded shut. This apparently makes the healing process go by quicker.

- I swallowed and subsequently threw up a ton of blood. Looked like a murder scene on my hospital bed. Scary but a non-event.

- I spent two nights in the hospital room, which was a good call. No real reason to do this except it was at the request of Dr. Relle. Plus there was no rush to drive through the storm, and instead I stayed under the watchful eye of staff and docs. It was worth it.

- I'm home now, sipping on water, juice and protein shakes -- anything I can squeeze. I'm using ketchup/mustard bottles. Broth is good.

- Not really feeling that great. I'm told the swelling should start to go down in the coming days. Pain in pretty bad. A lot of numbness in my face. Not really comfortable in any position. I'm sure it'll come.

- It looks like for the next few days I'll be filling my tummy with various liquids, taking pain reliever, sleeping, going potty, and not much else. Kinda bummy, but what can you do.

Ready for the fight

At 7:30 a.m. tomorrow I'll be going through my first surgery. To fix my bite, my lower and upper jaw will get sliced, shifted and banded together. I'll likely look like I fought Pacquiao afterward. In the months that follow, I'll have to say goodbye to steaks and burgers, and hello to protein shakes and smoothies.

It won't be fun, I know that. But even after reading for months about the procedure and recovery, I'm not sure how I'll manage.

I've come to terms with the actual surgery, I think. I'm in the hands of Dr. Rob Relle, who has been doing these types of surgeries for decades. I'm told I won't feel anything, not the breathing tube or the ... gulp ... catheter. Plus I'm getting some strong drugs to cope. But what if something goes wrong?

Mostly, it's the recovery that's worrisome. No blowing my nose for six weeks. No opening my mouth more than a few centimeters for a while. What if I need to throw up? Or yawn? What happens when I sneeze?

There are things to be hopeful about. The surgery could possibly cure my chronic migraines. I breath out of my mouth when I sleep, and this could possibly fix that. Plus there's a chance I'll wake up and look like George Clooney ... maybe.

Well, I'll let y'all know. I've decided to write about my experience starting with this post, if anything to possibly help others who might have this surgery in the future, but also to keep me busy. I'll be out of work (newspaper reporting, hence the name of this blog) for about three weeks, and I'll try to update this at the end of each day. Feel free to ask questions.

Time for bed. Up and at 'em at 4 a.m. Wish me luck.