carlajanes
Gold Member
- 424
Hi All!
I got home Wednesday (the 27th) from the Mayo Clinic. Both jaw joints were replaced with artificial ones. I have bionic jaws now
The surgery was only to be 4-5 hours but ended up 10 hours long!!!! Plus 2 hours of prep before the surgery and 3 hours in recovery. It took days to get my pain under control.
I have facial nerve trauma from the nerves being stretched for so long. I can not raise either eyebrow, blink or close my left eye, plus the right side of my mouth is very weak. I Have to drink from a straw because of the weakness in my mouth. The surgeon has assured me it will heal.
I stayed a week in the hospital and was on a Dilaudid pump for the 1st 3 days as the pain is so very excrutiating. I will have to undergo extensive Physical Therapy because my facial and jaw muscles have atrophied so much from my joints being fused together for so long.
So I am at home now recovering and walking to try to prevent blood clots. Tonight has been a very painful night and my scars are really bothering me. They cut me in front of each ear and then along my neck on each side in a crease to form an L shape. The neck scars are trying to form keloids because I had a reaction to tape. But we will wait until they heal to see if more surgery is needed....sigh....
I do have some shows scheduled for July so prayers would be appreciated so I can at least keep those commitments! Oh and the funniest thing is I now have a Russian accent....hahahahaha....I was born and raised in South Texas!!! It was a Swedish one when they took out the joints and will continue to change as I heal. I wonder what I will end up with
I appreciate so much all of you!!! and your willingness to become involved in my life and lift me up in prayer. I really feel those prayers! And if you know of anyone who has had or will have a joint replaced.....do everything you can for them if possible!! It is THE most traumatic surgery I have ever had and I have had 5 just on my jaws. I know it will be so much better in the long run but for now it is a struggle.....
Love you ALL!!
I got home Wednesday (the 27th) from the Mayo Clinic. Both jaw joints were replaced with artificial ones. I have bionic jaws now
The surgery was only to be 4-5 hours but ended up 10 hours long!!!! Plus 2 hours of prep before the surgery and 3 hours in recovery. It took days to get my pain under control.
I have facial nerve trauma from the nerves being stretched for so long. I can not raise either eyebrow, blink or close my left eye, plus the right side of my mouth is very weak. I Have to drink from a straw because of the weakness in my mouth. The surgeon has assured me it will heal.
I stayed a week in the hospital and was on a Dilaudid pump for the 1st 3 days as the pain is so very excrutiating. I will have to undergo extensive Physical Therapy because my facial and jaw muscles have atrophied so much from my joints being fused together for so long.
So I am at home now recovering and walking to try to prevent blood clots. Tonight has been a very painful night and my scars are really bothering me. They cut me in front of each ear and then along my neck on each side in a crease to form an L shape. The neck scars are trying to form keloids because I had a reaction to tape. But we will wait until they heal to see if more surgery is needed....sigh....
I do have some shows scheduled for July so prayers would be appreciated so I can at least keep those commitments! Oh and the funniest thing is I now have a Russian accent....hahahahaha....I was born and raised in South Texas!!! It was a Swedish one when they took out the joints and will continue to change as I heal. I wonder what I will end up with
I appreciate so much all of you!!! and your willingness to become involved in my life and lift me up in prayer. I really feel those prayers! And if you know of anyone who has had or will have a joint replaced.....do everything you can for them if possible!! It is THE most traumatic surgery I have ever had and I have had 5 just on my jaws. I know it will be so much better in the long run but for now it is a struggle.....
Love you ALL!!