Well, I made it through the close of school after returning for the final three weeks. 8th graders are funny creatures - they seem to think we're just going to allow them to have a free-for-all in the last bit of school. They forget even basic manners and some try to get away with some really obnoxious behaviors, but we survived and that's all that matters. They really were a good group of kids, so I won't hold the last few days against them.
It's been just over seven weeks since surgery, and things continue to improve a little each week. Here are a couple of shots from today.
I'm basically eating whatever I want - cautiously, of course - except for really hard things like apples and carrot sticks. I still struggle to bite off things, so I use a fork for nearly everything. Oddly, it is soft, chewy stuff that poses the real issues. Pizza crust is out, and I'd still rather eat tacos/burritos without the tortilla if I have access to a fork. Shrimp scampi was nearly impossible for me to chew this week, and my pork chop the next night had to be in tiny pieces. I haven't tried salad yet, but that really is more about being able to open wide enough to get it in my mouth, and I haven't been brave enough to try popcorn yet, but I'm dying for some.
The biggest annoyance right now is that my eyebrow/eyelid still won't move, and I'm still somewhat numb between my ear and eye on the left. My left lid feels droopy, and it just feels weird when your face won't react the way your brain is telling it to. Putting on mascara is interesting, too. I was getting little shocks by my eye in week five, which Dr. Bowman was excited to hear about, but I haven't had any in awhile. I guess my nerve is still sleeping :)
Every once in awhile, something starts to itch in that area, too, but since I can't feel all parts of my face, I can't ever really find and relieve the itch. Sometimes it feels like it is inside my ear, and other times it feels like it may be the incision site in front of my ear. It drives me crazy when it happens! I'm not nearly as puffy in that area, but it is definitely going to still be awhile before all of the swelling subsides. The puffy, stuffy feeling on either side of my nose has reduced more and is nearly back to normal. I can move my midface pretty easily. Most of the stitches have dissolved inside, and my gums feel more normal, too.
Now, if I could just move my whole face!
