In the Hospital

Recovery can be a very difficult time for the patient. The recovery room is filled with all sorts of machines, hoses and bright lights. Nurses hurry about, keeping close watch on each patient. It can all seem very confusing, especially after surgery!

When you first awake from your surgery, you will have an IV and various sensors monitoring your vital signs. You will probably have a source of oxygen going, in the form of a mask hung loosely around your neck or sometimes even a nasal hose. If your surgery was long, you will probably have a catheter, but this is taken out as soon as you are taken to your room and conscious enough to walk back and forth to the bathroom.

Most likely the first thing you will try to do upon waking in the recovery room is open your mouth. If you were wired or banded during surgery, then this will be an uncomfortable experience. Try not to be afraid when you remember your jaws have been immobilized; just try to relax. Don't panic! You will most likely want to touch your face. This is perfectly normal, but prepared for the swelling and only light explore your profile. Often the lips bleed for a little while after surgery (because of the long period of retraction) but do not let this alarm you. The nurse will give you something to clean up with if it is a considerable amount. Afterwards you will get ointment for your lips, which will speed the healing process and help with discomfort.

You won't remember much of recovery, but what you do remember will be clouded and hazy at best. Your surgeon will check in on you periodically, although you might not remember having seen him.  When you get back to your room, you'll be seated vertically in bed with an attractive crown of "bunny ear" ice packs and happy that it's all over!

When you arrive home, remember to get lots of rest and follow your doctors instructions implicitely.  This is no time to diet.  Incorporate as many calories as you can into a given meal, and add wheat germ, etc, to your shakes as a source of fiber.  Remember, almost anything will liquefy in a blender! Use milk or water as a base and experiment.

"Hitting the Wall"

At the club, the members and I have coined a term in reference to the lowest emotional point reached post op. Hitting the wall can occur a few days after surgery or a few weeks, it depends on the person. It is the moment in which you feel you "just can't take it anymore." It is characterized by a feeling of helplessness, despair, depression (even claustrophobia) and often feelings of intense anger. Hitting the wall can be very therapeutic, as long as the episode is brief and does not harm anyone (including yourself). Often patients feel a lot better as soon as this bottled-up emotion is released. It is widely viewed as an important turning point in the healing process, and is also known as "getting over the hump."