It is about time that I wrote something after my big day. Sorry about that folks. I felt like a crappy bug with my recovery and heat wave. I am slowly recovering with a few pain moments, suffering, and difficulties. The surgery was a success in opening my jaw and pulling two, dead wisdom teeth. One of the doctors told me that my wisdoom teeth looked like apple sauce. Eww, it is not a pretty picture to imagine. :( I am glad that part is over. I am going to briefly explain what went on the last few days. Please excuse my spelling and grammar errors since I am still on my wacked out phase.
On the night before my big event, I could not fall sleep and only got a few hours of sleep. I did not care since I am used to being awake late and know that I will be sleeping a lot later on that day. I woke up at around 4:15 AM to get ready to leave to UCLA's hospital. The surgery was scheduled to be at 7:30 AM. I got there and was ready. I went through the check-in parts. While I waited in the lobby, other people came in to check-in. I guess they were going through the same thing like me. Good thing that I was not alone to go through this.
At around 6:30 AM or so, I had to change my cloth and get IV shots. This part was not fun. It took about 13 needle shots to find my tiny veins. I have had never gone through this many. Sheesh, the doctors, nurses, and I were all frustrated. I finally got drugged out and passed out. You won't believe where the last shot was done. I still have the holes and broken veins on my body.
I remembered seeing the operation room, but then a black out occurred for this ant. Supposedly, there was an hour delay for the surgery since the tracheostomy they used was too big for my neck. Sheesh, a perfect example of technology getting outdated. My former tracheostomy was very small and thin. Most hospitals use the larger types. The doctors and nurses had to make my current hole bigger so I could use the newer models. Geez, I was not expecting that either.
I finally was awaken by one of the doctors in the afternoon. It was completed and I was drugged out. I heard a guy's voice, "We're done." I said, "Yay, I feel wacked!" and then bam--I passed out again. :( I did recalled being moved and going to the recovery room. Well, I think that what happened. Remember, I was on drug. Heheh.
Once again, I finally woke up and saw my lovely parents, doctors, and nurses. Again, I felt like crap. My right side of my head was in pain and swollen. I was drooling blood and saliva all over myself. Since the doctors cut near my right ear, I had to be banaged up to keep the swelling down. That was no fun either. I kept being reminded of that Got Milk commerical with the guy in his cast face. :(. Time flew very slow. It felt like an eternity for anything to occur.
I had difficutlties in drinking to feed myself. I kept drooling and leaking. It got messy for me. I got my shirt all sticky and dirty. It is not fun! Going to the bathroom was difficult as well. I was glad that I didn't have to go potty, only to urinate. It is weird how my bladder held my urine almost the whole day. Eventually, it gave up. I didn't know where my IV needle was located, but I found out as I was urinating. Dang, urinating was painful since my IV needle was near my crotch. Geez, why put it there? Ugh. The first two days was difficult for me to urinate. Before I left home, one of the doctors remove my needle (ouch) and plug the hole up. I don't want to go through that happen. :(
On the day after the surgery (Friday/24th), I was not ready to go home. I remained feeling crappy. The doctors said I could go home, but I didn't want to yet. Most of the day, I just sat and waited and waited. Time flew slowly with my bandaged, puffed face with purple veins, and drools. I wanted to use my notebook to check for my e-mails, but I was in a crappy mood. I could not even wear my hearing correctly nor at a different angle. All the sounds gave me headache when wearing my hearing aid. My left ear was ringing after I took my hearing aid off. My eyes were affected as well. It was very hard to see. My right eye was jacked up due to the surgery and swelling. It is still swollen as I type this, but it is much better. I had to take special eye drops (gel) to lubricate my right eye. I had trouble closing and opening my eye lid. So much for TV and computers. Too much pain to attempt them. :(
I found out that I had stitches on my neck to enlarge my tracheostomy. No wonder I had trouble swallowing. I could feel the stitches pulling my skin as I swallow. This part was not fun either. Now, I have a bigger hole on my neck. :). More air to breath for me! Blood and saliva kept clogging my tracheostomy and interfere with my breathing. It had to kept clean for me to breath efficiently.
Due to my swollen area of my head, I had to get blood withdrawn. Good thing I could not feel it as the doctor drained a large amount of blood. The blood looked like grape juice with fruit punch. Sorry to gross you out! :)
I also had to wear these devices on my legs that compress and decompress as if they are trying to circulate my blood vessels. They were not comfortable, especially when I sleep. Just imagine someone squeezing your legs every two minutes all day! This isn't your massager :).
During the nights at the hospital, I had difficulties sleeping. The first night was rough due to my surgery. It was hard for me to breath and lie down. Blood and saliva kept getting in the way. I kept sipping water to keep myself going. Urinating in pain also got in the way. The busy nurses kept coming in to check on me also kept me awake. Nothing bad, just annoying when you are being frustrated. It was also hot and cold for me. :( The songs, "I'll Survive" by Gloria Gaynor and Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" kept playing in my head. :P
The second day at the hospital (Saturday) was pretty much the same and I was ready to go home! My IV needle and stitches were removed. I was finally able to walk around and go to the bathroom. The doctors told me that I was ready to leave. All check-outs were complete. I said bye and thanked to everyone there for helping me to survive. I didn't talk to my roommate that much since I was totally out of it. I sounded like Kenny from South Park when I attempted to talk. :(
Riding in the car to go home was not fun either. Too much shaking going on and wanted to make puke. Good thing that I didn't. Not fun here either. I finally got home and dang it was hot in my area. I finally turned on my computer to check e-mails. I received about 22 total e-mails. Nothing big that I missed for me to start pondering. Steve (aka Stallion), one of my cool friends, saw me online. We briefly chatted. It was good to be back, but the long recovery was not over for me.
The days dragged on as I recovered, drank, ate, took big antibiotic pills, etc. I was able to sleep better than in the hospital, but still had rough times. Everyone prayed for me to recovered. E-mails, ICQ messages, greeting cards, visitations, and phone calls came through. Being on my computer was hard as well. I had to take frequent breaks to rest my body. I finally took a shower last night and man, I felt refreshed. I couldn't wash my head due to the big scar. My face is still swollen like Ghostbuster's Marshmallow man. My parents said I meditiate too much, but hey I am resting without lying down. I often ponder and pray about my life during my "meditation". Waking up is hard. Tons of yucky stuff and breath in my neck. It takes awhile for me to clear it. Taking antibiotic pills is hard too. They're big and have to be cut into four pieces. Eating jello and cheese is tasty and yummy. I drink a lot of fluids as well due to this heat wave.
The doctors said that I could open my mouth about an inch wider, but I would have to excerise it to avoid my jaw locking up again. I don't want a repeat! As long as this pain and swelling go away, I am ready to excerise it and start biting things like a real ant. :)
The days of suffering in this heat wave and swollen head continue to drag on. Tomorrow, I must visit the doctor for a check-up. I hope nothing is wrong with me. :) Bleeding seems to ceased down, but now I am waiting for my swelling to shrink. I think I better take a break. My eyes are calling me to leave the computer. :( Please continue to pray for me to get well quickly. Thanks to everyone for your continuing support.