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What a pleasant word to write. It’s now Sunday evening. All reported was that my surgery Thursday morning went smoothly – and my recovery is progressing. Surgery took just over 5.5 hours. The last 36 hours on floor 7W have been very difficult. Hours of intense pain ticked along, the first twelve hours measured in 6 minute increments on my morphine dispenser. As each click brought relief, my eyes grew heavy and an oxygen alarm notified the nursing staff my pulse had fallen. Ooh, and the drug cocktail makes me itch all over.

Those were long hours indeed. Like falling love, reading about it this surgery and experiencing it are entirely different.

I needed to spend an extra night in the hospital to manage my pain. Here is where the good news begins. I am not wired shut, nor am I wearing any rubber bands. This enables me to mumble somewhat coherently. Also, my pain has been higher in part because so much feeling has returned to my face! My chin flutters 4/x hour. My face tingles all over. One of the surgeons thought this was super.

The daytime nurse, Lynne, and evening nurse, Brenda, made it all bearable. Their kindness blessed me immensely! Guess what? Brenda underwent the same surgery about 15 years ago. Her encouragement throughout Saturday night helped me reach “the other side”. At last, I experienced enough relief to see the end was somewhere…

We left the hospital at 12 noon today, raced 120 miles home, in order to pick up prescription pain meds in Columbia in the right liquid/dose/volume. Only one pharmacy carried liquid dilauded in 4mL. These two hours were awful. I felt as if my whole person was being shaken…every new metal screw in my jaws rattled with the road wear.

So far, I have been too concerned with pain management to worry about my new look. My precious three year old wouldn’t look at me at first, then warmed up, piling toy after toy on the bed, saying, “Here Mama, for when you feel better.” I did tear up when my precious 18 month old would not meet my eyes. I tired covering up the swollen parts, and saying her name softly, but she still looks away.

In a few days time, we’ll feel better. For now, I am glad to be home.