Asleep? Not for a Minute in Everyday Ramblings

Thank you all so much for your supportive notes, they helped me keep my spirits up through the long intense surgery yesterday.

Last night I checked the stats on my Fitbit and it said I slept through the whole four- hour procedure. I can assure you that I was not asleep for a minute of it but there were times I admit to wishing I were.

There is much good news here. They were able to do everything that we had planned and all the tools and equipment they needed were available…well there was one set of tools my surgeon wistfully remembered from his previous University but he made do…

I am taking a graduated course of steroids and that is keeping the swelling to a manageable level so far. The bone grafts were effective and the implants are stable.

The not quite so good news is that I may have osteopenia or be in the early stages of osteoporosis. He wants me to get my bone density scanned. I am doing all the right things (well I could lift weights more regularly) if this is the case but it will be good to know. He did significant additional grafting in my upper jaw yesterday.

My sinuses are functioning normally and tomorrow I will be able to start eating soft foods.

The cats lavished attention on Kes and helped her feel special as she was chatting and getting the ice pack all evening. We went to the grocery late this morning to get more smoothie ingredients and naturally flavored sparkling water. That was my big excitement for the day.

Because of the issues with the bone it is going to be a six-month healing window before I get the final placements but in the meantime I will heal enough to kind of sort of eat normally. This is instead of the ideal three months we were all hoping for.

The one good thing about that is It will kick into next year and I’ll get a little help with my dental insurance, which has been maxed out for months. I am glad I did not wait until I retire to start this whole extravaganza.

While Kes was waiting for me, the staff spontaneously checked in with her and raved about how great my surgeon is.

And…it is over! Though there is still work to be done, the hardest part is over.

Twenty years ago, what I had done was not considered possible. If I am able to separate my own felt involved experience right now from the fact of this I find it all amazing.

And it wasn’t brain surgery. That is what I was telling myself on the way there. Hey…it is not brain surgery. :)

Everything I need to do is done. For the next few days it is all about deep healing rest.

Oh, and the cats…of course.

Last updated July 23, 2016