Days 1 - 7 post TMJ replacement op

The journey back from the QE hospital to Stratford has never been so short nor so long. It was odd. Having stumbled groggily and painfully (and alone) out of the hospital I had been collected by my Mum and whisked home. We hadn't seen each other since my Nan died and I desperately wanted to be there for her; an ear to listen or simply show I was there, yet every time I moved my head daggers of pain and nausea overwhelmed me. Thankfully my Mum is the most empathetic person I've ever met and so she put a podcast on and I could drift into a dreamless sleep.

The rest of the day was spent dozing and taking painkillers. The antibiotics they had given me, to take 4 times a day were enormous! I could barely get them into the tiny opening which had become my mouth. However, as you have probably gathered, I'm stubborn so persevered through the pain. As well as sleeping and popping my prescribed pills (interestingly I had only been sent home with antibiotics, Gabapentin & paracetamol! Seriously, did they not realise that I had just had half my face curt open?). Thankfully I had max strength Co-codymol at home and had been given these to take with Gabapentin for my shoulder previously so used that instead of the paracetamol which made it more bearable) I also drank large amounts of water through a straw. It was as though I had been drained of liquids and was trying to replace them. I guess, with the inevitable blood loss, I had.

My Mum insisted that I ate something for dinner (I realise it makes me sound 12 to have my Mum at home but with a husband who appears incapable of seeing or doing even the most necessary of jobs such as emptying bins or cooking dinner, and with 2 kids under 16 I knew I would burst my stitches without her for the first few days). In preparation, I had stocked up with lentil soups so asked for one of these. To my shock, I couldn't even get the teaspoon into my mouth! I could, with effort and great discomfort, get the very end of the spoon in but that was all, so the few tastes which I could manage were rather messy and undignified. I reckon I had about 1/4 of the tin before I had to give up and return to bed.

The next 2 days again passed in a blur of sleep, pain, tablets and water (plus Orange juice as I couldn't quench my thirst for this for some reason). My Mum had been nursing my Nan for 6 months before she died and was a whizz at washing hair gently over a sink so just before she left I asked her to wash mine as I felt revoltingly sticky and probably looked covered in old blood too. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to get your stitches wet so this was a highly amusing, though painful, process however, with her usual determination and cheer my Mum made me feel clean again! I would definitely recommend this.

By the afternoon of the 2nd full day after my op (Sunday) my Mum had to return to her home for my Nan's funeral. A funeral which I couldn't attend. I am extremely grateful that Mum arranged for the cremation and service to be broadcast via Teams / Youtube. As Mum left she reminded my family that I was an invalid, tired, in pain and unable to do housework. Within hours of her leaving the washing up had piled high. Back to reality.

Although I got tired very quickly and still needed to lie in bed frequently, sometimes falling asleep, I was able to cook, wash up and do general tidying. I couldn't manage was anything which required bending and lifting i.e. washing and was too sleepy to dare to drive to the shops (plus I looked like Frankenstein ha ha).

Each day I needed a little less actual sleep, and it just became periods of lying down. I was absolutely amazed by the pain though; last time the first week had been absolute torture with high levels of pain maintained. This time however I was at a bearable level by day 3. I do wonder whether this was because I had been in so much extreme pain over the last 2 years that my pain threshold was extraordinarily high. Who knows. All I do know is that the first few days following my op, through a combination of sleep, rest and pills, I did the most healing that I have done since then.

One thing which I though I would mention is the weird blood stained mucus. For the first week I found myself very...snotty is the best description. I'm assuming that it's all related to the trauma of the op and the tube which had been inserted up my nostril. It was just an added complication as I had to work out how to very gently blow my nose so that I could remove it, without popping my stitches.

Another unexpected consequence of the op was horrendous constipation. During my stay in hospital I had Ozymorph. On return home I had regular co-codymol. Turns out those two do some serious blocking up. It was Wednesday, and huge amounts of Prune juice, before anything passed and was very painful. I wish I'd started on the Prune juice as soon as I got home rather than once I was bloated and very uncomfortable.

Finally, on a practical note. I strongly suggest that anyone who is going to have any TMJ operation invests in a baby toothbrush and tongue scraper. Yes it sounds odd but it will be your only chance of maintaining oral hygiene and following your op they always stress how you need to `maintain excellent oral hygiene'.