My Jaw Surgery: Starting to talk (Day 2)

Waking up on Day 2 felt like surfacing from a deep fog—except that fog had settled firmly on my face. The swelling had officially reached new heights, and I looked like a chipmunk who had lost a fight with a beehive. My lips were enormous, my mouth feels very heavy.

Swelling Hits Its Peak

By now, my lips were nearly double their normal size. The discomfort was real, but I reminded myself that this was just part of the process and that things would only improve from here. Ice packs remained my best friend, though by this stage, alternating with warm compresses was also recommended. Keeping my head elevated at all times (even while sleeping) was crucial to reducing inflammation, so pillows were definitely my best friend (even better if you have a recliner or an adjustable bed!).

Before I forget - I was told to apply lip balm generously and frequently and that's one of the most important homework. I didn't do so on the first day and regretted it as my lips were dry and chaffed quite badly at the end of the day. I got myself a multipack supply of my favorite lip balm and you should too!

More on post-surgery swelling and how to manage it

Talking: The Real Challenge

I was able to move my jaws slightly and enunciate some words, which meant communication with my wife and son improved tremendously from Day 1. If you’re old enough to remember The Godfather series, you'll understand what I meant when I said I sounded like Marlon Brando. If you haven't seen it, check out this video clip: The Godfather Scene.

Eating is... Difficult

Liquid meals were still my only option, and even that was a struggle. My syringe-and-tube feeding technique was improving, but every meal still felt like an event. I managed to get down some blended soup and a protein shake, which felt like a win. Hydration was key, so I kept a steady flow of water and juice going throughout the day. I printed out recipes for various juices and shakes to ensure I was getting enough nutrients. Having a powerful and easy-to-use blender was really useful at this point. I literally used the blender for all my liquid meals, up to 3-5 times a day. Luckily, we have a Vitamix blender, which, in my humble opinion, is hands down the best blender on the market. However, I'm sure there are others that are equally good or better. If you're in the market for one, I highly recommend this: Vitamix Blender.

Weight loss is to be expected at this stage of recovery—my wife joked that she wouldn't mind accompanying me on the weight loss journey as well. :) More on weight loss and the slow recovery in a later post!

Best liquid diet options for jaw surgery recovery

Pain and Medication Management

The pain was manageable, thanks to my alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen routine. I continued avoiding the stronger hydrocodone, which I took as a good sign. The worst part was the deep soreness in my jaw and the general exhaustion from my body working overtime to heal. Resting as much as possible was the priority, although I had started attending some online meetings and responding to work emails.

Looking Ahead

Day 2 was better and showing signs of improvement. Tomorrow’s goals: get more food in, stay ahead of the pain, and find small wins wherever I could.

Next up: Day 3—first attempts at increasing my jaw opening and learning to embrace the new normal.