It's not always easy to share personal experiences - yet when I see other girls wondering about FFS, I think I have a duty to share as much as I can. I mean, it's a life changing surgery and we all have a lot of fears. I know about mine - I read them in Carolina message. Yet I also knew, from my first post, that I would need FFS if I could find the strength to accept the negative - like the risk of sensation loss.
To try to follow up on the good example set by Ruby, I will give a honest and detailed update of all the goods and bads, day by day, so that each one can take the decision by herself with full knowledge of that FFS involves.
- may 31: major stress. I could barely sleep 2 hours. The only relief came from walking around with my friend. It took my mind away from what was to come.
- june 1: major stress before and after the surgery. I dreamed during anesthesia, woke up with pain in my feet from compression on the operating table (fortunately this pain is now gone) and panicked from that unexpected pain. Also, I could not sleep a single minute during this night. I tried the best I could. There was a doctor with me (Pia - very nice!) so she applied ice to my face during most of the night. I was told to start avoiding mirrors as the swelling could be heartbreaking.
- june 2: the taxi ride home was literally one of the most traumatizing experiences ever. The weird noises and music felt surreal. Also, I started having visual hallucinations from lack of sleep - and I knew I was hallucinating!!! Back home, I started feeling fine so my friend when for a walk. That was a mistake: I was really underdosed on painkillers, and unable to do anything at all when the pain kicked in unexpectedly. I tried to call but I couldn't even figure out how to do properly use the phone. My friend found me cramped in two on the bed when he came home from his walk. It felt like hours to me. He was able to call and get my meds adjusted, as a single Ketorolac a day on the first day meant ultimate pain for me. Then Dr DiMaggio came to visit me, removed the stuffing inside my nose and prescribed me a sleeping pill so that I could finally have a night of sleep. He said the most important was sleeping and eating, so I took it to my heart in the next days.
- june 3: I can hardly remember anything except sleeping ok. I was mostly in bed with some ice. I also did a walk around the block as recommended. I needed help to walk and could barely keep my eyes open due to an headache. At the pharmacy, my friend found some nice waterproof thing for ice, like a ice pack but nicer. It's called BOLSA PARA HIELO. He got 2 of them and they became instant classics. They are my best friends still to this moment. There is nothing more quietening that holding ice to my face.
- june 4: I was taken to the restaurant, mostly for the walk. As I don't have stitches in my mouth, I could enjoy some pastas. Still it wasn't very fun to have sauce leaking from my mouth, not noticing until my friends told me - every single time. Yet I enjoyed being out of bed. It was also the first shower. A very humiliating experience as I could not get out of the bathtub and needed my friend to wash and dry my hair. I almost panicked from loosing a fistfull of hair. I guess it was from the part of the skin of my head that was removed and got tangled with the rest. I was afraid I was going to lose my hair until I rationalized that it must have been from the surgery. Still, I enjoyed the view in the mirror when I got ready. I mean, I glanced at the mirror by accident and a girl glanced back. She was me.
- june 5: first visit at the clinic. Applying lipstick without feelings is tough. With my hair wild since my friend forgot to apply conditioner, I looked like a mess, even after cleaning up in front of the mirror. The cab ride was not as bad as the first time, even if I wished death on whoever put pavements on the streets around the Adventist clinic. Out there, I meet with Dr DiMaggio and 2 other doctors. My painkillers were adjusted. Also I could take my shower alone and use conditioner. Even after 1 day without it, my hair was a big mess. It was a relief to get my hair under control
- june 6: today we walked like 4 blocks in the morning, and 3 in the afternoon. I was great all morning, but not so good after that. The pain is starting to come back. I am keeping my eye on the clock to know when it's time to take the painkillers. I am more autonomous, and I realize the appartment place was really a mess. I had trouble breathing and did not understand why. The doctor who visited suggested I use SOLUCION FISOLOGICA and it really helped.
About pictures, I'm not that comfortable with sharing pictures, so please do not quote the picture so I can remove it later. But hey - full disclose of what Dr DiMaggio did. Basically, a miracle given my brow bossing. The jury is still up on my nose, as he had some trouble with it. I will cross my fingers.
For the chin, Dr DiMaggio used a special technique sharing the tracheal shave scar to avoid oral incisions. I have no stitches in my mouth, but it doesn't mean it's comfortable - I have problem chewing, and my lips are not very cooperative. I talk without P and B, but it has been improving lately.
Anyway, here is what at looked like 24 hours after FFS
http://www.tiikoni.com/tis/view/?id=27b78a3 - with some bloating, hematomas, etc. It got a little worse, now it's getting better but I look like a junkie on all pictures lol. This is the only one where I look barely decent.
TLDR: I had major brow bossing. It's all gone. I like my face even with the swelling. It's a major improvement. No regrets whatsoever. I hope sensitivity will return in my lip.
