I think this thread is EXTREMELY helpful. I'm 31, and my SARPE/LEFORT expansion surgery is less than a week away (Feb 26) and from what I've read, there is no way to expect how much bruising or swelling or pain I will be in, because everyone is different. In regards to the last post, I'm sure it is so much better to be prepared than not - I'd much rather be overprepared than be wishing I had certain things, because I'm sure I won't feel upto going to store with a swollen/bruised face the day after surgery. I can just imagine how much MORE miserable I will be if I'm drooling all over the place without a container or kleenex OR if I don't have a little mirror, so I can't feel or see my face to tell if I'm getting food into my mouth or not. I've read alot of websites trying to get prepared for my upcoming jaw surgery, and this is what I've decided to get beforehand.
*Note- I do have to drive 6 hours to get to my oral surgeon, so I'm driving there the night before and staying in a hotel since my surgery is at 9am. (surgery will be done in his office - not a hospital), so then I'll have a 6-hour car-ride home on the day of the surgery. Since I know I'll feel super depressed laying around in a hotel bed after the surgery (and my husband and I have to take our 2 new puppies with us, so a 2nd hotel stay would be really hard), we are going to drive straight home afterwards while I'm the most numb. SO, I've got a couple lists of what I need. One list for what I will need at home, and One list for what I will need for my 6-hour car ride home (post op).
For Car Ride Home After Surgery:
* husband and good music
* cooler with ice in it (taking a couple ziplocks so I can take hotel ice)
* 2 leakproof bags (with screw on cap) specifically made to hold ice (from grocery store "first aid aisle") (each holds 1 quart of ice or cold water)
* mini garbage can to hold in my lap (with plastic bag liners) - for drooling, throwing up, etc
* a couple washcloths, a handtowel, and a towel (all red, so I don't ruin my good while towels with bleeding)
* neck pillow
* chapstick (I use carmex in a little round container that I can apply with my finger)
* liquids - water bottle, ginger ale, and apple juice
* food - "Happy Squeeze" packets of organic pureed fruit/veggie applesauces (sold in my Walmart applesauce aisle) (I hate regular applesauce but these have a TON of flavors, like Strawberry Coconut Milk, Orange Mango Coconut Millk, Strawberry Kiwi Beet, Apple Mango Kale, Caramel Apple, ETC)
* Emergen-C Vitamin C packets
* box of soft kleenex
* container of wetwipes (not antibacterial - these are for cleaning blood off my face)
* wall cellphone charger & car charger (because texting will be my way of communicating with my husband)
* handheld mirror
* q-tips & a small bottle of saline (to clean out my nose)
* my glasses (I usually wear contacts, but I'm taking my glasses since I shouldn't sleep with my contacts in obviously)
* I am also thinking about getting some sort of suction thing for getting saliva out of my mouth since I won't be used to my expander at all (getting it in the day before my surgery)
***IF I was staying in a hotel for one night after the surgery, I would also bring my dental cleaning kit (including my childsize "Spongebob" toothbrush that will make me smile because he has the gap too!), some comfy pjs, soft earplugs, and a sleep mask (since my puppies would surely bark on occasion). I might still bring these things IN CASE we decide to stay a 2nd night after the surgery instead of driving home.
For home:
* Same Items as Above
* Arnice tablets and Arnica creme (for swelling) (I'm not taking these before surgery because I heard Arnica is a blood thinner & might increase bleeding from surgery?? - anyone know if this is true?)
* Recliner to sleep in
* Re-freezable ice packs
* Brandy's rice-sock heat packs (it's listed on her blog - this won't let me post the URL)
* More liquid beverages (gatorage, oj, apple juice, coconut water, vitamin water....), Protien powder, applesauce, and yogurt
* Bromelain (for swelling) - I still haven't bought this, but I may start taking a few days before surgery
* napkins/kleenex
Not looking forward to this "controlled car accident" as my husband & I call it, although I am looking forward to the end result. (My mouth is EXTREMELY crowded)
Wishing the best to everyone else going through this as well!