Day 5
Today is Day 5. Swelling is, I would say, 50% gone as of right now. But my face still looks big and anyone who looks at me will think I have a huge swollen face. Little bit of bruises around my eyes. The swelling went down my necks because I noticed my necks getting swollen and had bruises. I can still breathe my with nose - now except for the times where my nose would get blocked because of mucus...etc. Dr. Park said I can use nasal spray but I am a little bit skeptical about it. Tried on some more harder food and still not very successful. Small diced fruits in yogurt - i can eat. Small ground beef pieces I could eat. But other things like bakery products, breads, meat...etc no way I can eat as of right now. My mom just brought some bakery for me to try and I cant just eat it easily but I think it is a good way for me to practice my teeth, jaws and cheekbones to work together again so I will try to eat this little bit by little and practice. Now my mouth can close up all the way fine. I still have bandages around my head and I look like a fat kiddo with chubby cheeks who got into a fight and got bruises on my eyes. But my eyes have no more swelling, just some bruises. Today I walked around a little bit. Watched some more drama like 24, Prison Break, read some news about North...etc. Tomorrow - I will have my stitches removed and I can finally take a shower, wash my face...etc.
Sleeping is not a problem now since I can breathe with my nose. But I still cannot sleep on my sides and at times I would do it without knowing (it just happens in my sleep) but when I realize I am in that state I get straight up and lay on my back facing up again. Mum went downstairs to make some food and I am typing this. What else can I say... I arrived here 2.5 days before my surgery and I had an opportunity to meet my friends and visit some
places. I wish I had more time. But there will be another time to enjoy and explore Korea. My flight back to the US is 7 8 days from now on - which by the time, I hope, I will be a in a much better state.
There is no right now to tell how my nose looks and how much cheeks look because of the swelling and the stuff on my nose to keep it protected and to eep it straight, i guess. Tomorrow when they remove the stitches if they remove the nose cover - I will see what it looks like. But the doctor strongly recommended me not to draw any conclusion for 6 months up to 1 year to see the final result. So as long as I am mentally prepared I should be fine.
Even if I notice some asymmetric result or different shapes or something like that I guess I will have no choice but to stay patient and wait for the final result. Last thing I wanna do is look at myself before it is 100% recovered, get freaked out thinking the surgery didn't go as planned and lay down on the surgery bed getting my face cut again.
I can breathe, I can eat somewhat better, I can move around, walk around... and it is a big progress! Just hope the swelling subsides faster.
Tips:
1) Have Korean money at all times. You will need it everywhere.
2) If you ever take taxi, have the destination address written in Hangil
3) Take the yellow or grey taxi (not the deluxe or international ones)
4) Come with someone else if you can (that way he\she can cook for you or run for errands like buying grocery...etc)
5) Choose your place to stay carefully. Fridge + kitchen + big space + and maybe even window for cool air - amust!
6) Try to learn to breathe with your mouth at least few times and try to get used to it. U will need it.
7) Make sure you are healthy before you have this surgery otherwise if you get sick and have this surgery - thats the last thing u wanna deal with
8) Bring whatever you might need for the recovery (e.g Sinecch, nasal spray...etc)
9) Comfortable button-up tshirts, short...etc.
10) You will need things like: bandaids, bandages (different kinds such as for bleeding, for wrapping your head), tapes, towels, paper towels, tissues, wet tissues, water, cups, small spoons...etc.
11) Mentally prepare yourself. Things aren't going to be magically perfect.
12) Bring some thing to do while recovering. Movies, books...etc.
That's all I can share as of right now. Unfortunately, I will not be sharing my photos here - but I will definitely post more updates later. (Hope I don't forget).
Today is Day 5. Swelling is, I would say, 50% gone as of right now. But my face still looks big and anyone who looks at me will think I have a huge swollen face. Little bit of bruises around my eyes. The swelling went down my necks because I noticed my necks getting swollen and had bruises. I can still breathe my with nose - now except for the times where my nose would get blocked because of mucus...etc. Dr. Park said I can use nasal spray but I am a little bit skeptical about it. Tried on some more harder food and still not very successful. Small diced fruits in yogurt - i can eat. Small ground beef pieces I could eat. But other things like bakery products, breads, meat...etc no way I can eat as of right now. My mom just brought some bakery for me to try and I cant just eat it easily but I think it is a good way for me to practice my teeth, jaws and cheekbones to work together again so I will try to eat this little bit by little and practice. Now my mouth can close up all the way fine. I still have bandages around my head and I look like a fat kiddo with chubby cheeks who got into a fight and got bruises on my eyes. But my eyes have no more swelling, just some bruises. Today I walked around a little bit. Watched some more drama like 24, Prison Break, read some news about North...etc. Tomorrow - I will have my stitches removed and I can finally take a shower, wash my face...etc.
Sleeping is not a problem now since I can breathe with my nose. But I still cannot sleep on my sides and at times I would do it without knowing (it just happens in my sleep) but when I realize I am in that state I get straight up and lay on my back facing up again. Mum went downstairs to make some food and I am typing this. What else can I say... I arrived here 2.5 days before my surgery and I had an opportunity to meet my friends and visit some
places. I wish I had more time. But there will be another time to enjoy and explore Korea. My flight back to the US is 7 8 days from now on - which by the time, I hope, I will be a in a much better state.
There is no right now to tell how my nose looks and how much cheeks look because of the swelling and the stuff on my nose to keep it protected and to eep it straight, i guess. Tomorrow when they remove the stitches if they remove the nose cover - I will see what it looks like. But the doctor strongly recommended me not to draw any conclusion for 6 months up to 1 year to see the final result. So as long as I am mentally prepared I should be fine.
Even if I notice some asymmetric result or different shapes or something like that I guess I will have no choice but to stay patient and wait for the final result. Last thing I wanna do is look at myself before it is 100% recovered, get freaked out thinking the surgery didn't go as planned and lay down on the surgery bed getting my face cut again.
I can breathe, I can eat somewhat better, I can move around, walk around... and it is a big progress! Just hope the swelling subsides faster.
Tips:
1) Have Korean money at all times. You will need it everywhere.
2) If you ever take taxi, have the destination address written in Hangil
3) Take the yellow or grey taxi (not the deluxe or international ones)
4) Come with someone else if you can (that way he\she can cook for you or run for errands like buying grocery...etc)
5) Choose your place to stay carefully. Fridge + kitchen + big space + and maybe even window for cool air - amust!
6) Try to learn to breathe with your mouth at least few times and try to get used to it. U will need it.
7) Make sure you are healthy before you have this surgery otherwise if you get sick and have this surgery - thats the last thing u wanna deal with
8) Bring whatever you might need for the recovery (e.g Sinecch, nasal spray...etc)
9) Comfortable button-up tshirts, short...etc.
10) You will need things like: bandaids, bandages (different kinds such as for bleeding, for wrapping your head), tapes, towels, paper towels, tissues, wet tissues, water, cups, small spoons...etc.
11) Mentally prepare yourself. Things aren't going to be magically perfect.
12) Bring some thing to do while recovering. Movies, books...etc.
That's all I can share as of right now. Unfortunately, I will not be sharing my photos here - but I will definitely post more updates later. (Hope I don't forget).
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