Wish I know 7 days ago

Last night I sat talking to hubby about this whole recovery, which got me thinking about this post I'm not pissed per say, but more annoyed. I wish I had more knowledge of what I was up against before getting into this.

Therapy-I was told I would need some therapy for a few weeks. I wish they would have told me how intense it would be. I need to put popsicle sticks in my mouth to wedge my mouth open more. I'm suppose to get up to 20, at this point I can put 12-13 in without an issue and "force" in another 5 to get up to 17. Number 18 and I are having a hard time together. Then I need to gently push up on the sticks,basically pry my jaw open, so some day I can get to number 20. And this is done every hour. Then add in therapy at the rehab center which really isn't that bad I get a jaw massage then the whole above but of course she tries to push how long I can hold it for.

Soft Diet no chewing for 4-6 weeks-This is a BIG understatement! When I saw this I figured soups, soft bread. I went off everything I could eat the first week I had my braces on. Our jaws hurt so much my brother and I had soups that whole week. My diet consists of creamy soups, smoothies(that are very smooth), pudding, jello, and drinks. Scramble eggs is the chunkiest thing I can have and even that is tough. Even chicken noodle is hard, I had some yesterday thinking the noodles are soft, NOT, it's the whole opening and closing my mouth part that hurts. When I have to close my mouth and then try and mush the noodles so I can swallow...it hurt bad. I had gotten a bunch of soup before the surgery, but had to go out and get creamy soups today. I wish they would have been more clear or given examples of what I could eat.

Pain-I was told the wisdom teeth would be the part that hurt the most. Yes that was the part that was the most painful. But I wasn't ready to feel like jaw is stiff and feel like I have something in my jaw. It's not overwhelming pain it's annoying.Though when I'm doing the above therapy the pain can bring me to tears. For the most part I feel like someone punched me in my jaw and locked it in place, on both sides.

Over all I'm just frustrated right now. I think cuz I didn't or was as informed as I wish I was. I keep asking myself was it worth it? I think cuz I have a co-worker who also needs the surgery and since she found out I was having it, keep saying you have to tell me how it was. I know on Wednesday she'll ask me. Right now, I'm not sure if I had to answer I would say no, just cuz my range of motion is way less then it was and I'm miserable with having to live on the foods I will have to for the next month or two. I'm sure(and I hope I do) will change my mind in two month when I'm pretty much totally recovered, right now I'm not sure, all I do know is I have a lot of work to do to recover and get back what I once had before all this happened.