Question
As most of you know, I currently have a smile that can't left-side of my lip had finally lost its Dick Cheney snarl--as if some puppeteer was pulling it up--so I could sneer at my audience.
So--with great excitement (and intense mirror-gazing --Alice and I celebrated the first stages of improvement!! These angst-ridden problems--the unmoving upper right lip---and snarling upper left lip--were, at last, making some progress!
But THEN--yesterday--from the moment I woke up, my face was throbbing and soooooo swollen....and the "snarl" was back. You could actually see the upper left lip raised up in a curl above my teeth. And THAT'S the GOOD (the "moving") side of my mouth!! (The right side....where the nerve damage is.....wasn't any worse, thank heavens!!)
So--it was obvious to Alice and I that the extreme swelling on my left mouth and jaw and cheek area was somehow pulling the upper left lip up. (Sorry if this is so confusing. I'm only just following my own explanation!!!)
So--in one day, I went from exciting improvements.....almost back to square one (except that the nerve-damaged upper right lip still releft side of my face that has had the absolute WORST of the pain and swelling...and the mouth "pulling". I am confused!
This morning, I woke up without the bad "snarl"--but the pain is still there and the swelling still evident. Sigh....
Ah, my dear friends--I sound like a giant KVETCH (which to those who don't know New Yawkese......means a person who bores you silly with personal complaints!!!)
I apologize profusely!
So, I will close here.....with the hope that maybe someone can tell me a little about this "snarling" problem--where bad swelling curls up the lip? (And, just as a reminder....this is NOT the nerve-damaged side of my lip!)
Thanks, all, and--if anyone's not confused after reading this post, please raise your hand!!!
Hugs, Lynn


Answer
Oh Lynn - I have no answers and haven't experienced it, but pleaseeeeee do not apologize. That's what we are here for, that's what MMH is meant for - to get answers - to "talk" with other's who have experienced what we've been through. You've been such a champ.
You and I are swellers and have to possible do things a little differently. I tried sleeping somewhat on my side last night. I had positioned the some help I am!! ).
I can tell you this: I can certainly relate to your confusion with having had a day that seemed to be a "big break through", only to wake up the next day, and find that your face has other ideas, and was perhaps just "taunting" you! My worst problem/swelling area is in the lower jawline and upper & mid neck area, though. On Wednesday, I had what seemed an incredible "breakthrough" with my swelling/slightly distorted/red/crinkly area (oh gawd, lol, talk about confusing, but that is the only way I can explain it ) Then Thursday I awoke to find that it was back to "worse" again (if that makes any sense! ). I was so darn disappointed, .... "what the ....?!?!" I too was racking my brain yesterday trying to figure out exactly what I did to cause the reversal! The only thing I could think of was the fact that I began massaging the area (as instructed to by PS) with E Oil the night before, and the morning of. I'm still unsure if that was the cause, or had anything to do with it. I decided to skip the Vit E Oil/massage last night and just put a light wrap around my chin/neck (something I have been doing most nights). Woke up this morning, and so far, it seems like it's looking better than yesterday!!
I guess my point is, I'm beginning to think maybe I don't have that much control over this - possibly just a swelling issue kind of like what Kim described in her "one month post op" post ... I dunno! It IS confusing.
I want to also share this: My "good days" are starting to really outnumber "my not so good" days. The fact that I had that one beautiful looking breakthrough has at least given me more hope that I am indeed capable of healing better than I thought! (Me talking to my face: "Okay face, I KNOW what you are capable of, now quit teasing me, and messing around here!!" )
Well, I know this sounds kind of lame when you are looking for answers, but I just want to let you know, you're NOT a "complainer" for heaven's sake! I can relate with your frustration and confusion in this slower than "normal" healing process, as I bet many others on this board can. Heck, I'm coming to the conclusion that there really is no such thing as "normal" healing process. Too many variables! (As was discussed in our thread about wanting to be better informed by our doctors).
Here comes a (((BIG HUG))) from California to /directory/search.php" target=_blank>/directory/search.php" target=_blank>New York for you. I am hoping tomorrow will be a better day again for you!
Kaye
(Sometimes I just feel like "slaping my face in the face!!" )


Answer
Whoa, Lynn, sorry to hear about your discomfort! I have no advice to offer, other than to say...
hang in there, sweetie! I think this process is unpredictable. And it certainly is way too long.
So many things can affect swelling--there just doesn't seem to be a straightforward answer. Sometimes I wonder whether the humidity in the air contributes. It's just so variable!
I hope things get better--permanently--really soon.
*hugs
Marian


Answer
Hiya Lynn
Sorry I have no advice or experience to help you, matey. I can give you a hug though (((Lynn)))
You are having a blah time then a better day then a blah day... in the not too distant future, you'll see the good days outnumber the blah ones. Like Kaye said
Here's another hug.
((((Lynn))))
rose


Answer
Hi Lynn,
I have had several bad swelling days trounce my good days quite a bit.
I actually thought last week I was over the hump, then I woke up the neck day and my neck and ear area was so swollen and tight I thought my face was going to burst open. I ended up freaking myself out to the point of heart palpitations.
I swell, I "un-swell," I swell, ... . You get the picture. You are surely not alone. I'm looking at feeling normal in about ten months. Until then, I swell, I un-swell ....
Hugs,
tina


Answer
Yes, yes...I described this as a "contraction" of that muscle (the Elvis snarler). If I would rub the left side of my nose, or an area just to the left of my nose, the muscle would contract...anywhere from a second or two to a full minute. Horrible. /mmh/product/scar_reduction/index.vm?procid=42" target=_blank>Scary. Sometimes it would happen while smiling (such as my smile was) or talking. But buckle your seat belt, Lynn, this did not fully resolve until about a month ago (at about 10 months). Don't get me wrong it got a LOT BETTER, as in almost fixed, at about 6 months. And yes, whenever my swelling was up, it would be in a contraction mode....eventually, it was the final clearing of the swelling that stopped irritating the nerve that was controlling that muscle. If you've read about Bell's Palsy, you may have come across the info that during the healing period, muscles often behave "inappropriately"----you have an injured nerve in there that the swelling is irritating further. In my case, I think it was the infraorbital nerve, which sends nerves down to the nostril and upper lip...I had the endotine implants and the swelling in my upper cheeks was bad. Or, it could have just been from the pull on that whole sheet of muscle during the /mmh/product/facelift/index.vm?procid=7" target=_blank>facelift. Be patient...you are always of good cheer anyway! I hope yours doesn't take as long, but you asked! Keep healing! You are still pretty "fresh" yet. so don't be too alarmed!
2 dogs


Answer
Thanks so much for all your support, "goils"! It's real comforting to read I'm not alone.
And, 2Dogs---I am so relieved to get an explanation for my "Elvis" transformation. Ya know, I don't care at all that it takes 10 months to go--I just wanted so badly to know what the heck it IS. Not that I would have wished this on you.....but you've really soothed the anxiety I had over this symptom.
I was sure it was connected with the tremendous swelling I still have on my face--particularly the left side. I knew that SOMETHING was pulling it (or contracting it)...but wasn't sure WHAT?! And, it comes and goes at such weird times. I think too much lip movement (laughing, long chats) gets it going...and, also, fatigue.
What you wrote makes so much sense in explaining it. I think what's got me so confused is that it's the opposite lip that has the "no-movement" trauma.....so it just seemed so ironic that that the OTHER side has to get "in on it"--and taunt me, as well! LOL! What a pretty picture--one side of my lip's grinning snidely...the other side wants nothing to do with the mouth at all!!
The swelling around my lower face, jaw and near the mouth just refuses to go down....so I guess this is an definite indication that my nerves did not enjoy the "ride" during my op. My Doc is upset 'cause he said he specifically lifted that area sooo gently......but I do tend to get all sorts of nerve problems (Like the nerves that wouldn't heal for a year, under the skin on my injured foot), so.... (By the way, Alice's surgery went great--no nerve problems at all.)
Well, I'm just gonna have to be patient! And, in the meantime, maybe I can amuse some of my friends with "the amazing snarling lip." I can't do the trick on demand, tho--so it's not much good! (Like today, my lip is sitting quietly and unassumingly, looking like it hasn't got a care in the world. Don't wake the beast!!!)
I'd really like to read your whole story, 2Dogs....how do I get to it?
And thanks again to all of you who answered this post and lowered my "agitation"!
hugs, Lynn