Week 2+ - West Orange, NJ

It had been 2 weeks and 4 days since my surgery. I'm still bruised and very swollen. Despite looking puffier than normal, I am pleased with the results and look forward to the changes that will occur each week.

The hardest part of recover for me (at this point at least) has been not being able (or allowed) to exercise. I'm very body conscious, and find exercise to be a huge mood elevator, so this last week I've felt a little low. I've been a good girl though, and have abstained from exercise per my doctors orders. Since I am a bleeder, I would rather be safe and prevent any possible complications like hemorrhaging (and yes, that happens). For now I am just going to have the Fat [RS bleep] mentality: "I eat because I'm sad and I'm sad because I eat."

Today was my first day back at work. I took a full two and a half weeks off and a total of 5 weeks plus in all from the accident. I'm a nurse. My job is physically and emotionally demanding. Taking the time off was really necessary for my healing. I would advise anyone having an open rhinoplasty and or revision due to trauma to arrange to have the time off.

And I have posted some picturas.

The one thing I forgot to mention is how much the cold bothers my nose. My poor little puppy says, "mommy, why can't we go on our long walks?" When I go out in the cold I feel like I just drank a slurpee and have awful brain freeze. Only the brain freeze from a slurpee goes away. As long as I'm outside in this frigid New Jersey weather I feel pain in my nose form the cold. I have forgotten to call Dr. Peck about this uncomfortable side effect, but I hope it goes away and so does the puppy.

Today is post op day 10.

Everywhere I go people look at me like I am a domestic violence victim. The two bruises under my eyes don't help. And I've tried all my makeup tricks, but I can't conceal this dark bruising. I tend to be a bruiser though so I was not shocked to see bruising. If anything I have had less bruising then I had initially anticipated.

I was still quite swollen in the face up until yesterday. While I am still swollen today, I have noticed a huge improvement in just the last few days. I keep thinking if this is the worst my nose will look, then that is ok with me. If anything the change was so subtle that I have not had a problem adjusting to my new (and improved) nose.

I did have a glass of wine last night and do not find myself to be more swollen today, which is good. While I really want to get back to my exercise, I am following the doctor's orders and abstaining from cardio for 3 weeks total. Staying inside and not exercising is making me a little depressed. It is hard to go from active to couch potato, but I don't want to damage anything. I desperately want to feel like myself again, but I have to keep reminding myself that I need time for my body and mind to heal.