Life After Surgery Part 1

Of course, as we all know, the worst part of surgery is the aftermath, clinically referred to as post op.

While your mouth is stuffed with copious amounts of gauze, and you’re still somewhat wonky from the medication, that’s when the dental assistant hands you a piece of paper containing detailed instructions on how to care for your PTDC (Post Traumatic Dental Condition) along with a laundry list of foods you cannot eat, next to a short list of foods you can eat, as you muster a nod in compliance (because you’re unable to speak) and go merrily on your way.

If you’re lucky, your post op condition is only for a few days, making it an easy transition back into mainstream dining.

However, if your condition was anything like mine, well, now you’ve crossed over to that parallel universe of the Dentally Challenged, and Impaired. Once you’re safely at home, and the Novocain wears off, you quickly scan the list of instructions and food choices, which is probably taped to your fridge by now.

All those wonderfully textured foods you know and love, Crunchy, Crispy and Chewy…
Well guess what?
Now they’re all forbidden.
Leaving you to eat only soft textures, like puree’s and baby food…

Begging the question:

How would you like your steak prepared?
Pureed, or liquefied?

Oh, I’ll just take mine straight up, thanks...

Aftermath

Food, the art of cooking it, and the act of eating it, is more than just a means of sustenance it’s synonymous with living and celebrating, much like the communal ritual of breaking bread with friends and family.

But after surgery, and during the recovery process, you’re food textures and menu choices have been dramatically reduced, along with your zeal for enjoying food.

There’s something inherently primal about the act of chewing, when removed, you’re left feeling vulnerable and wounded. This is not my first experience with surgery, but this time it was different, it felt like a form of amputation, it’s difficult to describe, but until you’ve experience it, you can’t begin to know what it feels like.

It’s moments like this, that I am truly humbled, and will always reserve a level of empathy for those whose lives have been either temporarily, or permanently alter by this procedure.

I recall a friend of mine, who is much older and has worn a denture since her early thirties, sharing with me the difficulties and social awkwardness that she experienced through the years as a result of having to wear a prosthesis;

1) Whether or not to accept an invitation to some one’s home for dinner, and then basing your acceptance on the type of dinner. Is it a sit-down or buffet? Buffet style is more comfortable and casual, you’re free to pick and choose specific food items, whereas a sit-down, is somewhat restricting; if you don’t eat everything served, you run the risk of offending your host/hostess.

2) Dining out at a restaurant: while everyone else is making their menu choices to please their palette, your menu choice is based on what you can, and cannot chew…

3) Last, but certainly not least, Intimacy. Do I dare broach the subject, perhaps not?

I’ll just leave the door slightly ajar I think the picture paints itself…

The first week is the most difficult, I remembering crying the whole time.

I didn’t dare look at myself without my prosthesis in place.

I made a point of cleaning and rinsing my mouth in the kitchen, so as not to catch my reflection in the mirror I hadn’t prepared myself to view that image.

.

The mere thought of trying to eat something was excruciating.

Although, I needed to eat in spite of my disability, but as I mention earlier, the only textures permitted, were liquids and purees, which may suffice for a few days, or perhaps a week, but that’s it. Fortunately, I had planned ahead and purchased a Jack la Lane Juicer, stock the refrigerator with fresh produce and re-enforced the pantry with organically prepared soups and stocks. My protein food group was extremely limited, to dairy:

·         Eggs: scrambled, poached, fried, deviled or omelets’

·         Milk

·         Yogurt, Ice Cream, Sherbets & Sorbets

·         Soft cheeses

While starches and grains appeared to be in abundance on my list; excluding bread, it was too chewy I couldn’t live on starch and complex carbohydrates alone, although, it’s probably the most likely food group for someone in this conditin, but not the most nutritionally prudent:

·         Mashed Potatoes

·         Pasta

·         Rice

·         Oatmeal

The good news is, at least I have the fruit and vegetable group covered, with juicing.

For now, I'll take it one week at a time.

Philosophically and intellectually, I know my condition will improve, and I’ll be back to noshing and chewing in no time. Until then, I’ll put my trust and faith in my dentist, and rely on my food dreams to satiate my appetite.

Cheers!

The 2th Fairy