The lip droop will improve with time I’m sure, and the numbness around the jaw & ears will get better too, it is a weird sensation I know! Mine aren’t totally normal but it’s fine, better than pain!
I hope that the fight’s okay tomorrow, will be good to get home 
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Just question for everyone. When is it appropriate to take shower with wound? I have been taking shower but Below the wound to avoid wetting the wound. Any tips? I still have strip attached to the wound although it appears that is coming off.
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I think I showered about 3 days post op, but we taped plastic wrap over the incision to keep it dry. I would expect a week post op you could have a normal shower. The incisions are normally both sutured & glued so yours should be ok for a full shower, but it would be best to contact Dr. Cognetti’s ofc & ask. It’s been so long since I had surgery, I don’t remember Dr. Samji’s recommendation.
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I did similar thing with a plastic food wrap, wrapped it around my neck and cut a small hole for breathing 
Have to mention, it worked but all the experience was quirky. Never tried it again afterwards, as the wound was OKish after the first maybe three four days to wash it with water (no soap)
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Hi Kool Dude!
Congrats on making it thru surgery and making it to the other side!!! In the bandaid section of any drugstore, there is a product called “Tegaderm”. Mine is made by Nexcare. Its a big clear bandaid of sorts that is waterproof covering. I think they come in different sizes kinda like gauze. I have 2.37 x 2.75 inches. Says it holds for 7 days. I just take it off after the shower and use a new one when I need it.
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Hi Snapple
Thanks alot I will look for those. Desperately need them for showering.
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Hi wanted to check in and see how you are doing? Hope all is going well!!
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Thanks you for checking up on me. I am recovering well from the surgery so no complaints about that. Still a little bit of swelling behind the incision area. As far as my IJVS symptoms are concerned, no improvement yet. I still have a loud tinnitus, head pressure, facial pressure, heart palpitation… etc. So I am hoping to see some improvement by the 8th week. So for now, it is just the waiting that is testing my patience.
How about you, how is the wound healing…I am not even going to ask about the IIH symptoms because it might be too early for that. I know I had only the left side operation but yours is bilateral so I am wishing you speedy recovery.
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I hope that the vascular symptoms do ease for you soon, I was lucky that mine improved quickly, but that does seem to be the exception, especially if compression is equally bad each side. Will keep praying, & it’s good that you’ve accepted it’ll take a while
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Ha! I was going to check in on you today @KoolDude but @Ddmarie did it first (time disadvantage of being on the US West Coast 
).
I’m really glad the surgery part of your ES journey is done & am hopeful & praying the IJV will open fully so you’re done w/ surgery.
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Thanks @Isaiah_40_31
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Hi Im glad to hear you are fairing well! That’s wonderful news! I’m doing okay, thank you. I still ice from time to time I still sleep elevated and I still alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen as needed during my awake hours. Still have the right sided lip paralysis kicking and the numbness around my jaw neck and ears but today was a bit better. Baby steps that’s what I keep telling myself. I’m thankful to the friendly reminders from @Jules and @Isaiah_40_31 about that. 
slow and steady wins the race and I am determined to win it! 
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@Ddmarie thanks, I am also doing all of that but I do know that the swelling inside is enough to collapse the jugular vein much like the Styloid so I am hoping it subsides sooner. As far as the incision is concerned, it looks it is healing nicely just bit tight and numb right now.
Hope the paralysis disappears with time. I am afraid the facial nerve might have been stretched during surgery so it should recover fully.
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just wanted to check in on you and see how you are doing?
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Thank you so much @Ddmarie. Makes me bit ashamed of not checking up on you the same way. I am doing good from recovery perspective. The incision is healing well. I started to massage it with coconut oil. I am not taking any pain medications at all. As far as my symptoms are concerned, no changes at all. Hoping to see some improvement. I do get a lot of heart palpitations when I am sleeping at night. So this is new. Thinking it could be vagus nerve irritation.
How are you doing? Obviously yours was bilateral so more recovery time will be needed. Have you seen any reduction in symptoms so far? How scars healing ?
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Good that you don’t need the pain meds now, will keep praying that your symptoms improve, maybe the second side will have to be done as well?
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Absolutely no worries! I completely understand no need to apologize. I will be back to the work grind next week so will be back to my normal 10 hour shifts Monday through Friday so will have less time available to me so I get it.
I’m glad to hear the healing is going well for you! I am sorry to hear that you haven’t seen any improvement from your symptoms however. As Jules mentioned you may need the other side possibly and or just need more time. I know patience is something I’m trying really hard to have…it’s difficult. Speaking of patience I have my follow up post op telephone appointment with my dr this morning and I am still waiting for him to call 
if he doesn’t I’m not going to be too pleased.
I am doing okay. I came down with a bug this week so not thrilled about that hindering my recovery a bit. My glue is all gone, my neck incisions are tender. I still have my right sided mouth paralysis and numbness still on both left and right sides. I’ve had some heart palpitations like you but did have them more regular prior to surgery. They seem a bit less often now. I no longer have the pain in my left jaw like an ice pick so that’s been wonderful and hoping that I just don’t feel it because I’m still numb there 
regardless it’s better. My neck and shoulders seems less stiff which is good. I can turn my head side to side without feeling as light headed. I still experience some light headedness which in turn makes me anxious but it’s been less than it had been. Again tell myself patience ! In the last week I’ve had some right eye twitching that’s new. Possibly healing from an aggravated nerve. I can tell you that my eyes are less red and dry then prior to surgery. All in all glad to have done the surgery and do not regret it.
Thanks for asking and it’s great to hear from ya! Keep positive! Better days ahead!
Edited for a misspelled word
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Glad that you are doing ok and already seeing some symptom relief. Patience is key but when one has been suffering for long time, you pretty much have depleted patience. Looks like you are going to be back to work so quickly. Hope it does not negatively impact your recovery. Wishing all the best.
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Sounds early to be going back to work after bilateral surgery, especially long shifts…can you ask for a phased return or something like that? Glad that you’re seeing some improvements, hugs and prayers still
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YIKES! Thales are L-O-N-G work days so soon after surgery. As Jules noted, you may want to start back part time. I guess you’ll have to do a “test drive” to see if a full day is doable for you. I hope your employer is flexible! Prayers for quick recovery from me, too!
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