It's hard to say, as everyone is different. Some people have headaches, some don't. Some have balance issues, some don't. Some people have facial problems while others don't. It is so individual. For me, it was not bad, as I did not have any problems. My surgery was 7 hours long, November 16. I spent one night in the ICU where I mostly slept. I would wake up with my mouth so dry I could barely swallow. But I had a very good male nurse (from what I can remember) who brought me fresh sponges on picks in ice water every time. I had no pain from the incision or the fat graft (I had translab). I had to wait most of the next day for a room to open up and be cleaned before I could get out of ICU. I was nervous the first time to sit up, thinking I might be dizzy or nauseaus. I sat in a chair first thing in the morning and had breakfast--no nausea. (They had a patch on my neck. I don't know if that is why I did not feel sick.) Late in the day I finally got a room. Instead of wheeling me up to the room in the bed, I was asked to sit in a wheel chair. I was a little nervous, as I thought I might get dizzy. I had to go from the 3rd floor to the 9th floor. But it did not bother me in the least. After I got there, a physical therapist asked me to walk a little and then to walk a few steps in the stairwell. I did not need help and could do this by myself. I had not had balance problems before surgery and I think my AN had been there so long that the right side had already taken over. So I was able to walk without any walkers, canes, or hanging on to anyone. I did not have headaches during my hospital stay, but did get some when I was home for about 2 weeks. I did have slight facial paralysis--a 2 on the House scale where 1 is normal and I think 5 or 6 is no movement at all. I've done the exercises the doctor recommended and at about a month my mouth looks normal. My eye at first did not blink with the other one and did not have tears. At about a month it started blinking normally, but now at 12 weeks, it still does not tear. I use drops during the day only if needed and ointment every night at bedtime. I have had no problems since I have been home. I had my surgery on a Tuesday and went home on Saturday. They said I could go home Friday, but I did not feel ready. I was nervous for the drive nome because I live 2-2 1/2 hours from the hospital. Some people told me that when they first were in a car, 35 miles an hour felt like 85. Some could not keep their eyes open. I had read all the posts here about what to take to the hospital and my sunglasses with me for that ride home. I put them on and thought I would have to keep my eyes closed all the way home. But to my surprise, even though we were on major interstates, I had no problems at all travelling. Fatigue stays as an issue for some time. Some people have said they have trouble sleeping on the AN side, but I do not. The last few days the scar area has been sore. I don't know if it's from wearing my glasses or the hair growing back or both. It's not a major pain or anything, just irritating. I have done well at home and have started back to teaching full time last week. I still get moments of being tired, but I joke that being a teacher I've lived tired all along anyway, so it should not be too different.
I am sure you get many different stories here. We can tell you what it was like for us, but can't really predict how you will be. I read everything I could ahead of time. I did about 100 hours of research. I think that by being that prepared is what helped me to have a good experience. This site is one of the best to read. Good luck to you next week and let us know how it goes. I hope all will be well for you.
Sandy
