Totally agree about ice packs and Netflix, but gotta gently push back on the googling thing. Even reliable sources can sometimes make anxiety worse—especially if you're prone to overthinking (like me). I found that limiting my research and just trusting my surgeon helped more than endless scrolling. Also, quick tip: warm saltwater rinses were a lifesaver for me after my graft...cheap, easy, and surprisingly soothing. Hang in there, it really does get better.
"I found that limiting my research and just trusting my surgeon helped more than endless scrolling."
This is spot on advice. I remember after my graft, I got caught up in googling every little symptom, and it honestly just made me more anxious. Once I stepped back and trusted my surgeon's guidance, things felt a lot more manageable. Also, totally second the warm saltwater rinses—simple but effective. You're definitely not alone in this, and it really does improve with time. Hang in there.
I get what you're saying about stepping back from Google, but isn't it sometimes helpful to at least know what's normal? When I had my graft, I did trust my surgeon overall, but there were a couple times when knowing that others had similar symptoms actually eased my mind. Maybe it's about finding a balance—trust your doc, but also don't feel bad if you peek online occasionally for reassurance. Did anyone else find that a middle ground worked best?
I think you're onto something with the balance thing. When I had my own bone graft done, I remember being pretty analytical about every little sensation afterward—it's hard not to be when it's your own mouth, right? My surgeon was great, very detailed and patient, but sometimes at 11 pm when a weird twinge hit, Google felt like an instant lifeline.
Funny enough, the times I did peek online usually reassured me instead of freaking me out. Seeing other people mention similar aches or swelling that lasted a bit longer than expected made me realize healing isn't textbook for everyone. But I also learned to limit myself—too much scrolling and I'd start worrying about complications I didn't even have.
Guess it's all about moderation. I'm curious though, did anyone else notice their anxiety actually lessened once they limited their online searching? Or was it more helpful to just know as much as possible?
I can relate to this a lot. When I had my bone graft, I initially went down the rabbit hole of online searches too, and it definitely helped at first. But after a while, I realized it was actually making me more anxious—like you said, worrying about complications I didn't even have. Once I limited myself to just checking in occasionally, my anxiety levels dropped noticeably. Healing really is different for everyone, and sometimes less info is actually more reassuring...
