I'm about 3 weeks post-op now and still feel pretty swollen and numb. I mean, it's definitely improved since the first few days (thank god, those were rough...), but eating is still a chore and my energy levels are meh. Just curious how long it took others to get back into their usual routine—like eating normally, talking without sounding muffled, and not feeling wiped out by noon. Quick poll: how many weeks before you felt mostly yourself again?
"Just curious how long it took others to get back into their usual routine—like eating normally, talking without sounding muffled, and not feeling wiped out by noon."
Reading your post took me right back to my own recovery days. Honestly, at 3 weeks I was still pretty much living on smoothies and mashed potatoes. It took me about 5-6 weeks before I could comfortably chew anything remotely solid without feeling exhausted afterward. Talking clearly was another hurdle—I remember my coworkers gently teasing me about sounding like I had cotton balls in my mouth for almost a month. Energy-wise, it was around the 4-week mark when I noticed I wasn't crashing midday anymore.
Everyone heals differently, though. A friend of mine bounced back quicker, eating normally at around 4 weeks and feeling energetic sooner than I did. But generally speaking, I'd say by the 6-week mark you'll probably feel significantly more like yourself. Hang in there—it gets better bit by bit.
