I totally get where you’re coming from about the recliner making things worse in some ways. But I actually found it did more good than harm for me. I had a lot of swelling and just couldn't get comfortable in bed, no matter how many pillows I tried. The wedge pillow idea is smart, but honestly, it never felt stable enough for me—I’d end up sliding down halfway through the night and wake up with my chin tucked in a weird way.
“Sometimes what helps with one symptom just trades it for another.”
That really rings true. For me, the upright position meant less swelling and easier breathing, even if it wasn’t perfect for my neck. Did you ever try those little travel neck pillows? I ended up using one in the recliner and it kept my head from flopping around, which helped with the jaw tension.
About the dry mouth thing—funny enough, I found that using a humidifier at night made a bigger difference than any gel swab or sipping water. Maybe it’s just me, but it seemed to keep my mouth from feeling like sandpaper. Anyone else have luck with that?
“Sometimes what helps with one symptom just trades it for another.”
Ain’t that the truth. I tried a recliner after my surgery and basically lived in it for two weeks—felt like a retired grandpa, but at least my face didn’t balloon up as much. Neck pillow was a game changer, though I did look ridiculous (my grandkids called me “airplane grandma” for a month). As for dry mouth, humidifier all the way. Mouth gels just made me feel like I’d eaten glue... not my favorite midnight snack.
That neck pillow thing really is a lifesaver, but I get what you mean about looking silly. My partner kept calling me “marshmallow head” because I had this giant U-shaped one that basically swallowed half my face. Recliner didn’t work for me though—I was too paranoid about sliding down and messing up the swelling, so I ended up propping myself in bed with like six pillows. Wasn’t comfortable, but at least I felt less likely to accidentally turn sideways.
Totally agree on mouth gels being gross. I tried every brand and they all left this weird aftertaste. The humidifier helped, but sometimes it made my room feel muggy and I started worrying about mold (I know, classic overthinker here). Honestly, the little things made a difference for me—like keeping a spray bottle of water by the bed or using those disposable dental swabs when my mouth felt super dry. Not glamorous, but it got me through the worst nights.
I totally relate to the “marshmallow head” vibe—my sister took way too many photos of me in mine and now uses them as blackmail material. Did you ever try those ice packs that wrap around your face? I couldn’t figure out if they actually helped with swelling or just made me feel like a chipmunk on a cold day. Also, did you find anything that made it easier to sleep through the night without waking up every hour? I swear, I tried everything short of duct-taping myself upright...
That marshmallow head phase is no joke—my partner still brings up the photos of me looking like a stunned snowman. I did try those wraparound ice packs, and honestly, I went back and forth on whether they actually helped. Sometimes it felt like the cold just made my cheeks ache more, but I do think it kept the swelling from getting totally out of control. I’d rotate between the ice pack and a warm washcloth after a few days, which seemed to help with the stiffness.
Sleeping was another beast. The only thing that worked for me was propping myself up with like four pillows, basically turning my bed into a makeshift recliner. Still woke up a bunch, but at least I didn’t feel like my face was sliding off the pillow every time I dozed off. I tried one of those travel neck pillows too—it looked ridiculous, but it kept my head from flopping around.
It gets better, even if it feels endless at first. The little things (like being able to yawn again without wincing) start feeling like big wins after a while. Hang in there—marshmallow head doesn’t last forever.