One us jaw surgery patients can understand.

Saw this and had to share. 

Singing a new tune.

I know this morning I wrote a post bashing on the rubber bands, but I have already noticed some movement and that has gotten me excited! Just take a look at the before and after pictures. Please excuse any food in my braces, it happens. 

What was I thinking?

Yesterday I did end up leaving my ortho appointment with rubber bands to wear to close the space between my teeth, but I had no idea that they were going to suck so bad. Last night I put them in really right like the assistant told me and ended up taking them out at some point last night while I was have asleep, I probably ended up swallowing one I'm the process. I'm hoping that with time it will get easier to put them in and that I'll forget they are there. One annoying thing that happened at my appointment was that the assistant noticed that u was missing/broke the part of my bracket on one of my K9s and didn't fix it so when I tried to put my bands in on my left side like she taught me, I couldn't. I called them and she said to go back in to have them put something on my wire by that tooth. What I don't understand was why she didn't do that in the first place. Also I wasn't able to ask my orthodontist when he thinks I'll be brace free. I'm going in for another adjustment in four weeks and will ask him then, I doubt he'll be available when I go back in for them to fix  their mistake. 

Until then. 

-E

9 weeks post-op

Today marks nine days since my jaw surgery and overall life is pretty normal. Chewing has getting easier and easier. The only time I have pain chewing is when I try to chew something that requires more jaw movement, like moving it to the side. I have to admit that I rarely do my jaw exercises and they are going to get harder to do once I get my rubber bands put in. Stretching my jaw hurts!! I can finally open mouth two fingers wide. I heard from another fellow jaw surgery patient that her surgeon told her that how ever wide you can open your mouth six months post surgery is how wide you'll be able to open your mouth for the rest of your life, talk about motivation!!! 

I have an appointment with my orthodontist tomorrow afternoon for an adjustment and I'm expecting to leave with my rubber bands in place to finally close the space between my back teeth. I don't really pay much attention to my face, but I can tell that the left side of my face is more swollen than the other. My nose is also still unturned a little, which is expected. One funny thing I've noticed, also slightly annoying, when I smile really big my left side is lower than the right due to that part of the lip is completely numb. 

Until next time. -E

Life at seven weeks post surgery.

Hey everyone! Tomorrow marks seven weeks post-op for me, which means I only have one more week of a restricted diet and then I'll be let loose! Granted that I can already eat most things, but according to my surgeon I will be able to eat raw veggies and steak from that day on. It has been easier to chew lately. I have three more weeks with my splint. My next orthodontist appointment is on May 14th, at what time I'm expecting to leave my appointment with elastics to help close the space between my back teeth.

As far as pain goes, I've been getting a sharp pain every once in while whenever I yawn a certain way or if I'm talking and I accidentally move my jaw to the side. I'm not going to lie, it does hurt pretty bad when it happens. That's about the only problem I've been having at this point in my recover and I'm hoping it doesn't last for very much longer, I don't like feeling pain.

As far as numbness and swelling go, my bottom lip on the left side is still pretty numb and so is the part of my chin that is below it. I still have swelling in my cheeks, I don't know when that will go down completely. I guess I'll have to wait another month or so to see where my swelling is at. On Friday I had to attend an agency training and ran into people I that haven't seen me in awhile and most of them said that they can see the swelling. I don't know if it's because I see my face everyday, but I don't really notice it. I can see the swelling more when I look at my profile, but I don't make it a habit of staring at my profile...who has time for that?

Here are some 'candid' pictures a parent took of me and her child, of course I had to crop the child out, but I wanted to share them with everyone. Oh and please don't pay too much attention to the grass that is in my hair. What can I say, just another day at work. :)

Loving my new profile.

Jaw Surgery Problems

I've had a couple things that I've been dealing with relating to my recovery that I wanted to address. One thing that I noticed today is that now that I'm "chewing" more, I've also been accidentally chewing my lip (numb part) which has resulted in a blister. Now that I'm attempting to chew I found it very odd. I think part of the reason is because my back teeth don't meet correctly yet.

Another issue that I haven't really address is my weight loss since surgery. As of a couple weeks ago I had lost almost 10 pounds, but I haven't weighed myself since then. (Side note: use the scale at the gym, but feel guilty for going in just to use the scale. :D) At first I didn't notice the weight loss, I mean, five pounds is nothing really. But now my weight loss is to the point that people notice and have been bringing it up. I mean come on, what can I do about it now? I still can't eat whatever I want, it's not like I put myself on a diet to loss the weight, it's just part of the process.

I've been petite my whole life, but thankfully after puberty my lower body became a little more curvacious. Bottom line: I miss my butt, it was my best assest and I want it back!! Plus, I don't like seeing my bones, eww gross. I'm already planning on eating anything and everything once I'm cleared. I do want to do it gain my weight back in a health way, I just hope I don't loss anymore. I'm planning on weighing myself again soon and I'll let you guys know what the verdict is. 

Getting a blister from biting my lip when I'm suppose to be chewing.

Looking more boney these days.

I wanna eat this!!

Five Weeks!

On Friday I had my first real appointment with my orthodontist post surgery and it went ok. My mouth was definitely pulled more than I would have liked it to be, but the final product was me free of my surgical wires and that's all that I wanted. I guess I should meant that when I saw my surgeon last Wednesday he kinda wasn't all for that and said he'll just send a letter to my orthodontist. I have noticed that my splint has been harder to take off on one side, can probably blame that on the new wire. I'm just going to make sure not wear my splint more religiously to make sure nothing bad happens. I have five more weeks to wear my splint. On May 6th I'll be able to eat whatever and on May 20th I will be splint free!!!!

No more surgical hooks!!!

Bite from Right Side

Bite from Left Side

Bite from the front

Current Opening