Take It Off!

Finally! Today is the day - the splint comes out of my nose! My appointment with Dr. Troost is at 3:45 pm today and comes with mixed emotions. I'm anxious to have it removed because it really is a pain in the butt (errrr, nose??). I can feel it and it's still sitting right on my tickle spot and makes me sneeze endlessly! But...I know it's going to hurt like a b&*ch to have it removed! Think about it...this thing has been on my healing septum now for two weeks...you know darn good and well that it's grown along with it and that taking it off will feel like yanking pieces of my brain! LOL Okay, so maybe that's a bit over-dramatic, but I don't care...I'd rather go in with a pessimistic attitude, only to be surprised and walk out with a smile on my face!

Please, please, pleeeeeeaaaaaase let it not hurt! Updates later!

Holy Ouchies, Batman!

I'm alive! I feel like someone is jabbing a knife into my brain, but I'm alive! Surgery on Thursday was a success! Although I went in a bit late (7:45 am), I was out and home just shortly after 11 am! Everything went smoothly. Dr. Troost took some cartilage from elsewhere in my nose (doesn't this create another hole???) and was able to patch the perforation on my septum. I left the hospital with a nose packed full of who knows what and some good drugs. The rest of that day is pretty much a blur and sleeping that evening was no fun. Yesterday (Friday) morning I had a doc appt. at 9:30 am to remove the packing and as a general follow up to make sure things went well. The trip in to DC was amusing in itself...you might want to ask Brian about it because apparently I was "a lot of fun". Pain meds will do that. And, the picture above shows what I looked like traveling in to the doc by metro - lovely, huh? Removing the packing - OW! OW! OW! May I just say that it was NO fun and I hope I never have to do that again? The pain was only momentary, but whew, did it hurt! How those 2 1/2 inch long pieces of whatever they were fit up there is beyond me! I swore he was pulling my brain out through my nose! LOL Once the tears cleared, I realized that I could sniff! And that my sniffer felt different! Yippee! I've still got a splint in my nose and will have for the next two weeks - he'll take it out on December 17th, just in time for Christmas! I still didn't sleep very well last night - now that the packing it out, I have a lot of clotting and drainage (sorry for the visual) and I'm very stuffy. My nose also burns like crazy inside! This will go away in a few days, or so the doc says. :) Other than these few things, I'm feeling surprisingly good today and am on the mend! I'm still restricted to no lifting or strenuous activities for 2 weeks, but the time will pass quickly, I'm sure. I do believe that this would be called progress!!

Stick A Fork In Me, I'm Done! Well, Almost...

Tomorrow is the day. Let's hope we're close to an end to this nonsense they call recovery! I just received a phone call from Dr. Troost's office (he's my ENT, by the way). Surgery to repair my torn septum was originally scheduled at 9:15 am but I've been moved up so I go in at 7 am instead! If all goes well, I should be walking out of the hospital by noon! Keep your fingers crossed that it's fixable because they've said that although they believe they can take care of it, there's a chance it won't be 100% fixed. Ugh, that would SO not be fun!

For the record, my nose doesn't hurt and I'm not in any pain. But, the perforation makes breathing uncomfortable and it just plain feels weird! Try this on for size:

You go to McDonald's and buy yourself a fountain drink. You grab a straw. Soda in one hand, straw in the other...what do you do? You bang the straw on the counter to get it to poke through the paper. When you bang it too hard, what happens? Yep...the straw gets a perforation and when you try to drink through it, you have that "open air" feeling, you can't quite get the suction you need. It just doesn't work like it should, right?

This is how my nose feels when I breathe...it's incredibly irritating! And, I whistle. I've contemplated learning some songs and putting myself on the Letterman Show but so far, I haven't gotten a call back. Maybe another time. NOT!

Wish me luck! Maybe tomorrow will finally be the end of the carnival and someone will let me off this ride! Please? Anybody??

What Does Happiness Mean To You?

I've asked myself this question time and time again. There are several answers to this.

• Happiness is...Family
• Happiness is...Good Health
• Happiness is...Good Friends
• Happiness is...Wealth
• Happiness is...NO BRACES!!!!!!!!!

I am officially free of my braces! Or, as Ashley would say..."Mom's no longer a brace face". :)

November 23, 2010...it's a day I'll not soon forget. What a wonderful and exciting day. My appointment at Dr. Gerlein's office began at 11:55 am and what transpired was something amazing. I can't believe how it feels! I can't believe how it looks! And to be honest, I haven't stopped smiling since that day! I've never been vain, nor have I ever been too concerned about my looks. I did this to get rid of the pain of several years and not for looks. But for right now, I'm going to just enjoy this a little bit and not feel the least bit guilty about smiling at each mirror I pass! The before and after pics are to your right....judge for yourself and let me know what you think of the new me!

Some quick information. All told, it took about 2 hours for everything to be finished. First, they attached my permanent retainer behind my bottom front teeth. Then, they removed the brackets and wires! Heaven! I got to brush my teeth - sans metal! Yippee!!! Then, it was Dr. Gerlein's turn - time to get the glue off my teeth. I have to admit, it hurt a little bit but it's because I have so much sensitivity right now in my mouth with the nerve regeneration. But, it was a small and sweet victory when it was finished...all trace of "brace face" was gone! :) Once everything was cleaned off, it was time for some quick impressions. First, an impression of my upper jaw so they could make my retainer. Next, impressions of both top and bottom - "records" for Dr. Gerlein. I'll be famous! Because of the severity of my jaw issues and the transformation (without issue) that has taken place, Dr. Gerlein will be sending my case and records off to the Dental Boards for study. I'm not sure if this is something to be excited about or not! LOL

I MUST give credit where credit is due! On my left, the most wonderful orthodontist in the entire world - Dr. Gerlein. He is amazing and fantastic and I know that my experience with adult orthodontia would NOT have been the same had it not been for him. And on my right, Connie - just one of the several awesome and wonderful ladies that work in the office - the one who had the honor of setting me free!

Bracing For Change....

We're getting close! I went to the orthodontist on Wednesday - had impressions done on my bottom jaw for my permanent retainer. It will, in fact, be a Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday for me with no braces! Yayyyy!

Sniffer Repair...

It's been a while since I last posted, so sorry! Let me get you up to date on the latest happenings.

I can almost feel my chin....entirely! My top lip is no longer numb. The gums of my bottom jaw are beginning to regain just a small amount of feeling. I have zero, count it....ZERO....feeling in the gums of my upper jaw. The feeling on the roof of my mouth is almost all back so I no longer worry about burning the heck out of my mouth when eating pizza. The left side of my face under my eye is still a little numb, as is my bottom lip....but all very do-able. If no more feeling came back, I'd be absolutely fine with it!

Chewing is still difficult and I struggle with it daily. Talking, as much as I love to do it, is also difficult and I still have to think about many of the words my mouth is forming. I still spit and drool from time to time. If it bothers Brian, he keeps quiet. Such a wonderful husband. :) All in all, things are progressing nicely....except for....

...my nose. *sigh* As you all know, it's been giving me trouble since the surgery. Surgeon said it was normal, ENT said it wasn't. After three or so weeks of antibiotics, nasal sprays and ointments (and no changes), surgery is slated for December 2nd. At that time, he'll repair my torn septum so it feels right and I stop whistling and open up my turbinates a bit more so I can breathe normally. Yayyyy! Finally. No more whistlin' Dixie as a bedtime song! Ugh.

Surgery...as I said, December 2nd. It's an outpatient procedure, nothing like the one I had done in May!! I'll go back the following day and have the packing removed, then a couple more days of down time and I should be good to go! I'll be so glad when it's done!

I visited the orthodontist last week - had impressions done of my mouth. I go back this week on Wednesday and....drumroll....should find out when I get my braces off! He has to look at the models to see what final adjustments he has to make before they come off! But, it looks as if we're still on target for December sometime. If he doesn't have a date for me on Wed., he will at my next appt. I can't WAIT to know!

Although I'm still struggling with a few aspects of how I look....here I am!!!

Who "Nose"?

Today's verdict? Not good news. At least it's not in my head (uhhh, well, I guess it kind of is..lol), there IS something wrong. :( Sadly, I have a tear in my septum and I guess the surgeon wasn't aggressive enough in cleaning out the turbinates and due to the changes in my nose, they're plugged and inflamed. This is why I can't breathe and the rip in the septum is causing the whistle and the pain. The tear is still bleeding and it's raw inside my nose and this is why I'm also having the issue of bleeding. So, back to doing very little - he doesn't want the blood pumping if it's not necessary, to let some of the inflammation go down. He also prescribed some medicine and some nose spray for comfort. Unfortunately, he doesn't expect they will do much and that I'll have to go back in to repair the damage. I'm tired of hurting, I'm tired of being tired and it really pisses me off that my surgeon kept telling me that it was "normal". Ugh.

Day ?????

I don't know the day and I'm done counting. If you want to know, you do the math :) Wow, May 11th seems like an eternity ago...yet it really hasn't been all that long. Crazy, huh?

Things are going pretty well, with the exception of my nose. I'm having troubles and it's time to get it checked out. I'm going to see Dr. Troost, my ENT, on Monday afternoon. I can't breathe well and my nose hurts. I've got some stuff coming out of my nose that just isn't right and isn't what I consider normal. I'll spare you the details. I'll keep you posted...I'm sure you're on the edge of your seats.

Aside from my nose, things are going pretty well. The swelling is going down and since it has, I can now feel the screws and brackets in my face. Creepy. They're tender to the touch which is good and bad...rough when I go to wash or wipe my face, but kinda neat that I finally have some sensation. The left side of my face is still a bit numb, as is my chin and bottom lip, but it's slowly repairing itself. I still get a vague sensation of drooling when I drink something, but it's not as bad as it used to be. My left cheek was almost back to normal and is now numb again. It comes and it goes. I'm used to it now. I think my chin is what I'm most excited about. Finally, the feeling is almost completely back. I like this because it was uncomfortable. Unfortunately, my gums are still almost completely numb yet I have some sensation so I still can't use my Sonicare toothbrush - have to do it manually. The vibration of the Sonicare is too much for my teeth to handle and becomes painful. This too, shall pass.

I had an orthodontist appointment about a week ago and we're on track! Besides a very minor adjustment, we're at the point now where we're just in a holding pattern. This means that we're on for the braces to come out of my mouth in December! Yes!!!!!!!! While total recovery is a long ways off, at least I can get the braces off and feel semi-normal again. Freedom! I see a big, fat Smith & Wollensky steak on the horizon and I can almost reach out and grab it. :)

Day 119 - Whoa...4 Months!

Tomorrow will mark 4 months post-surgery. As a side note, it'll also mark Brian's birthday so we've got a couple of things to celebrate! Four months might not be much, but I'll admit it seems like it's been forever. Someone asked me the other day - if I had to do it all over again, would I go through with it? My answer: I'm not sure. I'm still having issues with my nose and it's uncomfortable and extremely irritating and I don't like my new face. Sometimes I look in the mirror and hope for the old me. I don't miss the pain I used to have, that I'll admit. I'm being impatient, I know...and I'm wanting things to just turn around so I can be done with this already! When will I be able to eat normally? When will my nose feel right again? When will I look "normal"? So many questions - somehow I don't think I'll get the answers anytime soon. Maybe once these are answered, I'll be able to answer the "would I do it again" question. When I asked my surgeon if what I was feeling in my nose was "normal", he said he didn't think there was anything wrong but if I want, I'm welcome to see the ENT. Hmmm, not sure I like being pawned off on another doc. Then again, he's done a few of these and probably knows what he's doing so I've taken his word for it and I'm letting things heal at their pace.

I don't notice daily changes, not even weekly changes. But, I DO have changes. I gave Brian a kiss the other day and realized that it didn't hurt anymore! I have regained almost all the feeling in my top lip now! My bottom lip is still pins and needles, but it doesn't hurt to the touch. However, if I run my tongue inside my lips and they stretch even a little bit, it's painful. Nerves, I guess. I still have slight numbness down the left side of my face but the right side is completely back to normal. My chin also has some numbness but it's MUCH better than it was. If I regained no more feeling than I have now, I'd be perfectly happy and could deal with it. As it stands now, I almost don't think about it anymore. These are the positive things I hang on to.

Day 104 - And On A Good Note...

...nothing has changed! hahahaha

Past the 100 day mark, crazy huh? Part of me says, "Wow, it's already been 3 months??" and the other part of me says, "Ugh, it's ONLY been 3 months??" Don't get me wrong...I'm still glad I did this, I know that once I'm through the recovery period, I'll be SO happy. But for now, it's not fun, it's not easy and it's very frustrating. I don't always notice it, but my emotions run wild sometimes. I suppose I should just apologize now for the dumb things I do. lol

All I'm doing now is focusing on the orthodontic end of things. I have to go back in to see Dr. Gerlein on September 9th. So far, things are looking good and I'm on target to get these godforsaken braces removed in December. I just keep all crossables crossed that it'll happen!

I just recently went in to see Dr. Penski, my dentist. She's the one that started this entire chain of events! Love her! She's amazing! And for those that are looking for a fantastic dentist, she's the one! Anyway...I had my teeth cleaned at the beginning of August. They said that this is the first time my gums looked healthy - no problems at all! I don't remember the last time this happened but I'll take it!

My nose is still giving me trouble, it really bothers me. There are times when it's more sore than others, but it's uncomfortable all the time. I've also got some pressure in my cheeks and nose, but I have a feeling that's sinus issues from all the rotten weather we're having in the area! Allergies are running rampant. Unfortunately, I think I'm on the list!

That's it! Nothing terrible....I'm moving along and doing well. I'll be glad when it's over, but for the time being, I'm trying to be as patient as I can be! All the well wishes from people definitely helps! A BIG thank you to everyone!!!!!!!

Day 91 - The Nose Knows...

Wow...I'm just minutes past the 3 month mark, how crazy is that? What a rollercoaster ride this has been!

So let's see, what can I tell you? All in all, I'm feeling pretty good. I still have a LOT of swelling in my face and it seems to be taking forever to improve even a little bit. For those on the outside looking at me, they don't seem to notice much. However, if you get in for a closer view, it's quite apparent that it's there. I am also still quite numb in much of the left side of my face and my chin. My gums are also numb. Eating is so-so. Although I'll try almost anything, I still have trouble. Range of motion is coming along, albeit slowly and it's a chore to eat. I do it and I don't complain, but inside, I'm throwing my plate against the wall. lol

I don't have any pain now, with the exception of my nose. (and my cheeks rubbing on my brackets). My surgeon says it isn't serious so I'm waiting a bit longer in the healing process to see how things go. I still find it strange that I have a "shelf" in the cartilage inside my nose that wasn't there before surgery, but maybe it'll go away after a while. I still have a good bit of pressure inside my nose when I sneeze, if I have to blow it (which I do lightly!) or even just bending over and having the blood rush to my head.

I went to the orthodontist last week and the braces are coming off in December!!! Wooo hooo, what a wonderful Christmas/Birthday present that will be! Things are progressing nicely since the surgery and my teeth are really moving into place like they should be. Dr. Gerlein is pretty confident that we'll be able to stay on our target of the end of the year. I am SO excited! Once they come off, I have to meet with the surgeon again. I think it's just because he wants to see what I look like without my braces after all this time, but he keeps saying it's for medical reasons. Whatever. LOL

Recap: Nose hurts, face numb, chewing stinks, BRACES COMING OFF IN DECEMBER! hehehehe

Could be worse, couldn't it. :-)

Are We Done Yet?

Wouldn't it be great if we could just snap our fingers and have things our way?

I'm having a bit of pain the last week or so. :-( I'm sure much of it is just the healing process. The right side of my jaw is a bit more painful, as is the left side of my face in the upper part of my cheek bone. But the pain that concerns me is in my nose. Touching my nose is getting nearly impossible and the underside, at the top of my upper lip, is incredibly painful. I have a strange little "shelf" inside the right nostril and the cartilage is "mushy", for lack of a better word. Not sure what's going on but I'm going to contact the surgeon and see if he thinks it's normal or if I need to see him about it.

Other than that, things are moving along. I'm still eating everything I can. It takes me a long time to eat and it's still very difficult, but I'm doing it and trying hard to get back to normal. Soft foods are still my favorite but I know I can't just have those and expect to move forward. Talking is interesting. Because I have very limited feeling in my lips, left side and chin, I have to think about the words so my lips form them. It's a chore. I'm tired. Really. Nothing comes easy with jaw surgery! No pain, no gain, right?

Day 66 - The Nose Knows..

My face hurts. More specifically, my nose hurts! It's hard to touch it, I'm still not breathing quite right and it's just uncomfortable. The area on my cheeks where they did the bone grafts are very tender today for some reason. Maybe it's the weather getting to my sinuses or something, but today is just not a good day. My nose hasn't been quite right up to this point...breathing isn't bad, but it doesn't feel "normal". I suppose in another 4 or 5 months, maybe it will...I'm getting tired of waiting. Really, I am SO tired of waiting.

Day 60 - Shame On Me

Well...30 lashes with a wet noodle for me. I have been absolutely terrible about updating in the last couple of weeks. I assure you, I've thought about it time and time again, but life has been getting in the way and I just haven't taken the time. With that said, I'm thinking about it now so here I am!

We spent the 4th of July in Baltimore this year for a long weekend at the Inner Harbor and visiting my cousin, Lindsay and her husband, Mark at their house to watch the fireworks from their rooftop patio! What a beautiful sight that was - we had a wonderful time!

I'm back to work now so that keeps me busy, along with planning our family get together coming up in August. Brian and I, along with my parents, brothers and sisters (and kids) will spend a week at a cabin in Deep Creek, Maryland. Can't wait! The girls will be coming back to the DC area mid-week for my sister's baby shower and the guys will stay at the cabin and do some fishing and male bonding - or "talkin' smart" as they call it. Have fun, guys!

On June 29th, I had a visit with Dr. Posnick. This was a checkup to make sure things are going well and that I'm on track with my recovery. I got the thumbs up and he said that my range of motion is better than he would have expected so I felt pretty good about this. I'm eating anything and everything I can - easy or not. It's still extremely frustrating and very difficult. I'm able to just about bite into a burger (if I give it a good squish first) but once it's in there, then what do I do with it?? I still don't have a good "chewing" motion, if that makes sense, so once the food is in my mouth, I have a hard time moving it around and getting it to where it needs to be. I still can't feel the inside of my mouth either, so part of the problem is knowing WHERE the food is! Most of you probably don't understand that and it's hard to explain...so just know that when I eat and cover my mouth with my hand, it's so that you don't have to see what's in my mouth and so I don't drool or drop it out on the table in front of me.

This whole recovery thing is getting old. I don't hurt much. Eating takes a long time and my muscles are sore and tight before I'm full but there's really no pain other than when I yawn. It's just not comfortable. My mouth wants to open much further than it's able so there is a muscle fight when it happens. I get stuck in the middle and believe me, it doesn't feel good!

Not much has changed in my appearance. I'm still very swollen and numb. Most of you don't really "see" it...but believe me, it's there! I can feel my chin a bit more now and I can touch my lips without it feeling like someone is jabbing daggers into them, but other than that, things are pretty much the same. I have to make a conscious effort when I talk because if I don't, my mouth won't form the words correctly and I'll either spit or drool on myself (and others if you get too close!!). I still get the squiggles in my face, they drive me crazy! I also have the phantom drooling sensations (Graham, you know what I'm talking about here!!) that drive me nuts! When I take a drink of water, I would swear that the entire glass is going down my front. But when I go to wipe my chin, there's nothing there. Hmmmmm. Brushing my teeth is brutal! Most of my gums are completely numb...not even a little bit of sensation. However, a couple of my teeth are beginning to get sensation (this doesn't even make SENSE to me) so when I brush, the feeling just drives me up a wall! I've found that I can't even use the Sonicare anymore, I have to use a regular brush so I can control where and how I brush. Am I complaining? I suppose so, in my own way. But I try hard not to all the time because things really have improved. I think what gets frustrating is that people see that I'm eating or talking, and I look better than I did at the beginning so they think that I'm back to normal. I'm so far from it. :-( Never, ever assume.

Day 41 - Do I Look Crabby??

Brian and I had a fantastic weekend! We decided to put off all the home chores we had on the schedule and do something fun for ourselves instead! Saturday, we hopped in the car about noon and headed towards the Northern Neck of Virginia for Colonial Beach. What a find that was! Colonial Beach boasts the second longest beach in Virginia and it's a great little town! We walked the beach for a little while, picked up a few shells, then had a couple of beers at one of the local beach hangouts. It's only about an hour and a half away from us - we had no idea it was so close. We've always thought that the nearest large beach is Rehoboth or the VA Beach/Newport News area - 3 or 4 hours away! We didn't know we had this wonderful little find almost right around the corner! Granted, it's not on the ocean - it's the Potomac - but there's sand, water and sun. That qualifies as a beach to me! Sunday, we hopped back in the car in the morning and this time, headed in another direction that led us to the Eastern Shore - St. Michaels and Tilghman Island in Maryland. For those of you that know where Brenna and Jeremy live - from Chesapeake Beach, looking straight across the bay, you can see Tilghman Island. Of course, the only way to get there is to take the Bay Bridge so it took us close to a couple of hours. But once we arrived, we weren't disappointed! First stop? St. Michaels and The Crab Claw for lunch. I bet you can guess what I had!!!! Brian had a crab cake sandwich - lunch was a success! After lunch, we did a little window shopping, then hopped back in the car for a drive to Tilghman Island. Not much to see there other than water LOL. It was a ghost town!!! It has one very long street through town with nothing but houses. I think there was a small restaurant and a gas station, but other than that, you're out of luck! They do have a harbor there, however, where they offer skipjack tours. We had intended to do that, but by the time we got there, it was already in the high 90's and with the humidity, nearly unbearable to be outside. So, we opted to do it another time and begin our leisurely drive home instead. It was a fantastic and much needed weekend for both of us.

Not too much to report on my jaws, the changes have slowed dramatically and not much is happening. Unfortunately, the swelling isn't going down very much or as quickly as I'd hoped but each day is getting easier. I still have some pain on the right side when I chew and yawn, but it has gotten considerably better. I'm measuring my range of motion by the number of fingers I can put between my teeth. Two weeks ago, I could only fit one...and now two! So, even though it doesn't seem like much is happening, I AM making progress. I'm eating anything and everything I can get my hands on - steak, chicken, pizza, seafood - but still get either too tired or too sore before I'm full. Because of this, I am eating numerous times a day - this is good and bad. Good for obvious reasons: Nourishment and energy. Bad: Weight. I am back to where I was when I went in for surgery so I'm doing fine but if I continue to eat as I am, I'll soon need my own zip code. :-)

I'll return to see the surgeon on June 30th to make sure he's happy with the progress I've made thus far. I'm pretty confident he'll be pleased with what I'm doing. I am also officially able to exercise and go back to most of my normal routine! Obviously I couldn't go out and run a marathon, but I can carry a loaded laundry basket, that's for damn sure! hehehe Little by little, day by day...that's all I can do and so far, things are coming along nicely.

Day 37 - I'm Lovin' It

I know, I know - I'm a little behind in my writings! But now, the changes are happening much slower so it's really not necessary to do daily postings. Every two to three days will suffice and hopefully, there will be improvement each time! Of course, if a thought pops into my head, something drastic or exciting happens or I have updates from doc appts., I'll be sure to post them, as well.

I'm chewing more and more as the days go on. It's not easy, it hurts and it's still very foreign, but I'm doing it. Each meal is a chore - it's amazing how hard I have to work. Most times, I can't finish the meal because I'm literally too tired from chewing, whether I'm full or not. Each meal that I chew means progress. I do, however, have a serious addiction to mashed potatoes and could eat them every day! We found these great single serving Bob Evans mashed potatoes shortly after surgery and they were great for quick cooking and straining. We're still buying them because they are a welcome break every once in a while - though I now eat them with a small spoon instead. :-) The small victories are the best ones!

Chewing brings cravings. The more I begin to eat normally, the more things I WANT to eat. Tonight's craving was something greasy, something bad for me and something we did NOT have to make at home. I told Brian of my desires and he said he could go for the same thing. From the picture, I'm sure you can see where our dinner came from! One of the drawbacks to these cravings is the fact that I can't open my mouth very far. It's getting better, but verrrrrry slowly...and definitely not daily! But tonight, I proved to myself that I can do it, that I can beat this. Not only did I eat all 10 of my chicken nuggets (which were fantastic, by the way), but I also ordered a simple cheeseburger - and ate it like a real person! It took forever and was cold by the time I was done, but I did it and that's all that matters!

So let's see...I've been back to work nearly a full week now! It's been good to be back in the swing of things. It's harder than I expected but I'm enjoying it. Talking is very difficult and with the swelling, my cheeks are digging into my braces. Shredded cheeks = not fun. The elastics that I'm wearing, coupled with the numbness & swelling, makes a 10 minute conversation seem like a Senate hearing. I just keep telling myself that it'll get better, it'll get easier.

Instant gratification is NOT the name of this insane game!

Day 34 - Chew on this!

Just because I haven't posted in a few days doesn't mean that things aren't happening around here! We had a very nice (and busy) weekend and today, I went back to work. It was a busy morning and it was tough. Although it's been nice having the splint off, I'm realizing just how far I have to go before things are back to normal. My cheeks are still very swollen and because of this, rub against my braces so they are extremely irritated and sore. The less I talk, the better it is. With the phone ringing and people coming in my office this morning, I was forced to talk a lot and wow, do I hurt. It's not as easy as it seems! I was so happy to come home where I didn't have to talk to anyone!!! But, no pain, no gain - at least that's what I was always told - just gotta keep trudging along. :-)

Now for the fun stuff - Iron Man, Transformers - they've got nothing on us jaw surgery patients! Here are the before and after xrays to date. The "before" shots were taken in September & October 2009 and I just had the "after" shots taken last Thursday. I've got a good amount of titanium in my face now, huh? And check out the difference in the profile shot! I had them side by side on my screen and was astonished! Crazy!

I guess there are a few changes to report. I seem to be getting a small amount of feeling back on the left side of my face. I've got nearly all the feeling back now in my nose and I'm getting better sensation on the left side of my face so I'm hoping this means things are moving in the right direction. My lips are still "on fire" and they hurt. My chin is also sensitive this way. But, little by little, things are changing. Pictures don't show it much, but there is still a large amount of swelling in my face that will take months to go down. But, my breathing is much, much better and as the swelling goes down on the left side, it improves. I'm beginning to think I just might breathe like a normal person after all!

Lastly....I'm proud to say that as of last Thursday, I've not used a syringe for dinner! Brian and I went out on Saturday evening and I ate in public for the first time with my new mouth! Now get this - it's the craziest thing and I still can't figure it out. I know where my mouth is. I've been eating with a fork since I was young. But I can't for the life of me get the fork between my teeth on the first try. Really. I'm not joking. It's like the "are you drunk" tests the officer gives people on the highway - you know the one - "close your eyes and touch your nose". I couldn't hit my mouth if someone PAID me! It's insane and embarrassing! And chewing - ha, that's a joke! I can only explain it by saying that it feels absolutely, 100% wrong! It's not what I'm used to - my teeth are in a completely different place and it doesn't work! It will, but right now, it doesn't but I'm trying! I look ridiculous but I WILL eat! hehe

And with that...it's dinner time. Pizza's on the menu tonight! Wish me luck!

Day 31 Continued - Life Begins Again

To celebrate my new found freedom, I all but begged Brian to take me out for dinner! I didn't care what I could eat (if anything!) but I wanted to try!! Boy, did I! Chez Andree, here we come!

It wasn't easy, and everything about it feels SO wrong! I can't open my mouth more than about an inch, so little pieces is the name of the game for now. But for the first time in a month, I was able to chew food! Because my gums are still numb (which means I also can't feel my teeth), I couldn't feel where the food was, I just knew it was there. It's the strangest feeling ever! It didn't hurt, but because the muscles are now learning how to do this again, it was uncomfortable, for instance, to move my tongue from one side to the other - something we just take for granted when we eat. Brian made a good point last night - I need to be careful with food temperature so I don't burn myself - something I hadn't even thought of! But since my lips still don't work right, blowing on my food proved to be humorous. :-) And the butter dripping down my chin that Brian had to quietly tell me to wipe off? I knew it was there - uh-huh - really, I did! Riiiiiiiight! We just had to document the first bite!!!

What a fantastic night! Another new journey begins...

Day 31 - Freedom

As I might have mentioned before (hehe), I went to see the surgeon on Thursday to have my splint removed. HEAVEN!!!!!!!!! The removal was painless, just a few snips of wire and it was out. I also had some stitches that hadn't worked their way out so those were removed, as well. Everything inside my mouth looks good and I'm healing nicely. Oh, the freedom to open my mouth was amazing! Different from the other times because now, I didn't have this large piece of heavy plastic to get in the way of anything!!!

Finally.....a smile without the plastic!

And THIS is the man that took me apart and put me back together again. Meet Dr. Posnick!

I'll go back to visit Dr. Posnick in three weeks where he'll check my bite and make sure I'm progressing well. I still have a lot of swelling in my face, (much more than pictures show) and he told me it will probably be a full 6 months before everything is where it should be. My smile looks funny, but this will all work itself out, it just takes time. The best news of the day - I was given the okay to get my life back - begin chewing and eating again! Soft foods to start.....I'm okay with that! It will take some getting used to as my jaws are in completely different positions than they have been for the last 39 years and there may be a little pain with chewing, but that's all to be expected. I'm okay with that, too! Ahhhh, but first things first. Since they had to cut the wires of my braces during surgery (to attach the splint), the next stop was to see Dr. Gerlein to have the old wires and surgical hooks removed and new wires and powerchains put in place. And what fun THAT was! It was Hawaiian Day at Gerlein Orthodontics!!! Here is the awesome man who now has the job of giving me a smile to be proud of - Dr. Gerlein!

I finally feel like we're making progress and that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like I've got some of Aimee back...I've missed me!

Thursday evening agenda ---------- dinner at Chez Andree!!

...To Be Continued...

Day 30 - Feels Like Christmas Eve

Remember the feeling? You're 6 years old, it's Christmas Eve and it's almost time for Santa to come! Your mom says "...but Santa won't come down the chimney until you're fast asleep." Ugh...so even though it's early, you just have to go to bed and close your eyes...you can't stand the anticipation and if you fall asleep, it'll quickly be tomorrow! But oh oh, if you aren't sleeping, Santa and his sleigh are just going to whooooosh right past your house to little Billy's down the street! And... you can't sleep because you're way too excited! What a predicament!

Fast forward...I'm 39 years old and this is how I feel - right here, right now. No, I'm not going insane and think that Santa is coming down my chimney this evening. I didn't even have a Billy that lived down the street. This is not child's play. My splint comes off tomorrow!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I am so excited that I can't go to sleep. But I want to sleep because then tomorrow will be here quicker. But I just can't!!!! What a predicament!

Day 29 - My My, How Time Flies

It's been almost a month since my surgery. Time sure flies when you're having fun! Riiiight! LOL It has been a very long 29 days, but I'm slowly beginning to see and feel the improvements. I've now almost regained all the feeling in my nose. This is helpful because my nose has been itching like crazy, but I can't make it go away! I could scratch until there's no skin left and that itch would still be there! Ugh - so frustrating! Unfortunately, the feeling in the left side of my face and my mouth are both taking longer to return. However, I think I feel a little difference in my upper lip so let's hope those nerves are working quickly and it means things are going to begin improving even more!

Only 2 1/2 more days until the splint is removed. I've had a down week but having this within my reach, I'm trying to remain a bit more positive. I know it will make a big difference in how I feel. I'm looking forward to being able to talk again so that I can take back that bit of me that's been lost. I know I won't be having a steak anytime soon, but I'll graduate to some soft foods and slowly work my way up. Eating (or lack thereof) has not been a big deal for me. In fact, it's been much easier than I anticipated. Maybe it's because I've been eating so well. Maybe it's because before the surgery, I had prepared myself well and had talked myself into the fact that it would be impossible for me to eat anything but soup. Either way, food really hasn't been an issue.

Looking back, a month has gone by quickly. Three weeks ago, I would have preferred being strung up by my toenails than having to go through what I did. Okay, so I'm kidding about this....kind of. I did a good amount of research in the year I had to prepare. I read blogs, I watched videos and checked out nearly every website I could find. I figured that if I read enough, I'd know it all and would know exactly what to expect. I don't think it's possible to be 100% prepared for this because each and every person is different in their recovery. Many will tell you there's no pain. I'm here to tell you they're full of s*&t. I had pain - a good amount of it, too! With that said...the pain I had is no longer there and I can barely remember it. So, I'm going to chalk this up to the "giving birth" philosophy - y'all know what I'm talking about, so 'nuff said. I'm still not sure what to make of my "look". It's not nearly as drastic as some, yet there's a definite difference. What I see in the mirror is different from what everyone else sees. I wasn't well enough prepared for this. I can't explain it and you probably can't understand it. And because for the next few months, my face will continue to change, it's hard to look at myself and like what I see. So, tell me all you want that I look nice and I thank you. But please don't be upset or offended if I don't get as excited as you are about the progression. It'll take time.

Happy note - Brian got a new toy, and a well-deserved one at that!! It's a side by side charcoal/gas grill with an attached smoker on one side and a burner on the other. I think he's still drooling!!! This thing is massive and looks absolutely wonderful on the back patio! It's been seasoned and is now ready for its maiden voyage - burgers, anyone?

Day 27 - Moving Right Along

Feeling a little better today, my throat doesn't seem to be quite as sore as it has been the last couple of days. Let's hope that it's making a beeline out of my system! Still swollen, mostly on the left side. Pics don't show it as much, but I've still got a good bit under my left eye and along the side of my nose. It seems to be tingling a lot in the last couple of days. I'm taking that as a positive sign that the nerves in that area are beginning to fire and the feeling is slowly going to begin coming back! The Squiggles are still there and the shooting pains are also there from time to time. They're very uncomfortable but fortunately, only last for a second or two. All in all, things seem to be progressing nicely. Not much to see in terms of difference, but here are a couple of updated pics:

Brian took the Shrimp Challenge....and won!!!!! Another successful blended dish last night...shrimp fettuccini alfredo. I don't know how he does it, but he manages to make everything taste fantastic! And along with these great tasting dinners comes the weight....I'm happy to say that I'm putting on what I lost in the first couple of weeks. I'm not back to where I was before surgery, but pretty close. I'm happy with this.

Provided things continue to progress well, I'm looking at going back to work half time on the 14th. Just need to continue to work on my energy level - it seems to be working against me! But, once the splint is off, I'll at least be able to answer the phone and talk with tenants - a plus. I miss working, though, and am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. A HUGE thank you to Paul for being patient and to Cheryl for being there for me. :-)

I'd love nothing more than to have a Root Beer Freeze for dinner, but really, that's just not right. There's absolutely NO nutritional value (unless "tasting yummy" is a new food group) and I know if I have one, I'll be hungry about 30 minutes later. So.....what to have? Chicken pot pie? Haven't tried that yet. Coconut chicken? Haven't tried that either! But I've got both of them in the freezer just waiting to be had! :-) I know, I know....the anticipation is just killing you, right? Yes, this IS one of the excitements of my day. *sigh*

I've been thinking lately of the things I've really miss now that it's been a month (yikes, it's really almost been that long!!). To name a few: I miss being able to call and make/cancel my own appointments. I miss talking with my parents (both sets). I miss chewing and enjoying the texture of foods. I miss licking food off my fingers (seriously...I can't stick my tongue out right now, remember??). I miss brushing & flossing my teeth. I miss blowing my nose.

I will never take the small things in life for granted - ever again!

Day 25 - Look Ma, No Bands!

Three times a day for one hour at a time, my own little piece of heaven. That's exactly what it's like when I get to take the elastics off for those periods of time. Ahhhhh, something so simple, yet it means so much. But ouch - when I lose control of them, they sure can snap! They're very easy to take off, not so much to put back on but I'm doing my best! It's such a wonderful feeling when they're off, much less confining. It somehow makes me realize that there IS a light at the end of this dirty, drafty tunnel.

I'm not feeling great today. I've got a bit of a sore throat. I'm not sure if it's just some drainage from the surgery or if I've got a bit of a cold. Either way, I'm having kind of a blah day. It's probably nothing a nice glass of wine on the patio can't cure. :-)

I can't forget to tell you about dinner last night! Brian said he was going to make chicken, I asked what KIND. He said it would have an oriental flair...that it was a "Chicken Surprise". This didn't scare me in the least - I can always count on whatever he makes to be good. And oh boy, was it ever!!! Talk about fancy and colorful! A peanutty, oriental chicken with vegetables, rice and beets...check this out!!



The countdown is on. Next Thursday, the splint comes off. Do you realize that, including today, it's only 7 days away?? Not that I'm really counting or paying attention...

Quick update - right side, no numbness. Left side, partial numbness. Nose - totally numb and itchy - frustrating. Chin - partial numbness, think I'm getting some feeling back. Feels very strange and from time to time, painful in a weird sort of way. Lips...still burning and painful. For me, the latter is the hardest because I really like to kiss my husband and it doesn't feel good right now. :-( Can't wait till the feeling comes back.

I'm craving seafood - haven't had any since surgery, but I'm also not sure just how it would taste blended. I know the thought of it is NOT appealing. Ooooh, a challenge!

Day 23 - All Banded Up & Nowhere To Go!

Naps - I've never been one to take them.  I've changed my mind.  I want to take one.  I think I like them. "Nuff said.

Last night's dinner was pizza.  Tonight, burgers and mashed potatoes.....yum!!!

Had my 3rd appointment with the surgeon today.  First things first...I have the most awesome doctors!  Today was a good day...we had some good laughs and each day I make Dr. Posnick smile is a good day!  Things look good - the incisions are healing nicely and the swelling is slowly going down.  I love it when they take the bands off, it feels SO good to open my mouth!  And speaking of bands...good news.  I now get to take the bands off 3 times a day for an hour at a time!  Heaven!  Tonight was my first try at it, but only because I didn't have a choice.  I was brushing my teeth and one of the back bands came off.  Getting it back on proved to be easier than expected..except it doesn't seem to want to stay put!  Grrrrr.  Just what I need to do...swallow rubber bands in my sleep!  lol   Anyway,  back to the doc - I also brush my teeth when I'm there.  Unfortunately, I still can't quite maneuver the toothbrush well enough to get the insides of my teeth because my mouth doesn't open far enough.  I bet I'm growing some nice, wool sweaters in there!  hehe  I have one last bit of good news and this one tops all today.  Instead of a week from Monday (the 14th), I will be getting my splint off next Thursday (10th), then a quick trip to the orthodontist to have brand new wires (sans hooks, thank goodness!) put on!!   That deserves a big YEEEE-HAWWWWW!  :-)  Don't get too excited for me though, this doesn't mean that everything goes right back to normal!  Far from it.  The splint will be off, but I'll still have to eat soft foods and it'll be a while before my jaw will work as it normally should.  For now, though, I don't want to focus on that....I want to go back to the YEEEE-HAWWWWW instead! 

One of the staples of my diet is Ensure.  These wonderful little things are lifesavers!  These are my "in-betweens"...I drink them whenever I'm feeling hungry for a snack and they work wonders!  I try my best to have regular meals now - usually it's Malt-O-Meal for breakfast, the previous night's dinner as a lunch leftover and then whatever is on the menu for that evening's dinner.  But in between, Ensure does the trick and surprisingly enough, even after three weeks, I'm not tired of them!  I was shocked to see the variety...Coffee Latte, Chocolate Malt, Vanilla, Banana Cream, Strawberry...gives me some good choices!  With that said...when this is all done, I never want to see an adult nutritional drink again!  :-)

Brian had a steak tonight - it hurt my feelings.  Okay, maybe not...but it hurt my stomach's feelings!  He was growled at!  *sigh*....that's my daily craving and I can't wait till I can again chomp into a side of beef!

Day 22 - Snap!

It's a good thing I see the surgeon tomorrow to have my bands replaced because tonight, I'm missing some!  I won't go into detail, but I snapped my bands on the right side tonight!  Oops!  It's not a big deal but I must say that even though they should be there, it sure does relieve a lot of pressure NOT having them there!  Sure wish I didn't HAVE to get new ones tomorrow!

I'm still very tired each day - this has really been kicking my butt.  I just don't have my normal energy level back yet!  I want to do something around here, but when I do, it's like I take two steps backwards.  Sheesh, I can't wait to feel normal again!

The squiggles are still there, the numbness, tingling and pins and needles are still there, just relocating...lol....and that's about it! 

I'm going to bed.

Day 21 - Anyone Wanna Go Camping?

I ask that because last night, Brian and I did just that!  Well, sort of.  I think I've said this before, but let me say it again.  My husband is a genius!  Blended food...so far, we've had nothing but good luck, but it's safe to say it's a pain in the you-know-what to make it.  It's not simple and takes a good bit of time to get to the finished product.  Brian had a fantastic thought - let's run to REI and see what kind of camping food they have!  Uh huh - REALLY!  For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about - it's ready-made food, just add water and there you have it!  We picked up two packages...lasagna and enchiladas and last night's choice was lasagna.  The verdict?  It works!  Yes!  It's tasty!  The only thing missing was the tent!  :-)

We got out of the house yesterday for a few hours and attended the Memorial Day Concert in DC.  The concert was very good and we had a nice time.  Lots of celebrities - Emcee's were Gary Sinise (CSI:NY) and Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds).  Lionel Richie, Brad Paisley, Dennis Haysbert (State Farm commercials and Pres. Palmer on 24), Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Symphony and so many more.  It was hot and because of heightened security, we had to stand in line for a long time before getting in while they checked each person.  We found shade at the concert, but then had some bad commuting luck heading home afterwards and what should have taken us 30 minutes took 2 hours.  Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we got home.  I'm a bit swollen and achy today and super tired.  Maybe a little too much too soon, but we had a good time while we were there and I'm glad we went.  And to my doc, if you're reading this - I've already scolded myself so you're covered. :-)

Today has been a laid back day for me.  We did run to a local nursery for some shrubs for the front yard.  Brian spent the latter part of the afternoon planting them and they look great!  Thanks, honey!

I feel my attitude going downhill just a little bit in the last couple of days.  I'm trying to stay upbeat, but things are getting frustrating.  I still have no feeling on the left side of my face and also my lips.  I'm not able to drink out of a glass very well and my syringes are all finally junk.  :-(  It's not a good feeling when you're hungry and can't expel anything from the syringe.  You'd think it would be easy to get more of them, right?  Not so.  We have checked with the pharmacy, they have none.  We checked with a medical supply company and even though the ones they had weren't the same ones I'm using, we couldn't buy them anyway because we need a prescription from the doc to buy them.  My lips are numb and the inside of my mouth is so extremely sensitive to hot and cold that it's horrible trying to drink out of a glass.  Fortunately, one of my wonderful surgery buddies is able to get them - she's picking them up and sending them my way!  Audra, you're a lifesaver - thank you SO much!  I can't wait for the splint to come out - time is passing slowly now and with two weeks to go, it seems like an eternity.  It can't come soon enough.  I know it'll get better - it HAS gotten better - I suppose it's a poor me day.  I'm okay with that and don't feel bad about it, either. 

Enough bitching...I'm done now.  It's been a good weekend and tonight, even better.  We're having burgers! 

My daily craving:  Exactly what we're having for dinner tonight!  Really!

Day 19 - Sensations...

A new day and new sensations.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, the nerves in my face are going crazy.  The newest sensation is one I call "the squiggles".  It's difficult to explain what they are, but the best way I can describe it is to say that it feels as if little feet are running over my face - from my chin to my cheek, or my cheek to my nose, or one side of my chin to the other - it's crazy and it almost tickles.  My face also itches and it's not fun.  It's not fun because it only itches where it's numb and when I scratch, it doesn't do a thing to make the itch go away!  Very frustrating!  I've begun getting some shooting pains from time to time in my jaw and cheeks, and my teeth sometimes ache.  I suspect it's normal, just the healing process, but it can be agonizing nonetheless.

A yummy dinner tonight of southwest (chipotle) chicken and rice.  I'm telling you, I'm beginning to enjoy dining at Chez Darling!  We capped it off with a Rootbeer Freeze for dessert while watching the movie 2012.  Not bad!

But, I'm still craving a big, fat ribeye!  (couldn't resist)

I'll leave you this evening with some updated photos - slowly but surely, things are progressing!  Nighty night, all!

Day 18 - Baby Steps

I'm a day late in posting this so I'll do it this morning and post today's excitement this evening so I'm back on track.

I've got cabin fever.  Bad!  It's a catch 22 though....I want to get out, but I'm just too tired to do so.  I conquered that yesterday and Brian helped it along.  We've done virtually nothing since my surgery and thankfully, we've dealt with it pretty well and haven't killed one another - yet!  lol  So, to get ahead of the game, I made a request yesterday of my dear husband, and he relented!  We went to one of our local hangouts, Bistro Bistro, for Happy Hour!!!!  I know what you're thinking...and no, I didn't bring my syringe with me!  LOL  I drank like a big girl this time!  In the hour and a half or so that we were there, I managed to drink only about half my margarita but it tasted ohhhhhhh, so good and was well worth it!  And it was wonderful to get out of the house and do something different.  

Dinner.  I've been mentioning the foods I've been eating and just how tasty those foods have been.  I've also shown you the end result.  But what you haven't heard (or seen) is the work that goes into making one of my "looks to be so simple" meals.  The food prep time is all different, depending on what's being made.  But once the food is done, it has to go into the food processor.  Once there, it has to be thinned while blending.  We're not done yet.  Once it's the correct consistency, it has to be strained as I can't have any chunks of food in what I eat.  Ahhh, but when it's strained, it's now cold so the warm up begins!   All in all, it's quite a process and when all is said and done - a HUGE mess!  Last night's meal was a wonderful veal dish, with mashed potatoes.  Super, super tasty, my husband is a genius!  :-)  Here are the before (that is my meal on the left side, in the bowl!) and after shots so you can see it's not quite as simple as you might think!

With the time it took for dinner, we didn't get any update shots on me so we'll do that for the next post.  As for me, the progression is still very slow.  I'm sure that there are some small changes happening, but nothing big enough where I can really tell the difference.  I will tell you that my breathing is MUCH better and although I'm still kind of stuffy on the left side, the right is almost completely clear!  It's going to be heavenly when this splint comes out!

And On The 17th Day...

...not a damn thing changed!  LOL  It's going to be a short one tonight because I'm tired and really don't have anything new to report.   This isn't a bad thing, things have just slowed down for a bit.  The positive thing is that I'm not getting worse...it can only get better from here!  :-) 

Dinner tonight was another winner - my husband never ceases to amaze me!  Rice, veggies and pesto - it was mmmmmmm mmmmmmm good!  :-)  One big bowl of green!  hehehe  Eating from a syringe is beginning to get on my nerves, though.  As I watched Brian eat a steak tonight, I realized just how much I miss just grabbing something and taking a big bite out of it!  Surprisingly, although I get a taste for things now and then, I'm not really struggling with food jealousy (i.e. Brian's steak).  This has got to be because of the wonderful meals he has been preparing for me - I'm getting all the taste sensations so the only thing lacking is eating with regular adult utensils!  No complaints!!

So with that, I'll close for the evening.  Nothing exciting, no earth shattering news.  I'm completely fine with that. 

Day 16, But Who's Counting??

Me!

Good news is...my smile is there!  Bad news is...I can't FEEL it!  lol

The good night's sleep thing was short lived as I didn't get ANY last night.  I finally moved down to the couch at about 4 a.m., was up for another couple of hours, then finally fell asleep around 6:30 and was able to sleep until 7:45, just in time to say goodbye to my husband as he ran out the door.  :-)  *sigh*  It will get better though, I know it!

Dinner tonight was another yummy one....Brian made chili for me!  This whole blended diet thing is going pretty well!  Of course, when I'm left on my own, the toughest part of making it is opening the bottle of Ensure - those caps are really tight!!!!!!  :-)  Looking for some help from all my "followers".  What do YOU think would taste good blended?  Give us your thoughts.  You pick, we'll try, and then let you know how it tasted! 

My weight is holding pretty steady and for that, I'm glad.  I wish I could exercise a bit more, but for now, I have to settle for short and easy walks up and down the sidewalk each day.  It's better than nothing.

I recently found a blog online, someone else chronicling their jaw surgery.  The owner of the blog, Graham, was two months into his recovery on the day I returned home from the hospital.  I was searching for any and all help, something or someone to give me the strength to keep on keepin' on.  I posted a comment and Graham replied almost right away and instantly made me feel better.  Shortly after that, a reply from others on their own roads to recovery....and now, two weeks later, I've found new friends.  For this, I'm SO grateful.  Graham, Audra, Tara, Suzie.....thank you!

Day 15 - Seeing Red

..and I don't mean because I'm angry!  Look at this and take a guess what I had for dinner! (answer at the end of the post)

Today was a strange day.  Not bad, just strange.  Last night was the best night's sleep I've had since the first day as I slept nearly 5 hours, a good thing - so you'd think I'd be well rested today.  I guess it wasn't enough.  I was up for a couple of hours this morning and then, all of a sudden, sitting straight up on the couch, I fell asleep.  It was on and off like that for the better part of the day - just a little weird.  I never did quite get into a rhythm.

I've got a funny for you though!  I'm not sure what changed - if the splint shifted (which I don't think is possible) or if maybe swelling is affecting it, but I now squeak.  I can't explain how it happened or why, but it's just plain funny!  What can I say - check out this link and you'll get a laugh??   Squeaky!!

My swelling went down quite a bit at the beginning but now it's slowed.  Still swollen, especially on the left side.  I have most of the feeling on the right side of my face but my left is still almost all numb.  My lips bother me a lot, it's a very unsettling feeling and actually hurts.  It almost feels like they're on fire or like someone is slicing me with a knife.  It's hard to describe unless you experience it.  I'll be glad when this goes away, but it could be months.  I'm not nearly as congested as when I first came home from the hospital, but it's still there.  I still can't blow my nose - hoping to be able to do that soon, that'll make a HUGE difference and will feel SO good!

Did you guess what I had for dinner?  PIZZA!!!  Hahahaha.....yep!  Really!  We're 4 for 4!!!  Chicken fettuccini, vegetable curry & rice, burgers & mashed potatoes and now, pizza!  All good and definite do overs!  Check out the process:

Can you believe that something that looks SO horrible can really taste good?  It can!  I am SO not starving!!!

My daily craving:  Lemon butter & garlic tilapia...yummmmm

Day 14 - Lovely

Day 14 brought my second surgeon visit - two weeks down, three to go!  As will be the case for another three weeks, the visit today was to replace the bands that are holding my jaws together and to make sure that I'm progressing the way I should be.  Good news and bad news.  The good news is that I AM progressing well and everything is on track, as it should be.  My gums are healing nicely, as are my jaws.  The bad news?  I got scolded by Neil and Dr. Posnick. :-(  I've been trying SO hard to talk and in doing so, I'm stretching the bands as I do so.  Well, it's putting too much pressure on my upper jaw when I do this and it's slowing down the healing process.  Oops!  So....even though I am ABLE to move my jaw a little bit, I CAN'T do it, per my docs.  *sigh*  Anyway......Ashley went along to my appt. today and took some pics.  When I'm at Dr. Posnick's office, they remove the bands, check my bite, allow me to brush my teeth and open my mouth just a bit, then put the bands back on...

Prior to surgery, I showed you pictures of the splint that I would have in my mouth after the surgery, the one that would keep my jaws in the correct position while banded shut.  While necessary, it's a complete pain in the butt!  With the splint in place, I can't use a spoon or anything to put even liquids into my mouth because it sits between my top and bottom teeth.  It's also a catch all for food and drinks!  Three more weeks and it's gone!

Enough about the doc - who wants to hear about that boring stuff anyway!  :-)  Let's talk about dinner!!  First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I LOVE MY HUSBAND!  If it weren't for him, I would be curled up in a ball somewhere, withering away.  He's not going to let that happen, not a chance!  Tonights menu at Chez Darling was vegetable curry and rice.  I don't know how he made it or what he used, but it was FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!  I am NOT starving and there IS life beyond Ensure and protein shakes!

There is no daily craving because I am FULL!!!!!!!!!

Yummylicious!

Just a side note while I'm thinking about it.  Last night, Brian made burgers.  When they were done, he put mine in the food processor.  Now before you go "ewwwww", don't judge!  He put the seasoned burger and onions in, along with some beef broth.  Then, once it was liquified, a little touch of ketchup.  Strained it and there you have it!  Believe it or not, it tasted just like a burger and was fantastic!!!!!!  I also warmed up some microwave mashed potatoes, added some milk, butter, salt and pepper.  It was a HELL of a meal and I LOVED it!  Don't knock it till you try it!