A Smile Connects Us You And Me

Day 365 Days Post-op - 11.4.2010 This was the fortune I got the week before my surgery. I decided to keep it as my good luck charm. Before and After Profile Here I am, 1 year post-op and smiling on ! It's hard to believe it has really been a whole year since surgery. In the last couple of weeks I have been getting those same feelings I had last year before surgery (stress, anxiety, fear, etc). PTSD of sorts perhaps? I am so incredibly glad that I do not have to mentally and physically prepare myself for such an intense surgery this year! It was 100% worth it, but as my other post-op jaw buddies know, it is very stressful! Besides recovering from the enormous surgery over the past year, I have also been getting back into teaching! I could not be more happy or excited! :) I am currently a cooperating teaching a local kindergarten classroom. We have the greatest class, and it is great to finally be doing what I love!  My ROM (range of motion) is at 35mm which is in the ...

Today I fly to NYC to see Dr. Mac for some teeth restoration (hopefully the last of it!). I'll try to remember to post what happens ASAP. Thank you to everyone for their continued support! Smile :)

Recently I have had several other "jaw buddies" state that my situation has made them second guess getting their jaw surgeries. This scares me because if anything my experience should do the exact opposite! If I didn't have this surgery I would have eventually lost all of my teeth due to my clenching/grinding/terrible alignment of my teeth. Not to mention the terrible/unbearable pain I was in pre-surgery. Compared to where I was pre-surgery I am doing amazing! I just still have pain and muscle spasms (due to the arthritis) that the average person doesn't have. These are things I knew would not be cured by my surgery. Surgery DID help tremendously and I have not regretted for one second getting my surgery. Dr. Gunson and his team have been so supportive and helping in figuring out what treatment is best for me pre/post-op. Nothing is black and white, and no two people will have the EXACT reasons for having surgery, nor the exact results. It is a personal choice, and ...

Today I go to see a Rheumatologist about my joints to see if there is anything they can do to help my joint pain. This isn't something that could have been fixed by my surgery, in fact surgery has made them feel better. But because I still have pain/swelling in my joints on a daily basis my surgeon has decided to send me to the Rheumatologist . I'll let you all know how it turns out! Still loving my new bite! Keep on Smiling! :)

Nearly 4 years since my journey for a healthy smile and jaw here I am, braces free!! SMILE!

After nearly two months without a post....I'M BACK :) I decided I needed to take a summer break from thinking and writing about my jaw. On Wednesday I will be nine months post-op! Time really does fly. Today I saw Dr. Mac up here in Vermont. It was decided that TOMORROW morning I will be getting my top braces off, so I will FINALLY have all of my braces off. I am quite excited! Dr. Mac also gave me an exercise to do to help with my jaw tension. I make a clucking noise with my tongue on the roof of my mouth. It may sound silly or easy to do, but I had a hard time figuring out how to do it! The point of the clucking is to get my condyle to sit back in my joint properly. The muscle memory post surgery is just crazy. As a reminder, here is a picture of the jaw joint: In the last couple of months I have spent a lot of time with family and friends enjoying the summer while it lasts. My jaw has not had so much control, as I can basically eat anything I want - as long as I keep in mind m...

Yesterday I saw Dr. Chira and she assured me that my joints are just stressed due to the arthritis. This is nothing that has to do with my surgery, just something that needs time and tender care to feel better. I just need to choose safe foods to eat and listen to what my body needs. The best news she told me is that I will be getting all of my bottom braces off next Wednesday!!! I am quite excited. She said she would take all of the braces off at one time, but with my highly sensitive joints it would not be in my best interest. The top will come off in August, giving my joints plenty of time to adjust to not having brackets on the bottom, and for Dr. Chira to go on vacation, and me go to a conference. WHOOHOOOOOO!! I am very excited! It was the greatest birthday gift I could have received from my ortho! Also, since I posted last, the feeling of the screws in my face has subsided. I think the feeling there also comes and goes depending on how much I push myself. I have to remember my...

Me, Dr. Mac, and Lindsay in NYC This picture was taken when I was in NYC and had the work done on my top canines. This was after nearly three hours in the dentist chair (my jaw is a bit swollen). My jaw buddy Lindsay met me at the end of my appointment, she is just starting out in the splint process (w/ Dr. Mac), and will be having a similar surgery to mine (probably)...Linds, you are a ROCKSTAR! Thanks Dr. Mac for treating us! We really couldn't be in better hands...as he has also had double jaw surgery with the same docs, I think he understands more than others might. Currently my joints are starting to become more angry, chewing isn't as easy as it was a couple weeks ago, and I have a lot more pressure in my ears. My energy level is also much lower than it was a few weeks ago, I am begining to feel like I did pre-op. My bite feels GREAT (teeth fit together just the way they should), but my joints just feel terrible. Ugh. I am also beginning to more increasingly annoyed...

Sorry for the delay on the picture! Last week was a bit of a roller coaster. On Monday I had the 4 bottom brackets removed, and on Thursday I went to NYC to see Dr. Mac to have my upper canines worked on. This picture was taken by Dr. Mac after my appointment on Thursday. Tomorrow is SEVEN MONTHS POST OP! Whoohoo! Here's hoping I remember to blog :) Still Smiling :)

Tomorrow I get the bottom front braces off!! It isn't all the braces, but it is progress! Last week Dr. G took me off of the Gabitril as it wasn't helping my spasms. He also had me start wearing the bands for 4-6 hours in the late afternoon instead of wearing them overnight in hopes of alleviating the stress on my muscles. I think it is working!! Yay!! I have been enjoying the beautiful spring weather, and am REALLY excited to get the brackets off tomorrow! I'll try to remember to take/post pictures! SMILE!!!

I know in my previous post I said I was going to give a longer post, but I realized that the pictures really spoke for me. Currently, at 192 days post-op I am feeling quite frustrated. The Botox has completely worn off, and the new medicine (Gabitril) is not working. My entire face/neck/shoulders feel like one giant spasm/Charlie Horse/ terrible nightmare. The pain level ranges from a 3-8...it varies quite frequently throughout the day. At first I was sleeping better on the Gabitril, but now that even seems to be wearing off. I only feel a bit groggy or foggy 24/7 now. I don't know what the next step is going to be to ease the muscle tension, but I am thinking positive and using lots of heat on my face, neck and shoulders. For now I am again looking to Maya Angelou for some inspiration... 'I've learned that no matter what happens,  or how bad it seems today, life does go on,  and it will be better tomorrow.' Thank you to all of my family and friends who continue to s...

So here I am 6 months post-op! Whoohooooo! I'm just going to do this quick post now, I'll post again later today. I wanted to show my progress over the last six months! Pre-Surgery.................................................. ........and alllllll the way.......................to Day 166

The pharmacy had to order Gabitril (a.k.a Tiagabine), so tonight will be my first night taking it. The muscle spasms have been getting a bit worse, and my joints have been feeling a bit more stiff; however, chewing is going alright. I am a bit nervous about taking the Gabitril because it is "used with other medications to treat certain epileptic seizure disorders" AND "When used for conditions other than epilepsy, serious reactions (including seizures in people who have never had them) -me!- have occurred." I don't like the prospect of seizures, but I trust my doctors & this really is my last resort for treating my silly muscles....let's hope it works! I'll keep you posted! Still Smiling :)

This just in- new medication! The endless amount of change going on everyday with my healing mostly goes unnoticed. I don't feel my bone healing, and rarely feel nerves regenerating anymore- I am just so used to the feelings that they have become my "norm." This being said, my muscles are a constant reminder that I had surgery. They are so unhappy. They were rotated, torn, pushed, cut, and Lord only knows what else. Yesterday, they told me they were angry- very angry, unable to chew type of angry. The Botox is yet again wearing off, this time at the 1.5 month mark...couldn't even last two months. So yesterday I saw my ortho, She said everything looks excellent and we just need to "get these things off"- in reference to my braces. On her end there is no cause for the pain. I talked with Dr. Gunson's office and through our discussion they've decided the best course of action is to put me on a new medication to take in combo with my other muscle rel...

Whoohooo !166 days post-op! Today I met with Dr.'s Chira and Mac. Dr. Mac flew up from NYC, so it was nice not to have to travel to see him! The appointment was bitter sweet. I am making great progress, and my bite is perfect, BUT I'm not quite ready to be out of all of my braces yet. The plan is that at the beginning of May I will have impressions taken, from these models Dr. Chira will make a partial banded retainer for my bottom front teeth (eye tooth to eye tooth). At the end of May I will have those brackets taken off and have the retainer banded into place so my teeth don't move. All of the bottom braces can't come off because the back brackets need to be used with rubber bands to help control my bite while the top teeth are being tweaked. Dr. Mac is going to use the models to help decide what/how my teeth need to be tweaked and adjusted via periodontics, hopefully I can see him at the beginning of June to have work done. I don't know when the top and the res...

FIVE MONTHS POST OP!!! Very short post here, but excited to be this far along! I am anxiously awaiting debracing (date TBD) and still struggling with my joint pain a bit; however compared to pre-surgery I feel like a million bucks! Thank you everyone for your continuing support! Longer post with pictures when I get back from visiting family in TX on Wednesday! Smiling On!

Today I got an email from a great friend with inspirational quotes from Maya Angelou. This is one that I could probably stand to think about-     "I've learned that even when I have pains,  I don't have to be one."   - Maya Angelou   Smiling on, and trying to ignore the nerve growth near (thus more awareness of) my screws. 

Today I'm feeling very tired. Sam and I got back from Spain at 1:30 Tuesday morning. (It was an amazing trip!) I don't know if it is the jet lag or getting used to taking my meds in this time zone, but I am feeling quite exhausted and have a constant headache. I am trying to stay hydrated, and have cut back on chewing. I am chewing more soft food for now. My jaw is very tense. I think it's due to the rubber-bands I wear at night. I have to remember that I still have a lot of healing going on...I may be nearly 5 months post-op, but with the extensive surgery I had I understand it takes time. Pain- 4-5/10 Numbness- Bottom lip (with twitching), some chin, most of my gums Opening (ROM)- about 30-32mm I think the cold weather is also a factor as to why my face/jaw have been hurting more. The positive is that my bite still feels good as long as I am wearing the bands as I need to (only at night). I do have more energy now, which is awesome; however even I forget that I am not bac...

You know you're in California when... My sister Katy and I flew into Santa Barbara late last Wednesday night, arriving at our hotel at midnight. My appointment was at 10:45 Thursday morning. We chose a hotel only a few blocks from Dr.G's office so we were able to walk. The weather was amazing! Before my appointment I was very nervous. Had my bite regressed? Would I need a second surgery? All of the unknown was driving me crazy, and I was trying NOT to let it get the best of me. When I into my appointment with Dr. G he said he had been worrying and stressing over the last week about my bite and hoping that when he took a peek inside all would be well. He looked at my closed bite, took measurements and said that everything looked great! He said Dr. Chira had done the perfect thing with the bands and the new wire. They have moved my teeth into the correct position. He was worried that my jaw had shifted out of it's corrected location, and was pleased to see this didn't hap...

Tomorrow I fly out to Santa Barbara with my sister Katy (thanks for coming with me Kate!). My appointment with Dr. G in on Thursday. I think it will be good news. The bands and the new wire seem to be doing their job. My back teeth are touching now. I just hope Dr. G thinks the same thing I do! I am concerned about the health of my joints, but I have hope he will have positive things to say about them too! Thank you everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers! I am staying positive, and going to make the most out of this trip :) I will try to post a blog update soon after my appointment, but I won't have Internet access so I'll have to find a public computer if I want to do one. The post may have to wait till Saturday when we're home. Staying Positive & Smiling On! :)

Today is my 4 mo. anniversary since surgery! I would love to say that I feel amazing and ready to seize everything that comes my way, however my appointment with Dr. Mac (in NYC) on Tuesday has stopped me in my tracks. My 75min. appointment turned into 4hours. This appointment was supposed to be reconstructive stuff, a move in a positive direction... Dr. Mac started by checking my bite. He took molds, did the dreaded facebow, taking pictures, and all the other standard bite assessment techniques. He then poured my models and disappeared for about an hour. When he came back he said he had been on a call with Dr. Chira (ortho) and Dr. Gunson (surgeon). He showed me my models and pointed out where my bite was off. All of my bite was hitting in the front segment of the teeth (VERY BAD!). My side teeth were not touching at all. This was quite unexpected and upsetting! I have been doing everything to a "T" so my bite doesn't regress and things like this don't happen. Becau...

I met with Dr.Mac in NYC today...my appointment was 4hrs long, and by the end of it the result was that I need to go back to Santa Barbara stat to see Dr. Gunson...my bite isn't how it should be. I'll post with more detail tomorrow after seeing my ortho...right now I'm just very frustrated.

For those of you who are going through, or have been through reconstructive jaw surgery you know that your "non-jaw-life" tends to fall to the wayside. Priorities lie with getting better, getting rid of pain, trying not to do anything that will hinder your healing process post-op. Now that I am nearly 4 months post-op I can safely say I am FINALLY getting my "spunk" back. Yes I do think about my jaw, but it is now moving toward the sidelines and the rest of my life is coming back to center-stage! I have more energy, I am doing activities I haven't done in YEARS because of my jaw, I am Reconnecting to Life. It has been incredible being able to go through this journey. It has made me a stronger, more patient, and more in-tune with both my needs and the needs of those around me. The jaw surgery process can feel so isolating because it is rare that you know someone else who has been through the exact same thing as you. Even reading/participating in message boards de...

Day 100!!! I have come so far in the last week. I had a stressful appointment on Monday with Dr.C and Dr.Mac. They decided that my top front segment was too "mobile" still so I have to go to NYC for an appointment in a couple of weeks to have bonding put on to stabilize things. It freaks me out when they say things are "mobile" it makes me think something is wrong, but I think it is OK. I think I am mostly concerned about it because last weekend I started getting feeling back in this area and it has been burning and hurting quite a bit, much like when parts of my face were getting feeling back. The feeling in my gums is getting better, but it still burns. In PT and Osteopath treatments this week I felt pretty weak. I guess some weeks will just be better than others. On a very positive note my ROM is now 29mm and growing!!! Whoohoo! Pain- yes, but minimal- 2/10. I'd say it feels more like exhaustion than anything else. Numbness- In my bottom lip and chin (still t...

Many long overdue pictures...enjoy! Picture from the front....still more swollen on the left, but my smile is looking more natural. Profile picture...sweeeet! It's pretty amazing, nice work Dr. G & A! The front close up, face relaxed...left side more swollen. still My opening...slowly getting better... Fantastic picture of me whistling! This was seriously the greatest day...I was afraid I had lost my whistling ability forever, but it is BACK! Mmmmm Blistex, my best friend! The latest is "Blistex Lip Massage" it's really great and I think it's helping me get my feeling back in my lip through the massage. Elvis lip! Only on the left side, wish I was able to do it on the right still...maybe I can make it my next goal since I have conquered whistling. Alright, I must give a shout out to my Dad who is celebrating his birthday today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY! Love you! I hope you enjoy the pictures... smile on !

Today I WHISTLED for the first time since surgery!! Whoohooooo!!! It has been a daily practice and finally today, just 1 day before the 13 week mark I did it!!! Yessss!! Fist pump of victory! SMILES & WHISTLING!

I know I promised to post "soon" after my last ortho appointment, but I really have zero motivation for blogging lately....However, I know I must keep on with it, so here goes.... Last week I had my top wire changed. It was segmented in to three pieces, and Dr. Chira decided to keep it this way after replacing my brackets to keep my bite stable. We don't want any shifting to happen! When they took off the brackets it felt alright, not painful at all. They were only going to take off the brackets where the acrylic was over the braces, but the front brackets were loose and needed to be replaced as well. So I had the top brackets all exchanged from my ceramic ones to metal ones. To be honest it really doesn't make much of a difference look wise, and I think they will be easier to work with from here on out. The joints. My joints feel stiff a lot of the time, they feel better when I do my exercises. It is difficult training my muscles to work them the way I need them to...

I guess I can tell I am getting/feeling better because I no longer have the urge to blog about every last detail of my jaw day...my jaw is starting NOT to rule my days/life. I'm taking my life back one ortho appointment at a time! Last week I had my first archwire change since surgery. It was done at 11 weeks, which Dr. Chira said was the earliest and surgeon had allowed her to change a wire post-op. I was a bit nervous going in because I wasn't sure how getting the wire changed would feel. I thought maybe I wouldn't feel it at all because my gums are still so numb, but it actually felt just like any other adjustment I've had (meaning it was a little uncomfortable, but in no way painful). Tomorrow I will have my top wire changed which is a bit more complicated because of the acrylic over my brackets where they segmented my jaw bone. She will have to take off the acrylic and the brackets and then replace the brackets and put a new wire in. I hope the removal of the brack...

So my soft chew diet is going well. However, my stomach is not pleased with having to digest actual food. It feels like a brick in my stomach. I hope this gets better as the eating goes on. It is very awkward to chew and I am really trying to get the hang of it. It is going to take some practice. I do have more energy now, which is good....but it makes winter and cabin fever that much worse! I have a space developing between my right canine and the tooth in front of it, I hope this is supposed to happen. There is acrylic on these two brackets that has been on there since surgery. This is supposed to stabilize the area and I thought it was supposed to prevent the teeth from moving....I am worried about this, but I see Dr. Chira for my first orthodontic adjustment since surgery (11 weeks post-op). She is going to take off the acrylic and change the wire. One step closer to getting these braces off (hopefully in May!). The pain is at a 2-3, my ROM is awesome (my official measurement is t...

The view from our hotel balcony.... Wow, so I'm having a hard time starting this blog because- a) I am very excited and; b) there is just so much to share! Let's start with the basics. Mom and I returned from Santa Barbara late last night after a long day of travel. We left the 70 deg. weather to come home to the 20 deg. weather...It really was a whirlwind for travel. Leaving on Monday and coming home on Wednesday was really something. We only had Tuesday as our one full day in Santa Barbara. Mom and I took advantage of the day and walked from our hotel to downtown, and then up to my appointment. One way, that was nearly 3.5 miles! We took our time and enjoyed a lot of window shopping up State Street :) For this appointment I was expecting Dr. Gunson to check my bite and clear me for my soft food diet. I was so excited to go in and get the clearance to chew!! However, I had no expectation of much more than that. My appointment started off with getting an iCAT scan to make sur...