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Showing posts from February, 2010

Reconnecting to Life

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 Post-Op!!! "It's been no bed of roses No pleasure cruise...And I ain't gonna lose!"

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

Day 91...Week 13....PICTURES!!

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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 !

Day 90....Yet another victory!

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!

Day 89....Slow & Steady

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