6 Week Update

Well everyone, we have reached the 6 week mark. According to the surgeon, this is the point where things start to go back to normal. yay!
I saw Dr. O last week. She said that I am right on track. I can fit almost two fingers in my mouth, which she said was very normal. She gave me a jaw exercise to do where I place my thumb in the roof of my mouth and my middle finger behind the bottom teeth and then push. Yeah, it hurts. She gave me another Xray cd of my before and after pictures, but I won't be able to post them because I don't have the correct software to read the cd. I have to take them to the orthodontist and get them printed. As soon as I can, I will post pictures!!! I also need to email her to send before photos they took. They are much better than the poor quality ones I took.
I'm starting to be able to tell when my mouth is closed while eating. I wasn't able to do that for awhile because of the numbness. I definitely still have numb patches on the sides of my upper lip and in my chin, but they are lessening. Chewing still takes quite a bit longer than it used to as well, but its not terrible.
I start back at work next week. I'm only working 8 hours a week every other week. It's a one on, one off type of thing.
By the way, today is Steven's and my 3 year anniversary. It's been a busy three years filled with new jobs, job losses, more new jobs, braces, home ownership, BABY, and a double jaw surgery. I wonder what the next three will hold. I know for sure that they wont be filled with Braces, because in 5 months or less, these puppies are coming off, and oh what a glorious day that will be!!!

Jaw Surgery Resouces

I might have already shared this, but here are some of the blogs and websites I used to help give me knowledge and preparation.

http://throughthewire26.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-10-22T10:43:00-07:00&max-results=7

doublejawsurgery.com

archwired.com

Triumph...and fails

I'm way overdue for an update. Tuesday last week was my first visit to the ortho since surgery. It was kinda exciting because everyone there congratulated me on a successful surgery and said that it looked good. Dr. O said maybe 6 more months of braces, so latest would be February 2017. That would be appropriate considering I had them put on February 2014 near valentine's day. It would be a great triple decade birthday gift to myself to have them off!!!
Anyways, I had a continuous wire across my top teeth put on (in place of the sectional ones I had before). No tpa arch at the roof of my mouth. Another praise!
I do have to wear a rubber band on the left side across 3 top and 3 bottom teeth. This is to pull them together so they meet. I'm finally in the winding down stages.
I'm allowed to bite in front...yay. except I still physically cant. I try and my teeth don't bite. I end up pulling on the food.
I've tried eating crackers, bread, and pizza. I haven't been too successful on that. I can only fit a finger all the way through when I open my jaw. Trying to get two in.
I was really frustrated this week because the radiology department sent me what I thought was x rays of my jaw. They sent like 5 cds. Turns out all of them are cat scans of my head looking top down. The is completely useless to me. Now I have to call them again and have it resent. My friend B works at kaiser in the next department. She said she could get them for me. That'd be awesome, but she has a lot on her plate so we will see.
So, progress is being made. Steven foes back to work tomorrow so I'm on my own with Abby. It should be fine I think...

I can haz sushi?

I am almost back to normal as far as energy levels are concerned. Been able to take longish walks, make dinner, and have normal conversations.
I still have a lot of numbness in my chin, upper lip, and inner cheeks. Yawning also hurts.
Today I tried eating sushi. I had to mash it with a fork and I couldn't eat the crunchy bits. Some of it got on my face and I couldn't feel it. A friend had to tell me it was there. Oops.
I attempted to chew, but I can only chew on the right, since my left molars don't meet. I was gone all day and forgot my rubber bands and anti biotics.
The stiches on the left side actually came out and left the incision site open. I called the surgeon and emailed her, but she didn't return my call. Luckily it's not bleeding and doesn't hurt, so I'm hoping everything is ok.
Going to the orthodontist on Tuesday for stronger rubber bands and the continous arch.
Abby is cutting her third tooth in the upper. She still has a runny nose, but seems to be on the mend.

Open and say Aah!

So I can smile, although I'm still numb around my mouth so I can't smile normally yet.
I can open my mouth as far as I can fit one finger in.
The molars on the left don't meet together, so I have to wear a rubber band to pull them close together.
Next Tuesday I have an appointment to have a continuous arch put in, so no front biting until then.
Chewing feels weird. It feels like I have dentures. Sticking to soft foods for now

Unwired! Day 12

This morning we left to go to Kaiser oakland. We made really good time and I got my x rays done early. The x ray machine had a case of the Mondays so it took awhile to get it up and running. I got to see my 6 plates under the x ray, which was cool.
After that we got some breakfast.

After trying to drink chocolate milk and spilling it all over my white pants, we headed upstairs to maxillofacial.
Steven had to go to the bathroom, so I was left with a fussy baby trying to escape the stroller.
Moments later....

I was unclipped!!!!

I vigorously brushed my teeth like I've never brushed before. I couldn't open my teeth more than a millimeter, so I didn't brush the back. I'm working on jaw stretching.
I have a mild infection on the right, so I was prescribed anti biotics. And my molars on the right are open, so dr. O put in a rubber band to pull them together.

Now I'm going to eat some mac n cheese.
Hallelujah!!!

I can smile!!! Well, kinda

My hair is a bit messy today due to all the work we did.