Re: Things I Have Taken for Granted!

July 11, 2003

Amen!! I'm only at 2 1/2 Weeks post op and feel the exact way you do!

It's so frustrating and I never knew what a luxury running, chewing,

yelling, or sleeping however I wanted was!

Just think though, as soon as all this is done, we'll be pain free,

gorgeous, AND we can chew just like normal people! Keep thinking

positively (easier said than done, I know) and we'll get through this!

Take Care,

Andy

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 11, 2003

Amen!! I'm only at 2 1/2 Weeks post op and feel the exact way you do!

It's so frustrating and I never knew what a luxury running, chewing,

yelling, or sleeping however I wanted was!

Just think though, as soon as all this is done, we'll be pain free,

gorgeous, AND we can chew just like normal people! Keep thinking

positively (easier said than done, I know) and we'll get through this!

Take Care,

Andy

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 11, 2003

Amen!! I'm only at 2 1/2 Weeks post op and feel the exact way you do!

It's so frustrating and I never knew what a luxury running, chewing,

yelling, or sleeping however I wanted was!

Just think though, as soon as all this is done, we'll be pain free,

gorgeous, AND we can chew just like normal people! Keep thinking

positively (easier said than done, I know) and we'll get through this!

Take Care,

Andy

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 11, 2003

Boy did you read MY list or what! I swear I had to jump on my mom

the other day when she flew over two speed bumps at the mall. She

thought I was crazy! And just to wake up in a different position

than what you fell asleep in would be heaven, huh?

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 11, 2003

Boy did you read MY list or what! I swear I had to jump on my mom

the other day when she flew over two speed bumps at the mall. She

thought I was crazy! And just to wake up in a different position

than what you fell asleep in would be heaven, huh?

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 11, 2003

Boy did you read MY list or what! I swear I had to jump on my mom

the other day when she flew over two speed bumps at the mall. She

thought I was crazy! And just to wake up in a different position

than what you fell asleep in would be heaven, huh?

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 11, 2003

If I may, I'd like to add whistling to that list. I just realized

today that I can't anymore. Oh, and swimming, too. My Surgeon

doesn't want me in a pool or the ocean " until further notice. " It's

95 degree's out there, I have no air condition and I have a pool!

Arrrgh! And, since you mentioned it, a question if I may. Would

anyone care to comment on kissing? Can you? Do you? How? I have

an expander in my mouth and I'm just wondering if anyone can comment

on personal experience. I hope that't not too personal. I'm just

*too* curious. Thanks!

Carol

> At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

granted

> in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

>

> 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

their

> food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for those

> wired or banded!

>

> 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being able

to

> roll over at night without waking up in pain!

>

> 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face in

> pain!

>

> 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> hurts when i jog due to impact)

>

> 5. not looking swollen

>

> 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

>

> 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself in

> the face (it has been done!)

>

> 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

>

> 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

>

> i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of at

the

> moment.

July 12, 2003

But as we get each of those things back we appreciate them more than

we ever thought we would. I've regained a few of them and I will

never take chewing and kissing for granted again!

My list included a few extra like:

10: Being able to blot my lipstick. I've just gotten to the point

that I can do that--it required a little more dexterity than my lips

had at first post-surgery (especially stretching the lips over the

# & #$ bite splint!)

11: Being able to blow my nose. I was so glad to be able to do that

again! Which brings me to...

12: Having all totally clear sinuses--At 6.5 wks postop I'm still

waiting on that one. (but then I also got a cold a few weeks ago, so

that didn't help either. At least it hit as soon as I was free &

clear to blow my nose... otherwise I'd have been a real unhappy

camper.)

13: Biting. I can chew soft stuff, but I miss being able to bite

without having to cut things into small pieces first.

Anyone else?

> > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> granted

> > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> >

> > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> their

> > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

> those

> > wired or banded!

> >

> > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

able

> to

> > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> >

> > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

> in

> > pain!

> >

> > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> >

> > 5. not looking swollen

> >

> > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> >

> > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

> in

> > the face (it has been done!)

> >

> > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> >

> > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> >

> > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

at

> the

> > moment.

July 12, 2003

But as we get each of those things back we appreciate them more than

we ever thought we would. I've regained a few of them and I will

never take chewing and kissing for granted again!

My list included a few extra like:

10: Being able to blot my lipstick. I've just gotten to the point

that I can do that--it required a little more dexterity than my lips

had at first post-surgery (especially stretching the lips over the

# & #$ bite splint!)

11: Being able to blow my nose. I was so glad to be able to do that

again! Which brings me to...

12: Having all totally clear sinuses--At 6.5 wks postop I'm still

waiting on that one. (but then I also got a cold a few weeks ago, so

that didn't help either. At least it hit as soon as I was free &

clear to blow my nose... otherwise I'd have been a real unhappy

camper.)

13: Biting. I can chew soft stuff, but I miss being able to bite

without having to cut things into small pieces first.

Anyone else?

> > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> granted

> > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> >

> > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> their

> > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

> those

> > wired or banded!

> >

> > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

able

> to

> > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> >

> > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

> in

> > pain!

> >

> > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> >

> > 5. not looking swollen

> >

> > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> >

> > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

> in

> > the face (it has been done!)

> >

> > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> >

> > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> >

> > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

at

> the

> > moment.

July 12, 2003

I didn't have an expander, but I do have a bite splint. And I'm just

banded, not wired, so I have more freedom than others might.

As of maybe yesterday I can whistle again, but barely and not very

loudly. Hard to pucker up around the bite splint.

Kissing--at about 1 week post-op I was able to kind of pucker up to

give family members a peck. As for getting smoochy with my husband

(forgive me if this is Too Much Info), I was able to manage it

around the 2 week mark. French kissing a little later--I can sneak

my tongue out from under the bite splint.

As for swimming, my heart goes out to you. That must suck! I got my

surgeon's blessing to swim laps again at the 3-week mark and that's

my main form of exercise now. Can you sit on the steps in the

shallow end up to your waist?

Rhonda

> > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> granted

> > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> >

> > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> their

> > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

those

> > wired or banded!

> >

> > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

able

> to

> > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> >

> > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

in

> > pain!

> >

> > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> >

> > 5. not looking swollen

> >

> > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> >

> > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

in

> > the face (it has been done!)

> >

> > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> >

> > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> >

> > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

at

> the

> > moment.

July 12, 2003

I didn't have an expander, but I do have a bite splint. And I'm just

banded, not wired, so I have more freedom than others might.

As of maybe yesterday I can whistle again, but barely and not very

loudly. Hard to pucker up around the bite splint.

Kissing--at about 1 week post-op I was able to kind of pucker up to

give family members a peck. As for getting smoochy with my husband

(forgive me if this is Too Much Info), I was able to manage it

around the 2 week mark. French kissing a little later--I can sneak

my tongue out from under the bite splint.

As for swimming, my heart goes out to you. That must suck! I got my

surgeon's blessing to swim laps again at the 3-week mark and that's

my main form of exercise now. Can you sit on the steps in the

shallow end up to your waist?

Rhonda

> > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> granted

> > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> >

> > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> their

> > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

those

> > wired or banded!

> >

> > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

able

> to

> > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> >

> > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my face

in

> > pain!

> >

> > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over (it

> > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> >

> > 5. not looking swollen

> >

> > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> >

> > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching myself

in

> > the face (it has been done!)

> >

> > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> >

> > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> >

> > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

at

> the

> > moment.

July 12, 2003

I was wired shut for 6 weeks with my first surgery, I hope I'm not

this time 'round. Here's my addition:

14: When I was wired shut I missed my tongue! Being able to lick my

lips, or an ice cream cone. I don't know how to explain it, I just

missed it.

> > > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> > granted

> > > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> > >

> > > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> > their

> > > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

> > those

> > > wired or banded!

> > >

> > > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

> able

> > to

> > > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> > >

> > > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my

face

> > in

> > > pain!

> > >

> > > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over

(it

> > > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> > >

> > > 5. not looking swollen

> > >

> > > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> > >

> > > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching

myself

> > in

> > > the face (it has been done!)

> > >

> > > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> > >

> > > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> > >

> > > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

> at

> > the

> > > moment.

July 12, 2003

I was wired shut for 6 weeks with my first surgery, I hope I'm not

this time 'round. Here's my addition:

14: When I was wired shut I missed my tongue! Being able to lick my

lips, or an ice cream cone. I don't know how to explain it, I just

missed it.

> > > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> > granted

> > > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> > >

> > > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> > their

> > > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

> > those

> > > wired or banded!

> > >

> > > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

> able

> > to

> > > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> > >

> > > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my

face

> > in

> > > pain!

> > >

> > > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over

(it

> > > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> > >

> > > 5. not looking swollen

> > >

> > > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> > >

> > > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching

myself

> > in

> > > the face (it has been done!)

> > >

> > > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> > >

> > > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> > >

> > > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

> at

> > the

> > > moment.

July 12, 2003

I was wired shut for 6 weeks with my first surgery, I hope I'm not

this time 'round. Here's my addition:

14: When I was wired shut I missed my tongue! Being able to lick my

lips, or an ice cream cone. I don't know how to explain it, I just

missed it.

> > > At 3 weeks post op here are a list of things i have taken for

> > granted

> > > in the past, please feel free to add anything to the list!

> > >

> > > 1. Chewing- the most obvious- i'm sick of watching people chew

> > their

> > > food while i struggle to swallow things whole! Even worse for

> > those

> > > wired or banded!

> > >

> > > 2. Sleeping which ever way i want ie. not upright, and being

> able

> > to

> > > roll over at night without waking up in pain!

> > >

> > > 3. Being able to drive over speed bumps without grabbing my

face

> > in

> > > pain!

> > >

> > > 4. being able to run across the road to avoid being run over

(it

> > > hurts when i jog due to impact)

> > >

> > > 5. not looking swollen

> > >

> > > 6. kissing my partner and acctually feeling it!

> > >

> > > 7. showering and dressing without worrying about punching

myself

> > in

> > > the face (it has been done!)

> > >

> > > 8. being able to yell- its fairly impossible

> > >

> > > 9. brushing my teeth in less than 10 minutes and without pain

> > >

> > > i'm sure there is more!!!!!! these are the ones i can think of

> at

> > the

> > > moment.

July 12, 2003

Rhonda,

Thanks so much for the honest response. As a single woman with a

potential guy on the horizon I was just too curious not to ask. It's

good to know that things are possible, if some care is taken. As for

the swimming, I can go in up to my shoulders. My Surgeon just

doesn't want me to submerge myself. He said getting water in my

mouth, nose or ears could do damage as my sinus' were affected by my

surgery. Hopefully, before the summer is over, I'll be able to 'dive

in' a bit more.

Thanks again,

Carol

> I didn't have an expander, but I do have a bite splint. And I'm

just

> banded, not wired, so I have more freedom than others might.

>

> As of maybe yesterday I can whistle again, but barely and not very

> loudly. Hard to pucker up around the bite splint.

>

> Kissing--at about 1 week post-op I was able to kind of pucker up to

> give family members a peck. As for getting smoochy with my husband

> (forgive me if this is Too Much Info), I was able to manage it

> around the 2 week mark. French kissing a little later--I can sneak

> my tongue out from under the bite splint.

>

> As for swimming, my heart goes out to you. That must suck! I got my

> surgeon's blessing to swim laps again at the 3-week mark and that's

> my main form of exercise now. Can you sit on the steps in the

> shallow end up to your waist?

>

> Rhonda

July 12, 2003

Rhonda,

Thanks so much for the honest response. As a single woman with a

potential guy on the horizon I was just too curious not to ask. It's

good to know that things are possible, if some care is taken. As for

the swimming, I can go in up to my shoulders. My Surgeon just

doesn't want me to submerge myself. He said getting water in my

mouth, nose or ears could do damage as my sinus' were affected by my

surgery. Hopefully, before the summer is over, I'll be able to 'dive

in' a bit more.

Thanks again,

Carol

> I didn't have an expander, but I do have a bite splint. And I'm

just

> banded, not wired, so I have more freedom than others might.

>

> As of maybe yesterday I can whistle again, but barely and not very

> loudly. Hard to pucker up around the bite splint.

>

> Kissing--at about 1 week post-op I was able to kind of pucker up to

> give family members a peck. As for getting smoochy with my husband

> (forgive me if this is Too Much Info), I was able to manage it

> around the 2 week mark. French kissing a little later--I can sneak

> my tongue out from under the bite splint.

>

> As for swimming, my heart goes out to you. That must suck! I got my

> surgeon's blessing to swim laps again at the 3-week mark and that's

> my main form of exercise now. Can you sit on the steps in the

> shallow end up to your waist?

>

> Rhonda

July 12, 2003

Carol,

why not the pool? Not your face just your body to cool off.

Bella

Hey, we are close enough come over I have ac.