Re: My splint WAS removed today!! <said with a huge toothy grin>

[Guest guest]

Katja, you say: I think today I have felt the

prettiest I have ever felt in my whole life. That is not to imply I

am gorgeous or anything, but, so far I am really pleased with the

changes and my results.

I would bet that your assessment is totally in error, and that you are

gorgeous! In spirit and in appearance. Both are important. Good wishes

to you, and enjoy.

Cammie

[Guest guest]

Katja,

I am so happy you feel good and are eating!! Each day the eating

gets better and better! It is so crazy eating sweets and butter and

fats and drinking whole milk!! I love it! I know how you feel about

feeling pretty. My teeth have never been this straight and I love my

new defined cheek bones! Probably only things I would notice but

like I said this feels like the other side!! My dr asked if I

wanted my splint and I said NO! I didn't even want to smell it!

Well enjoy and let me know how you feel. Oh yes I forget to mention

the best thing about getting the splint out, I had a couple of loose

stitches and he pulled them right out. I didn't even feel a thing.

And now I am stitch free....

Jane

>

> Hi Jane, , and everyone!

> I was trying to post earlier but Yahoo was being slow and lumbering

> so I gave up.... Anyway! My splint was removed today and I have

been

> so pleased and thrilled ever since... Firstly, it was totally

gross!

> I asked my OS if I could see it and he fished it back out of the

> trash with pliers for my viewing. After a quick glance of horror, I

> had enough and they were promptly returned to the garbage!

>

> My surgeon gave me the clearance to eat whatever I wanted. I think

> he knows it's a matter of my trying what I can manage and gradually

> easing back into this strange new business of eating again. I had

> meatballs and rice tonight. I am eating a somewhat gingerly right

> now, but my biggest obstacle seems to be how wide I can open my

mouth

> to get food in and to chew it. I was reassured that my opening

would

> increase the more I ate and stretched my mouth open. So far that

has

> seemed true.... I haven't measured my exact opening size though, so

I

> can't report that... probably around an inch. My surgeon didn't

> comment on my opening one way or the other, so I guess it is

normal.

>

> Anyway, I brushed and brushed when I got home which was really

> nice... I definitely relished being able to brush the backs of my

> teeth finally after 6 weeks! Lindsey, I'm sorry about your concern

> about the cavity... that would make me feel terrible. I, myself,

have

> felt like my teeth have been rotting away in my splint all this

time.

> I hope I don't have any cavities too, but it's definitely possible.

I

> wish your surgeon had been more reassuring to you about your jaw

not

> feeling quite right. I hope your Ortho does a better job of easing

> your concern. Let us know how that goes!

>

>

> Well, it seems that the horrible pain I was having from clenching

and

> grinding my teeth at night since about week 2 or 3 post-sx has paid

> off because my " muscles of mastication " aren't totally shot and my

> jaw seems pretty good with the eating I've done so far.They seem to

> be about to withstand and exert some force on each other. Cross my

> fingers and yours, but no soreness YET at least! Let me tell ya

> though... I paid for it already with plenty of pain- it would wake

up

> all night long in horrible pain from the clenching.

>

> Anyway, I've had a great day... I think today I have felt the

> prettiest I have ever felt in my whole life. That is not to imply I

> am gorgeous or anything, but, so far I am really pleased with the

> changes and my results. Well, the day wasn't totally great- I was

> late to work because of the appointment, but my boss was annoyed

with

> me because I was SO late coming in to work according to her (only a

> couple hours and I never promised her an exact time which she knew

> and was fine with!) BUT I HAD to go home and brush my teeth AND

then

> eat and CHEW SOMETHING!!! I know you all understand here... if you

> haven't masticated anything for 6 weeks or more, that takes

> precedence somehow in some twisted way over work!!!

>

> Jane, I know you said your bite feels all over the place... I know

> exactly how that felt. Since our recovery was a bit different we

have

> had interesting overlaps and gone through the phases differently...

I

> was only splinted when first out of surgery... then I got bands

after

> one week. At my three week check up, my surgeon said I could go

with

> out the bands during the day... at that point- OH BOY! my jaw felt

> all over the place! I think the muscles are finally getting trained

> and accustomed to their job. It takes a bit of time, but they learn

> pretty fast, surprisingly enough!! Give it a few days!

>

> So, at this point my teeth also don't all touch and meet and fit

> together perfectly yet. I am anxious to meet with my ortho next

> monday to get an idea of what he needs to do and what I have ahead

of

> me. My midlines don't match up at this point either... but they

> totally didn't before surgery either. I think ultimately they will

be

> ok, but ortho has a bit of work ahead of him. It does make eating

> again a bit awkward though because the teeth aren't all hitting

each

> other. BUT, that is how my teeth were before all of this... so I'm

> used to it AND I know it is only temporary now!! My OS wasn't

> concerned. He said everything, with a bit of ortho, would lock

right

> in just where it needs to be. He said he was very pleased with the

> results. So far, so am I. I just can't wait to get the bite

> perfected. Then I will be perfectly happy!

>

> Jane, the weight issue is crazy, isn't it!?!? I am at 100 pounds.

> Right after surgery, I went down to 95. I thought I was back up to

> 105, but it seems to be fluxuating a bit. This is WITH my eating

tons

> of really fattening food!! But, my change in weight hasn't been as

> dramatic as yours. Like you though, some of my clothes just hang

and

> look terrible! Add to the cost of this surgery, the expense of

> needing a new wardrobe as well!

>

> Ok, this is my longwinded, boring blather about my splint removal!

> It's late and I need to go to bed!! Thank you for asking!!! I

will

> keep you updated and I hope you will keep me updated too.... I

think

> I will fall asleep tonight imagining what I will eat tomorrow.

> Someone mentioned french fries here the other day... that sounds

> really good! And chewy moist brownies.... Mmmm Mmmmm

> Cheers! Katja

>

> PS, I will post pictures as soon as I can find

some " representative "

> Before pictures AND as soon as my boyfriend takes my most updated

> post surgery photos.