Re: Brownies and boyfriends TO:Sara

[Guest guest]

Sara,

Better crocker is super easy... right after my surgery I couldn't eat

any brownies, but I could just fit a small spoon in my mouth. So, I

still made the brownies but licked a lot of the raw chocolatey

brownie batter out of the bowl!!! That was good and tasty too until I

could eat the Cooked brownies. (I baked most of the mix for my

family, but had to save a tiny bit for me to savor- raw eggs and

all!! My boyfriend was horrified!

I'm glad you got all your plans worked out with your boyfriend. It

does mean a lot when they " suffer " through with you and stay by your

side. Mine was very devoted and sweet which made such a difference.

The only wrinkle we had to overcome was trying to get him to

understand that once I was outwardly looking so improved (not so

swollen or bruised), I was still feeling really lousy and not back to

100% yet at all. Anyway, I was glad he was with me. No one wants a

boyfriend who's only there during the good times.

Being splintless is wonderful! It's nice to have my mouth back and to

floss my teeth. I guess once you reach one milestone, there are more

frustrations waiting for you with it and new goals to look forward to

as well. NOW I am waiting to see my ortho. My bite needs to be fine

tuned and I want to get started on that right away!! It is hard to be

so close to the end, but not quite there yet. My bite needs to be

fine tuned and this week of waiting to see my ortho is killing me! I

am having a hard time being a patient patient. HA HA. I'm waiting to

get more feeling back in my mouth... and I'm waiting to be able to

open my mouth wider. That is frustrating!! I can chew the brownie but

I cant quite bite around it yet.

I am not used to my new look yet. It feels like it is slowly being

revealed too.... each day feels a bit different if due to regained

sensation or decreased swelling a little bit. I do " check " my

appearance in the mirror a lot more now. I didn't before because I

knew how I looked, but now I don't! I am not at all used to my new

appearance, but I really like the improvements so far. I am smiling

in the mirror and reflections an absurd amount of time during the

day. It's always smiling! But I don't stare too long, otherwise I

start to obssess over what isn't perfect yet with my bite.... Sigh.

I spent the month before my surgery stocking up on all the tastes I

knew I would miss after surgery and wouldn't be able to have for a

long time.... Right before my surgery date, I made an entire batch of

one of my favorite dishes and ate it everyday for a week almost just

to get my fill. It is an almond crusted oven-baked chicken dish that

is delicious. There is no way I'll be eating that very soon, but

hopefully in a month!! :)So do enjoy your nachos while you can!!

Cheers,

Katja

> > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > 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.