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

[Guest guest]

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.