To Jane

[Guest guest]

Jane:

I will have to stop and visit you on my way down to Louisiana because

Chattanooga is our stopping point from Virginia. We really enjoy

Chattanooga and my husband would love to live there!! He retires in

a little over a year and who knows we may end up there!!

> > >

> > > Hey Jane,

> > >

> > > Let us know how your husband's match goes. I hope he matches

with

> > his

> > > first choice - I know it can be emotional time for him (and

your

> > whole

> > > family right now). I remember how it was for us almost 3 years

ago,

> > > and all the tears and smiles.

[Guest guest]

Katja,

We aries are definately going to ram through this!!! We are so close

to the end of our suffering and the beginning of our long awaited

reward. Well...speaking of food...I am eating the most delicious

thing ever as I type!!! I made a chili tonight for my family with

fresh diced tomatoes and basil and it was extra soupy. I replenished

my KFC potatoe supply today and as I was pulling out the potatoes the

chili was eyeing me so I scraped all the juices and soupy tomateos

and melted a slice of cheese on top...IT IS DELICIOUS I minced the

meat into tiny itty bitty pieces and the tomatoes are soft and

juicy. So far not much has gotten caught in the splint. It tastes

like a baked potatoe with chili and cheese. I figured out another

way to get things dislodged from my splint..The " k " sound! I had a

noodle lodged in and it had been there for a while. I asked my

daughter for a " k " iss and when my oalate vibrated making the k sound

the noodle shot out! The luck! Well, I am so ready to get this

splint out next Thursday because really it is the only thing

inhibiting me from eating. I can chew a little with my front two

teeth (like a rabbit!) I am opening a little wider but no thumb

yet! That's ok a hamburger can be broken up into pieces! A french

fry is ultra thin and saliva can do the rest. Hang in there and try

some good foods. I have been enjoying swiss vanilla pudding and a

glass of milk. I had cheesecake hommade ice cream from Marble Slab

Creamery today so all in all I suppose the weight is coming back

probably faster than it came off. That's ok. I have had some jaw

pain now that the elastics are doing there work. I need to take

tylenol or something because my cheeks seem to be swelling a little

more now?? Hang in there and take care..

Your birthday buddy

Jane

> > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > Wish I could type as fast as you.!!....

> > > > > > > > > > > > It's neat watching how every OS has there

own

> > way

> > > > of

> > > > > > doin

> > > > > > > > > things,

> > > > > > > > > > > > I got my bands removed on day 10 and you were

> > just

> > > > > > getting

> > > > > > > > > banded

> > > > > > > > > > > > around then ???....

> > > > > > > > > > > > I am happy with the results so far , because

it

> > was

> > > > an

> > > > > > > > instant

> > > > > > > > > > Fix

> > > > > > > > > > > as

> > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > far as the torment I have been living with,

for

> > the

> > > > > past

> > > > > > 27

> > > > > > > > > > months,

> > > > > > > > > > > > since my Dentist created a Monster by

changing

> my

> > > > > > > bite ..Since

> > > > > > > > > > > > surgery

> > > > > > > > > > > > I have not even thought about my splint that

I

> > HAD

> > > > to

> > > > > > wear

> > > > > > > > 24/7

> > > > > > > > > > > > before

> > > > > > > > > > > > Surgery...without It I was Toast!!!

> > > > > > > > > > > > I am still swollen enough to not be able to

> tell

> > > how

> > > > my

> > > > > > > > > > appearance

> > > > > > > > > > > > will be changed , I think I still look Like

> me ,

> > so

> > > > my

> > > > > > twin

> > > > > > > > > > brother

> > > > > > > > > > > > is

> > > > > > > > > > > > happy about that part...

> > > > > > > > > > > > My kids took some digital Pics of me looking

> > pretty

> > > > > > cranky

> > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > > > > > beginning...I'm going to need them to show me

> how

> > > to

> > > > > post

> > > > > > > > > them???

> > > > > > > > > > > > Have you posted your aftermath pics

yet?.......

> > > > > > > > > > > > This " Cold " Thing !!!....It almost canceled

my

> > > > > > > surgery...got

> > > > > > > > it

> > > > > > > > > > > > cleared up in the nick of time....and now

I've

> > got

> > > > it

> > > > > > back

> > > > > > > as

> > > > > > > > > > > well...

> > > > > > > > > > > > this is the 4th time since Christmas , Nasty

> > > > Bug!!...

> > > > > > hope

> > > > > > > > you

> > > > > > > > > > feel

> > > > > > > > > > > > better soon....

> > > > > > > > > > > > How did your 1st day back at work go ?

> > > > > > > > > > > > Anyhow, Happy Healing

> > > > > > > > > > > > Katja later

> > > > > > > > > > > > Bob

[Guest guest]

Oh ya I forgot to give you a visual LOL Imagine me with mashed

potatoes smeared on my chin and face dropping on my shirt...Now add

chili sauce and the occasional pinto bean being shot out my 2 cm

piehole!

Jane

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Wish I could type as fast as you.!!....

> > > > > > > > > > > > > It's neat watching how every OS has there

> own

> > > way

> > > > > of

> > > > > > > doin

> > > > > > > > > > things,

> > > > > > > > > > > > > I got my bands removed on day 10 and you

were

> > > just

> > > > > > > getting

> > > > > > > > > > banded

> > > > > > > > > > > > > around then ???....

> > > > > > > > > > > > > I am happy with the results so far ,

because

> it

> > > was

> > > > > an

> > > > > > > > > instant

> > > > > > > > > > > Fix

> > > > > > > > > > > > as

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > far as the torment I have been living with,

> for

> > > the

> > > > > > past

> > > > > > > 27

> > > > > > > > > > > months,

> > > > > > > > > > > > > since my Dentist created a Monster by

> changing

> > my

> > > > > > > > bite ..Since

> > > > > > > > > > > > > surgery

> > > > > > > > > > > > > I have not even thought about my splint

that

> I

> > > HAD

> > > > > to

> > > > > > > wear

> > > > > > > > > 24/7

> > > > > > > > > > > > > before

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Surgery...without It I was Toast!!!

> > > > > > > > > > > > > I am still swollen enough to not be able to

> > tell

> > > > how

> > > > > my

> > > > > > > > > > > appearance

> > > > > > > > > > > > > will be changed , I think I still look Like

> > me ,

> > > so

> > > > > my

> > > > > > > twin

> > > > > > > > > > > brother

> > > > > > > > > > > > > is

> > > > > > > > > > > > > happy about that part...

> > > > > > > > > > > > > My kids took some digital Pics of me

looking

> > > pretty

> > > > > > > cranky

> > > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > > the

> > > > > > > > > > > > > beginning...I'm going to need them to show

me

> > how

> > > > to

> > > > > > post

> > > > > > > > > > them???

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Have you posted your aftermath pics

> yet?.......

> > > > > > > > > > > > > This " Cold " Thing !!!....It almost canceled

> my

> > > > > > > > surgery...got

> > > > > > > > > it

> > > > > > > > > > > > > cleared up in the nick of time....and now

> I've

> > > got

> > > > > it

> > > > > > > back

> > > > > > > > as

> > > > > > > > > > > > well...

> > > > > > > > > > > > > this is the 4th time since Christmas ,

Nasty

> > > > > Bug!!...

> > > > > > > hope

> > > > > > > > > you

> > > > > > > > > > > feel

> > > > > > > > > > > > > better soon....

> > > > > > > > > > > > > How did your 1st day back at work go ?

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Anyhow, Happy Healing

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Katja later

> > > > > > > > > > > > > Bob

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

Congratulations on getting your splint out last week!! I am so

excited for you! Mine comes out tomorrow! How are you doing these

days with your eating and getting your mouth open?? I am feeling so

ready to start chewing ANYTHING! and to have my teeth touch each

other again. They are old friends and have missed each other terribly

these past 6 weeks... I am getting nervous to see how my post surgery

bite is though. I am sort of worried that not all my teeth will touch

or something! yikes! I am trying to not worry... I will find out soon

enough tomorrow regardless, huh?? I had my upper split too, but they

didn't cut my upper arch bar like that cut yours... I thought that

was interesting. Oh well! These surgeons seem to all do everything

differently from eachother, huh?? Well, a wire on my splint broke

yesterday and I had to use my pliers to bend it around a tuck it

somewhere. I am kind of glad though, because I think it should

guarantee that the damn thing comes off tomorrow for sure!!! I

don't want him telling me to come back in another week!

I read your post about missing the old you sometimes. It's wierd,

because I have (except for looking in pictures) forgotten what I

looked like before surgery.... All I remember is everything that I

hated that now seems to be gone. I am not yet used to my new

appearance, but I am pleased with my changes so far. I almost feel

like I am in limbo... caught somewhere in between. The old face is

gone which I am glad of, but I don't know this new one completely

yet. So I feel a little bit lost! It feels like my jaw is finally

where it was supposed to be all along, but caught stuck somewhere

along the way. I feel like I finally look the way I am supposed to

look, the way I was meant to look. Does that make sense?? I guess I

feel like enough of the old me is still present that I don't miss my

face because my big family nose is still right where it was all along

and hasn't changed or anything. Just what I didn't like is gone now.

And, I feel like my mouth and teeth have been hijacked and taken

hostage. Just waiting to get them back! Anyway, I really hope you get

adjusted and learn to embrace your new appearance soon. You really do

look great and YOU hasn't changed. YOU are still you and your eyes

and mind and heart are the same. Hang in there. I think you will

feel better too when your clothes start to fit you again and your

body doesn't feel foreign too! Jane is in there and she'll be back!

Don't worry!

I will let you know how it goes tomorrow and we can compare notes,

ok?? Congratulations again!

[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.

Jane are you a military wife. You said something about moving in your

last posting.

" M "