Re: An old friend

[Guest guest]

Hey Jane,

I know what you mean about missing " the old me " . I do too. It's

really weird. I hear a lot of good things about how I look after the

surgery, but I still feel that I look strange. I was videotaped a

week ago at a family celebration, and I was completely freaked when I

saw the tape. I was like " this can't be me " . I know I don't

photograph well, and videotape even worse (even though I don't mind my

wedding tape that much), but that tape freaked me out. I hope after

all the swelling is gone I look more like the old me. I did take lots

of pictures of myself afterwards, and they're not bad (probably better

than before the surgery), but I still hope I can resemble myself as

much as possible.

>

> I must admit that when I look at my photos I sometimes...miss the old

> me. Yes I wanted straight teeth again and yes I was a bit self

> conscience about my chin but I do miss " me " . Iam trying to adjust to

> this new me which is hard because I am only 2 months post op so I

> don't actually know what the new me is. I am having a hard day.

> Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have the splint off and am

> eating so many delicious foods. But it has been so painful today to

> talk and eat.

>

> My coworkers don't understand. They thought the splint was keeping

> my mouth closed and thought now that the splint is gone I was going

> to be back to normal. Boy do I wish! I can barely get a spoon or

> fork with food to fit in my opening and when I do I am stretching

> painfully. I feel my drs OS and res were surprised at how little I

> can open and wonder is something wrong?? I am frustrated no one

> informed me on a damn thing! I know it is a slow process but no

> kidding around, before I had a big mouth with a huge opening. How

> long til true recovery? 5 weeks is sounding more and more like a

> joke. It has been 2 months and I still feel I am at the beginning.

> (Sorry those who are still waiting for surgery!) At the very

> beginning if I was told this is a 6 month to two year recovery

> process I would be more prepared instead of you will have surgery and

> then be wired for 5 weeks. No splint talk no soft diet talk.

> Aghhhh! I am not frustrated with braces because I expected a two

> year time frame. Being informed makes a big difference. I didn't

> even know the extent of swelling or how long it would take to

> disappear. Sometimes I feel so unattractive due to the shaoe of my

> face and chubby cheeks. Well, at least I CAN eat. Even if it is

> painful!!

>

> Jane

[Guest guest]

I guess we will have to wait what? about a year? Or will my face

shrink slowly for the rest of my life?

Jane

> >

> > I must admit that when I look at my photos I sometimes...miss the

old

> > me. Yes I wanted straight teeth again and yes I was a bit self

> > conscience about my chin but I do miss " me " . Iam trying to

adjust to

> > this new me which is hard because I am only 2 months post op so I

> > don't actually know what the new me is. I am having a hard day.

> > Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have the splint off and am

> > eating so many delicious foods. But it has been so painful today

to

> > talk and eat.

> >

> > My coworkers don't understand. They thought the splint was

keeping

> > my mouth closed and thought now that the splint is gone I was

going

> > to be back to normal. Boy do I wish! I can barely get a spoon or

> > fork with food to fit in my opening and when I do I am stretching

> > painfully. I feel my drs OS and res were surprised at how little

I

> > can open and wonder is something wrong?? I am frustrated no one

> > informed me on a damn thing! I know it is a slow process but no

> > kidding around, before I had a big mouth with a huge opening.

How

> > long til true recovery? 5 weeks is sounding more and more like a

> > joke. It has been 2 months and I still feel I am at the

beginning.

> > (Sorry those who are still waiting for surgery!) At the very

> > beginning if I was told this is a 6 month to two year recovery

> > process I would be more prepared instead of you will have surgery

and

> > then be wired for 5 weeks. No splint talk no soft diet talk.

> > Aghhhh! I am not frustrated with braces because I expected a two

> > year time frame. Being informed makes a big difference. I

didn't

> > even know the extent of swelling or how long it would take to

> > disappear. Sometimes I feel so unattractive due to the shaoe of

my

> > face and chubby cheeks. Well, at least I CAN eat. Even if it is

> > painful!!

> >

> > Jane

[Guest guest]

I hope it will stop at the 1-year mark.

> > >

> > > I must admit that when I look at my photos I sometimes...miss the

> old

> > > me. Yes I wanted straight teeth again and yes I was a bit self

> > > conscience about my chin but I do miss " me " . Iam trying to

> adjust to

> > > this new me which is hard because I am only 2 months post op so I

> > > don't actually know what the new me is. I am having a hard day.

> > > Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have the splint off and am

> > > eating so many delicious foods. But it has been so painful today

> to

> > > talk and eat.

> > >

> > > My coworkers don't understand. They thought the splint was

> keeping

> > > my mouth closed and thought now that the splint is gone I was

> going

> > > to be back to normal. Boy do I wish! I can barely get a spoon or

> > > fork with food to fit in my opening and when I do I am stretching

> > > painfully. I feel my drs OS and res were surprised at how little

> I

> > > can open and wonder is something wrong?? I am frustrated no one

> > > informed me on a damn thing! I know it is a slow process but no

> > > kidding around, before I had a big mouth with a huge opening.

> How

> > > long til true recovery? 5 weeks is sounding more and more like a

> > > joke. It has been 2 months and I still feel I am at the

> beginning.

> > > (Sorry those who are still waiting for surgery!) At the very

> > > beginning if I was told this is a 6 month to two year recovery

> > > process I would be more prepared instead of you will have surgery

> and

> > > then be wired for 5 weeks. No splint talk no soft diet talk.

> > > Aghhhh! I am not frustrated with braces because I expected a two

> > > year time frame. Being informed makes a big difference. I

> didn't

> > > even know the extent of swelling or how long it would take to

> > > disappear. Sometimes I feel so unattractive due to the shaoe of

> my

> > > face and chubby cheeks. Well, at least I CAN eat. Even if it is

> > > painful!!

> > >

> > > Jane