Re: Splint out! I can eat and talk....finally

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the detailed description of your splint removal

appointment. I'm seeing my Surgeon tomorrow and, if all goes well,

will be unwired and unsplinted. It helps to have first hand acconts

of this process.

Take care,

Carol

> Hi fellow surgery buddies -

>

> Last Thursday I actually got the splint out. It was huge! It was

> attached to my upper jaw and went pretty far back (looked like a

> half circle). It was relatively painless to get out. The wire

> cutting was the worst part because of the sound. When it came out,

> I gagged and nearly threw up because of the smell and taste. I

> guess it collects a lot of nasty stuff and obviously doesn't get

> brushed! I was scared to touch the roof of my mouth too. He had

me

> brush, which was odd! My upper inner gums and the whole roof of my

> mouth was really really swollen and inflamed. I couldn't feel any

> of the ridges that you normally have on the roof of your mouth, so

I

> was a little freaked out. It was so strange. I could

> talk " normal " . My OS said I could eat anything that was the

> consistency of a hard boiled egg or softer. I had baked pasta

about

> 2 hours after it came out. It was really scary to eat and " chew " .

> My teeth really touch great and I am so pleased with the results.

I

> had to practically learn to chew again and my speech still sounds

> kind of weird.

>

> To date, I've eaten some really really tender brisket and a lot of

> pasta....and some corn casserole and finally got to eat some

bread!

> It is also strange because I got kind of sick when I first ate

> because I'm not used to digesting real food! My appetite is also

> really low so I can't eat much at all.

>

> My swelling is still very bad in the front, but my profile is

> unbelievable. I went to a wedding this weekend and people actually

> didn't recognize me. It makes me so self-conscious because people

> just stare at me (I feel like)! I also got a lot of that " you

don't

> even look like you! " which was frustrating. I am still numb, so I

> also can't smile correctly. Time marches on.....

>

> I posted my pre and post op pics that my orthodontist took in the

> file named " " .

>

> Happy healing to everyone!

[Guest guest]

, cute pix. Remind me again what surgery you had? I'm sorry, I

can't keep track of everyone. It's interesting to hear your

experiences about the splint. Err, I'm not looking forward to it! Luna