2nd post-op visit and a wish comes true...

[Guest guest]

So today I had my second post-op visit and it went WELL!!!

My OS looked at my mouth, had me open and close a few times and said

that we were right on target. I was biting right into the proper

position. Then I asked him when the splint would come out and he

told me that he ideally would like to take it out after 4 weeks post-

op (I'm 16 days post-op today, actually 17 seeing that it's past

midnight). When he the said the 4 week thing I frowned and he knew

right away something was up. So I came clean and told him that after

talking to my fiance' I had decided to move back to Italy to be

closer to him and my family and that I couldn't afford to hang

around NYC until December doing a temporary job. And I told him that

I was leaving for Italy next Thursday because I have a ticket that I

can't change and I'll lose a lot of money on it. AND most

importantly I explained to him that I would really like to be able

to go back to Italy without the splint on so that I can actually

talk properly at job interviews. He was incredibley understanding. I

mean, like I never expected him to be. If I were him I would have

told me to get lost. Seriously.

So he called up my OD and they talked about my case for a while (btw

my OD has calmed down since my last visit to him, apparently he was

in a grouchy mood that day, go figure). The result was that I struck

a bargain with my OD and OS. My OS will remove my splint this coming

Monday (yes you read right, THIS COMING MONDAY!!!) at which point I

will be 3 weeks post-op. On Tuesday I have to go and see my OD right

away who will replace my cut of wire (they had to cut it three ways

because my jaw was segmented 3 times)with a new supporting archwire

that will sort of replace the splint in terms of providing support

to my upper jaw. Then on Wednesday or Thursday before I leave I have

to go back and see my OS and if all is ok, as in my jaw hasn't

shifted in any terrible way then I am home free to fly to Italy

splintless and just with the supporting archwire. HOWEVER, if he

sees anything that he does not like he will put back in the splint

and I will get it removed when I get back to NYC end of July. I

couldn't believe it! I was so thankful for his bargain!!! I'm trying

not to put up my hopes too high just in case he has to put the

splint back on but still, just having the possibility feels so

good!!! WHOOPPPEEEE!!! He did say that I would have to promise to be

on a strictly liquid/soft diet for the whole time I was in Italy. I

said, hey, as long as I can eat pasta I am super O.K with that

arrangement. In fact I think I told him that I was willing to eat

liquids for another 2 months if he took the splint out. At that

point I think he realized just how desperate I was to talk properly.

Anyway, other stuff he said. He said I could start blowing my nose

again *gently*. He said that I could have soft food but nothing that

required more than two chews on it or that required chewing

sideways. He said that I could keep off my elastics for longer than

I have been. I've really been taking them off for only an hour a

day. He told me to try to keep them off for 4 hours a day. And he

said that if I leave without the splint on then I will need my

doctor in Italy to closely monitor me to make sure that no major

changes take place in my jaw. Other than that he said I was doing

super!

I am so pleased. After the visit my mother took me to the 4 Seasons

Hotel in Manhattan to have tea and celebrate(just liked we used to

when I was in London) and I ordered the most delicious chocolate

mousse. I ate it with a fork because Sher is sooooo right, forks

work so much better than spoons! Anyway, it felt like the first

proper celebration since surgery and I felt like my life was sort of

going back to normal. It felt GOOOOOD.

Well that's enough from me today. Just wanted to share my happy news

with all of you since you've known how much I've been agonizing over

the darn splint. Some wishes do come true:-)

Sara