Guest guest Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Hi! Today, I'm six weeks post-op and had a great appt with my OS. He's very pleased with the way I'm healing. My swelling is almost gone and my facial muscles are starting to work again. When I took my bands off, he got a little worried at first because my jaw immediately shifted back over to the left. Once he seated my condyles, my bite was near perfect and will be after my orthodontist does his thing. It's just my muslces that keep pulling everything over to the left. I need to keep wearing my bands to retrain my muscles. He was very happy with my opening. I stretched and did my jaw exercises during the 40 minute drive to his office. I was so afraid he was going to stretch me again but I managed to get to 23 mm (two fingers) on my own. I still have a ways to go to our goal of 30 mm but I'm slowly getting there. I've also been cleared to eat whatever I want. Since the joints are artificial now there's no bone to heal so I can't do any damage. Eating is still slow-going. I haven't been able to chew for over three years now (and wasn't chewing much before then either) so my muscles are very atrophied. When I try to bite down on anything, I can't get through it and it just goes into my cheeks. I have been able to chew pasta, rice and overcooked veggies and they taste so good now. I've also been able to eat some very mild chili and tuna salad. Yum! I've also been cleared to go back to my ortho. It's going to feel good to get my teeth aligned. Even though my bite is good, I only have a few teeth that touch. Once my teeth are aligned, my OS says he wants the braces to stay on " a good while " afterwards. He noticed my teeth were very loose during my surgery so the braces need to stay on until they tighten up again. I figuring another year but I've had braces for almost half my life (I'm 38) so one more year or so won't bother me. My husband and children have never seen me without them so they wouldn't even recognize me. I go back to the ortho on Aug 25. Sorry about the novel. I'm just so excited that everything is going so well. It looks like this really will be my last surgery! Wahoo! I hope everyone else is doing well, too. minirascal- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Hi , I am so happy for you!!! Congratulations on the okay to eat. I know it will still be a long road ahead of you, but just think, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Wow, that is a long time not to be able to eat! I couldn't imagine what you have gone through. You are about the strongest person I know. I know you are happy, so I just wanted to say CONGRATS!!!! Austria minirascal2002 <no_reply > wrote: Hi! Today, I'm six weeks post-op and had a great appt with my OS. He's very pleased with the way I'm healing. My swelling is almost gone and my facial muscles are starting to work again. When I took my bands off, he got a little worried at first because my jaw immediately shifted back over to the left. Once he seated my condyles, my bite was near perfect and will be after my orthodontist does his thing. It's just my muslces that keep pulling everything over to the left. I need to keep wearing my bands to retrain my muscles. He was very happy with my opening. I stretched and did my jaw exercises during the 40 minute drive to his office. I was so afraid he was going to stretch me again but I managed to get to 23 mm (two fingers) on my own. I still have a ways to go to our goal of 30 mm but I'm slowly getting there. I've also been cleared to eat whatever I want. Since the joints are artificial now there's no bone to heal so I can't do any damage. Eating is still slow-going. I haven't been able to chew for over three years now (and wasn't chewing much before then either) so my muscles are very atrophied. When I try to bite down on anything, I can't get through it and it just goes into my cheeks. I have been able to chew pasta, rice and overcooked veggies and they taste so good now. I've also been able to eat some very mild chili and tuna salad. Yum! I've also been cleared to go back to my ortho. It's going to feel good to get my teeth aligned. Even though my bite is good, I only have a few teeth that touch. Once my teeth are aligned, my OS says he wants the braces to stay on " a good while " afterwards. He noticed my teeth were very loose during my surgery so the braces need to stay on until they tighten up again. I figuring another year but I've had braces for almost half my life (I'm 38) so one more year or so won't bother me. My husband and children have never seen me without them so they wouldn't even recognize me. I go back to the ortho on Aug 25. Sorry about the novel. I'm just so excited that everything is going so well. It looks like this really will be my last surgery! Wahoo! I hope everyone else is doing well, too. minirascal- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Thanks, Austria. I will be thinking of you as you have your surgery. I hope you have a quick and easy recovery. > Hi! > > Today, I'm six weeks post-op and had a great appt with my OS. He's > very pleased with the way I'm healing. My swelling is almost gone > and my facial muscles are starting to work again. When I took my > bands off, he got a little worried at first because my jaw > immediately shifted back over to the left. Once he seated my > condyles, my bite was near perfect and will be after my orthodontist > does his thing. It's just my muslces that keep pulling everything > over to the left. I need to keep wearing my bands to retrain my > muscles. > > He was very happy with my opening. I stretched and did my jaw > exercises during the 40 minute drive to his office. I was so afraid > he was going to stretch me again but I managed to get to 23 mm (two > fingers) on my own. I still have a ways to go to our goal of 30 mm > but I'm slowly getting there. > > I've also been cleared to eat whatever I want. Since the joints are > artificial now there's no bone to heal so I can't do any damage. > Eating is still slow-going. I haven't been able to chew for over > three years now (and wasn't chewing much before then either) so my > muscles are very atrophied. When I try to bite down on anything, I > can't get through it and it just goes into my cheeks. I have been > able to chew pasta, rice and overcooked veggies and they taste so > good now. I've also been able to eat some very mild chili and tuna > salad. Yum! > > I've also been cleared to go back to my ortho. It's going to feel > good to get my teeth aligned. Even though my bite is good, I only > have a few teeth that touch. Once my teeth are aligned, my OS says > he wants the braces to stay on " a good while " afterwards. He noticed > my teeth were very loose during my surgery so the braces need to > stay on until they tighten up again. I figuring another year but > I've had braces for almost half my life (I'm 38) so one more year or > so won't bother me. My husband and children have never seen me > without them so they wouldn't even recognize me. I go back to the > ortho on Aug 25. > > Sorry about the novel. I'm just so excited that everything is going > so well. It looks like this really will be my last surgery! Wahoo! I > hope everyone else is doing well, too. > minirascal- > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 mini-rascal, You have no idea how excited i was to read your update. Finally some long awaited and deserved good news for you!!I'm so pleased words can't describe it. Even though I haven't been on the site very often during the last few weeks I've often thought of you and kept my fingers crossed that things were working out for you. Enjoy that food now that you have the go ahead to eat anything you like. I'm sure eventually you'll be able to bite down and chew on something nice and juicy. And when you do make sure you let us know for that's one milestone I don't want to miss out on hearing about! I'm off to Sicily tomorrow with my fiancè for a 10 day holiday. I'll be sure to drink a glass of glorious Sicilian wine and make a toast to your good health! Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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