5 months

I can't believe it has been 5 months since I had double jaw surgery. I feel great, the only problems I have had is due to me being so busy I forget to do my jaw stretches so my jaw has become pretty tight again. However, I can still open it pretty wide it is just really uncomfortable. Once I stretch it out it feels fine, no popping or tightness. : )

I have my appointment scheduled to get my top braces off. YAY, I can not wait for Jan 6th! Great way to start off the New Year, with a new smile! The bottom braces should come off a couple weeks after.

I was just looking back at pictures and I even though those first two weeks were super rough, it doesn't seem all that bad now… of course that is easy to say now that I am eating pretty much anything I want, and can open wide!

I love my smile, and face. My smile can still be gummy when I get really smiley, but it is different. It is not as gummy. My chin still feels a little strange when I see it in pictures other people take. When I do my selfies for this blog I like it, when i see it in other pics it looks huge!

I will finish this post up later tonight! Need to get back to work.

149 Days!

Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted anything. Most days I have some what forgotten about the huge ordeal that happened back in July (the double jaw surgery). However, I am still pretty tight, but I can squeeze two knuckles in my mouth which was my goal. It's not fun to do, but I can do it. lol

I am still numb on my chin, but I can feel when it is touched. It's not 100% feeling, but it's something which gives me hope that eventually it will come back. Chewing is no problem now. I am eating everything I want. I haven't bitten into a whole apple, but I still have braces. Pretty sure that would be a terrible idea while I am wearing these stupid things. Yes, I am so done with the braces. I am ready to move on… and eat and not worry how much food is still left in my teeth, most likely my entire meal. So annoying.

ON the bright side, it looks like I will be getting them off in just a few weeks. He was hoping to get them off before Christmas but he wants to tweak one little thing, so looking more like the first week of Jan. I am soooo excited. I will probably throw myself a party!

Anywho. Writing this post incredibly fast as I have to start teaching voice lessons in 2 minutes, but really wanted to get a post up since I have been so terrible at it!

I have loved reading everyones posts, and so glad you all are doing amazing!

Heather

Day 97 :: Normalcy

Day 97:

Life is almost is back to how it was before surgery, except less painful. My jaw rarely hurts or aches at this point, and I have had no popping like before the surgery. The jaw is still a little tight and I am not quite at 3 fingers or two knuckles, but I am getting closer every day. I am eating pretty much anything I want at this point. Let's be honest some things are still difficult to chew; nuts, hard vegetables, tough meat, BUT I can chew it. Also, still can't take crazy huge bites of food due to limited opening, but who needs to take crazy huge bites? Not me. : )

I saw my orthodontist yesterday and he was surprised at how fast things were moving into place and is weaning me off the bands I have been wearing in hopes that before Christmas I will be scheduling an appointment to get my braces off!! I am praying for a Christmas miracle that this happens and I can have a Christmas sans braces! Best gift ever in my opinon. So that is my exciting news, not that it is set in stone, but just to hear those words that this chapter is almost over is so so so wonderful!

I am getting more comfortable with the changes in my face, I think at this point I am the only one that really notices anything everyone else is used to it and doesn't seem to be phased at all by the slight change in my nose, chin, and profile (which I LOVE now).

Hope you are all doing well, and back to normal life as well!

Day 78: My weird feelings are starting to vanish

I am sure I have mentioned the weird sensations I have been experiencing that well make me cringe inside. I feel like I am touching cotton balls, or there is chalk all over my hands, or biting down on foil all the worst sensations balled up into one where my teeth and hands, and I just shiver thinking about it. I touch things and I feel it in my teeth. It is the weirdest thing to explain to people, but I have been feeling it constantly for the past 7 days or more. Today I finally had a few hours where I didn't notice that sensation AT ALL! Thank GOD! I seriously was worried this would never go away, and I was going to be put into a straight jacket, because the sensation was about to drive me insane. While I feel the feeling a little, it's no where near what I was feeling prior. Praying tomorrow it fades even more, or is completely gone, I am okay with that too! ; )

My mouth is opening wider since my last post which was 3 days ago. I have been making myself eat really chewy things, like dried fruit, and powerberries and larger pieces of meat. I think the chewing is helping to loosen the muscles. It is a little uncomfortable, but I know it will only get better then more I work it so I might as well suffer through the aches I get at night, which really are not that bad. It's better than the aches and pains before surgery.

Thats they other thing my jaw has not popped once since the surgery, and I no longer get migraines weekly. My jaw seems to be loosening up, and I think once its opening all the way it will be better than ever. My neck still hurts a little, but no where near like before surgery. I guess I hold all of my stress there, I should just go get massages more often. Poor me : P

I got my hair dyed today, between my new lower jaw and smile, and now the hair I might be feeling a little overwhelmed. I wanted a change... well I got it. It's growing on me. If I decide I hate it I will just add some blonde in there to lighten it up. I can't tell if it looks unnatural, since I have always had light hair.

Well happy October! I can't believe fall is here, and 2 months and 1 week have passed since my surgery! Crazy!

Hope everyone has an amazing week!

Day 75: Another appointment with the surgeon

So for those of you that are preparing for your upcoming jaw surgery, I will tell you that looking back the worst of it all came and went so quickly. I am now 2 months and one week post surgery, and I can do and eat pretty much anything. My only limitations at this point is biting into hard or tough foods, chewing to much causes a few issues, and opening my mouth wide.

I had an appointment with my surgeon this past Thursday, he said my swelling looked to be almost completely gone and was impressed with my bite. It hasn't shifted or moved and all looks good. Which is good news, as when your teeth are moving, and your bite seems to be changing constantly due to braces I worry daily that something is going wrong. Like oh no my teeth don't touch like they did yesterday. It's all part of the process I guess. It's good to hear that things look good.

He gave me another exercise to do to help stretch the muscles, as they are still extremely tight. He told me to place the tip of my tongue behind the top front teeth and open until you can feel the pull and hold the stretch. Also to continue prying my jaw open. He is much stronger than me or maybe I am more afraid of hurting myself, because when I pry my jaws apart it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as when he does it. I will have to get more forceful as my end goal he said is 2 knuckles wide, and I am shooting for full range by November. That gives me 5 weeks. I can do this. I also bought tongue depressors and I stacked them all together and put them in and hold it there feeling the strain. 

I was having problems with my right jaw hurting and feeling an uncomfortable pain when yawning and things that required my mouth to open slowly or over and over again. My surgeon looked at that, and from my description and where the pain was coming from it was my lower jaw muscle. He said that my right side wasn't opening as far as the left and felt much tighter. So to continue with the exercises, and not to baby the jaw. He said I can work out like normal, but in moderation, and I can chew/eat anything in moderation. Though some things would be hard due to my mouth opening being one knuckle. I had sushi last night, and I could not fit it in my mouth so I had to cut it in half and squish it down. It was messy. So glad we brought it home! : )

It also seems like that was my last appointment with the Surgeon he said I am now in the hands of my orthodontist, and to message him with updates with the jaw opening. Of course if I have any issues I will be going back to him, but he said at this point everything looks good, and I just need to work my jaw more. I am free to do whatever I feel up to doing.

I had an orthodontist appointment today, he was impressed with the way my teeth were moving and I was told to only wear my bands every other night! Yipee, a little more freedom. I forgot to ask him if he has an idea of how much longer I will be wearing these wonderful braces for. I think I am afraid to hear the answer so I don't ask. I would LOVE to have them off by Christmas, that will be the best Christmas present ever. 

Numbness is slowly going away. It's weird I don't feel a ton of tingles any more but the area feels more normal. I can feel somethings better than others on that area. For instance warm things I can't really feel, but cold things I slightly feel. I don't care, as feeling anything on the chin at this point gives me hope that I will gain full feeling in my chin.

Pictures from the last few days:

I still see swelling under my bottom lip. 

I make this face constantly to help break up scar tissue.

Day 69: Water!

Day 69:

Well, I can't believe it has been 69 days since I had double jaw surgery. It seems like at this point life is back to normal until I eat.

This past week I have had jaw pain in my right side. It has been a little uncomfortable and almost like a popping. I say almost, it is different than when it popped before the surgery. It seemed to happen at random times, and also felt strange when yawning, chewing and so on. I realized this morning I wasn't feeling good and started thinking I haven't been drinking very much water like I was a few weeks ago. I have gotten busy and stopped making water a priority. So this morning I have drank 80 ounces, and my jaw tightness and pain is gone! So I guess what I am saying is that the muscles and joint need to be hydrated... which is why they recommend 100 ounces of water daily. I guess I just thought I was in the clear. I need to stay on top of the water not just for my jaw, but for my body. Water is pretty important.

I have an appointment this Thursday with my surgeon hopefully all is well. I have been trying to get my  jaw to open to two fingers. It has not been cooperating. How long did it take everyone else to get their jaw opening to a normal width? I feel like I am falling behind in this area. My muscles are so tight. I thought they would loosen quicker than everyone else due to my singing/talking 8 hours or so a day.

Numbness. I am starting to get more feeling back. It is still numb below my bottom lip, but I can feel a little so it is no longer completely numb.

My teeth have been super sensitive the past 2 weeks to the point where I shudder and cringe when I am brushing my teeth, or doing nothing. It is the weirdest, most horrible feeling. It's so hard to explain. I am sure other people have experience this terrible feeling, at least I hope I am not alone in this!

No word on when the braces come off, I have an ortho appt on Monday so I will probably ask if he has an idea. : ) I am really hoping before Christmas.

I am loving my new profile and smile! The swelling is coming down in the chin area, but I can still see a half circle where the swelling is.

So glad to see everyone doing and looking so amazing!

2 months!

I made two months! Woo hoo! At this point I am getting comfortable with everything, and can eat and do most things. I am slowly becoming more active. Not running and jumping around like a crazy person, but active. I started dancing again, and taught my first two weeks of classes with no problems. I am officially 100% back to work.

Eating is easier and harder. I CAN chew more things, but after a ten minutes of chewing hamburger meat or something my right side of my jaw starts to hurt. Actually the last few days I have had the most pain in my jaw since the beginning.  : ( Probably due to starting to push myself a little more. Trying to open my mouth wider, and eating more meat, and tough things.

All my little tingles and weird phantom feelings in my chin have kinda stopped I rarely feel itchy or weird things any more. However, I can slightly feel when I touch my chin, and when certain things touch my chin. It's not a lot of feeling, but some is better than none, right?

I just ordered tongue depressors, I decided the stretching the jaw with my hands is to much for me to do. I need to physically see how much wider I am getting. I need something to measure my progress with. So I will start adding one or so a day until the Doctor is happy with where I am at : )

The one thing that is bothering me is this line I am getting below my bottom lip when I close my lips. It is becoming a half circle, and I know its from the swelling, it started about a month or more ago as just a line and now spreading. I am hoping that it will eventually go away when the swelling in my chin area is 100% gone. I was hoping at 2 months swelling would be gone, and while I don't feel super swollen I know that I must be. It's so hard to tell, from how I was the first 2 weeks to now the swelling has gone down so much... so in my mind the swelling is gone. Then I see pictures and see one cheek a little larger than the other or the chin line and think please God let that be due to swelling.

So all of this to say it hasn't been all bad. I haven't had a migraine in weeks, my neck hasn't really hurt or been tense like it used to before surgery. My jaw has not popped constantly, every once in awhile it has the past few weeks, BUT not nearly like pre surgery. I am happy that I had the surgery and I know that in a few more months things will be almost normal. One day at a time!

See the half circle under my bottom lip. I still struggle closing my lips all the way. It in no way feels natural.

I can open wider! 

Day 55: Aches and pains.

Day 55:

Well, while I am getting my energy back the past few days I have been experiencing some aches on pain on my right side when I chew or open to wide. So I have been taking Advil again to help get some relief. This is the first time in weeks I have been taking any meds, so I don't think this is to bad. Though it is a little annoying to be back to feeling some pain. I thought things were on the up and up. Just a reminder that I still have a ways to go.

My chin has had less sensation going on the past few days, not sure if that is a good thing or bad. I didn't mind the phantom feeling or the zings, as in my mind it just meant the nerves were healing. So I took that as a positive. Hopefully, the feeing is coming back and within the next 2 months it will be back to normal.

Life is so much better without the bands on 24/7. I can go out and enjoy myself more. I definitely need to start working my jaw more. If I could open it just a little more eating out and eating overall would be sooooo much easier! : )

This is as wide as I can open. : ( 

Day 51: Ortho appt & bands are gone during day!

Day 51:

Well, I am officially terrible at updating this blog. Life has become so hectic and insane that  I don't have time to sit down and update how I am doing, let alone think about how I am doing.

BEST news as of late is that I just got home from seeing my orthodontist and he went ahead and changed my braces on the top, took off all the surgical hooks, and said I can stop wearing the bands during the day. So night only! Boy is that going to make life so much easier. Eating has been such a pain due to the bands. If we are out I have to go to the bathroom to take the bands off, and then after eating go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and put the bands back on... bleh. I am so happy to wear them only at night. No complaining about that from this girl! : ) It's crazy how those little hooks really covered my teeth. I feel like I look different without the hooks. My teeth show more, and seem so white again!!

I am definitely a little more swollen today. I think it's primarily from keeping my jaw open for 45 minutes. It was getting a little sore while all the changes were being made. I didn't care though. I was so happy to see those stupid hooks go!

I feel like things are already starting to really get back to normal. I am back to work 100%. Tonight starts the show choirs I teach. So I will be moving and dancing, carefully for the next few weeks. Back to normal braces, and eating most things I ate prior to surgery, though I wouldn't say I am eating like I did prior. I mean like taking bites, and things. I can't fit large pieces of anything in my mouth, but I have a system that seems to be working for eating : ) 

Some feeling is beginning to come back to my bottom lip and chin slowly. It is no longer completely numb, but it still feels extremely strange, and sometimes I don't catch warm stray food on it, or warm liquids running down it. 

My jaw is starting to open a little wider, I am still terrible at doing the jaw exercises, but hey I am working it all day with teaching voice and piano 7-8 hours a day. When I think about it or have time I do the jaw exercises, which is usually at stop lights. People probably think I am insane prying my jaw open. haha Oh, well. 

All in all things are going great! Hope everyone is doing amazing!

Say what, no more bands during the day???

                                      

Day 42: 6weeks and finally some energy!

Day 42:

Sorry, totally skipping days here and there. This past weekend was my husband and I's 6 year anniversary. We spent the day out and about, and then went to San Francisco for a giants game. Had amazing seats right next to home plate! We originally wanted to spend the weekend in Carmel, Ca, but we didn't want to book anything weeks ago incase I wasn't feeling up to it. By the time we knew I could handle the trip nothing was available : ( Oh, well maybe in the fall we will spend a weekend on the coast!

Well, at this point in the surgery most things are about the same. It seems like this is the point where things will gradually get easier, and better. My jaw muscles are slowly relaxing allowing me to open just a tiny bit more. Still not enough to make eating like it was before surgery. I still have to cut up food into small bites to make it manageable to fit in my mouth. I am a little terrible at doing the jaw exercises the Surgeon told me to do. I need to get better at doing it 6 times a day, not 3 times a day. Slacker over here!

Numbness seems to be getting a little better, I am starting to get a little bit of feeling starting on the outsides of the chin and a little on my lip. The feeling seems to be creeping it's way toward the center between my chin and lip, or at least I am hoping that is what is happening. : )

My Jaw only really aches a little after the exercises, and after a really long day. The most annoying thing is my bottom teeth are hurting again. It feels like the Orthodontist adjusted my braces and my teeth are moving, which they probably are moving and not in a good way. Luckily this next Thursday I get to go to my Orthodontist and he is taking off the surgical hooks, and most likely putting on all new clear braces. Basically starting all over with a fresh set! : ) What no more yellow braces? Excited to get rid of the hooks. My bottom lip is so torn up.

Singing isn't difficult anymore, well at least the notes below high C. Anything higher than that it is hard to open my mouth to really open the back of my throat to not strain. The one thing I notice that makes me want to immediately stop stinging is the vibrations that hit my teeth when I sing loud, because I can't open my mouth. Oh man is it terrible! It feels like my teeth are going to fall out or something. It is the weirdest feeling.

Energy is starting to come back. I don't feel as tired any more, or I should say my tiredness comes in waves. I no longer feel exhausted 24/7. So that is amazing, and great since I have 3 glee clubs starting next week, where the kids sing and dance. I was worried I would be dead, and wouldn't be up to teaching the choreography. So excited to be active again!! I am at the 6 weeks marker, which if my memory serves me correctly I CAN FINALLY DO STUFF! Well, as long as it is things that won't hit me in the face, or anything to rough! : )

I might try to work out tomorrow! I say "try" because I have gotten a little lazy over the past 6 weeks of taking it easy : ) Who wants to do anything, when you can sit around and read a book?


I should say at this point the only thing I really don't like is when I put my lips together I still feel like they don't touch naturally, which causes weird lines across my chin. However, I have noticed in the past 3 weeks the lines are starting to change and hopefully soon will fade as everything heals.

6 weeks post-op

That is how far I can open with bands...I can open farther w/out bands.

Day 37: My smile finally looks normal!

I am happy that my smile finally looks pretty normal to me. It's like the same smile I had before, but a million times better. It's the same little heart shape on top, but without miles of gums showing. I am actually feeling really good about everything now. My profile I love, my chin is becoming more normal to me, and the smile well I REALLY LOVE! I hope it stays just like this. I like it just the way it is now. Now if the lingering swelling can go away, I will be really happy. I just feel a little uneven right now. My right side is more swollen, I am sure most people don't notice it, but it bugs me. 

Off to go work my jaw by singing for the next 6 hours! I am feeling much better today. My jaw is getting used to talking, and singing. It's not so bad any more. I feel the energy coming back, or maybe it was the extra bold freddo I had this morning from peets. Either way I am feeling better! 

Smile

Relaxed 

Day 36: Photos

BEFORE PHOTOS

                     

 Day 36 Photos:

                                                                              

I am definitely feeling more confident about my appearance now. My Smile is starting to feel a bit more normal now that the swelling has gone down. I still feel a bit swollen in my cheeks, especially my right side, and maybe a little in my chin. However, maybe this is what my face will look like from now on. A little fuller in the cheeks/chin area. My face was always extremely thin before.

Oh, and just two days into my exercises with stretching my jaw and I feel like I can open a bit wider all ready. : ) So happy about that. It is not much wider, but I will take anything as a positive.

My bottom lip is starting to regain feeling! I can feel when I am putting chap stick on. It's not quite a "normal" feeling, but feeling none the less and that has me feeling very optimistic that I will regain 100% of my feeling back!

3 more work days and then weekend. Who can't wait for that...THIS GIRL!

Day 34/35: First day back to work.

Day 34/35:

So I skipped the weekend. Busy doing stuff getting ready for my first week back to work!

Well my Monday started off extremely early. I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday morning at 8:30a in Oakland. Mind you I live in the East bay area, and lucky me got to commute with the thousands of people going to work in Oakland or San Francisco. So what should be a 45 minute drive, was about 2 hours. I shouldn't complain. I commute to my front door for most of my work. So the surgeon was impressed with the swelling, how I looked and was talking. He looked at all the incisions, which are healing nicely, and my bite also looks great. So thats the good news. Things had been feeling like they were shifting, he said it is just my teeth, not the jaw, and things will get better once the orthodontist can align the back teeth and everything touches properly. So that is a relief. He said my jaw muscles are more tense than most patients at this point, which are inhibiting my mouth from opening very wide. So to help work the muscles I can now start exercising my jaw. As in I need to pry it open 5-6 times a day. He demonstrated on me. OUCH! I can tell you what I am going to hate doing 5-6 times a day. The exercise I get to do is to put a finger or knuckle between my teeth and press my upper jaw apart from my lower jaw using my thumb, and massage my jaw with the other hand. Oh and hold that for 15 or more seconds. He said I would need to be aggressive due to my muscles being so tight. Make sure I feel the tension. Well, on a positive note this means sooner than later I will be able to open a little wider so food can get in without falling everywhere. So it's not all bad.

So work. Let me just start by saying boy is it hard to get back into the swing of things after being off 4 1/2 weeks. It was so good to see all of my Monday students, yet exhausting. I had a lot of piano students yesterday thankfully. Talking after about 2 hours was starting to make my jaw have a dull ache. Singing was interesting. I didn't sound terrible, except my lisp and the fact I can't pronounce as well as before, oh and the fact I can't open my mouth very wide. How did I almost forget that small detail? Well, the kids were all happy to be back and didn't seem to mind my mouth. I worked a total of 5 hours, due to some people still being on summer vacation and I was so tired when I got off. My whole body felt like jelly. I forgot how much energy it takes to keep kids engaged in something.

Well today, Tuesday, I teach 8 hours. My jaw is already a little achy from the jaw exercises I did this morning. So took some motrin knowing that it might get worse as the day goes on. I teach in 30 minutes at 10am and get off at 7:30p. I do get an hour break in there. I just desperately need/want my energy back.

I have not been following my normal diet that I was on prior to surgery. I ate very organic, whole foods, and very minimal grains and sugars. I have not been following that at all the past 35 days. So now that I can start chewing a little, I need to get back to that. I always felt good eating healthy. Maybe part of my sluggishness is due to my diet. Tonight for dinner fish, and veggies (soft veggies). Lunch organic pea soup! I need to find some good soft healthy snack foods. I used to eat a lot of lara bars, I wonder if I can eat those again? I won't know until I try right?

Swelling is about the same. I still feel like my cheeks are a little puffy and my chin area. Still numb on my chin, but I can kinda feel things now. I at least know when most things are touching that area. So that is a huge positive knowing that my feeling is starting to come back! I am happy about that!



Happy Tuesday. Here's to eating healthy, and getting this mouth more open!