9 weeks post op

I'm continuing to eat foods.  I've had about 3 hamburgers in the past week(thank you Wendy's and Smashburger)!  I can't bite into them yet so I have to cut them into small bite-size pieces, but that's ok!  I still do some liquid meals as it's just easier, but it's nice to eat (chew) when I can.  Marc and I went camping with the kids this past weekend.  It was a little annoying to be away from modern conveniences (like my waterpik!), but next camping trip, I may just bring it with. 

I saw my orthodontist yesterday.  He shifted my elastics around a little bit.  He still can't do much since I have the splint in.  I'm really hoping that it can come out in two weeks, but I guess it's really holding my palate in place right now (it was expanded during surgery) and there's a high rebound chance, and they just want to allow it to heal properly and nicely.  He said I will still have a fair amount of orthodontic adjustments once the splint comes out.  I was afraid to ask what that meant, and hoping "fair amount" is still within the 6-9 months they expected.  We'll see. 

I haven't done any real exercising since surgery, but I decided I need to start somewhere so I'm doing a couple sets of push-ups a day now.  Baby steps.  :) 

During our camping trip I noticed a little more feeling coming back in my chin.  It felt tickly.  Sometimes it feels like small needles, other times tingly, but this time it was tickly. 

Besides the numbness and the splint, and just being out of shape, I feel pretty normal.  I've gotten pretty use to the elastics in my mouth, though at times I will forget they are there and try to stick a piece of food in and it will bounce back out.  But that's an easy fix ( I just take them out to eat and put new ones back in). 

Here's my pic for this week.  I actually took it yesterday.  My hair looks good (unlike right now!) though my chin kind of blends into my neck/chest due to the lighting. 

8 weeks post op

Not much new to report.....

I have been using the non-drowsy muscle relaxer (skelaxin) and it has been working pretty well.  It will be more expensive(but only by comparison to the previous medication I was taking).  We were paying pennies for the previous medication, and now we'll have to shell out about $10 a month until I get a mouth guard.  I wake up less drowsy, but find I am a little nauseous at times throughout the day (and no I'm not pregnant!) ;)  I am enjoying not feeling like a zombie in the morning! 

I have been chewing more, but it is very weird as I'm used to only chewing with my back teeth.  I've heard that takes a while to get used to.   I've been enjoying lots of pancakes and had some salmon last week as well. 

I have no pic for today.  It is a bad hair day by choice.  I'm actually getting my hair cut tonight, so I will try to post a pic next week. 

7 Week Post Op

Today was a busy day for the whole family.  We left here at about 7:30 am.  Both Lydia and I had our annual physicals in Hinsdale at 8:30.  (For the last year, all of our medical appointments have been in Hinsdale due to having to be on an HMO in Hinsdale for surgery to be covered).  Since Lydia completely dislkes going to the doctor, and needed shots, I was a little nervous.  I also knew we had a new doctor.  Most of the doctors at the practice we have to go to, are residents, as was the Dr. we had been seeing for the last year.  He has moved on, and we had a new resident.  I'm happy to report he was great and Lydia did great too (besides the crying when she knew it was "shot" time)  My physicals are usually pretty uneventful, but it turns out I have two moles that need to get removed, so I'll be back in Hinsdale in a couple weeks.  Apparently it's a really simple process.  It has been a pain and a nuisance make the trek down to Hinsdale for every appt, but I'm thankful to God, that none of us have been really sick!

We enjoyed lunch with some of Marc's old co-workers, and then I had an afternoon appt with Dr. K(my surgeon).  I expected him to attempt removing my splint, but I think when he saw how far I could open (not far enough), he knew it would not be possible.  So the splint stays for now.  When they said my next appointment would be in 8 weeks, I asked if we could make it earlier.  It pays to be a little assertive, because I now go back in 4 weeks! I just couldn't imagine waiting another 2 months before getting the splint out.   I'd like to get the splint out so I can A)talk easier B)not get food stuck under it, and C)move on with the ortho treatment (my orthodontist can only do so much until the splint comes out).  Dr. K did give the okay to chew soft things today (pasta, ground beef, etc.), so hopefully the chewing works my jaw muscles and allows me to open further.  Dr. K also added another elastic but said from here on out the orthodontist can be in charge of elastic placing. 
There were no x-rays today which kind of surprised me.  My appt with Dr. K. turned out to be quite uneventful, but the news that I could chew softer stuff was nice.  Dr. K. also gave me a script for a non-drowsy muscle relaxer.  I'm going to try that tomorrow night and see if it works. 

6 weeks post op

Well this is my first week on my own. However yesterday the kids spent the afternoon at Marc's mom's, and they had music camp in the morning, so it wasn't a "normal" day.

My energy continues to be at a good level. Like I mentioned in previous posts, my doctor put me back on a muscle relaxer which is good and bad. It's good because it will prevent night time clenching. However the cost is feeling more sluggish. I tried something new yesterday. I took the meds in the afternoon instead of evening in hopes that I wouldn't feel as sluggish in the morning. I'm happy to report that it worked. I just got tired earlier on in the evening, but I prefer that to feeling tired when I wake up.

I saw my orthodontist (Dr. W.) yesterday and he said it all still looks good. He can't start doing any adjustments on my braces until the splint is out so that's even more motivation to get this splint out. I'm still not opening far enough for my surgeon (Dr. K.) to remove the splint, and I see him a week from today so I'm really hoping I can by next week.

Dr. W. did add one more elastic to my mouth to help tighten things up and close a gap on my right side. I woke up with sore teeth due to the movement the elastic caused. I still have two elastics I also have to wear on my front teeth.

In food news, I've been able to eat Mac n cheese(no chewing, just swallowing), some chili, and egg salad. I can't believe I'm only two weeks away from (hopefully) being able to chew. I've heard it takes some time to re-learn and adjust to your new bite, but I'm excited nonetheless.

5 Weeks Post Op

Wow, crazy to think it's been 5 weeks!!!!  Time has flown, yet in many ways gone very slowly too. I'm in WI for the week.   Then next week, I'm officially on my own!  Scary, but good too.   There is not much new to report.  I've been on the amitryptiline (muscle relaxer) and it has made me groggier.  I used my dad's pill cutter and cut a pill in half, and just took half a pill last night, to see how that would go.  I woke up a little less groggy, and clenched a little more than when I take a full pill.  I guess that was to be expected.  Not sure if I'll do that again, but it may be a good option for days when I need to be in full swing early. 

I have tried eating real food.  I tried some lasagna a friend made last week.  I didn't eat very much, and got a lot on my face, but it felt good to eat real food.  Also I've found that the center portions of buttery garlic bread are easy to swallow without chewing, as long as they are in small enough pieces.  YUM.   Today my mom and I made some Quinoa and Vegetable Chili.  I pureed some and it was pretty good!!  Find the recipe here.

My energy continues to be at a much better level than the first few weeks, though when I'm on own with the kids next week, I'll probably get a better idea of where it's actually at.  :) 

I'm starting to get a tiny bit of feeling (about 10%) in the right third of my lower lip.  Not much but good to be slowly getting feeling back.

That's all for now. 

Here's the weekly pic, and yes I'm wearing patriotic beads.