Less than 3 weeks until I can get this silly splint out of my mouth! It's not terrible, but it does make my speech more sloppy and eating a bit more difficult. Dr M called me yesterday to check on how I was doing. How great is that? The man juggles between 4 different locations he works at, along with however many patients he has, and he takes time out to see how I am doing. He asked me if I would like to switch my appointment with him to Thursday instead of Friday, because on Thursdays Dr S (who is located directly across the hall from Dr M) is in all day and that way he can come over to the surgery center during my appointment to check in how I am doing as well. That way, I can see both Drs in one appointment. I think I will ask Dr M about the splint at my appointment... maybe I can get it off closer to 2 weeks from now :)
I tried to use my waterpik yesterday. I had never used it before, between moving home and my time of surgery, it never made it out of the box. Anyway, I think I better go over the instructions a few times-- I used about 3/4 of the water tank thing in a total of about 10 seconds. I clearly am doing something wrong :-P
Current annoyance: the upper gums. They are so numb when I touch them with a toothbrush, but they are always uncomfortable, if that's even possible. It alternates between feeling like there is NO saliva reaching up there so my gums feel completely dry, or it feels like all of my saliva pools up there and so it feels slimy and gross. The way the splint is held in place is there are little wires that go in between my teeth and are 'tied' at the top of a few teeth, so I have little metal twisty tie looking things near my gumline above my tooth (really creepy looking, btw). I am wondering if I am beginning to feel these or what is causing so much discomfort. Maybe there are still sores up there?
Every day, things seem to get better and better. I am not going to lie and say I am done complaining, it's in my DNA, I am a complainer haha, but I am also really good at looking at the bright side of things. I have been blessed in so many ways throughout surgery and my recovery. MY LIP IS COMING DOWN and that is a miracle in itself :)
I found this site yesterday that has a bunch of before/after pictures people have posted... I thought it was pretty fun to flip through so I thought I would share! http://www.jawsurgeryblog.com/forums/forum/before-after-photos
Braced Blogger | June 15, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Dani, you really could be a model! Seriously! I think you're beautiful! Glad you had an awesome first day back to work!!
JEN | June 16, 2011 at 4:49 AM
You look so great!
I'm curious... who takes all these well done pictures of you?
Brent | June 16, 2011 at 7:07 AM
Hi Dani!
Awesome that you are back to work! Question..with all the numbness do you find yourself drooling? That is one thing I am kinda of nervous about....
Also, that website is great...I found that early on and love it as a resource!
Cheers,
Brent
Dani | June 16, 2011 at 7:27 AM
Jen: I am living back at my parents for the summer, so my mom takes the pictures for me :)
Brent: I am done with drooling, it very rarely happens any more! Most of my mouth isn't numb, and my lips are probably considered 50% numb, so I have quite a bit of control of everything.
Anonymous | June 16, 2011 at 7:37 AM
As usual, you look amazing! You are so lucky. I just had a co-worker come over, scrunch up his nose and say, "How you doing? You look uh...numb" Lol. I have yet to have anyone who is not a jaw blogger friend, or my mom, give me positive feedback on my appearance. So trust me, you are lucky!!
I miss my mom taking my pics! It is soooo hard to take pics one handed. I keep hitting the wrong button and then I end up calling the last number that called me. Ahhhh! I think I will take my next set of pics next Monday when I have dinner with my friend and I will have her take decent ones for a change!
The mouth numbness is weird but it does get better. It is hard to enjoy food when you cannot feel it in your mouth. For me, it is getting better so you are just 10 days behind! Does your mouth feel smaller? Mine does. I can't get big spoonfuls of food in there like I used to. I feel like I am going to choke! My mouth is so tiny now. I used to have a crazy big mouth so it is kind of funny.
z3 | June 16, 2011 at 1:43 PM
hey isnt that splint starting to get annoying even though its not really bothering u look great
Dani | June 16, 2011 at 9:00 PM
Tina: I have always had a really small mouth, but now it feels even smaller! The total lack of being able to open it wide enough is starting to get frustrating. I am still using a baby spoon for the most part because a normal size spoon isn't flat enough for me to really get it in there properly, and with my upper lip still sitting up so high because of the swelling, it won't 'scrape' the food off a normal size spoon!
z3: Yes my splint is driving me nuts! When I am busy and don't think about it it doesn't bother me, but when I am eating or talking it does!