Day 26

Last night before bed, I started checking out my bite and noticed that my midline seems to be a tiny bit off. It was PERFECT after surgery, but now it doesn't seem that way to me. I may be over thinking it, and it really is only the tiniest bit off so I am sure it is nothing to worry about, but I started obsessing over it last night! I am currently wearing two bands, the one on the right goes from the surgical hook that's over the tooth behind my canine tooth, and then connects on the bottom second to last molar. On the left side, it's just a straight up and down configuration from the canine to the tooth directly below it. I feel like there is so much more strain on the left side than the right, like the band is pulling more. For some reason, the stretching across multiple teeth on the right seems like I have more leeway. Anyway, I know the ortho knows what he's doing, but it's odd to me to wear different configurations on each side and I feel like things are going to get messed up. SO before jumping into bed I decided to move the right elastic to have the same configuration as the left. It made it feel much more secure, but it also felt SO tight and uncomfortable. This is a configuration I have had on both sides before, but for some reason, this time it felt like I had the strength of 4 bands pulling my teeth shut. My whole mouth ached ALL night, and I really got the worst nights sleep that I have had since my long nights right after surgery. I woke up constantly, aching and totally uncomfortable. When I took the elastics off this morning, it felt like my teeth could fall out, they were that sore! I still can't figure out what made last night such a weird night, both pain wise and sleep wise, but I gave my teeth a little break this morning and left the elastics out for 2 hours.

My lips are weird. I mean, they aren't my normal lips. My upper lip changes sizes throughout the day, but one really odd thing I have noticed is that half of my lip seems to be folded under. When I put my finger on the edge of my upper lip, near the creases, and lift, more of my lip is exposed. It's like half of my lip is hidden. Am I making any sense here? Haha

There are starting to be OTHER things that are taking over my mind, and not just solely jaw surgery, which feels great. I am on a 'kick' of about 20 different things. I am on a 'House Hunters International' kick (the show on HGTV). I am on a Starbucks kick. I am on a shopping kick. I am on a blog-reading kick, but not just jaw blogs, every sort of blog- fashion, photography, health, etc. I am becoming obsessed with things besides jaw surgery, and it's awesome! That doesn't mean I am not still obsessed with jaw surgery, but I can feel the absolute beginning stages of it fading. This doesn't mean I will stop blogging though, it gives me an outlet and it really helps me sort out my thoughts-- tt just means you may see other topics popping up in my blog, not just surgery related things, such as random questions like this...

Has anyone tried any peanut butter type substitutes, such as almond butter or sunflower seed butter? I managed to become allergic to peanuts when I was 16, and life without peanut butter sucks. I am looking for a substitute, any suggestions?

My boyfriend and I made the mistake of baking red velvet cupcakes with absolutely no occasion to be baking them for, and therefore we ended up with 24 cupcakes and the two of us to eat them. They were of course, left at my house, and now there is one person to eat all of the cupcakes. So, the weight hasn't stayed off as well as I had hoped. I think now I am sitting about 7 lbs down from my pre-op weight. Now I just need to keep it that way.


I am playing around with my blog layout, so just a warning as it may change a few times in the next few days until I can settle on something I really like!

Sorry for the deer in the headlights look. It really is much more difficult to take the photos myself! Does my face shape really look normal to you guys? I feel like my chin is so weird, and like my mouth is too high up, leaving me with a huge chin. I don't know, I just can't figure out if I like it or not. I took this picture at 6 am, and you can see how my lips are more swollen are in the morning.



6 comments:

  • Mrs. B | June 18, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Dani,
    You REALLY do look beautiful! I know you may be tired of hearing that. But it's true!! Your face shape is a really nice oval. Very desirable. Tooth soreness/sensitivity is very normal at this point in your recovery. But if it makes you feel better, maybe you can call your OD and address all of your issues. It may help you sleep better! :-) I'm totally jealous that your BF bakes!!! OMG! My hubby?? NEVER! Lol....But...he can grill a mean piece of chicken on our Weber!

    I, too, am into reading blogs about various things. Let me know if you find something super interesting. HHI is a pretty good show, but I LOVE Property Virgins! Actually I did some DIY landscaping last summer, just based on watching HGTV, and learning what I could. It actually turned out nicely. I also learned how to paint and do other odds and ends around the house watching HGTV. It can be addictive. It's my dirty little secret "me-time" when my kids are asleep, and I have a bit of free time.

    I eat almond butter from our local health food store. You should try it. The store I go to actually has the machine that grinds the almonds into butter, so you can buy as little or as much as you want. I usually buy about 1-2 oz. ... Just enough to last me a few servings.

  • Rhianna | June 18, 2011 at 4:28 PM

    Sometimes I look at my midlines in the mirror and they seem to be slightly off but then other times they match up perfectly! Its amazing how much we rely on these braces and elastics to do a PERFECT job, and we freak out If we think there not doing what their suppose too. :( I hope you don't experience any more pain from your elastics at night. We need out sleep :)

    I am trying to stop myself from getting paranoid and obsessing over little things and to focus on all the positives. Its hard though because we go through so much and just want everything to be correct!!!!! We deserve perfection right?? haha...It is going to be so surreal this time next year when we can look back at all this, the hardship and challenges and know its OVER and just relax and enjoy our beautiful smiles and functioning jaws :) I cant wait!!

    It's so great you are starting to find other interests to take your mind of the surgery! I am starting to feel like I want to get on with my normal life too. I went with my friend to take her dog to the vet yesterday and then I walked home in the sun. It was a lovely half hour walk and it was so good to do something normal. I actually am NOT a big reader, I hardly ever pick up a non uni book to read, however I have used this recovery time to get back into reading and I am really enjoying it :)

    P.S those cupcakes look so yummy! Send me over one please! hehe

  • Nora Simone | June 18, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    So I've been awol for the past few days so the changes in your face are even more noticeable in terms of reduced swelling and improved jaw definition. I promise - you look GREAT! I think right now you're just having a hard time seeing different as different rather than "weird" or bad. You look beautiful, just in a different way than you did pre-op. But I swear that the different is a good different and not a bad one.

    I understand what you're saying about the lip thing (though it isn't noticeable to me from the pics), but I have no idea what would cause it or if it's temporary. I'd bring it up to your OS or ortho and see what they say.

    Again - you look absolutely beautiful, pinky swear. As for the new-found obsessions: YAY!!! I can't wait to be at that point, lol. And for peanut butter substitutions I've heard that cashew nut butter is a good one, but I myself haven't tried it.

    Keeping my fingers crossed for your continued recovery!!!

  • Brent | June 19, 2011 at 8:16 AM

    Hi Dani!
    I have read in many blogs (post surgery) where the "mid-line" began to move, and they all reported that their orthodontist was able to correct that with braces! So, just hang in there!! Also, I don't know if you have ever watched the procedure that you went through...but, what the surgeon does with your upper lip is essentially peel it up your face - muscle and all(sorry for the rough description). So to me it makes perfect sense that everyone's upper lip take a little longer to "get its act together" with swelling etc! I would think that some kind of excercise would be helpful - did your surgeon recoommend anything like that yet?

    I am glad that your obsession is moving on to other fun stuff! I really can't wait until I can stop obsessing about my surgery, jaw profile, open bite and everything that goes along with this process!

    Have a wonderful day!
    Cheers,
    Brent

  • Dani | June 19, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    Brent, I totally understand that it is going to take time for my lip to start being normal, but grr it can be frustrating sometimes (okay, fine, maybe ALL of the time). My surgeon hasn't really given me any sort of exercises, but I do a bit on my own, making my mouth in a 'whistle' position, or stretching it, things like that. I do notice things improving, but man, this recovery is ridiculously long!

  • Mai | June 21, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    hey dani; omg i know what u mean!!! its like for some reason we see the slightest change and we over-react! ive been doing that too, maybe its because ... okay i really dont know why..lol
    i agree with what cece said, the shape of your face is really nice,
    as for your lips, did you ask your surgeon about why its like that? but you look beautiful as always and that cup cake looks good. like really really good XD

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