Little over 6 weeks Post Op

BANDS IN THE TRAP: Went to my surgeon, for one more visit. I have been allowed to only wear the rubber bands at night. I get to go all day without them. Which sounds wonderful, but now I have to train myself to relax but make sure that my teeth are lined up without tension on them from the bands. The bands made things a lot easy on positioning. But I am sure it will take a few weeks to adjust to the new alignment.

EATING: I am eating more. I have put several pounds back on. Not so thrilled about that, and not so thrilled that I will be out of those size 4 jeans in the wink of an eye. Oh well, I will put them in the back of the closet soon. I ate 3 slices of pizza today. THANKS BILL!!! Cutting every piece into super tiny pieces, and realizing it takes soooo long to masticate, and the then the next slice is freezing cold. I need to pick up my pace.

LIP: I am starting to feel my bottom lip. I can bite it, and I feel that. But I still have a lot of tingling to the lip and especially the chin.

SMILING: I find myself walking by the mirror and trying to teach myself to smile. It's sounds funny, and to me it looks funny.

WHISTLING: I cannot do this anymore :(

Mostly everyone has seen my less swollen face, but I am tired I will post pics later.

My Glamour Shots by JU

So it didn't work out to get these pics before the surgery, I wanted people to see how I looked. Because even I had forgotten.

This is me pre braces initial consultation at JU (2/19/2009) I think I really started the full treatment in May-June because of the file-bit in my root canal issue.

These were taken 3-4 weeks before surgery.

And this is yesterday, 4 weeks post-op.



I will still tell you I am very, very happy with all of it. For a lot people who don't understand and have always had straight teeth that touch in the back, you are lucky. But I know have it and cannot wait to bite into a pizza and chew it up.

There are issues still: I have no feeling on my chin, however I think my lip is awaking. I feel like there are fireworks on my chin (or strange sensation of shingles, yes - I have had them and know how they feel). However, I seem to biting my lip with the side teeth and not knowing until I feel something tug strangely. My left side has been hurting the last 2 days, but I think and I hope it is because of use. I am starting to eat a little more solid...such as beans, mac and cheese. But the down side is the 10 plus minutes I have to sit in the bathroom trying to get all those darn little pieces out. Rice pieces are a pain!!!

Love you all, and I cannot wait to go out and enjoy a normal meal with my friends.

P.S. put on a pound or 2 this weekend. But broke down and bought a size 4 jeans (last time I was in that size I was mal-nourished and just divorced.)



T minus 4 weeks Post Op

Got a good report at the surgeons office today. Swelling has gone down a lot. I have to follow up in 2 weeks and have to wear the rubber bands another 2 weeks. I have an appt with the orthodontist tomorrow but I cannot imagine what they can do to me. Hopefully just check the "hardware" in there. I will protest if they want to do a plaster mold on me!

Food Update: I have graduated to eating things like beans & rice, scalloped potatoes, grits, mashed potatoes, mozzarella salads (minus the lettuce), fried rice...basically anything that doesn't require a good chew. But cleaning rice out of the grille is a bitch. I still cannot open the mouth too wide, I am thinking about 2-2.5 cm wide open.

But I still want PIZZA. I thought it was sushi I really wanted, but it's PIZZA.

D26: Slowly feeling better

So with the set back of an infection last week, it is turning around. It's Sunday morning, and as of right now no pain. I am sure that as the day goes on, I will start to have the throbbing. Since this all started at the beginning of last week with the setback of an infection; I have been experiencing a lot of throbbing. It's like the old days of swimming and having an inner ear infection. I called the surgeon on Friday to let him know and I have to go see him on Monday, instead of my appointment on Wednesday. This is what I get for not telling him about the "blow up" incident last Saturday.

I obviously do not care what i look like when I take these pics. lol. I have not even brushed my hair or teeth. But I am just so happy that the cheeks are small and the bruises are gone.

Jim has to work today, so I have to get crackin' on my Peanut Butter Balls and Christmas cards. The surgery and recovery has set us behind this year. But it will all get done.

21 DAYS POST OP...and some bad news

It's been several days since I updated my peeps. But I saw a lot of you over the holiday and got lots of encouragement and hugs.

I DID survive Thanksgiving, how funny it is that people are just devastated you cannot eat. I guess once again that is how the world turns...on eating and OBESITY!!! On Thanksgiving I cooked (pureed) me up some mashed potatoes with a tofurkey burger blended in. Apple pie with whip cream is not the same as the real thing, so I will have a pie to myself when this all over. My Aunt Candi made a really tasty carrot souffle. And the broccoli and cheese casserole was good too. I finished my 4 items with over 10 dirty items and a handful of napkins on the kitchen counter at my mom's house.

****SiDe BaR...this dishes situation blows. One meal for me averages about 5 dirty items****

I went back to work on Friday and Saturday, just 5 hour shifts each day. I noticed on Saturday after work that my left side blew up and I went about putting cold and heat on it for 2 days. So today (Tuesday) I went to the surgeon and told him what happened after I went back to work and he was upset I did not call him to tell him about this because apparently I have an infection. I got irrigated in the office and a very painful cheek massage trying to get out the puss. YUMMY! I know start amoxicillin and continue the heat packs.

Just look how much my cheeks look like my 8 week old nephew Jaxon. LOL!!

Yesterday I worked my normal 14 hours, I am glad to have the day off to rest. I slept like a rock last night...not that the Negro Modelo did not have anything to do with that...wink, wink.

So on to making some yummy's. It's PEANUT BUTTER BALL SEASON. I hope after I make all these I will be able to revel in the tasty delight by Christmas.

D17: Something is going on...

Not sure if this is healing on the right side. But I know this sounds gross, but I keep feeling something weird inside the mouth and getting a weird taste. I haven't been oozing/tasting to much blood in the last 2 days but all of a sudden today I am, and some green stuff. Oh, I hope this is not an infection. I am gonna try to do a lot of salt gargling today. AND ice packs.

Had a good day yesterday lots of talking and smiling...what if something tore in there?

I rode for the first time in 8 weeks yesterday. It was fun.

D15: Pre-Tofurkey Day Excitement...NOT!!!

So today is the day before I get to watch and salivate as everyone eats normal. If this is any of my family reading this, I promise that I am going to play well with others, although I may throw a 2 yr old temper tantrum and fling some mashed potatoes at someone. (no promises)

Had a very nice massage this morning with a new therapist Abby. WONDERFUL and now I am relaxed.

Here are some updated pictures, swelling has gone down a lot.

...and this is my latest eating method...jim has these little portable flask at the shop and it actually worked out well. It has a bigger opening. I might have to get another one of these. Oh, and that it pulverized Progresso soup.

Oh Moe's...has gone OH NO's!!

I noticed when I was out with Mel tonight, that things were not feeling right. And I was not feeling the urge to talk. Well the right cheek is larger than the ever-shrinking left cheek. Not happy.

Back to a pureed and yogurt day tomorrow.

Yes, I am mad at myself for "overdoing it" with eating and trying to be normal.

D13...Oh MOE'S!!!

Brilliance came over me, in the name of a HOMEWRECKER! (also my growling stomach and the lack of tasty food). So in I went in, and ordered me a "special" junior homewrecker.

Split it up for my puree'ing pleasure.

 BEFORE                                                                                  AFTER

update on my swelling...it's going down! The surgeon today was very happy with my progress. Not happy with the oozing of blood, still coming out of the hematoma. So I have to now go and do cold compresses instead of the hot. And he is really happy with my back teeth, apparently the rubber bands I have back there are closing the gap that he said would have to be done with the orthodontist (when I go back).

D11 - Disasters in Cooking

Tonight. I made the boys (Chase is staying over) ziti. Thinking I can just add a little milk in it, blend it, and have somewhat of the same meal as them. WRONG!!! It's like trying to eat your own throw up.

So I clean up everything. Grab a can of cream of mushroom soup. Thinking since I really can only eat half the can, lets add some more calories. So in goes Whey Powder, and put it in the microwave.

 2 minutes later....disgusting!

Here is a comparison of my meals in the house tonight.

2nd half of the can of soup was NOT going into the microwave. LOL!

D10...chillin' day

Cuddle on the couch most of the day.

I went to the OS this morning. Everything is looking great. I will probably have to wear these rubber bands 3 weeks. I have to do my exercises; opening and closing my mouth and keeping the top 2 and bottom 2 inline with no shifting. It's hard. And the last thing I want to do is stare at myself in a mirror, especially my teeth. A nuisance about these rubber bands is that they are pulling my teeth apart on the bottom. I just hope this does not create more time in the braces.

Blood continues to work its way out of the hematoma from hell on my left side. Nothing like just sitting here and you feel it pooling in your mouth and have to run to the bathroom to take care of the situation.

I assumed I had dissolvable stitches, but when I pull my gum back and think I am seeing some. I just pray they don't get caught up on the braces.

Tonight my social interaction...Jim and I went to see my cousin play. He was really awesome. We are both impressed with his group Lights of Evening. Check them out of FB.

Now we both are sitting on the couch chilln' and watching the Three Stooges.

D9 - Cooking with Aly J.

Okay - so i have been bitchin' about those syringes. Oh yes -they are a pain in the butt when it comes to eating. I have this feeling I am going to aspirate food into my lungs as I am pushing hard against the plunger, to get it into the teeny gap between my teeth.

So therefore tonight, before dinner I went in search for some squeeze bottles ( I was looking for those ketchup/mustard bottles our parents had when were kids). But of course - its the 21st century, and we are just plain clear bottles. It works for me, if I can eat out of them.

So here is my dinner tonight. V8 Vegetable Soup. I have added in half an avocado, and tbl spoon of coconut oil.

Let us just say. Adding coconut oil gives your vegetable soup a slightly different smell. OH, and one table spoon is 130 CALORIES!!! WOW!

Hence my lack of excitement b/c I have an upset stomach (bowels) from pureed food (or the black bean soup from yesterday), and I HAVE LOST 9 POUNDS!!!

Here is my animated dinner, first I prep...I didn't show you that I have to take that chunky soup throw it into a MAGIC BULLET (or knock-off one I have that works just fine).
Add in my extra calories....

Try to get it nicely into my NEW BOTTLES!

and slurp it down.

and laugh everytime the bottle "farts"

Easy Day 8

Wow, looking back to where I was one week ago today...still pushing the nurse call button, and then telling Jim I needed drugs. because he was translating my garble ha,ha

not the best to show you the size difference,

but you can see from the other day how much it has improved.

Things have gone down so much on the left side since my visit yesterday to the doctor.

However, I did jinx myself and had a rough night last night. The pain was so intense on the left side, it felt like I had swimmers ear and was pounding. I was up at all hours and finally watched tv at 5am with hot packs.

Oh well, everything cannot be easy. Hopefully I will catch up on my beauty rest tonight.

My first Drink and A Laugh with Jim

Tonight we went on a mission to find friends, weren't so lucky...but we found my Jax-Mom Barbara at her house. Talked a lot. And Laughed.

My real mission after that was Outback Potato Soup...which apparently is "seasonal" and they did not have it. BOOOOO!!!!


But I did have my first post-op drink, via my squeezy bottle


a frozen Wallaby Darn'd ( i think its been 10 yrs since I worked there)
Surprisingly the bartender had no problem with this.

***slurp, slurp***




And then we went home with my onion soup, and Jim who was trying help frustrated me with the syringe situation...sprayed the kitchen twice with the pureed soup. It was all over my face, my clothes, the floor, the cabinets and him. He was laughing, and I was crying-laughing.





Chico was licking the floor :)
goodnight - I am actually hurting on the left side, my TMJ is very sore from the rubber bands.

One week Out and I feel great

So we went to the one week follow up appt today. I got my bands that I was telling you about. see pic. They go from left to right to pull my jaw back towards the left - since that hematoma and swelling on the left have been pushing it towards the right.

They are a little annoying. Making things a little harder. ie talking and eating. But for now, or atleast till Friday I can take out the middle one and eat. I ha ve to back on penicillin for 5 more days, to prevent infection from the hematoma...that decided to rupture some in the office, during examination. He quickly made me move to another room that had suction, and sat there and the doctor massaged my cheek trying to get the blood out. He jokingly said - I could make an incision and drain it, but you don't want to have to go through another surgery.

Hell Yeah that's Right!!! So for now warm compresses.

I am so glad I got a lot of talking out of me yesterday with my friends, mom and sister visiting me. Because it is difficult at the moment.

Here is the overall - glamor shot.

oh man i look like crap - and hiccups suck.

ahh and argh! Day 6

So this morning was eventful, Jim went to work, Melissa came over, Jim came back, my mom and sister came over. I think within 2 hours, I was sore from talking.

The Ahhh...my first post surgery massage. I was very timid, but Margot managed to massage me for 45 mins with NO pain in my facial area. There was some drooling, I forewarned her that I was going to need a washcloth. Amazingly she did it in a "pre-natal position" ( I say fetal), and then I bravely ventured onto my back for the rest of the massage. No pain at all, a little sore on teh left cheek...but all in all good.

The Argh...I have been telling you how irritated we, I, have been with those darn syringes. I had just pureed my tomato bisque soup from Jason's Deli and went to put it in the syringe, and it would not budge. In several more attempts I sprayed our brand new white cabinets with red soup. f*%$$ sh@#!!!!! So, my calm Jim comes in and takes over and "oils" the plungers on the syringes and they are all now working. oops.

No pics today...a description of the bruises...ugly.

Day 5...and some laughs

So after my walk yesterday in San Marco area, I took a nap.

After my trip to WalMart today...I took a nap.

You see my point.


So I was falling asleep last night and found out that yawning...is very painful. I was beating Jim in a game of JENGA. lol


My idea to not take pain meds lasted about 22 hours. At 1130 when I tried to lay down, the pressure became unbearable. I took my "perc" and fell asleep in the recliner. I did wake at 430 pounding...ONE "perc" a night...so I have a regiment of ibf/tylenol between.

I have to tell you I got a card from my grandmother yesterday, it made me crack up. SMILING HURTS too. (make sure you read the fine print).

Here is my funny of the day, the cashier at walmart looked at me, I was keeping my face down...she says "They did that when they installed your braces"...Jim was cracking about this on the way home.

Check out the HAWT brusies...don't look at the unfinished bathroom shower. lol

I need to come up with new syrnges, apparently they warp with heated food (soups) and become difficult to push, and I am afraid I am going to push the syringe into my throat.

Saturday Blues...

So I am at Day 4 post surgery. I really have had no communication with anyone except for brief phone calls and dear - Jim who has had to listen to me complain. My complaints are gross to those in the non-medical field...my plumbing is stopped up and if I slurp or drink on more thing its coming out of the faucet!!! I hate anesthesia and pain meds I knew this was going to happen. I am miserable and have no way around the constant feel of something caught in my throat, and esophagus.

Here are some lovely pics...

The bruises are beautiful. These pics are from yesterday (Day3) and now (Day4).

***notice the bruise necklace I am wearing. lol

We are going to go for a walk in the park. Maybe exercise will help the situation.

p.s. I have no pain. I took my last percocet around 2 am. I didn't like the way it made me feel, and I think I am going to just take ibp/tylenol for now. If the pain comes back I will take something.

Doctor's Appt Went okay

The Bad news no Bands. I am still too swollen from the hematoma on the left side of my face, that he wants to see me back in the office on Tuesday morning. Because of this hematoma it is shifting me towards the right. The Doctor is not too worried, he just wants the swelling to go down first.

This is good news in a way, i can still eat a little more solid food through the opened teeth (just ate a 1/4 cup of mashed potatoes...very harty). Other than that healing well. He took out the stitches on the side of my face and put on this nauseating smelly glue, that makes me want to hurl.

Jim took a pic of my panoramic in the office. Notice the 3 screws on both sides of the jaw and the darker shadowing...that is where bone growth will happen over the next few weeks and months.

My first trip out of the house, consisted of bumpy I-95, Orange Park and a grocery store...so I think I have done for the day. Gonna take a nap, these pain meds make me queasy and tired. Love you all.

Start of Day 3

What a difference heat makes...I started the heat compresses early yesterday afternoon. The swelling has drastically reduced - but unfortunately it seemed to make the pain worse. I all of a sudden could feel the incision area, the pain from my TMJ to probably where they broke my jaw was pounding like a rock concert.

I decided since I have not been banded ( you will see pics of this later today probably), that I would slip some Percocets thru the opening of my teeth. Great plan because it saved me from wanting to throw up the liquid meds.

I didn't sleep well last night. I had this feeling like I was choking, and the recliner was not doing it for me. So we propped pillows and my "hubby pillow" on the bed and it probably took me 2 hours to get myself out of the panic of choking when i had to swallow saliva. I am sure this feeling of choking is from surgery position and the anesthesia. I have unusual bruises popping up on my chest/clavicle area.

I will post pics later, I have an appointment with the surgeon at 1030, for check up and I think the bands. The bands are going to make things even more difficult.

2 days out

So yesterday was a BLAST. Okay I am typing this heavily medicated. I hate the taste of my meds. I about ralphed it. It damages my taste buds and I can't get the true taste of things after.

Here is a pic of Nurse Jim, and Chico who won't really come near me right now.

My hot pics of the day, the swelling is going down. I will start heat packs around noon, so hopefully that will decrease swelling faster.

time for a nap...

One day out

Jim took some glamor shoots this morning. I had a rough night. Dr. Imray felt I could leave around 6:00 after the surgery, but I was reluctant because I was in love with Yankar and I knew there would be Diladud there. I didn't sleep well, everything made noises. I had some good cat-naps though.

You can see on the pics that my left side is BAD, but of no concern to the Doctor. He came in at 6:30 this morning and checked up on me. I have a follow up appointment on Friday morning, and I am sure I will be getting banded then.

I have been able to eat pureed food threw the front and bottom teeth because I am not banded yet. I have a feeling that is when it is going to be rougher.

I had a panoramic xray taken last night. Ironically I said HAPPY TECH WEEK, and the girl looked like I was crazy. I am gonna see if I can get it, to see my hardware, since she would not show me.

The Big Day

We arrived at 530, and I was very scared. Tearful and Jim was wonderful. Once we got through pre-surgey work up, it seemed to go by fast. I got my special iv cocktail from the anesthesia...BAM! the surgery was done and then sat in the PACU holding for over 2 hours waiting for a room. There's nothing like sitting there going in and out of it with people staring at you, and not understanding a word you are saying. I finally saw Jim sound 12ish. I could tell on the look on his face that it wasn't pretty.

Jim took this picture of me 5 hours post op in the room. Too me I could still not see anything. I was wrapped in a head bra and loving the yankar suction. I am a drooler and felt like I was drowning.

Today is the day!

It's 430 and getting ready, well I am ready - Jim's making coffee. Urgh! We have to be at St. Vincent's in 45 mins.

I have a "hang over" like headache most likely from the heat in the house, or the delicious sushi was spiked with something.

I really can't say much...I'm nervous, scared and ready for this to be over. I will keep you guys in my heart, and tell you how I am doing as soon as I can.

Love you all and especially you Jim, for you are about to embark on this journey with me.

2 days 2 go!!!

Ate a good caloric meal tonight with my family and the Brook's family tonight.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little brother, Evan...the big 26!

Jim and I got some of the house prepared, washing lots of blankets (since Florida is confused with some northern state right now). We got my loaner recliner in place in the living room and I tackled the spare bed aka my wardrobe room. Still have more to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chico got his last bath for several weeks (unless someone is volunteering). We took him to the dog park today and wore him out, hopefully exhaustion will last a few days.

I think I ate a gazillion calories this weekend, my stomach has not been very happy...but I keep telling it is for a good cause. And now I have to prepare myself to work one more shift - 12 hours on Monday then I am done for 16 days. The longest I have ever been off in my life.

Nom-Nom!!!

Oh how much I love food when you know that you won't be eating it for a while.

Oh good food how I will miss you.

Sushi

Pizza

Panera's Mac and Cheese

Riverside Art Market Kettle Corn (thanks M&M for introducing this to me)

Butterfinger Candy Bars

Candy corn

Bread

There is one food I am counting down to eat after these braces come off...carrots!

Moving forward...

Jim and I went over to the surgeon for H&P today and pre-register for surgery at St. Vincents. Dr. Imray told me that he was moving me 7mm forward on the left and 9mm on the right. Hey once, again - something else is uneven on me :)

It's soo funny looking.

Medical Massages

I am not one for chiropractor's, I have had an opinion on them since my early days of imaging. So, in the last few months of preparing for surgery I read a girls blog who had had the surgery, and she praised medical massages. Basically I doing this for 2 reasons, I have to sleep on a recliner for a week or so, and also my insurance is covering it. (WOOHOO).
Therefore today I had a pre-surgery meet and greet with an hour massage with a goddess named Marlo. And yes I believed I drooled on the table. lol
Still being leery on the whole cracking and adjusting I meet the doc, and he was so nice and understanding. I might even consider taking him up on the acupuncture for healing before the adjustment.

If anyone wants my recommendation to the place, ask me, and I shall give it.

I have already booked 5 more sessions in the next 3 weeks :)

I'm Like A Squirrel...

Preparing myself.

Today we are making another big purchase for the upcoming surgery.....wait

....can you guess????

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

a freezer!!!! For all those smoothies, veggies and soups that I will be eating.

:)

RECIPES I MUST TRY...SMOOTHIES

4 scoops vanillas ice cream
1 cup of milk
1 banana
2 tablespoons of peanut butter
1/4 cup of chocolate syrup

ooohhh and another

1 cup soft tofu
1/2 banana
1/2 cup soy milk
1/2 cup soy yogurt
1/2 cup strawberries

3 weeks and counting

It is really frustrating right now trying to get people to understand that this is probably the most important and scariest situation that I will probably ever put myself in. Think about it....you can marry, and you can divorce. You can buy something expensive and return it. Heck you can get a tattoo and have it removed (or covered, like me). But physically altering your face is non-reversible and FRIGGIN' scary (unless your Michael Jackson).

I am more scared of throwing up with my teeth banded together, than the surgery. I am more scared, of the pain that the heeling. I am more scared that preparing a meal is going to be very difficult....breathe, breathe.

Latest news... GOOD: Surgery is 100% covered by my insurance. (See why I kept my job---woohoo).
BAD: my wax mold broke for my splint and I have to go back in to surgeons office on Monday to remake it. (this is a fixable boo-boo).

I am trying to get my house and eating situation ready. Since the PAR-TAY last week, my dear friends have made a stock pile on the dinning room table of supplies that I will be using. (and yes you can register at TARGET for a surgery party!!!)

Mom Did Good

So after all the searching on the Internet to get necessities, my mom finds what I need. She purchased me a kit. Yeah!!!