A picture is worth 1000 words

after: 03-04-10
before: 10-15-10

jaw exercise

I had my 6 week check-up yesterday. The good news is how I now can eat anything I want. The other news is that getting food in my mouth and between my teeth, in order to chew it, is still a challenge. I need to work on lengthening my chew muscles. Eating, talking, and stretching are good places to begin.

The only other thing that comes to mind now is how just when I think all of my stitches are gone I discover a few more. These days each time I brush my teeth a few more stitches seem to work their way out.

6-weeks post-op

the last time

While organizing old photos to scan I started thinking about the last time, before now, that I was happy with my smile, intrinsically happy. I figure I was five. Even by the time I was seven photos reveal that I had started to hide my teeth, or try to. Or it may have been more a matter of simply being unable to close my mouth with my teeth inside. Without a doubt the last time I could close my lips naturally was before or shortly after my permanent central incisors erupted. That would have been second grade. I was six.























Photos from only a few years later show the obvious signs of overcrowding in my mouth, not to mention the tetracycline stains which appeared with my permanent teeth. I am not sure if, as a child, I was given tetracycline or if it was prescribed to my mom when she was pregnant with me. Either way, were its effects widely unknown prior to 1970?

An Update and More Photos

I must be feeling better because I've been remiss in posting here lately. Here are a few more pictures to show where I am now. Last week at my 4-week post-op appointment my doctor advanced my diet such that I can now eat ground meats. As long as it does not require a lot of chewing I can eat anything, the exceptions being good bread and raw vegetables, both of which require lots of chew action.






02-16-10, 34-days post-op

I still have slight facial swelling, particularly around my nose. My face is also still a little tender to the touch where my lower jaw was screwed back together. I'm also still rather stuffed from sinus drainage. I can't wait for my lymph tissue to learn how to re-drain again!

Most of my stitches have fallen out or dissolved by now. Just a couple knots left behind the left end of my lower jaw. One of these days my toothbrush will drag those out. Last week my doctor pulled out the remaining knots along my upper jawline. While the stitches had dissolved the knots which were not embedded in tissue remained. He said those knots were what were keeping my incision a little sore. He was right though it hurt somewhat to have those knots pulled out. The good news is that my incision is pain free now.

As for the numbness, I'm still quite numb on the left side of my face, on the right side of my chin, in the corners of my lips, and on the right side of my lower lip. I have some sensation everywhere but those areas are still more numb than not. This means I can still drool or wear my food without even knowing it. Thankfully the right side of my face has regained sensation almost entirely, the exceptions being just below my eye and my lip and chin. My teeth however still have that wooden feel such that when I brush them it feels like I'm brushing the teeth of someone else. Hopefully they will feel like my own again soon.















02-12-10, 30 days post-op


02-07-10, 25 days post-op

Goodbye Baby Spoon

I'm so happy to be using an adult sized spoon again. Yesterday at my follow-up appointment Dr Ueeck placed rubber bands such that I no longer have bands in the front. This means I can just barely get a regular sized spoon in my mouth. Soft foods here I come.

I also found out yesterday that my TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices) were removed during my surgery. Again, this is more good news as I will now not have to have those removed later. You would think I would have been able to tell that two screws are missing from my upper jaw but I could not. With the stitches I haven't wanted to even try to put my finger between my lip and maxilla. Given the loss of sensitivity from the surgery I had no other way to find out.

My surgeon said that during the surgery he impacted my maxilla 4mm (presumably on the left side only), advanced my maxilla 3 mm, and then brought my mandible forward to align with my maxilla. I think this means my mandible was brought forward 10mm or more. I need to check to be find out for sure. All I know is that my tongue is now in a different place in my mouth.

Well, it's time to work out my jaw muscles. Macaroni and cheese here I come!

Here's where I am today...

15 days post-op

Only a photo for today. I have cheekbones again. Still swollen around my mouth and nose but so much better!

Adventures with a Blender

Yesterday I made a hot breakfast beverage based on a favorite feel better food from childhood: milk toast. It was surprisingly good and satisfying. Enough such that I made it again this morning. If you've had and enjoyed milk toast, this tastes just like it! If you haven't had milk toast, you've been missing out. Recipe: 2 slices bread, 1 cup milk, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp butter. Toast bread. Butter bread then sprinkle sugar over the toast. Cut toast into quarters. Process toast in blender until finely chopped. Heat milk until scalded. Add milk to blender and mix until smooth. Enjoy!

This evening when I was craving a snack I turned to another feel better food from my childhood. Rather tired of the sweetness of smoothies and milkshakes, I wanted something light and refreshing for a change. I'm happy to report that Pear Cheese Salad in its blenderized form is quite tolerable. Not something I'd make if instead I could have it in solid form but a decent snack alternative to a milkshake. Recipe: 1/2 cups canned pears, 1/2 cup pear juice, 1/8 cup grated cheddar cheese, 1 Tbsp mayonnaise. Process cheese in blender until finely chopped, add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.

As a certain smoothie company claims, "chewing is overrated."