I've come to think of this adventure like a bad break-up with a boyfriend. My old jaw & chin being the boyfriend I had to break up with. Read on to see why I feel this way.
I went to Dr. Miller today for my 1 week post-op check up. I had gotten my silly hopes up only to have them shut down...like only a bad ex boyfriend can do ;) I've been closed up tight with rubberbands since last Wednesday. It has been VERY difficult to talk, but more importantly, very difficult to eat. I thought for sure that Dr. Miller was going to loosen my bands to give me some breathing room. Unfortunately, I have to continue to wear them this way until he feels a little more comfortable about loosing them up. He says I am healing better than most people do with the type of surgery I had and that my swelling (or lack thereof) is great. He just doesn't want to mess with something that's doing so well. SO...I go back next Thursday to try all over again.
They did take new x-rays today and showed me what I looked like on the inside. Pray that I don't have to go through any airport security check-points in the near future. I have 2 pins in my bottom jaw that are holding together the most perfect bite you will EVER see! It is truly amazing that one week ago I had one face, now I have another. Deep down I was starting to miss my unique chin, then I saw the xrays with the new improvements and realized I was crazy to miss something that caused me much trouble...just like an ex! (See where I'm going with this??)
Since I was on the verge of tears, we decided to get my mind off it by going to Target. I don't know why I thought this was a good idea, because being in public and NOT being able to talk is pretty darn AWFUL. I've always tried to be friendly and personable to strangers, so not being able to tell a person "thank you" for holding the door open is pretty upsetting to me. This happened 3 times, and I felt like a snobby mean girl when each person tried to say something about the storm and I couldn't reply. I just grinned and acted like I didn't hear them...kinda like I do to Mike 99% of the time he tries to tell me something. (Just kidding. Not really. ;) After waiting the storm out for 2 hours in Target, the electricity finally went out. I had asked Mike earlier if that happened did it mean we could run free in the store and take stuff. He wasn't too thrilled with that idea--guess it's the whole "cop" thing. As it happened, the only thing I could think of in Target in pitch black dark was...if I get lost, nobody would ever find me because I couldn't yell!!!! This whole jaw-thing is getting to be pretty overrated.
So as it seems, I'm stuck with complicated words and complicated eating habits until further notice. The swelling is pretty insignificant...and yes, I've posted a "before" and "after" of my profile, against my initial wishes for this blog. I figure I've had pretty regular followers and you deserve a visual aid! Left is "after", note the still-present swelling and minor yellow/greenish bruising. Right is "before". I'm still pretty numb from right below my eyes to my chin. I am getting a little feeling back around my lips, but it still feels like I have a hair on my face and it tickles. Talk about the most annoying feeling on the planet. But in the end, if you ask me if I would go through this whole unpleasant process from beginning to end, I would do it in a heartbeat. The experience was worthwhile and I feel like a stronger, braver person because of it.
Enjoy the pics (if I'm smart enough to figure out how to upload them on here) and I'll "talk" to you soon!!
I went to Dr. Miller today for my 1 week post-op check up. I had gotten my silly hopes up only to have them shut down...like only a bad ex boyfriend can do ;) I've been closed up tight with rubberbands since last Wednesday. It has been VERY difficult to talk, but more importantly, very difficult to eat. I thought for sure that Dr. Miller was going to loosen my bands to give me some breathing room. Unfortunately, I have to continue to wear them this way until he feels a little more comfortable about loosing them up. He says I am healing better than most people do with the type of surgery I had and that my swelling (or lack thereof) is great. He just doesn't want to mess with something that's doing so well. SO...I go back next Thursday to try all over again.
They did take new x-rays today and showed me what I looked like on the inside. Pray that I don't have to go through any airport security check-points in the near future. I have 2 pins in my bottom jaw that are holding together the most perfect bite you will EVER see! It is truly amazing that one week ago I had one face, now I have another. Deep down I was starting to miss my unique chin, then I saw the xrays with the new improvements and realized I was crazy to miss something that caused me much trouble...just like an ex! (See where I'm going with this??)
Since I was on the verge of tears, we decided to get my mind off it by going to Target. I don't know why I thought this was a good idea, because being in public and NOT being able to talk is pretty darn AWFUL. I've always tried to be friendly and personable to strangers, so not being able to tell a person "thank you" for holding the door open is pretty upsetting to me. This happened 3 times, and I felt like a snobby mean girl when each person tried to say something about the storm and I couldn't reply. I just grinned and acted like I didn't hear them...kinda like I do to Mike 99% of the time he tries to tell me something. (Just kidding. Not really. ;) After waiting the storm out for 2 hours in Target, the electricity finally went out. I had asked Mike earlier if that happened did it mean we could run free in the store and take stuff. He wasn't too thrilled with that idea--guess it's the whole "cop" thing. As it happened, the only thing I could think of in Target in pitch black dark was...if I get lost, nobody would ever find me because I couldn't yell!!!! This whole jaw-thing is getting to be pretty overrated.
So as it seems, I'm stuck with complicated words and complicated eating habits until further notice. The swelling is pretty insignificant...and yes, I've posted a "before" and "after" of my profile, against my initial wishes for this blog. I figure I've had pretty regular followers and you deserve a visual aid! Left is "after", note the still-present swelling and minor yellow/greenish bruising. Right is "before". I'm still pretty numb from right below my eyes to my chin. I am getting a little feeling back around my lips, but it still feels like I have a hair on my face and it tickles. Talk about the most annoying feeling on the planet. But in the end, if you ask me if I would go through this whole unpleasant process from beginning to end, I would do it in a heartbeat. The experience was worthwhile and I feel like a stronger, braver person because of it.
Enjoy the pics (if I'm smart enough to figure out how to upload them on here) and I'll "talk" to you soon!!
You are as beautiful as ever. I was sorry to hear that you couldn't get bands loosened, but I guess doctor knows best. Love how you have compared this experience to a break-up with a boyfriend (yes....I see the similarities). Well, I miss talking to you, but I will stop by soon so you can listen to me talk again! HA! Take care of yourself and keep me posted! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteListening to people talk has been pretty much all I do lately!! It puts in perspective how annoying I was sometimes when all I did was TALK. I say this now, but as soon as my mouth is free from all this stuff, I know I'll be chatting with any and everybody who wants to listen. Can't wait to get back to normal!! See you soon. Love ya too!!
ReplyDeleteHot dang! I can see why you posted the pictures, their both beautiful. One's just the old you and the other the new improve you. I hope Mike isn't going to expect something new and improved every anniversary. Maybe your timing wasn't so good.
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Well, considering I was 25 pounds heavier, tan, and blonde when we got married...and now I'm smaller, brunette, and pale--with braces! I'm sure he IS wondering what's in store next year ;)
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