18 Weeks Post Op

Sorry for such a long delay between updates...i guess either not much to report or life has gotten in the way...I think a little of both. 

I had an Appt with the orthodontist on May 1st- he put in my sure smile wire..had a 7am Appointment- not sure why I did that to myself again..it wasn't too bad...but at 7am nothing is good...  I asked how many more wires and he said he had one more but he wasn't sure if he was gong to use that one- so this may be the last wire!

He seems to think that my bottom jaw is shifting and my mid line is off...which s the all important factor of the perfect alignment and smile.  So I have a whole new configuration of rubber bands to wear at night..6 Bands total- Almost feels like being wired shut again..oh the nightmares...but after a little over a week I can tell it is shifting back to where it belongs.  My right side is still pretty numb and I am not chewing on that side at all so it is definitely tighter than the left side which I think makes it seem like it is shifting..but being the medical professional I am , i am sure it is just the tightness.

The same day I saw Dr Tunjay I also saw Dr Taub in the afternoon - really for just a visit...he is completely happy with how everything looks and not at all worried about my mid line.. he says Tunjay is looking at tiny millimeters that he can fix orthodontically and I am looking at the bigger picture and I think you look great!  he did tell me I need to do more exercises to get my mouth open wider-  about three fingers wide is the goal..and to really push and stretch...he said you can't really hurt anything at this point so just push yourself...I am at a little more than 2 fingers now...3 seems  crazy wide!   I won't see him again for another 4 months..just for another check in..

I go back to Dr Tunjay on The 30th for ??/ I am not sure what? tightening?  check up?  I have not asked but would really love my braces to be off before my trip to Spain on June 30th but it is coming up very quickly!  We will be celebrating out 10th anniversary while in Spain!

One very exciting development !  I took my first bite of something without actually having to cut it up!  My teeth are still pretty week so having to bite something and pull or tear it is something I am not quite ready for yet but this was a soft soft pretzel with egg and cheese inside( made by the amish at the Reading Terminal Market) DELICIOUS!  they are so soft I was able to bite right through and enjoy it!  Looking forward to the day of biting into an apple or a piece of pizza again!

I did post my first full face pic to Facebook in over a year and a half...This is from Easter-  Out for a walk with my mom..my smile is still wonky but getting there...

14 Weeks Post Op

it has been a few weeks with no updates...mostly because not much is going on but also because life has gotten in the way...Work, Play, Buying a new car,, planning vacations...All the fun stuff!

So here is the latest update..I went to the orthodontist on April 3rd.  They did a scan of each tooth with the sure smile machine which creates a computerized 3rd image.  Dr Tunjay will then determine the movement that is needed and do it digitally - the 3d image with the desired movements will be sent to the sure smile lab and they will make the wires to make those movements happen.  He does not seem to think there is much movement to do.  He needs to have Dr Roberts do some work on my crowns..since they cannot be moved. I am thinking we are in the final stretch!

One side of my mouth and teeth are still pretty numb.  The teeth on my right side feel numb and I can't really chew with them..which is causing that side to still be pretty tight- which is causing my botton jaw to shift a little to the left since the left side is getting looser since I do all my chewing on that side.  So I am wearing bands at night..a box shape and a diagonal one to help shift my jaw into the right position...

My Next visit to both Dr Tunjay and Dr Taub is on May 1st.  My new wires should be in by then..unless they come in sooner...

All for now...

10 weeks post op

I visited the orthodontist yesterday...we changed out my wires and got rid of the wires with the lugs on them with was nice.

I am still working on my exercise to get my mouth open wider..I was up to 19 Popsicle stick but feel like I have lapsed...now back to about 15.  My jaw is very tight and sore.  Also I have not been as diligent as I should be about doing my exercises.  I am working on that.

Dr Tunjay mentioned that my mid line was slightly off when I bite so I need to adjust my bite..I need to starters wearing a rubber band whenever possible to help with the adjustment.  It is just getting used to my new bite where it should be and how my teeth should line up.

I go back in three weeks for a sure smile scan.  They will scan each tooth to come up with a 3D image the. Will computerize what movement needs to be done.  Sure smile will make the necessary wires for the needed movements.  I don't have a timeline right now but hope it is not much longer!

All for now!

Back To Work

My Last visit with the surgeon for a while was on Wednesday the 1st of march.  I told him I had either and Extension form or a return to work form...he said - do you want to go back to work..I said  no never...LOL... but I have to..so he signed off and Thursday the 2nd I came back to work..I started off with just a 2 day work week and I am very glad I did becasue I was very tired.

I am still not eating a lot so my energy level is pretty low so getting through a 10 hour work day is a little rough.  Now it is not like I am running around all day but still it is a long day... and I do miss my afternoon naps...

The surgeon asked if I  was doing my tongue depressor exercises - and I said Yes I am at 11 right now!  - Which means I can get a stack of 11 tongue depressors in my mouth-  He said i need to push myself  harder..- As of today I am up to Seventeen..! 

This will be a full week of work so we will see how that goes....I will keep you up to date...

Day 51

Not much to report at this point.  I am working on my exercises and trying to get my mouth open wider.  It is a little wider every day.  I am almost open two fingers wide.. the ortho keeps telling me I need to get to 3 fingers wide.

I still have quite a bit of numbness in my bottom lip and chin.  The area is constantly tingling which means the nerves are waking up but there is also the torture of having an itch you cannot scratch.  

I have been eating more but still soft foods that I cut up small , mush around a bit and swallow.  Still not enjoying eating and I have to take such small pieces at a time it take forever to eat.  

I go back to work in a week and hope I am ready.  I think I will have to go to bed at 8pm. To get up in time.

One week unwired!

I have hit one week of being unwired and life is good! Well better anyway... I can open my mouth about 1 finger wide right now.  I was instructed to not start doing exercises until this week so I started yesterday ... it is really just opening as wide as I can and holding for 10 seconds .. and doing that every so often.. each day it feels like I am starting all over.  By the end of the day it is my better and open much wider ..

I have definitely been eating more but I still am not able to chew anything so I just cut everything up and mush it around..

I am glad to be in Florida where I can at least get outside and go for a walk or bike ride or even just sit outside and read a book... being in the house for 5 weeks is no fun at all.

Free at last!

On Wednesday night I anxiously awaited for Thursday morning for my appointment where I expected to get unwired.  Of course there was a snow storm predicted with six to eight inches of snow.  

A little snow was not going to keep me from my appointment. Mom and  I took the train into the city for my  Appt.  Dr Taub was in the room across the hall and came out for a minute asking if I had been seen yet.  Seemed like he was working on a pretty intense case.  He sent a resident in with instructions to unwire me! Yeah it was really going to happen today.  One of the residents came in and a few snips later I was free...

Although I could move a little more I still could not open my mouth very wide..my muscles were very tight.  He told me I could go brush which I was prepared for with my own bush and toothpaste..I brushed for a really long time and it was awesome! Just imaging now brushing the back side of your teeth for five weeks..yuck.. My mom said he came back a few times and was surprised I was not back yet.  

When I did get back he went over some exercises..  Dr Taub came in and I asked about the bands..Hoping I would be able to take them off to eat or to only have to wear them at night..his response "no bands" that really made my day!  He did stress that he did not want me to start exercising until the end of next week.  

I will see him again in about 3 weeks for another follow up.

I headed over to see Dr Tunjay..he was very excited to see how I looked! He took a look at my braces and clipped off some very sharp pieces that had been causing most of my pain.  

Right now I can open about 1 finger wide..Dr Tunjay can start working again when I can open three fingers wide , which seems like forever away..but Wayne says he can already tell a difference from yesterday.  He made an appt for four weeks from now...

I bought a baby spoon and have to sit in front of a mirror to eat..mostly so I make it in the small opening and don't hurt myself since my bottom list is still mostly numb.  My first meal was scrambles eggs..that was a little hard..since then I have had yogurt, chili and macaroni and cheese cut up very small..a baby spoon full at a time.  I can't really chew but I can get the food in  and mush it around before swallowing it..it is nice to have some texture back in my food. 

So we are off to Florida to relax before I go back to work on March second.  I will be excited to get out of the house a little more in nice weather..