Day 43- 6 weeks post op!

I have reached the 6 week mark!! I am still not very secure with how I look yet. I finally was able to go out with friends this past weekend. I still have some swelling that I can notice but other people can't really tell. 


Chewing seems to be getting easier everyday. Although my muscles are very sore after I eat. I noticed today that some of my teeth are becoming very sensitive. It is very uncomfortable. 


I noticed that my two front teeth are starting to make a little gap.... and it is kind of concerning me. I would hope that my orthodontist is doing it for a reason. I don't see him again for 3 weeks. But my back teeth are all touching and it makes me excited! I am still wearing 2 bands, one on either side in a square. 


My stitches seem to like being in my mouth because they are not going away!! I think my mouth and face look a little crooked in some of my pictures. I hope that it is just some of the swelling that is lingering. 

Day 40

Hey! Sorry I haven't posted in quite a few days! I have been ridiculously busy with school and starting back at work this weekend! I was sick yesterday as well and just didn't feel like taking pictures. 


I am feeling great! Everyone at work was so surprised at how different I look. But luckily everything they said was very positive. My lips still burn and it is quite frustrating. My gums are all still completely numb, so even though I am allowed to chew it is kind of difficult. I am scared of putting too much pressure on my jaw and teeth. I guess I am having to learn how to chew again with this new bite as well. 


Sorry for the crappy hair in these pictures. It has just been one of those lay around days.

Day 35-5 weeks post-op

Today I am 5 weeks post-op! I went to see my OS and my OD today! I got my splint out! It feels so much better to have it out. I do have to say it was the worst thing I have smelled in a long time. It was very unpleasant. He did let me rinse my mouth out with mouthwash and brush my teeth. He said that everything still looked great! AND he gave me the okay to begin chewing again! Although, he said I still need to be careful and not chew on anything hard, like carrots or hard bread or candy. I go back in 2 weeks! 


Next was my trip to see my OD. This was the first time I have seen him since before surgery. I waved at him when I got there and he immediately stopped what he was doing to come see me and see my new bite. He was so excited. All the nurses stopped and came over to look at me. They all seem to think I look so much younger. One of them thought I was still in high school. She asked me where my mom was and I told her I drove myself and she said "You can drive?" and I said "Yes ma'am, I am 21." She had this shocked look on her face.  


So my doctor goes on to continue looking. He took my wires out and let me floss and brush my teeth. He said my bite was the best he has seen in a long time from any of his surgical patients. I have a few smalls gaps on my back teeth that I am now wearing rubber bands for. I have rubberbands in a box formation on both sides of my mouth around the last 4 teeth. I go back and see my OD again in 4 weeks. 


Before my surgery when my OS showed me the models he had told me that my OD pretty much had my bite perfect. So I told that to my OD today and he said well I guess that means we don't much work left to do. Maybe that means I'll get braces off earlier than December, but I suppose I should not get my hopes up. I can't believe how happy I am right now. I am really starting to feel normal again. Although I do still have some stiffness and swelling, but that will all go away with time. 


Sorry I could only get 1 profile picture before my camera died. 
And my smile looks sooooo goofy.... I am really hoping that changes. I think I was used to only showing my top teeth when I had my old bite so I guess I need to work on a new smile. haha

Day 33

Nothing new to post today except only 1 more day until I get my splint out and go back to the orthodontist. 

Day 32

Sorry guys I haven't posted in a couple of days. I have been extremely busy with school and I went to the lake this weekend with my boyfriend. I get my splint off in 3 days! yay!! I had a little bit of a melt down this weekend. I am very paranoid about anything getting too close to my face. So anytime I say something like "your getting too close to my face" he rolls his eyes. He says that I am being ridiculous and that nothing is going to hurt my face. It is just annoying because he doesn't understand the crap I have been through. 


But anyways.... nothing new to really update. My lips still burn. I can't wait to brush and floss my top teeth. And I can't wait to see my orthodontist. I go and see him right after I get my splint off! I know that my teeth are going to hurt but I just want this splint off. 

Day 28- 1 month post-op

I can't believe I am a month post-op. It seems like just yesterday that I had surgery. I am so happy to be on this side of the surgery. I will be getting my splint out in a week :)  It seems like everyday I get more and more aggravated with my splint. I want so badly to be able to chew and be normal again. It seems like I am getting to the point where nothing that I can eat seems appetizing. 


My lips still burn. I guess I am addicted to chapstick/ vaseline now. I hope it doesn't stay this way. My stitches are still quite annoying. They seem to make moving my lips a little difficult because it feels stiff. As anyone else had this problem? and know when I can expect this feeling to go away? It seems like my stiffness everywhere else is getting better everyday. The right half of my bottom lip is still very numb. Oh and the roof of my mouth is still sore. But hopefully this will go away when I get my splint off and can chew. My teeth are sore too. I think my mouth is telling me that it is time for this splint to get out. 


I start back work next Saturday. I am kind of excited to see all my co-workers again. I haven't seen any of them since before my surgery. I am glad I took the extra time off work and was able to enjoy my summer a little bit. I am going to the lake this weekend one last time before I become consumed with work and school again. 


I compare my pictures every time I take new ones, and sometimes I feel like the swelling increases from day to day. Like comparing today's pictures to yesterday's pictures. I feel like I look more swollen today. That is kind of frustrating. I take all my pictures at night so I assume the swelling would go down from morning to night. ugh. 


Here is a picture of my splint just in case anybody is curious.

Day 27

I don't have much to update on today.Tomorrow I will be 1 month post-op and I will post more! 

Day 26

Well today I saw my OS and I got some great news! I get to get my splint out next Wednesday. It is going to be a long week and a half. He told me normally he doesn't take splints out until 6 weeks post-op but he is taking mine out a week early! My splint is already on my last nerve. My lips still burn, the roof of my mouth is hurting, and my teeth are starting to hurt. I can't wait to brush my teeth really good! 
My step mom and my OS are really good friends and he called her after my appointment today and told her how impressed with me he is, and how well I'm healing. 

Day 25

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 I see my OS for the first time in 2 weeks. I am very anxious to see what he has to say. I am finally to the point where I can open my mouth wide enough to brush all of my teeth, and that my helps make my mouth feel better. The roof of my mouth has been hurting and I think its because when I eat I tend to use the roof of my mouth to break things up that I can't chew.

Well that's all I have to share today, but tomorrow I'll let you know how my appointment went.

Day 24

Not much to post about today. 
Sorry for the crappy pictures, my camera isn't the best and it doesn't help that I don't look so good, I have been sitting around all day doing school work. 

Day 23

Hey everybody! Sorry I haven't made any posts in a week! I was at the beach with my family and just didn't have any time! I am now just over 3 weeks post-op! I am feeling pretty good! Although I know I have mentioned this before, but it seems like everyday I get more and more aggravated with my splint.


I have noticed some spasms in my jaw... has anyone else had this problem? I would like to hope that it is a good thing. 


I am excited about seeing my OS on Monday! I hope that we can set a date to take my splint out! I still have quite a bit of swelling in cheeks and numbness in my chin and the right side of my bottom lip and my cheeks and my nose.


I thought my stitches were suppose to dissolve between 10-14 days, but mine are still there. How long did everyone else have their stitches? 

Day 16

My lips are still burning, I am still annoyed with my splint and I am tired of eating soft foods. But as uncomfortable as I may be at this point I am still going to the beach tomorrow and I am very excited to get away for a few days. I see my OS again in a little over a week and I am praying he will take my splint out early. With everyday that passes I notice my swelling goes down a little bit and it makes me feel a little bit better.