9 Months Post-Op

I FINALLY reached the 9 month mark on October 4th!!! Originally, this was supposed to be the end of the road for my splint and pureed/soft chew diet. But, as most of this has played out on my journey of recovery, I am on my own path and an exception to the rule.

September 17, 2012
9 Month Appointment

 {Waiting for Dr. P and the last photo of me with -b-r-a-c-e-s-}

10:00 am
My checkup started off as usual with a CT scan. Next, I met with Tonya and Dr. Piper to discuss my progress. I let them know that I was feeling really great, but that I had experienced some achiness with the cooler temperatures and rain. Dr. Piper assured me that it was normal for changes in the weather (barometric pressure) and altitude (from flying or going into the mountains) to cause discomfort, but that this would subside and then totally go away in another year or so. This was great news, as I thought that I would have to deal with this soreness forever.

Dr. Piper took measurements of my widest vertical opening and side-to-side movement. He was very pleased with my range of motion, as it was even better than my last appointment. My right side moved from 5 mm to 7 mm and my left went from 7 mm to 8 mm. My vertical opening increased from 37 mm to 39 mm and my protrusion decreased from 5 mm to 3 mm. However, I do still have a Class II anterior open bite with molar occlusion of about 1 mm on the left and 2 mm on the right. Next, we were off to view my CT scans to see what was happening inside the joints.

CT SCANS
In viewing my scans, we saw that the condyle on my left side had increased in height, but the best news was that the bone on my right side had finally started to grow, as well. You might remember from my last post that my left side showed boney remodeling with expansion of bone dimension posterior and superior to the original condyle, but my right side had no such reaction. Thus, Dr. Piper said if I gained no new bone on my right side, that I would have to have another surgery, this time to lengthen the jaw bone, to get my bite back together. However, with the latest progress, he said it is much less likely that I will have to have that bite corrective osteotomy.

At my 6 month appointment, both condyles were slightly forward positioned. The left condyle has now centered itself more in the fat graft in the joint, but unfortunately, the right condyle isn't completely centered. This is why it is forward postured along the slope of eminence and why the occlusion on this side is more Class II than the left side.  

In all events, Dr. Piper said I will still need another surgery (in about 9 months) to pull my chin into a normal forward position, because it receded so much with the original condylar bone loss. But hey, one more procedure is much better than two!

SPLINT + EATING
Since my right condyle just started to grow, and is very fragile because it has not totally calcified, Dr. Piper decided to keep me in my splint for three more months. He also increased my splint time to 12 hours per day (8 at night and 4 during the day). I also have to stay on the soft diet with only one soft chew meal per day.

This news was a let down, as I had gotten used to my freedom from the splint and I was so ready to finally eat real food again. When you start out on a huge journey like this, you get through the tough days by having an end goal in sight. Nine months was my mark. After one deep breath, I accepted that my finish line was pushed out. No matter what, I totally trust Dr. Piper and I have chosen to look on the bright side and do whatever it takes to fully recover.

BRACES

After a little bad news, the WONDERFUL NEWS came next. Although I had to keep wearing my splint, Dr. Piper said that I could still get the braces off, except for eight brackets in the back, top and bottom, around which I would just wrap the bands. So, I was off to Dr. Jackson's office to have the ugly metal taken off. HALLELUJAH!

12:00 - Dr. Jackson Appointment
Getting the braces off only took about 35 minutes. The little wire cutters were a sight for sore eyes. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, but it wasn't horribly painful either. Basically, the orthodontist just put a ton of pressure on the brackets until they popped off. And several of those little guys didn't want to go. She also buzzed off all of the discolored glue. Although all of the noise made my skin crawl a little, it was music to my ears. She let me take breaks as needed, and I took a 1/4 of a Klonopin and Advil beforehand, so I was fine.

Here you can see my NAKED TEETH and slightly-off bite right after.

 

Overall, I'm hoping that my right side will continue to grow and that my bite will start to come back together enough that my Incognito braces (which I'll get in December), will be able correct my bite enough that I won't have to get the jaw lengthening bite surgery. I don't need to take the Klonopin anymore either, which is great. I've made it through so much and progressed so well thus far, so until then, I'm just going to...

So it's back to wearing the splint for half of the day, three more months of not eating regularly, continued therabite and jiggle exercises, and remaining on all the vitamins and supplements... but the braces are gone, and I am feeling so much better that it is all totally worth it. And really, what is three more months in the grand scheme of things?

I am just so thankful to be where I am today. For the first time in 5 years I can smile and talk to my heart's content without having pain! What a true gift and immeasurable blessing. 

7 + 8 Months Post-Op

August 1, 2012

NEW SCHEDULE

SPLINT: I only have to wear my splint for one hour during the day and all night. I am also always sure to wear it when I am doing Pilates or running. This may be a little overkill at this stage in the game, but I don't want to risk any damage to my joints until I get the "all clear."

FOOD: I'm still on the soft diet with one soft chew meal a day. I never really was one to have super strong cravings for food, but I get them pretty badly now. And, I have found that not wearing the splint all day allows me to eat more often. Ha, I have gained back all of the weight that I lost due to the surgery. But I am still exercising daily and doing Pilates, so everything is still in check. (I'll report back once I get the clear to actually eat normally again.)

THERABITE + JIGGLES: As a result of wearing my splint so little during the day, I got word from Dr. P's office that I could scale back my Therabite and jiggle exercises to three times/day. This has been helpful, because it is harder to remember to do the exercises when I'm not taking the splint in and out all day long. Now I just do my mouth exercises when I remove the splint when I wake up, in the afternoon, and before bed. 

JOINTS: I have noticed crunching sounds and occasional popping noises in my left joint when I do my Therabite and jiggle exercises. Dr. Piper assured me this was a normal part of the healing process and could be from the new growth on my left side. Noise or no noise, both of my joints are still pain free!

September 4, 2012
8 Months Post-Op
I cannot believe I am only one month away from the 9 month mark. The first four months seemed to last forever, but these last four months have really gone by quickly. I think it has been the combination of being super busy and leading a normal life again. Thank goodness for the summer!

Fall Weather
I'm not sure how it has been where you live, but the summer was super dry in Arkansas. We got very little rain and tons of 100+ temperatures. Over the last few days I have noticed a little facial muscle and neck achiness that I have not experienced in quite some time, as the temperatures are starting to drop and rain has finally come our way. It's nothing that an Aleve cannot rectify, but I thought it was worth noting.

For me, everything else is going well. I'm just plugging along and continuing to do Pilates, exercise, eat a healthy diet, and take all of my vitamins and supplements. I cannot wait for my 9 month appointment with Dr. Piper. I just want to know if I can be finished with this splint and surgical braces and move on, or if I will need to keep them for three more months. The suspense is killing me! I am a planner and I just want to know one way or the other. I keep telling myself that patience is a virtue...

5 + 6 Months Post-Op

Hello, Friends. I'm sorry for the delay in my posting! This summer has been unbelievably busy. But the good thing is that I am out living life again (and not sitting at home on my computer).

In the beginning, I must confess, because of having to wear my splint and ugly braces I cringed every time I had to go to a party. But, I had to get over it. There were way too many wonderful events to attend this summer, because... MY BABY BROTHER GOT MARRIED!!!!!

June 1, 2012
NEW SCHEDULE- 
SPLINT: 2 hours twice a day, and all night.
FOOD: Soft diet and one soft chew meal every other day.

In addition to my 6 Month checkup in St. Pete, this month I had a Bachelorette Party Weekend to attend, an island vacation to enjoy, and a week in Florida packed with parties, dinners, lunches, brunches, and a beautiful Rehearsal Dinner and gorgeous Wedding for my brother and his bride. I was honored to be a bridesmaid... b-r-a-c-e-s and all! 

Next up was celebrating our 6th Anniversary and a vacation to St. John, USVI. Dr. Piper said I couldn't snorkel because my right joint was still too fragile, so I just wore a mask and swam around the reefs. Swimming in the sea throughout the week was really very good for my neck muscles which always get really tight from traveling.

We also went deep sea fishing. At lunch time, I got some strange looks from the captain when I pulled my jello and mac-and-cheese from the cooler, but once he saw the splint in all its glory, he put it all together. He may have thought I was a weeny to begin with, but in the end, I caught the BIGGEST fish! This girl is back in the game.

After all of the traveling this summer I have become a pro at brushing my teeth and changing my splint in every place imaginable. I can do it at restaurants, in a car, on a plane, aboard a boat, in public restrooms, in a truckers lounge (don't ask), and pretty much every place in between. All this splint stuff really becomes second nature. You do what you have to do if you want to stay on schedule, and by now, you should know that I like my schedule. No matter where I was, I wanted to be sure to stick to my soft diet, so my magic bullet has also become very well traveled!  Okay, enough with the fun stuff, I just wanted you all to know I am doing well :).  Here's the latest with my joints...

Monday, June 18th

Dr. Piper- 6 Month Checkup

My appointment started off like my last with a new CT Scan. Next, measurements were taken of how wide I could open and move my jaw from side to side. Dr. Piper went over my measurements, answered my questions, asked how I was feeling, and we talked about my progress. He was again very pleased that I was meticulously sticking to my daily medicine/break schedule, and that each week I continue to take two private Stott Pilates lessons, run/walk at least 5 times, and perform daily neck + shoulder exercises from my PT and therabite + jiggle exercises for my jaw.

Finally, we reviewed my CT Scans together on his big screens. Here are the results...

My neck has regained curvature!

My neck is still not back to normal, and it may never be, but it is so much better. I still get some tightness and soreness at times, but using my heating pad works wonders. Being proactive and always doing my exercises, limiting my computer time, and going to bed with my spa wrap eases the strain of the day.

My fat grafts are healthy. 

Everything looked good with my fat grafts. I have no pain in my joints at all. Occasionally I hear noise on the left side, but other than that, I really cannot even tell I had joint surgery.

I still have a Class II Occlusion.

My bottom teeth are sitting behind where they should be, so my top and bottom teeth are stacked on top of each other rather than being altered. Braces will be necessary to move my bite back together.

I have condyle bone growth.

Some of you might remember that at my 3 month check-up Dr. Piper believed he saw new bone growth on my condyles. Well, he was right. My left condyle has grown a lot. It actually looks round! The bad news is that my right side is not growing. It still looks as flat as a pancake. Dr. Piper said that it is rare for one side to grow and not the other, because the exact same procedure was performed on both joints and they have been healing in the same environment. While the left side looks healthy and strong, my right side is still weak and fragile. Dr. Piper thinks it may take an extra 3 months beyond the normal 9 month calcification period for the calcification process to be complete.

That being said, I may not be able to be finished with the splint and surgical braces at the 9 month point. At my next appointment in September the results of the CT scans will dictate whether or not I move forward with having the surgical braces removed and discontinuing the splint schedule, or continuing with the splint for 3 more months. Dr. Piper again reiterated the importance of continuing to take all of my vitamins and supplements for bone health and to be very careful while eating so not to injure the right side.

A second surgery may be in my future.

If my left side continues to grow and my right side doesn't catch up, I will be lopsided again. They will try to correct this with orthodontics, but braces may not be enough. Thus, there is a likelihood that once all of the growing and calcification is complete, I will have to have a jaw lengthening surgery on my right side. 

For now I am trying not to think about it too much. All I can do is all I can do. I am continuing to do all in my power to promote health, keep a positive attitude, and pray that right side will G.R.O.W!!!!

Dr. Jackson- Orthodontist
12:30 PM
After my appointment with Dr. Piper, I went upstairs to consult with the wonderful Dr. Jackson, as it was time to start planning for my next set of braces. Since Dr. Piper recommends him, I have chosen to continue traveling to St. Pete and doing my orthodontic work with Dr. Jackson. I don't want to risk anything at this point, so I am sticking with The Man.

Dr. J looked at my latest scans, examined me, and took more measurements. He informed me that he can easily get a bite completely back together with braces when the open bite is 2-3cm. However, my bite needs to move 5cm :(. Thus, he thinks that I will need to wear the next set of braces for at least 18 months and after that it still might not be enough. After 9 months of wearing the braces, we should know if the orthodontics can complete the job or not. If they cannot,  I'll have to move forward with the right side jaw lengthening surgery. But we're going to give it our best shot!

When I started this process, I thought I would only have to wear the second set of braces for around 9 months. So, when I heard it would be at least 18 months, I was a little bummed. Then, Dr. Jackson made my day by showing me the latest and greatest INCOGNITO BRACES! I would like to kiss whoever invented these little golden jewels. If you haven't heard about them, they're placed on the back side of your teeth, so they are completely hidden from view.

Incognito braces are made one patient at a time, one tooth at a time. They are 100% customized to follow the contours of your teeth for comfort and performance. The wires are bent to a precise shape with robotic technology to ensure the desired results. This allows teeth to be moved in the most efficient manner possible. Dr. J said that the only problem is the braces can cause a bit of a speech impediment while you're getting used to them. Heck, that is no problem for me... I've learned to speak pretty clearly wearing a giant splint.

FYI- Once I get the braces on, I will only have to visit Dr. J every three months for checkups.

OTHER UPDATES

The GOOD

All of the physical signs of my surgery are pretty much gone. I no longer have to wear any bandages over my stomach scar, because it really isn't sensitive anymore. My ear scars are totally faded and my sideburns are finally long enough to tuck behind my ears.

I have no headaches and very little pain, with none being in the joints. Over the last few months, I have experienced some deep aching in my ramus bone or masseter muscle (I cannot really tell which it is), but it hasn't ever been there for more than a few hours for a couple of days.  A few times it was on the right side when I awoke, but mostly it has been on the left. Lots of talking and smiling can also make my masseters sore, but this is so much better than it used to be. I usually just take Aleve and it makes it feel fine again. But, around 10 times I've taken 1/4 tab of Klonopin to treat the ache/soreness.

The BAD

Brownish teeth are not attractive. I panicked a little as I thought my bottom teeth were starting to rot, but Dr. J told me that it was just the braces' glue, that got in between my bottom teeth, which has started to turn brown. I brush all of the time, but he said that there really isn't anything that can be done until I get the braces off and have my teeth cleaned. Luckily, I don't think it's really noticeable to anyone but me, when I'm staring at my teeth one inch away from the mirror, but still. EWWW!

The UGLY

My chin has receded. After surgery, my profile was almost back to normal, but not anymore. This was to be expected. Dr. Piper let me know that I would have some compression of the fat grafts during the healing process. I was hoping that it wouldn't be noticeable, but it has become visibly apparent. People say they don't notice, but it bothers me. So, if I want my old profile back, I will have to have the Genioplasy surgery to move my chin forward in order to make up for the pre-surgery condyle bone loss. If I plan to move forward with it, Dr. Piper will do the surgery. I'll keep you posted.

July 1, 2012
NEW SCHEDULE-
SPLINT: 1 hour twice a day, and all night.
FOOD: Soft diet and one soft chew meal each day.

July was almost as busy as June. We've gone to two friend's out of town weddings, celebrated our nephew's big 5th Birthday, attended a concert in St. Louis, and hosted an Engagement Party. I love life, and now that I am feeling better, I don't have to miss any of it. HOORAY FOR HEALING.

W-O-W
The most amazing and unexpected part of this whole journey has been receiving emails from people who have read this blog. In the beginning, I was just hoping that a couple of people would have a resource that I wish so badly would have been there for me. To each of you who have written to thank me, I want to THANK YOU. Your kind words and genuine expressions of gratitude have given me a sense of purpose, restored my faith in my belief that everything happens for a reason, and blessed me in more ways than I could ever express.

The Zen of Zebras

I LOVE ANIMALS! I took this zebra photo, blew it up, and hung it in my home, to remind myself to BREATHE...

Feeling stressed about your jaw issues? It's not just in your head. The rest of your body feels it, too. My  step-mom is a physician and she sent me the great article below. Dealing with TMJ and other jaw problems is really hard. And while you may think you're handling it fine, your body might have other ideas... 

Believe it or not, the same physiological mechanisms that made the zebra run away after being attacked by a lion are at play when you have psychological stress. Lance Luria, MD, vice president and medical director of Mercy Health and Wellness, noted,“When you're under stress, it causes real biochemical changes to take place in your body. Stress is a survival response that was geared to get us out of harm's way. We weren't designed to live with it for years on end."

Because our bodies are a network of interconnecting systems, stress can have an effect on all of them. Over time, it can cause, or aggravate, all kinds of physical and mental issues – including heart disease, depression, sleep disturbances, weight and metabolic disorders, and stomach issues, to name a few. While we may consider ourselves superior to animals in some ways, they have a definite health advantage over us when it comes to their response to stress. 

“Humans have the ability to imagine, react and relive stress. Because we're able to think abstractly (anticipating a problem at work or health issue), we're susceptible to a chronic stress response – which may have serious health consequences,” Dr. Luria stated. “The zebra doesn‟t do that. When the zebra is being attacked by a lion, its stress response is activated. If it survives, the stress response resolves.”

Dr. Luria's reference to the zebra is a nod to the work of Robert M. Sapolsky, professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. In his book, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Sapolsky explained: 

“For the vast majority of beasts on this planet, stress is about a short-term crisis, after which it's either over with or you're over with. When we sit around and worry about stressful things, we turn on the same physiological responses – but they are potentially a disaster when provoked chronically. A large body of evidence suggests that stress-related disease emerges, predominately, out of the fact that we so often activate a physiological system that has evolved for responding to acute physical emergencies, but we turn it on for months on end, worrying about mortgages, relationships, and promotions.”

In Constant Fight/Flight Mode
So what turns on a stress response? Your brain. If it perceives danger, whether real or imagined,it sends out signals releasing chemical messengers and hormones (including glucocorticoids). These signals instantly activate our body's fight, flight or freeze response. But if the stress doesn't end (the lion isn't vanquished or you still have to face family or financial issues), your body doesn‟t return to normal. Can't we just tell our brains to turn it off? Not exactly. Our conscious brain isn't in complete control. The unconscious and primitive part of our brain runs the stress response and we may not be able to control it.

Here's why: Our nervous system is divided into a voluntary (conscious) system, and an autonomic (unconscious) system. The autonomic system kicks into high gear when there's a perceived danger – whether physical or emotional in nature.

This autonomic system also has two parts. When we're under stress, one part (the sympathetic nervous system) is activated, and the other (the parasympathetic nervous system) slows down. The sympathetic system releases chemicals like epinephrine (adrenaline) as part of the emergency stress response. It increases heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar, for example, maximizing resources that can save your life.

At the same time, the parasympathetic system (the alter ego of the sympathetic system), which normally promotes digestion, energy storage and relaxation, slows or shuts down completely so your body can use all available resources to survive the emergency. In the modern-day world, this may simply be a traffic jam.

“For instance, if you're being chased by a wild beast, your stomach automatically says, "I don't have to process food; I'm more worried about becoming food." So your stomach stops digesting,” Dr. Luria explained. “Your brain directs blood away from some regions, sending it to other areas needed to help you stay alive.”

Warning: Danger Ahead
Although a stress response may be lifesaving in the short term, it can be very detrimental if it becomes chronic. Although stress impacts each of us differently, it's important to know how to recognize signs of stress in ourselves and those around us. In addition to more serious medical issues, stress can also cause:

Cognitive: Memory problems, poor concentration and judgment, increased negative thinking.

Emotional: Moodiness, short temper, irritability, agitation, complaints of feeling overwhelmed, general unhappiness and isolative behavior.
Physical: Frequent colds, increased physical complaints such as feeling worn out and headaches.
Behavioral: Procrastination, neglecting responsibilities and taking unscheduled days off.

Go to Your Happy Place
While we can't all be like zebras, letting go of our stress response as soon as the predator disappears, there are lots of simple things you can do to reclaim your cool when you're feeling frazzled. Here are a few:

Exercise. It helps reduce stress, improves your health and even promotes the growth of new neurons in your brain. 

Try a Relaxation Technique like yoga, meditation, visualization or tai chi – and practice it often. 

Eat a Healthy Diet high in antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. These may help neutralize toxic free radicals that form in the brain under stress.

Get Enough Rest.

Work at Being an Optimist. People who handle stress well tend to have an optimistic attitude. Try exchanging negative thought patterns and self-talk for a more positive outlook.

Spend Time with People You Enjoy.

Embrace Challenges, have a good sense of humor and believe in a higher purpose. 

Nurture Others: helping those in need can make you feel better about life.

Strive for Control in Your Life: set goals for the things you have control over and follow through with them.

Don't Over-Schedule Yourself. You need unstructured time, too. 

With everything I've been through with my jaw issues, I know I've earned my stripes. Each morning I remind myself to channel my inner zebra ;).

4 Months Post-Op

May 1, 2012

SPLINT
As I said last month, I get to focus on the time I am in my splint, rather than the time I am out. I now wear my splint in 2 hour increments, 3 times per day, and all night. I try to evenly space out the time throughout the day by keeping it in for 2 hours, out for 2 hours. Only wearing the splint for 6 hours a day has allowed me to do a lot more going out to eat and hanging out with friends. This being said, for the first few weeks after I switched to this new schedule my facial muscles were pretty sore by the end of the day. But now I am not getting sore at all. Overall, the new schedule has given me more freedom and a sense of normalcy that I needed.

May 14, 2012

MEDICATION

After five weeks of weaning off 1/4 of a pill of my Klonopin per week, I am completely off of all of my daytime prescription medications. Now I only take Trazodone at bedtime, to prevent clenching in my sleep, and all of my vitamins and supplements. Here's a picture of what I take daily...

One of my fears going into the surgery was that I wouldn't be able to get off, or that I would have a whole lot of trouble getting off, the muscle relaxers. There were a couple of days when I didn't feel so good, I got a headache, my teeth were abnormally sensitive, and my braces started rubbing the inside of my mouth raw in spots. I had some facial and neck muscle tightness, and a few spasms/facial twitches as I reduced the levels. These side effects never lasted more than an hour or so, and I totally expected them, as I have been on different muscle relaxers for years. I won't lie, I got in one good 10 minute meltdown/cry, but once I got over the hump, things have been great. I have really tried to stay positive and focus on looking ahead. Working out has been the biggest help in relaxing my tight muscles. I cannot say enough good things about how much Pilates and walking/running continue to aid in my recovery. 

I do still have my Klonopin to take if needed. Although I would like to say that I will never need it again, there have been two occasions, when I really overdid my activity level, that I have taken a 1/4 tab since stopping it. I had to promise myself that I would listen to my body and take it if I felt I needed it. There is no point in being stubborn and suffering. The only thing that hasn't been so great, since I got off of the Klonopin, is that it takes me a lot longer to fall asleep at night. I wake up pretty easily during the night, as well. The interesting thing is, that I am getting less sleep, but I don't feel tired all day like I used to. I think my body is finally getting back into its own natural rhythm. I sleep about 8 hours per night now. 

It is truly amazing how being free of chronic pain has made me feel like a new person.  

Major Accomplishments this Month

I'M A BIG GIRL
I graduated from using baby spoons and a baby sized toothbrush. I'm back to normal sized items. I also moved up to #5 on my Therabite.

A NEW DO
Since January, I have not trusted someone with scissors, a hard plastic comb, and a hot hair dryer anywhere near my healing ear incisions. However, my ears are finally less sensitive, and I was way overdue for a haircut. I was very adamant about telling my stylist not to touch my ears and she did a great job of steering clear. My sideburns have grown out a lot, too. They are down to my earlobes now and are almost long enough to tuck back behind my ears.

PILLOW POWER
I can lay on my side and even sleep with my ear on my pillow without pain. However, I still try to sleep on my back as much as possible, and keep my chin off of the pillow when on my side, to reduce the pressure on my jaw.

BELLY LAUGHS
Towards the end of four months, my stomach incision has finally become less sensitive. I can wear shorts and some pants without having to wear a gauze patch over my scar. However, there are still some jeans with which I have to wear a patch, because of where the button hits the incision.

TOTTY TIME
I totally stopped drinking alcohol for the first 4 months after my surgery. I was on so many medications that I didn't want to risk any side effects. I also didn't really want to put anything unhealthy into my body while it was trying so hard to heal. However, after getting off of my Klonopin, I decided that I was over the hump and a nice glass of wine was in order. I'm not drinking much, but the experts say red wine is good for your health, right?

BIG EVENTS
I've started hosting parties at my house again, and I've had lots of great events to attend over the last month! I flew by myself for the first time in mid-May and everything went well. My brother and his fiancee had a Couples' Shower for their upcoming wedding and also on that trip I got together with my extended family and a group of high school friends who I haven't seen in years, and we celebrated Mother's Day. The next big weekend was when my sister had her High School Graduation. All of these events have involved travel and lots of activity and talking for several days in a row. I thought I might start to feel bad, or get a few headaches, but no such luck. I felt way better than I could have ever imagined!

I'm the oldest of 5 kids, so when we all get together (with our significant others in tow), there is a lot of action and nonstop laughter! Even with all of the interaction, I cannot believe how great I felt! I am so thankful to have made so much progress over the last month. 

3 Months Post-Op

My pain is gone! Since I've been feeling so much better, I've been getting out of the house and interacting with others a lot more. We've seen lots of movies, gone out to dinner with friends, and had family and friends come to stay with us. One of the best visits was when my sisters and step-mom came for a shopping weekend extravaganza.

I've embraced the splint and really gotten used to it. People still do double takes, and make random/ inappropriate comments, but I just brush them off. I am getting on with my life in a normal way (well, as normal as it can be, when every minute of my day is scheduled because of the splint breaks, exercises, and medications). 

Now, for the most part, people understand what I say when I'm speaking with my splint in. I guess practice makes (almost) perfect. My ear scars are gone, and my stomach incision only gets sore after I've been wearing pants. But, hey, did you catch that? I'm wearing actual pants again! Really, my only complaint is that when I talk a lot with my splint in, I get muscle fatigue in my facial muscle. All in all, I am feeling fabulous, and I am so HAPPY I had the surgery.

Monday, March 26th

At the end of March, it was time for me to head back to St. Petersburg for my three month check up. I was a little nervous about flying for the first time, since I get motion sickness really easily, and I didn't know how the pressure would affect my ears. 

I followed all of Dr. Piper's flying instructions, said my prayers, got out my HAPPY ROCK, and Jay and I were off.

{Happy Rocks are a tradition my Mom started when I was little. She brought them back when I had my surgery. I've been carrying one with me everywhere I go for the last three months. It helps remind me to CHOOSE JOY.}

Thanks to Dr. Piper's precautions, the flights were a breeze, and my ears weren't affected at all! As far as no-chew airport food goes, all I can say is thank goodness for frozen yogurt and Starbucks! Changing my splint in the airport made me cringe a bit, but I got through the layovers with ease. 

ST. PETE

It was surreal being back in the hotel where I was so puny and out-of-it after surgery. We were randomly placed in the room right next to the one we stayed in for two weeks. Talk about deja vu. Jay snapped a new picture of me in my hall feeling healthy...

Tuesday, March 27th

7:40 am Appointment

My appointment started off with a new CT Scan. Next, measurements were taken of how wide I could open and move my jaw from side to side. Thankfully, my bite hadn't shifted, and was still in the same position Dr. Piper placed it in during surgery. Lisa also adjusted my new splint. Dr. Piper came in, went over my measurements and we talked about my progress, and how I was feeling. He was very pleased that I was meticulously sticking to my daily medicine/break schedule, and that each week I continue to take two private Stott Pilates lessons, run/walk at least 5 times, and perform daily neck + shoulder exercises from my PT, and therabite + jiggle exercises for my jaw. He surprised me when he said, that at this point, my range of motion was about 10-12% ahead of most people. I was a little worried that I would be behind because I still hadn't gotten to #5 on the therabite. But, I guess listening to my body, and not pushing myself, has allowed me to heal just the way I should.

Finally, we reviewed my CT Scans together on his big screens. Everything looked really great. Dr. Piper showed us that my fat grafts were looking healthy and holding strong. There could possibly even be new bone growth on my condyles, which is rare for someone my age. He reminded me of the importance of continuing to take all of my vitamins and supplements for bone health. At my six month visit we will know for sure if new bone is forming, but for now, either way, I am just happy that I don't have any joint pain at all.

Overall, my appointment went better than could be expected. I was only a little sore and tired afterwards. It was great to see Dr. Piper, Lisa, and Tonya when I was feeling so good. The appointment lasted for about 2 1/2 hours. We didn't fly out until the evening, so afterwards we went for a 5 mile run/walk along the bay, and then lounged by the pool, until it was time to head to the airport. It felt so good to be back at the Vinoy, my home away from home, and actually feel good enough to enjoy the resort. I'VE COME A LONG WAY BABY!

Wednesday, April 4th
New 3 Month Post-Op Protocol

SPLINT
I now get to focus on the time I am in my splint, rather than the time I am out. I wear my splint for 2 hours time periods, 4 times per day and at night. For me, this translates into 1 1/2 - 2 hour breaks.

CHEWING
Dr. Piper also wants me to chew, on the sides of my mouth, not the front or the back, one soft food 3-4 times per week. So far I have done this with things like scrambled eggs, banana slices, and cut up meatballs. I am very careful never to bite with my front teeth, as he said this will crush my fat grafts.

MEDICATION
Dr. Piper wants me to remain on all of my daily vitamins, supplements, and nightly Trazodone to prevent clenching in my sleep, however, I get to wean off of my Klonopin. Each week I am decreasing my dosage by 1/4 of a pill, until I am off of it. This will take me 5 weeks. Then, if all goes well, I will just take it as needed.

The True Test

For the past 3 months, I have pretty much just focused on me. I needed this time to heal and deal with all the emotions that come with a major life changing surgery, and a splint that hangs around for 9 months. I truly believe that I am feeling so good because I have, as my family put it, funneled my perfectionist personality into getting better.

But, then life happened and it wasn't about me anymore. My Grandfather had to have Open Heart Triple Bypass Surgery the same day we were flying to my check-up with Dr. Piper. After a couple of days in the hospital, he wasn't doing so well, and I knew without question I needed to go be with him. 

I headed to St. Louis the day after we got back from St. Pete. Everyone was really worried about me taking care of me, because I am an emotional person, and I have been known to overdo it for those I love. But, I knew I was feeling good, that I could be strong for him, and that nothing was more important than being by his side. Staying with him in the hospital for 5 1/2 days, when he was so nauseous and in a lot of pain, really made me appreciate everything my Mom and Jay did for me. It is so hard to watch someone you love suffer. I could empathize with him, and encourage him in a very real way. 

After the first few splint breaks, I got over my phobia of changing my splint in public places. I can do it anywhere now. The hospital turned out to be the perfect place for a soft diet, too. Papa didn't feel good enough to talk most of the time, and with my splint in I couldn't talk much, so it all worked out perfectly. It was enough that we were together. I stayed on track with my splint breaks and talked to the doctors and nurses as best I could. Thankfully, after a long stay in the hospital, he was released on his 83rd Birthday.

Once he was released, I was all over organizing his medication, walking, and eating schedule. I knew all too well what it takes to get through those first few weeks. I couldn't have made it without the love and support of family, and I knew that was what he needed as well. Plus, it helped that I have become an excellent protein shake chef. 

Through all of the stress and worry, I never started clenching, having any joint pain, or headaches. This was when I really knew that my surgery had worked! It has changed my life.

Here I am with my Papa + Granny on Easter. Doesn't he look great?

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song." -Pope John Paul II

2 MONTHS {1 Hour Breaks}

SUNDAY, MARCH 4th

My 2 Month Anniversary

Yay, I'm two months post-surgery and doing extremely well. I am right on track with the healing process, and I have moved up to the #4 slot on my Therabite. The only time I really have bump-ups in pain is when I talk and smile too much while wearing my splint. In addition, when I am working on my computer, my shoulder and neck pain will come back, so I have to work in short periods to prevent this. My good days far outweigh my okay days. (I wouldn't say I have any bad days!) I am continuing to focus on my posture, do Pilates (twice a week now), walk, perform my physical therapy exercises, and run (I'm up to 2 miles). I won't lie, the healing process is tedious and all-consuming, but I am very happy with how I'm progressing. I cannot believe I feel this good after only 2 months!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7th

8:45 PM- There is a reason my Dad nicknamed me Grace. I am the clumsiest person I know. After two months of being super careful, I accidentally knocked my splint off of my bathroom counter. As I saw it on the floor, cracked in half, I must admit that I felt the panic rising up. I thought, THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING. I have done everything in my power to be diligent about my jaw care, and now the only thing that holds it all together is broken. 

Since it was after business hours, I left a message with The Piper Clinic explaining what happened. I decided my only option in the moment was to super glue it together, and thankfully I knew right where my Super Glue was stored. Then, just my luck, my Super Glue lid was super-glued to the tube. Ugh, there was nothing I could do to get it apart. I was over my break time and home alone, so this is when the waterworks started. I wasn't going to bother my husband, Jay, because he was in a business dinner, but I was upset, so I texted him the photo of the broken splint. He excused himself and called me right away, and told me he would be home as soon as possible. I got myself together and I was off to the store to buy more Super Glue. 

Jay isn't the kind of guy who waits for the office to call back the next day. He still had Dr. Piper's emergency phone number in his phone, and unbeknownst to me, he sent him a message asking what to do. Thirty seconds later, Dr. Piper, who was on VACATION OUT OF THE COUNTRY, called Jay back. NOW THAT IS AN AMAZING DOCTOR! Jay called to tell me that Dr. Piper said that the best thing to do was to super glue it together. I was already making my purchase!

TIPS: What to do if your Splint Breaks

1. STAY CALM. Just this once, don't worry about going over your break time.

2. Get your splint as Dry as Possible. I used the cool setting on my hair dryer.

3. Glue the splint back together. Use Gel Super Glue, because it doesn't drip.

4. After holding the splint together for about a minute, wipe away any residue. Once it's dry, you might have to scratch off any glue that has gotten in the tooth holes.

At 7:45 in the morning, Tonya called me and let me know that they would make me a new splint that day, and overnight it to me. She told me not to worry. It was comforting to know that I wasn't the first person to break my splint. In less than 48 hours, I had my new splint... AMAZING! Dr. Piper did say that the new splint would not fit exactly the same way as the original one, because I had gotten used to the original. He said if it was more comfortable, I could wear the super-glued splint, provided it fit just like it did before, which it does. So far it's holding strong. At my appointment in a couple of weeks, they will adjust the new splint. Once again, The Piper Clinic came to my rescue!

THURSDAY, MARCH 8th

1 Hour Breaks

With each increase in break time, my life gets to feeling a little more normal. I have been able to go out to eat a couple of times now, which has been really nice. However, I do have to be even more diligent about the time schedule. With longer breaks, the 5 times a day gets spread out longer, and if I am not careful, I am up really late taking my last splint break. 

2 months down, 7 to go...

Time to Celebrate with Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

(plated for Jay and pureed for me ;).