My Next Steps

Wow, it has been exactly two years since I met Dr. Piper for my first consult on Halloween in 2011. It is truly remarkable how far I have come. I am very grateful that I feel so good and that I have no jaw pain or headaches. I still travel to St. Pete every two months to see Dr. Jackson, I am eating all normal foods again, I'm off almost all my prescriptions (except 25mg at bedtime), I continue to work out daily and do Pilates twice a week to keep my neck and shoulders from hurting, and most importantly, I'm talking and smiling to my heart's content! I couldn't be happier about having my life back, even though I know I have another journey ahead. I guess that's the funny thing about life...

October 7, 2013 
DR. PIPER APPOINTMENT- 1:30pm

My checkup appointment with Dr. Piper went really well. He was pleased with my progress and the fact that I am feeling so wonderful. However, as I stated in my previous posts, my bite isn't going back together properly, so although I am going to continue with the brace work, it looks like I will require the jaw lengthening surgery (Sagittal Split Osteotomy) and the chin lengthening surgery (Sliding Genioplasty) to get everything back together, so that my joints aren't damaged from a misaligned bite. These surgeries will be done together to reduce my recovery time. I will return to see Dr. Piper at the beginning of February 2014 and then have the surgery within a month. I am happy to report that the recovery time for these surgeries is only a couple of months. That seems like a walk in the park! I am actually not even dreading it. I am so excited that the end is almost here. I have a real inner peace about it all, so as for now, I am going to take nothing for granted, focus on living in the moment, and enjoy my health each and every day!