6 Months Post Surgery

 Hi Everyone!

I feel like this 6 month mark post surgery has been a HUGE turning point for me. I want to make sure and give you all the updates:

Chewing

So much more and so much better! I am able to chew a much wider variety of foods, but still cannot chew certain items such as hard chips, lettuce, chewy/gummy foods, pizza crust. One day or one week when I am able to, I will be eating all of those things :)

Sleeping

You really can train yourself to do whatever you want. I have learned to not flip onto my stomach and sleep only on my side or back. I really thought this was not possible, but I was wrong! Sleeping has been so much better pain wise. I still clench some, but hopefully that will fully change when I get into a nighttime splint.

Braces

Y'all. Listen up. I get my braces off in two weeks! Two weeks! I am so excited to get them off and the wire on the roof of my mouth. Oh yes, that's right, you may have forgotten that I still have the wire over the roof of my mouth that everything still gets caught in. I hope that I am not writing on here in two weeks telling you the braces didn't come off, but we shall see. Flossing with braces is literally the worst and I am sorry for those of you that have to do this as well.

Mindset

The day after surgery to probably three or four months later, I was not in a great mental space. The surgery was the most traumatic thing I have ever been through physically, mentally, and emotionally. Some of you may be saying that my words seem dramatic, but this was my reality. Not being able to speak clearly, eat enough to feel full, drool all over yourself, do activities you use to do, is really really challenging. I could not have gotten to where I am without my support system. It really is a system of doctors, friends, family, nurses, therapists, everyone you name it. Needless to say, I am in a much better mental space now and am starting to be much more positive about this process. 

People ask me if I am glad I had the surgery or if I would do it again. I am not anywhere close to saying "Yeah, absolutely best decision ever." Because my issues were multifaceted, the surgery was only one component of a bigger picture. Granted, it was a large piece of the puzzle, I still have some other issues that need time. Once I get in the nighttime splint and see if my TMJ pain goes away completely, then I think I will be able to give a full update on this journey. The TMJ pain is what initiated this journey back in 2013, so it is hard to say that I am all fixed and better when the TMJ pain is still present. Do not get me wrong, it is better and this jaw surgery had to take place in order to address the TMJ properly.  I am happy my front teeth touch and that I am not in a bite splint every day all day. I am grateful that the surgery was successful and my surgeon is very pleased. I am getting use to the new shape of my face and how I look, and I know that will continue to be my new normal.

Here is an updated photo.