Re: To Katja

[Guest guest]

Katja,

Well my surgery in 8 days and later today I'm heading to my parents

house to get the room I'll be staying in ready. They live about an

hour and a half away from me and I no longer have a bedroom in the

house anymore, but I'm straightening up the back bedroom for

myself. I'm taking down movies, cds, pajama bottoms, my furry

blanket and body pillow. Just the necessities of life ya know? I

have to actually go now and finish packing! Hope you feel better

and keep us updated!

-Mel

[Guest guest]

Hi Mel,

Did you get everything set up? Be sure you have a computer to use at

your parents so we know how you are doing! Sounds like you will be

very comfortable. I am doing poorly these past couple days but am

hoping to eventually see the end of it and have some improvement... I

keep think that this can't last forever and that SOMETIME it has to

get better. I just posted about the lastest with my medication

fiasco. What a bloody nightmare. SIGH. I hope you are doing ok

anticipating everything and aren't getting too nervous or anything.

You go in on the 21st? Or am I remembering incorrectly? I'm excited

for you! Talk to you soon, Katja

[Guest guest]

Katja,

First of all,I can chew a little... my right side is still numb so I

chew on it. I can eat a cheesburger if I break it in small pieces. I

wil admit after you get the splint out on one hand you are

not " normal " yet but on the other hand you CAN EAT AGAIN! And it

feels so good to have your mouth back. I warn you your bite may be

all over the place for a while which is normal but frightening

because of course we are looking for our end results and the just

aren't there yet until elastics train the jaw and joints.

So...taking all that into consideration my bite feels great. Now for

the other topic...feeling like " me " again. I know what you mean by

feeling you look like you alwaysthought youdid or should. I

understand that completely. I am starting to feel that way more and

more. Used to I would catch a glimpse of my profile and think hey

that's not me! I wasn't used toseeing my face at that angle! And

when it did it bothered me now my profile matches my front face! I

like that. My swelling is starting to subside. I can tell because I

bite the inside of my mouth less and less. Nomore pain there. So

the inside isn't as swollen. Good luck tomorrow it is a neat feeling

to brush and brush.

Keep me posted.

Jane

>

> Hi Jane,

> Congratulations on getting your splint out last week!! I am so

> excited for you! Mine comes out tomorrow! How are you doing these

> days with your eating and getting your mouth open?? I am feeling so

> ready to start chewing ANYTHING! and to have my teeth touch each

> other again. They are old friends and have missed each other

terribly

> these past 6 weeks... I am getting nervous to see how my post

surgery

> bite is though. I am sort of worried that not all my teeth will

touch

> or something! yikes! I am trying to not worry... I will find out

soon

> enough tomorrow regardless, huh?? I had my upper split too, but

they

> didn't cut my upper arch bar like that cut yours... I thought that

> was interesting. Oh well! These surgeons seem to all do everything

> differently from eachother, huh?? Well, a wire on my splint broke

> yesterday and I had to use my pliers to bend it around a tuck it

> somewhere. I am kind of glad though, because I think it should

> guarantee that the damn thing comes off tomorrow for sure!!! I

> don't want him telling me to come back in another week!

>

> I read your post about missing the old you sometimes. It's wierd,

> because I have (except for looking in pictures) forgotten what I

> looked like before surgery.... All I remember is everything that I

> hated that now seems to be gone. I am not yet used to my new

> appearance, but I am pleased with my changes so far. I almost feel

> like I am in limbo... caught somewhere in between. The old face is

> gone which I am glad of, but I don't know this new one completely

> yet. So I feel a little bit lost! It feels like my jaw is finally

> where it was supposed to be all along, but caught stuck somewhere

> along the way. I feel like I finally look the way I am supposed to

> look, the way I was meant to look. Does that make sense?? I guess I

> feel like enough of the old me is still present that I don't miss

my

> face because my big family nose is still right where it was all

along

> and hasn't changed or anything. Just what I didn't like is gone

now.

> And, I feel like my mouth and teeth have been hijacked and taken

> hostage. Just waiting to get them back! Anyway, I really hope you

get

> adjusted and learn to embrace your new appearance soon. You really

do

> look great and YOU hasn't changed. YOU are still you and your eyes

> and mind and heart are the same. Hang in there. I think you will

> feel better too when your clothes start to fit you again and your

> body doesn't feel foreign too! Jane is in there and she'll be back!

> Don't worry!

>

> I will let you know how it goes tomorrow and we can compare notes,

> ok?? Congratulations again!