I had an appointment at my jaw specialist today. The pain I referred to in my last post was knocked out by a round of medication, so things are good.
I go back in three weeks, and THEN we MIGHT be able to discuss weaning me off this horrid wonderful device.
“The doctor may let you take it out for an hour…” the assistant told me. I gasped, pure thoughts of a hamburger joy overwhelming me. “…after you eat,” she added. I was crushed. AFTER I eat?? “Then, after you do that for a while, he will let you take it out for two hours!” she said. I was leery. “…after you eat,” she added.
Dude. So not cool.
My hubby called from work to check in to see how things went, and I told him. When I mentioned we wouldn’t start weaning off it until the next visit…maybe. He said, “Did you tell him that IT’S CRUSHING YOUR SOUL!?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. No, I didn’t tell the doctor that. I did, however, ask him out loud if I’d have to wear it forever, and he told me no. I can only hope he wasn’t lying. Then again, “forever” is so hard to calculate these days.
In awesome news, you’ll never guess what’s happened. A little back-story will be needed. Back in 1994, yes, 18 years ago, for those of you playing along at home, I had my wisdom teeth out. Because the roots of my teeth are curly and complicated and wrapped around all the nerves in my face, I was told that the procedure *may* cause some of the nerves in my jaw and face to be severed or nicked, and that numbness would result.
I asked if I’d drool. I was told I wouldn’t. I gave my blessing for the procedure. (There really wasn’t a choice anyway.)
Sure enough, after the surgery, I couldn’t feel the right half of my chin and the right half of my bottom lip. It felt numb. In the cold, it would feel puffy. I adjusted. Life went on. Honestly, after 18 years, I’d learned how to apply lipstick without looking, and I never even noticed it to feel abnormal anymore. This was my new normal.
At the end of June, guess what happened!?
I started to feel my face and lip. The feeling returned! Either the laser therapy or the splint has returned the feeling in my face and lip, and I’m shocked. SHOCKED. This wasn’t even something I thought I’d ever get back. I thought this was a done deal. This wasn’t even considered as a benefit to this jaw therapy.
So, I can’t eat solid food, but the pain in my jaw is gone and feeling has returned to my face.
…oh, and I’ve lost almost 20 pounds.
That must be what a soul weighs after it’s crushed… 
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wow JoAnn I can not believe what you’ve been enduring! 20lbs, where did you lose 20lbs from? So…so…you’ve only been eating liquified foods this entire time? I don’t see you as the cheating type, but OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS GIRLFRIEND!
ps..I love the feeling coming back, that part is incredible.
Thanks, Denise!
This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, because I CAN’T cheat. Cheating, even for just a moment, would set back my therapy, and there’s no WAY I’m doing that to myself. The mandibular splint is like having a cast on your arm. You can’t just remove the cast when you want to go swimming, because you’d have to have the bones reset. It’s the same principal. *sigh*
When I was on Weight Watchers and lost 40 lbs, I was never deprived. I could have a bite of whatever I was craving and figure it into my daily allotment and then stop after one bite. When I was pregnant with Claire, I gave up every drop of caffeine and alcohol, but I never craved it. (I missed sushi, but it wasn’t the end of the world.) With THIS, I can’t even have what I crave, if what I crave is remotely crunchy or too tough to smoosh around the top of my mouth and then swallow.
This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to endure.
Wow — it’s amazing that you’ve had such success with nerve regeneration!
Not to mention the healthy weight loss.
Knowing how dedicated you’ve been about your therapy, I bet the weaning will come soon. hope so!
I love the way you write.
I’m happy your complicated procedure is working!
As for the soft food, It appears you are simply learning now what you’ll need to know later in life. You’re getting a jump on that elderly eating part. Wins all around!
Thanks, Lori!!
Rajean! Don’t make me laugh! Food (i.e. drink) will come out my nose!
Wow… wow and more wow! 20 lbs is an amazing feat but I wish you didn’t have to make sacrifices either but alas, it is like that. You look amazing woman – and I am so excited that you are going to get to buy a whole new wardrobe… It is nice for sure. Enjoy! And like I Said… let’s go grab a “bite” when you are able again – so we can all celebrate! ;- )