Archive for the 'Jaw Therapy' Category

The New Normal

Published on Thursday, November 1, 2012 in Jaw Therapy. 2 Comments

Dealing with this jaw therapy has been one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced to date. How it is going?

Fabulously!

The therapy was a success! There is no locking, no pain. It’s the New Normal that hurts (albeit only emotionally) every once in a while.

What’s the New Normal?

No crunchy or chewy foods, which means no bacon, no hard candies, no nuts. Everything I eat is on a case-by-case basis. I have found that my entire system is really sensitive to foods that were once common place, so I have to be careful in that regard, too.

If one more person suggests I could just make a smoothie out of whatever it is that I’m craving, I’ll scream. First of all, I’m just not a smoothie type of person. They’re okay, but they’re not fabulous. Second, what little mystique they had for me died back in JUNE.

Also, for me, taste has very little to do with the foods I crave. Yes, I love tasty food, but I love the crunch of the bacon as it breaks against the crispy lettuce and succulent tomato in a BLT. I love the sound of iceberg lettuce as I chomp on it. I view chips as a necessary vehicle for whatever dip I’m being served, and I love that feeling of crunchy and soft. No, I really don’t want to eat that dip with a spoon, thankyouverymuch.

I have been granted some leeway in some foods. I can have crisp lettuce on a sandwich if the bread isn’t too tough to go along with it. Salads themselves are still a bit too tricky. Chips are still tricky, too! You see, by design, most of my teeth no longer touch. They have to be this way to keep my jaw in proper alignment. My front teeth touch, and if food is thick enough, I can chew it. If it’s too thin, I can’t. If it’s crunchy or tough, I can’t bite down hard enough to chew it. How do I eat? If it’s soft enough, I can bite into it (Yay! This is a HUGE breakthrough!), but then once whatever it is has been chewed to a certain extent, I have to use my tongue with the roof of my mouth to finish the process, and then I swallow it.

That’s a wonderful visual, eh? Sorry about that.

Remember when all I could think about was a hamburger? Well, I finally was able to eat a tiny one. It was the most wonderful thing ever, and I got so entirely sick afterwards. Oddly enough, that craving has been filed away as a thing of the past.

My routine is as such, and will be forever: The nighttime device will be worn every night. The daytime device will be worn during “times of known stress,” or once a day, or at least once a week so that I know it will continue to fit properly if I do need it.

I won’t see my Jaw Specialist for three months, and at my appointment last week, he granted me permission to snorkel when we’re in Hawaii. I was ecstatic! (So, New Normal isn’t all bad!)

In fact, New Normal is almost all good. I’m thankful that the pain is gone. I’m thankful the locking is no longer an issue. I’m thankful to have reached the other side of my therapy with (most of) my sanity intact.

As we get into the holidays, I’m battling my emotional ties with traditional foods, and I’ll take this journey one day at a time.

New Normal isn’t so bad.

The First Bite

Published on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 in Jaw Therapy. 2 Comments

See that bite? I did that. All by myself. It’s the first true BITE of food I’ve had since June 8th!

The weaning process for my jaw appliance wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be, and I’m not done yet. BUT, today is the day I can try eating without it in.

So far, so good.

So far, so very, very delicious.

Rawr!

Published on Saturday, September 8, 2012 in Jaw Therapy. Closed

Starting today, I get to take my “mandibular splint” out of my mouth for an hour after I eat.

This is what they both look like together. Haven't been able to photograph them like this. I don't have to wear them together, but before the Weaning Process, one had to be in my mouth at all times.

After 3 MONTHS in this contraption, my mouth feels HUGE. Close friends would be shocked that this baffles me.

The Weight of a Crushed Soul, Or An Update on my Jaw Therapy

Published on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 in Jaw Therapy. 7 Comments

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…

Today marks TWO MONTHS.

Published on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 in Jaw Therapy. Closed

Today marks TWO MONTHS in my jaw appliance. I’ve not had to dip into the Bail Money Stash. Success!

One of my favorite quotes during this time is by Claire:

“She can’t really bite our heads off, Daddy. We’re too crunchy!”

Heh.

Update on my Jaw Therapy

Published on Thursday, August 2, 2012 in Jaw Therapy. Closed

I interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for an update about my jaw therapy. Exciting, yes?

I’m still wearing my daily splint every waking moment. If I have to brush my teeth, the upper one goes in first and then I remove the lower one, and vice versa when that procedure is complete.
I’ve gotten better at talking around it, and most people don’t even notice that I have it in.

See? It doesn't look like I have a bag over my head, even though it feels that obvious to me.

I’m still on a soft-food diet, which, as predicted has been the best diet plan known to man. Yes, my husband has plans in the works to market this weight-loss idea to the doctor’s office. We could make millions.
I’ve had the appliance in since June 8th, and I have yet to not feel it. I thought there’d be a moment when my brain would just gloss over its existence, but that has yet to happen.
In 6 days, I will have had it in for 2 months. I’ve stopped counting the hours and minutes.
I don’t know how much longer I’ll have to have it in.
Not knowing is threatening to drive me over the edge.
Yes, this would be a short trip.
Speaking of trips, while on the 3,221 mile / 2-week roadtrip, I felt something shift and some pain returned, this time in the right side, with some returning on the left. I’ve gone in to see the specialist again, and they’ve given me some medicine to help reduce the swelling, stretches to do every morning, and a ice/heat routine to do at night. I hope this works. This is normal and not something over which to panic, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely disappointed in this new development.

So, that’s the latest on that. Most days, I grin and bear it. Literally. Some days, I force back the tears and carry on anyway. Honestly, this is the hardest thing I’ve had to endure, but I keep telling myself that the end result will be worth it.

That, and the hamburger I can eat when this is all done.

Marked Improvement

Published on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 in Jaw Therapy and Random Thoughts. Closed

Hearing my doctor proclaim that he sees “Marked Improvement” from my jaw ~~torture~~ therapy nearly brought tears to my eyes! I’m not done, by any means, but it’s nice to get confirmation that all of this is worth it!

He’s made some adjustments, and I’ve been granted more mobility.

…now if only I could be granted a hamburger.

True Love

Published on Monday, June 18, 2012 in Jaw Therapy and Random Thoughts. Closed

I don’t have much to report on my jaw therapy situation, other than I’ve been following the doctor’s orders to a T, and I’m slowly getting used to the daytime appliance.

It has taken over my entire being, but I’m adjusting.

It’s only been one week…
…and three days.
…and five hours.
…and 23 minutes.

Not that I’m counting.

I’m speaking more clearly, and I’m getting more used to gumming my food without making a total fool of myself.

What I’m finding is that people don’t notice it as much as I thought they would. To me, I feel as though it’s as obvious as a paper bag over my head, when in reality, unless I point it out, most people don’t even notice.

How very odd.

Last night was a first: We ate in public. I ate food in front of strangers. Well, as much as eating in a booth at the local Indian restaurant can be “in front of” anyone other than the people sitting across the table from me. I found some pureed options, and also discovered that my favorite naan (Kabuli Naan) is totally gummable when fresh! I discovered a delicious soup I’ve never had, and my normal order was enjoyable without the rice.

Rice, as I found out last week, is a complete disaster.

Even with these adjustments, at one point, I started to feel really self conscious. I could tell that food was under my appliance, and the mere thought of that grosses me out. I felt that everyone was staring or could at least tell that I was barely holding it together, but my husband assured me that no one was watching, and if they were, they wouldn’t know anything was amiss.

He even offered to blatantly pick his nose as a distraction, just in case they were looking toward our booth.

Now, that’s true love.

5 Things I’ve Learned Over The Last 3 Days

Published on Sunday, June 10, 2012 in Jaw Therapy and Random Thoughts. 4 Comments

1) I talk. A lot.

2) I love to eat food.

3) Doing these first two things on my list is going to be harder than I thought.

4) Choose the people around you wisely.

5) …and I have chosen them wisely. Well, one I chose. The other showed up some years later. Both are awesome.

Thanks to my hubby and Claire for SO much support as I try to make this work.

Here it is: The Daytime Appliance. See the clear plastic device over my bottom teeth? This is as far as I can close my jaw. Fun times ahead!

Do you know why they’re called Appliances?

Published on Friday, June 8, 2012 in Jaw Therapy and Random Thoughts. 3 Comments

A couple months ago, my jaw (left side) started aching. It has always clicked every now and then, but nothing of consequence…or so I thought. In addition to aching, one day, it decided to lock open. I had to physically press the side of my face to get my jaw to close, and to say it was disconcerting would be an understatement.

It happend a couple more times.

I knew I had an appointment scheduled with my dentist for a cleaning, so I made a mental note to talk to him about it. As the appointment grew nearer, I consulted Dr. Google with my symptoms. It was hard to sort through all the information, but a common theme I kept seeing was “stress related” issued with the TMJ (the muscles in your jaw).

The only thing stressing me out WAS my jaw! I don’t clench or grind. Surely there was another answer?

During the appointment, I voiced my concerns, and my dentist took me seriously. He did an extensive exam and determined that I needed to see a specialist. He also told me that this type of thing is relatively common with someone who has had orthodontia as a kid, and may not have to do with stress at all. Great.

Unfortunately, that fits me to a T.

Approximately 20 years ago, I got my braces off. I was tortured for years, but the end result was beautiful, straight teeth. I wore a retainer through college. In the early days of my orthodontia, I had to wear a head gear (NEVER in public, thank goodness!!), and I always suspected it was evil. Now, I know for sure.

Who knew!?

So, I’m under the care of a specialist, who determined that not only is the left side dislocated, the right side is following close behind. I get to wear one appliance during the day for “8 to 12 weeks,” and another appliance at night for…well, forever.

Do you know why they’re called appliances? Because they cost as much, if not more than, a fridge.

It’s also as if the guys from Monty Python were involved in deciding whether or not something called an appliance would be covered under health insurance. Only, instead of “She floats! Wood floats! Wood burns! Witches burn! She’s a witch! …I’m not a witch! They put this nose on me!” the conversation goes something like this: Well, jaws aren’t teeth, so it can’t fall under dental insurance. And, an appliance isn’t part of the body, so it can’t be under health insurance.

The ONLY thing that would be covered is a procedure (surgery) they do NOT recommend. FUNNY how that works, huh?

As of the publishing of this post, I’ve had the “mandibular splint” in for approximately 4.5 hours, and I’ve only had one panic attack. I think I can do this. Oh, right. I don’t have a choice!

I’m supposed to eat while this thing is in, which may prove to be one of the most expensive diet plans I’ve ever encountered.

Heh.

So, there you have it. It’s in. It covers my bottom teeth, and feels so totally bizarre right now. I’m sure that will pass with time. At night, it will be switched for a similar yet different appliance that goes over my top teeth.

I’m learning to talk around it, but it’s slow going. Or, should I say, “Schlow going?”

Also? I need a good cover story, because “my jaw is dislocated from orthodontia I had 20 years ago” isn’t nearly as exciting as an encounter involving Ninjas. I think I’ll work on that…

Edited to add: Okay, okay. I added pictures.