Making Progress'

SO!

I am almost 6 months post-op. 6 MONTHS!!!!!!! I can't even believe it! Just wanted to make a post letting you know where I am at personally in recovery, and how I'm doing! (Just a reminder that not everyone will make the same progress and be at the same point in recovery at the same time. Everyone heals differently. Take your time and don't base your recovery off of other people's. You'll get there, I promise.


SPLINT SCHEDULE:

As of November 1st, I have to wear my splint 2 times a day, 2 hours each.

On December 1st, I get to move down to wearing my splint 1 time a day, for 2 hours.

On January 1st, I will wear my splint at bedtime, and whenever I feel I need to throughout the day. (driving, dancing, going to fairs or amusement parks, etc.)

EATING:

I am on a soft chew 1 time a day diet. Usually in the morning I will eat eggs. (I like them over medium so it makes them easier not to chew. Ive been eating that since I first got the surgery.)

For lunch, I am at school 5 days a week, and there is a microwave that is available to me by special request in the office because of surgery. Everyday i use the microwave and eat mac and cheese singles or ramen occasionally. I am going to try and find something a little bit healthier.

Dinner is usually when I use my soft chew. the rule is: "Anything softer than a meatball". So I chew things like pasta, soft bread, actual meatballs (lol), fish, SOME chicken if it is very tender, and anything of the sort.

PAIN&MEDS:

Because my severe TMJ was caused by whiplash, I still have a lot of neck and upper back pain. I heat my neck when it gets bad, and take ibuprofen when needed.

My jaw gets a little sore when I am out of my splint for an extended period, when I soft chew, when I sing and when I talk a lot (which is common). If it gets really bad I will take a klonopin before bedtime.

SO that's pretty much it. I'm living life like normal, hanging out, going on adventures, succeeding in school, and making future career plans of being a flight attendant, wooh :) Here's just some pictures of my dance partner and I at a performance, because I hate posting without a picture!
Xx

Surgery hair

TOPIC OF THE DAY: My hair growing back from where it was shaved for surgery.

So I never REALLY  noticed my baby hairs until about 3/4 months post-op, but when I did, it was because I threw my hair up in a bun and saw these awkward little hairs behind my ear just chillin. I have always noticed my new "sideburns" of course, because they are in front of my ear and always showing, but not the back! After I noticed them, I swear they started growing ten times faster!!! Now depending on how they dry if I don't pin them back, they'll curl around my ear or go straight down if my hair is up or any other non-attractive little thing they can do, they do. I'm starting to embrace them, even though they just keep growing, like hair is known to do, and keep getting more and more noticeable. But I figured, I can't do anything about it, so why worry? so now, hair up or hair down, i just let those little sucker free to do whatever they want.. flow in the wind, curl around my ear in a nice big hug, go straight down, or do the right thing and go in the direction of the rest of my hair... (rare). they're learning quickly, though. Anyways... Enjoy a few of the pictures I've taken of my little baby surgery hairs in the last month or two!!

Hello!

Just a little hello since I haven't posted in a while. I'm almost 4 months post-op, and I can soft chew once a day. My splint schedule is have it in 4x a day 2 hours each.

I'm still taking klonopin, because after soft chew my jaw gets pretty sore. 

This is my ear scars (I took this photo 5 minutes ago). A little blurry. Still red. Still visible. But that's okay, because I like having visible scars. Well they're hardly visible so.. 

My scars are a reminder of my journey and also comes with a story! 

That's all for now!!

Xx

3 month visit

Today I go in for my 3 month appointment. I'm extremely nervous. More anxious actually. I don't know. I've been feeling really overwhelmed with my splint and my diet and my break schedule and everything else. It had obviously all become second nature to me, but sometimes nature can get in the way. 

I have been working very hard to talk and be understood while wearing my splint. A bit over three months now, and i really feel like I'm doing just fine. My family can understand me. My friends can't most of the time, even strangers can understand me. Occasionally I'll have to repeat myself, but never more than once. But one of the most degrading things to me, is when I try and talk to someone, or respond to someone's question, or ask a question or WHATEVER and whoever I'm talking to responds with their teeth clenched, or their finger between their teeth. 

I get that it's a joke, and it's was funny for about a day. But now, I hate to say it "hurts my feelings", but it really makes me feel like all this effort has gone to waste. Some days I want to just not talk at all when my splint is in, because being silent for a little while is far better than being mocked for something that I can not help. 

On another note, I will say that I have broken down into tears because I couldn't eat potato chips, or Pringles or Fritos. I don't even like Fritos. I really miss chewing. Even if I could just chew some mashed potatoes I would feel a weight lift off of my shoulders. 

It's getting late-ish. I need to sleep. I'll be groggy for tomorrow if I stay up for too long. Thanks to all you who listen. 

Even if the evil in the world gives you ten million reasons to cry, smile so it knows you can't be bothered. 

Xx

Surgery Survival 101

I noticed I haven't done a surgery survival post yet! What am I thinking! I searched far and wide for a very specific Piper Patient surgery supply list, and it was nearly impossible! 

When I arrived at the hospital for surgery, everything went very fast. We got checked in, were moved upstairs, my mom french braided my hair (you have to keep it out of your face), and then I was pulled back to get my IV and medications and get all cozy in my HEATED hospital gown. So here is a list of things I brought,  and things I wish I brought.

For you Caretaker or Friends/Family that accompany you:

-A blanket/pillow to sleep during your surgery (if they can), and overnight.

-Something to keep them entertained. Books/computer or IPad with movies/games/snacks. The last thing you need is for them to be nervous little worrywarts during the whole surgery!

-A packed dinner if they don't want to eat the hospital food.


For YOU:

-A blanket. (good for before AND after surgery)

-A really cozy change of clothes. they can unhook the IV (without taking the needle out and putting it back in) so you can change into something much comfier than a hospital gown.

-Slippers with grip on the bottom, in case you don't want to wear the hospital socks. Also some socks of your own are nice to have. 

-I brought a white board and dry erase markers, but I really wish I would have thought of my doodle board then. it is not messy at all, and very easy to use and carry around. But all in all, bring something to help you communicate, be it a doodle board, white board, chalkboard, or pen and paper. You don't want to have people trying to interpret your moans and groans for 20 minutes when all you want is some water.

-I really enjoyed having my stuffed animal I got from a surgeon of mine when I was 5. When I was in recovery, I was crying and complaining that I couldn't breathe, (I was just being dramatic) and Dr. Piper brought me back my teddy bear! That's my only memory from recovery, and its a darn good one.

-I usually slept between hall walks, but when I was up, I wanted to play games with my parents and boyfriend. We didn't bring cards or anything like that, so we played hangman on my white board, but I really wish I would have brought a deck of cards!

-The hospital provides a sort of lip balm, but I really wish I would have brought my own, because theirs is very watery and clumps up when it dries. I have found after trying many different things, that EOS balms work the best for me.

-Bring the heating pad you picked up with your other prescriptions, and make sure to replace your ice when it all melts. The nurses were good about checking in, so we rarely had to leave the room for new ice.

-Bathroom essentials (deodorant, soft toothbrush, toothpaste) were very nice to have. I felt a little gross after being in the hospital overnight.

-Bring a free-standing mirror. You're going to want to look at yourself. A lot. Or at least I did. I got this Mary Kay pink travel mirror. It holds your hooks, rubber bands, a mirror, and your splint. It sells for $3 on amazon.

-The hospital will supply your nutritional drinks and water and syringes, tissues, an ice pack, and wash cloths.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING PAST MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SURGERY AND GOOD LUCCCKKKK!

 Enjoy a few of my photos, including some of the stuff on my survival list!
Xx

A change of clothes 

Slippers and socks (this is the leg gear that they make you wear to avoid blood clots)  

My white board to communicate and play games

My fuzzy blanket that my boyfriend stole while I went out for one of my walks. 

And just a picture of me a few days post op, for your enjoyment ;) 

So Far So Awesome!

So far, school has been easy. My teachers and classmates are learning to understand my muffled speech, I'm on track as far as the small amount of work I have so far, I haven't caught "senioritis" yet, and I'm on a great schedule for when to take out my splint. I am on one hour and fifteen minutes out of my splint five times a day. Here is my break schedule!

6:30- Wake up, take out splint (1) and put in in retainer cleaner. Take morning vitamins. Do jaw exercises. Get ready for school, make breakfast (usually eggs), brush teeth and splint. Leave for school.

7:45- about 15 minutes into first period class. Put splint back in. (Teachers don't seem to mind as long as you fill them in on what is going on)

11:22- Lunch. Take splint out (2). Go to bathroom and do jaw exercises.

12:37- Halfway through sixth period. Put splint back in.

1:30- Halfway through ambassadors (show choir). Take splint out (3) if singing day, leave in if dance day.

2:45- Home. Snack and do jaw exercises. Put splint back in after snack. If it was dancing day, take out splint for 1:15 and snack.

6:30- Dinnertime. Take out splint. (4) Do jaw exercises.

7:45- Put splint back in.

9(ish)- Nightly FaceTime chats. Take splint out (5) and put it in retainer cleaner.

After 1:15 of FaceTime- Do jaw exercises, brush teeth and splint. Put splint back in. Listen to Dracula audiobook (for english class) for a chapter. Take a klonopin and GO TO BED! 

It looks really busy and confusing when i type it out, but really its a piece of cake. I'm just three days in and i don't even have to think about my new schedule anymore. 

My concerns:

My neck and upper back have been hurting lot since the start of school. I don't know if it is how i am sleeping, or having to look up at the board all day, or what. All I know is that all I want to do is heat my jaw and ice my back after a long day at school. (which i make time for while listening to my audiobook). 

So far this year is looking like a good one. :)

Xx

First Day

So, today was the last first day of high school for me. It's scary, growing up. I used to want to be grown up, and now all I want is to be that chubby cheeked five year old that talked to butterflies and bounced around in pig tails singing silly songs. But that's life, right? 

So for the TMJ related stuff; I managed to get second period marked as an "off-period" so I can run home, eat, brush my teeth and do my exercises. Then for 5th period I have an hour of lunch, so I can Eat and socialize and what not, and then I don't have an 8th period either, so I get to go home and get it out one more time before dinner. I really enjoy being on a set schedule, because it makes dealing with my splint much easier. 

As far as talking goes, I am not having much luck in the classroom setting. I feel a little embarrassed when the teachers make me introduce my self and give the class one interest fact about me. 

My statement is usually "I'm Emily, and I can't talk very well because I had jaw surgery"

I have no clue how many people just smiled and nodded because they had no clue what I said. I don't blame them. I'm not yet comfortable pulling out my doodle board to communicate.. Not for such small amounts of sharing.. It might become useful by next week. 

Many of my teachers handed out a syllabus that we had to return with our info, and on the bottom they ask "is there anything special that I should know about you". To avoid any future conflict, I write about exactly what the surgery is, why I got it, and the stages of recover, and my physical limitation due to the surgery. I'm sure they will all understand. 

On a super side note- 

My three month appointment is on September 3rd, and I am so nervous. I've never been nervous for "just-a-checkup" before, but when I think about it my stomach ties in knots and I feel really anxious. But I'm sure all is and will forever be well :) 

Hope everyone going back to school is having a good time 

(First day of senior year photo) 

Xx

Back To School

Summertime is almost officially over. That means a lot of great things are coming to an end. 

-Sleeping in.

-Eating whenever i'm hungry.

-Netflix marathons.

-Seeing my boyfriend everyday.

-Small vacations.

-Lots of beach trips.

-Summer clothes.

-Never being busy.

-No school work.

BUT, the end of summer also means the start of some equally as great things.

-Meeting and making new friends.

-Having a set schedule.

-New clothes.

-Ambassadors. :)

-Not being able to lay in bed for a week straight.

-Starbucks almost every morning (Guilty). 

-Friday night football games.

-Pre-game tailgating.

-Prep rallies. 

This coming year I will FINALLY be a senior!!!! But there's still a lot to do (in the next three days) to prepare to go back to school. School clothes. School supplies. Schedule changes. Hang tag for my car. Buy a locker. Etc. 

BUT I did already buy one magical little device for the coming year, that will benefit my surgery recovery. Lately I have been pushing my jaw forward slightly to help people understand me better when I talk. I know that it's not good for me, and it makes me very sore after just a little bit. SO! I thought I would need something to write on. Something more eco-friendly than pen and paper, and something less messy than a white board and dry erase markers! Now i'm not exactly sure what these babies are called, but I was using one when I went to babysit, and it woks like magic! Just $10 on amazon, and I'm set for answering all the questions I can!

I'll let you know how well it works as soon as I get to find out myself!

BACK TO SCHOOL I GO!

Xx

Freak Out

So yesterday I had to babysit early in the morning. School starts on Tuesday, and I have some scheduling issues (due to surgery) that i need to work out, so i sopped by the school, and then went to Starbucks, then to babysit. I took my splint out to eat with the kids, then put it back in about 30 minutes before my hour was up. I got a call from my school, so I took out my splint and set it in my cup holder , and answered it, only to find out they they were calling to tell my that they will call me later on to wok out my schedule. ugh.

So I got home, feeling like a shower. I talked to my brother in the living room for a few minutes, said hi to my dad in his room, got my towel from my room, and hopped in the shower. As soon as I got out of the shower, my timer to put my splint back in went off. But where was my splint? I don't know.

I searched all over the bathroom, all over the kitchen, my dads room, my room (even cleaned it all up) and all around my car. In the console, in the cup holders, under the seats, under the CAR. EVERYWHERE! My mom came home and helped me look all over the house, and double checked the car.

We started losing hope. We decided to call the piper clinic (which is apparently closed at 3pm on a Friday) And had to call it in as an emergency. So we left a very shameful message about my misplacement of my splint, and continued out desperate search. I was literally freaking out. I was so scared. I have been so good about keeping track of my splint, and then, I just lost it. literally.

I ran out to my car for one last sweep, and did the whole search routine again. About to turn around and go inside, something made me turn around and go around to the passenger side again. I pulled out my phone flashlight and checked under the seat, AGAIN. But then... there it was. The one thing i never thought that i would be SO happy to see.

I ran inside, washed it about 8 times, and my mom and I called back the "urgent" line at Piper Clinic, and left a second, even more shameful message explaining the false alarm. OOPS.

The oral of the story is.. KEEP YOUR SPLINT IN A CASE! Even if you think that you're just putting it down for a second.

AND SMILE
Xx

What's New? Not Much, What's New With You?

I don't know if I ever mentioned this mirror in any of my posts yet, but it has practically been my 

BFF after surgery. It holds all of my rubber bands (plus extra if you're traveling) and the hook, a mirror that it comes with, and my splint when I'm taking it out for my daily breaks! I found it at a goodwill for a dollar, (gross i know, but i washed it by hand like 5 times before using it), but I looked, and if you search "Mary Kay travel mirror" on Amazon, it sells for about $3. It fits right in my purse, and going to school I need something compact and easy to carry around, and it fits right in the front pocket of my backpack! 

I finished camp last Friday. 8am-5pm. long long days of singing and dancing non-stop. Crazy week. One of the dances is extremely fast and at the end, everyone does a different lift/dip/etc. well my friend Olivia and I, both have this weird crazy (hard) lift in the picture below (I'm on the left). It's pretty scary, because I know my head is close to the ground, and if i fell, that would be a major uh-oh after my surgery. But I do feel safe knowing that my lift partner is a gym junkie, and has enough muscle to bruise my sides from holding on so tight, so there's some trust there. The other picture is my entire show choir together! :)

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SMILE AND STAY POSITIVE ALWAYS NO MATTER WHAT!!!!! HAPPINESS CURES ALMOST ANYTHING! Xx :)

CAMP

I started ambassador camp today (show choir camp) which was so much fun, but my jaw was aching from start to finish (all 9 hours of camp total). I haven't been taking my klonopin very much at all, so it wasn't weird or off schedule that I skipped it this morning. I think I am going to take one each morning before camp this week, because things weren't feeling too great. 

But tonight is one of "Those nights".  The nights I have only occasionally this far into recovery, where I bring out the ice packs and the klonopin. My neck hurts, my jaw aches, my back is sore, my incision spots are in a lot of sharp pain, and i can't seem to fall asleep. Like always. 

To top it all off I have some sort of head cold/sore throat type thing going on, which makes it EXTREMELY difficult to breathe with my splint in. I'm super stuffy and I keep having to stretch open my mouth and get a good breath in every few minutes or so. But it's all temporary and tolerable for now. 

 There's nothing ice packs and some good ole Elvis records can't fix. 

Crunch.

I'm in the mood for chips... 

Lazy posting.

Late night thoughts last night. That's the photo that went with my post. But hey, follow my Instagram :) @emilepsy  

Birthday :)

Happy birthday to me! I have been on vacation in Texas for pretty much this past month, so I haven't been blogging (oops) but now it's my BIRTHDAY!!!!! :) yay!!!! 

Plan is:

•lunch

•Starbucks

•pedi with mom

•boyfriend cooks dinner 

•movie

•frozen yogurt 

:) 

So as far as TMJ goes-

•still taking klonopin as needed (so rarely) 

•ran out of rubber bands in Texas and had to visit the local orthodontist. 

•still pain in the joint. 

•I've been on a full 5 on the therabite, which is awesome :) 

•it's getting hard to take it out 5 times a day because the amount of time I have is growing, and i wake up at 12 usually (summer/:) so I cant find lots of time to take it out. I've been managing, but on august 1st it goes up to an hour, which will be tough!! 

•can't wait to be only nights :) 

Love you all!!! 

Xx

Dreaming

So as you probably know by now, I'm on a no chew diet for 6 months. It's really hard, and yes, I do still burst into tears because I see a TV ad for steak, or my family is having burgers while I'm eating noodles or oatmeal. But for the most part, I've gotten used to it. I've never instinctually chewed on anything. I've been good. 

Recently I've been having dreams that I eat a chip and chew on it. Or even something like my regular non-chew meals, and I chew!!!! And even while I'm dreaming (because it seems so real) I freak out and worry because I've messed up the whole surgery!!! It's crazy. It feels like nightmares really.

But anyways I just had to share that because I keep having them and maybe getting it off my chest will make them go away?? Who knows. 

Hope you all had as good of an Independence Day as I did!! 

Been a while.

I miss blogging. It has totally slipped my mind lately. So much has been going on. 

We called the clinic, and went in for a checkup. I was only on a full three on my therabite. Lisa saw me and said I was doing great! YAY!! :) 

Now I'm on a full  four!!!!!

My neck really hurts lately. I don't know if it's related to my TMJ or anything.. But it's really bad. (My new sunburn doesn't help).

Just a few days ago I have realized that my appetite has gone down the drain. Maybe I have some small sickness or whatever.. All I know is EVERYTHING sounds gross. Which isn't a good thing at all, considering I am already losing weight. 

I'm laying off of the narcotics, because they make me feel heavy, and tired. But I think I'll start taking two a day again. I'm feeling crappy. 

Netflix has been keeping my mind off of everything while I'm home and more likely to feel the physical pain, and emotional pain of missing out on steak and sushi. 

Besides that I've been trying to do summer like a normal teen. Movies. Mall. Parties. Beach. Aquarium. Etc. Dr. Piper stressed not straying from our normal routines because of surgery. I'm Keeping that  in mind :) 

I'm going to go try and eat some noodles.. Since they've been my favorite food so far. 

Here's a picture of my new ear rings and my super awesome scar from surgery,  because I know the post is boring, and staying happy is important :) I just had to vent a bit. 

Xx

...

Still on a 2.  

A little late but...

I think about two weeks ago, i was in pipers office for a post-op visit. i met a girl, named Julia, and she was getting surgery the week after! (which happened to be this past wednesday)!!! that was the same day of the week i had mine done! so we are currently in touch, and talking about progress and how we're feeling. supporting and sharing. she pulls off that post surgery looks pretty well, wouldn't you say? ;)

She's going in for her 5-day post-op visit, where they unwire your splint, take off the first three bands, give you your exercises, and LET YOU FINALLY GET OFF OF A LIQUID DIET! so we are talk about food and what i've been eating and how i've been finding ways to eat (swallow) foods like fish and chips, and also all of my favorite "swallow-me-whole" easy dishes, like mac and cheese, and cup-of-noodles, and egg salad!!! as far as i've been hewing, she's doing great! we all have our rough days and i know she has had her, but girlfriend, there are better days to come. especially now that you don't have to drink your food!!! 

JULIA!

Good luck to you!!! i wish you the best with your recovery, and hope to keep in touch. i know it helps me talking to other patients going through the same thing at the same (or almost same) time! you look fabulous! hope you feel fabulous! don't let people get you down. TMJ splints have been proven to make the hot girls hotter. Liana and i found out first hand ;) you'll see! Rock on!

Xx 

"Exercises"

Say hello to my little "frenemy". this is the little device they give you to exercise your jaw called a "therabite". you bite around the white part, where it looks like you should be biting, and then you squeeze the movable parts and it forces your jaw open. WELL. when you first take off your splint in the office, they make you give it a shot (along with the other exercise). there are five levels. 1 is the smallest amount that it will force your jaw open. once you can open all the way to one, you shift to two, and so on.

well when i first tried in the office, i was at about a half, which wasn't abnormal, being that it was my first time out of the splint since surgery. well, you do it five times a day, and i kept going and finally got to a full one! I WAS SO PUMPED! so then i moved the stopper to level two, and I DID IT!!! (mind you, this is me yelling in excitement about where i am on my therabite, on the bathroom counter in the middle of my brothers grad party). since then i've been working on a level two, since i was on lots of meds, and i have only been able to force a full two, one more time since then. and i continue to keep going and trying and pushing myself to the next level.

well our phone consultation came up and they talked about all the basics, and discussed my meds and how i was feeling.. how i was eating.. was i coming out five times a day, etc. etc. etc.

then they mentioned my exercise schedule. "she's doing her jiggles, i assume she's on about a 3 or 4 on the therabite"

… well no, try a 2.

"other patients are usually around a 3 or 4 now, sometimes even a 5"

… no. i'm a 2. on a good day.

i couldn't take that. i burst into tears. i have been pushing myself before that phone call and i thought i was doing so good, and here i am, feeling so stupid because i was excited about being at a less-than-average point in my recovery.

i cried and cried, (im crying right now) and since the call i have been pushing and pushing. They suggested trying heat 15 minutes before i do my exercises, and that has done nothing. i work at it, i go as far as i can, and i just CAN NOT get myself past a two. i hit a full two this morning. i was going through my exercises and just got so frustrated and started crying and somehow i pushed myself to a full two, but there is no possible way i can top that. not right now.

well i felt really stupid, and i felt really bad, and felt lie I'm not doing good enough. well from the beginning i have been told not to compare my progress to other patients, so why shouldn't that apply now? i am working on level 2 on my therabite. i am pushing myself as hard as i can, and i am not giving up, but a 2 is where I'm at. it is all i can do. maybe thats a bad thing, but i can't let myself feel stupid and insecure and belittled by the fact that i can't open my mouth as far as the others who got surgery on the same day (which by the way is someone very supportive who has spoken to me about this already).

you recover at your own speed. i am cutting my meds in half, maybe even a little less. yes, i am feeling a little more pain, but i expected that by cutting my meds. i feel like i have swelled up a little since cutting meds and trying a little harder on my exercises, but thats all part of recovery. i feel like the medication was making me feel a little less like my happy giddy bouncy self. i blamed it on the fact that my face was just cut open for a while, BUT i feel like crying when someone looks at the camera the wrong way when I'm watching a film. so cutting meds may be what i need. i am already feeling (personality-wise) more like myself. still having rough patches. I'm still in pain. I'm still pretty upset about the therabite.

i did however just have some chocolate cake and ice cream, so i am feeling a bit better.

XX

Adventure Time!!!

So, I'm only allowed one 1 hour nap each day. i rarely take that offer. i have better things to do :) here's a short list of some of the things on my agenda, rather than Netflix, and sleeping!

• walked the streets of St. Pete, making new friends
• went thrift shopping with my mom and grandma 
• painted a tree (and my boyfriend) and swam in the river
• been to the mall (several times)
• went to the beach with my mom, aunt, and grandma
• went to the movies
• went to the movies again
• went to my brother/boyfriends graduation
• went to my ambassador end-of-year party
• went to my ambassador start-of-next-year meeting
• a little bit of Netflix but whatcha gonna do ;)

i SERIOUSLY suggest keeping yourself busy. bring your meds, bands, and exerciser along, but go and have fun! it bring my pain level down because I'm not thinking about it, and I'm not missing out on my summer vacation! I'm a picture person, so here's a few ;)

Boyfriend appreciation post

i have been dating my boyfriend for quite a while now, and i must say, i am pretty high maintenance to begin with ;) but he has come over almost everyday, giving my mother a break from my endless pain and meds and complaining and asking for things and everything else. my mother, i must say, is a trooper.

 From day one, he has been in the hospital with me, (before and after surgery) and at my house constantly. he was there when i took my splint out for the first time outside of piper's office and i just cried and cried. he was there when i did the same thing, and him and my mom drug me to public and make me get some food that i like (i was stubborn, of course).

he stays with me at night time until i fall asleep, and watches stupid movies with me because he knows it will make me happy. just a few pics i managed along the way. ( a few repeats, perhaps)

Food

So I'm going to the movies, and we have to stop for dinner first. My aunt suggested chipotle, and the girls (grandma and mom) all agreed, so that's where we went. My mom asked what I wanted and I said nothing and she was like "you can't just get nothing you have to eat" and I yelled back "BUT I CANT EAT ANYTHING"

And started crying.

Mom and i took a breathe, looked at our options, and decided to run into public and grab 5 containers of mini micro Chef Boyardee berf ravioli and some beefaroni.

Food is stressful, but I will say, I could live off of those right now. They're small enough to swallow without chopping and smooth so they go down well. And tasty :)

Hope we make out movie

XX

Recognized

REAL FAST!!

right after my appointment, my aunt and I went to eat at Cassis, a breakfast place, and I asked (enthusiastically through my splint) if he could mix pineapple and cranberry juice, and his response was
"Are you a doctor piper patient?"

Haha is so funny when people recognize that. Which, by the way, has only happened twice!

But now he's back there chopping my up some pancakes :) I love people!

New Friends

Just left Pipers office. Met two people having surgery next week, and said goodbye to the one who had surgery the same day as me. It's really fun informing people on how things are going to go (which is why I made this blog in the first place) but also just making friends, and knowing people who will go through the same things as me!!

Today I'm feeling great! Cutting my pain pills in half, but keeping my muscle relaxers the same (since most of my pain is musclular) and I'm not feeling too bad.

I got a NEW splint today! The bite is slightly different, but I just replace the last splint with it.

I believe this is my last visit with piper until my 3 month :( I'm gonna miss the office and all the people I've met! I hope everyone keeps in touch, comments, asks questions, everything :) it's so fun talking with you guys!

Will post more about recovery and  exercises later, just a quick post because I was talking about it at the office!

XX

scars and stitches

so here are some progression pictures of my ears, and the stitches. you can see stitches along my ear, and down on my neck, from the clamps.
the first picture is with the drains, and with all the stitches, including the ones on my neck, covered. the next one was right after the drains came out and the bandages came off.

 made this one X-Large so you could get a better view. this is 6 days post-op.

                       stitches are healing well. they are dissolvable, so i expect them to be dissolving

                       soon. you can't see the ones on my neck very well, but they're still there. everything

                       is healing nicely though.

i will say, and excuse my language, but the stitches on my ears itch like HELL. its really hard not scratching them, but obviously, do-able. i keep them clean with a cotton swab and some peroxide.

getting the hang of things

Wow. It has been a rough week, but somehow i managed to make it through. so here's how it goes:

• you get your surgery
• you stay the night in the hospital to make sure you're fine
• when you're released, you see the chiropractor (which is actually my favorite part)
• eventually you'll get to take your splint out for fifteen minutes, five times a day
• you have to do two exercises
• you get to eat, but you can't chew (not even with your tongue)
• take your meds, and drink your fluids. 

seems super easy right? well for some people, it may be a piece of cake, but not for everyone. when i go back to visit piper (almost every day a week post-op) there's another girl who had her surgery on the same day as me, so we're kind of on the same schedule. her surgery was the same, except she did not get her wisdom teeth out (which i am coming to realize makes a big difference in recovery).

Well, we were talking to her father about how she's doing (she's doing great) and he said she LOVES coming out of the splint. wow. now that surprised me. almost every single time i have come out of that splint, i have been in tears. its very strange because your range of motion is little to none, but it hurts me so bad, that i would rather stay in the splint forever. (just kidding, ha ha ha)

night 3, post-op is when things started getting a little crappy. the day was fine, i was great, i even went to the movies with my boyfriend (and fell asleep), and when i got home, i was a WRECK. i was in so much pay, and i was crying and it was bad. my boyfriend (who i need to say has been the best. super supportive, and super loving and caring and amazing) stayed with my for a while that night. him and my mom calmed me down, my boyfriend stayed for a while and let me fall asleep with him, and snuck out silently.

a MAJOR MAJOR part of this recovery, is having helpful and supportive people  around, who can handle your medication schedule, and your pain and emotions, and keep you active (because unfortunately you can't sleep more than an hour each day). My mom and DJ have been those people. they've been with me since i entered the hospital, and i know i am a high-maintenance pain in the ass, but they work with me and are still so supportive, and understanding.

Today i woke up, in a little bit of pain, but i took out my splint, ate (swallowed) some oatmeal, brushed my teeth, flushed my wisdom teeth holes, took my meds, drank some fluids, did my exercises, put the splint back in, and I'm actually doing great. its my best morning so far, and I'm praying things are just going to get better from here.


SO. sorry for the really long post about everything and nothing. YOU READY FOR SOME MORE PICTURES? ill post some before and afters, and some fun videos in the next few. ENJOY <3

post-op pictures

not bad :)