7 weeks post-op!

Monday 11th June 2018
Sorry for the delayed update! I am now 7 weeks and 4 days post op. I'm still wearing the two bands to sort out my midline - although I have forgotten to put them in some days. I started eating solid food at around 6 weeks, after eating soup at work for 10 days straight! It was a bit of a revelation and took a little while to get used to! The first thing I had was strawberry laces as I've always wanted to be able to bite one without having to use my hands to tear it - it was great!! The next day I had duck with mushrooms and rice which my friend had made (and assured me it was soft!) which was a bit harder to eat, but very tasty.

All was going well - my midline was becoming well aligned - until I ate a pizza about 2 days ago which was probably a bit too crunchy for my recovering jaw. Now my jaw feels a bit misaligned and keeps cracking when I move it and my front teeth aren't touching anymore. I'm hoping it will soon go back to the way it was, otherwise I will really regret that pizza. I'm returning to the less crunchy foods from now on!

The numbness in my cheeks has completely gone now, as well as in my chin - my bottom lip feels a bit tingly and my top gum is pretty numb still (this doesn't bother me-i'm just unaware when food is stuck there!). I think my lopsidedness has finally sorted itself out which is good! I've started using my electric toothbrush again as I can just about open my mouth wide enough. I'm back to normal with my exercise routine and also think I've put back on most of the weight I lost (darn).

Strawberry lace revelations!

4 weeks post-op!

Sunday 20th May
It's been just over 4 weeks since surgery! On Friday, I went to see my orthodontist again. He said that all was looking good and I got some x-rays taken. It was a very long appointment (even though he had only just managed to squeeze me in) as he took off some of the brackets and put them in new places, changed the wires and gave me new elastics. The elastics are in a new position to align the midpoint of my top and bottom teeth. He also managed to get rid of the gap between my two top teeth straight away! I would say that the change in elastics - having them pulling my bottom jaw backwards one side and pushing it forwards the other side - has been one of the most painful parts of recovery, particularly at night. It doesn't help when I lie on one side when I sleep but I can't help it!

I'm starting to get a bit fed up of blending all my food, but hopefully it will just be two more weeks.
I found out that I can't eat pizza for another two months though! 😭 Also, when I drink anything, it keeps partly coming out my nose- does this happen to anyone else?! By the way, I got the job and start tomorrow! I hope they have a microwave, otherwise it's cold soup every day for me. I think the interviewer felt sorry for me as I couldn't talk very well!

The swelling has definitely gone down a lot as I can smile properly and can nearly completely feel my cheeks. My bottom lip/chin is also coming slowly back to life. Some of my friends have said I don't look much different to before surgery and some people have said I do look different/younger/slimmer! I think I will put all the weight back on when I can eat again!!

3 weeks post-op

Thursday 10th May
It's been exactly 3 weeks since my surgery! Not too much to say but I do have a job interview tomorrow even though I'm still struggling to smile/speak - should go well😂. I'm starting to find it hard to close my mouth comfortably too, but hoping this is just where the feeling is coming back in places its still swollen. I will ask my surgeon about it on Tuesday. I'm also starting to get a small gap between my two front teeth which I think must be from the elastics either side - it's odd anyway - hopefully it won't get too much worse. I have a tennis match on Sunday (doubles) - I'm going to avoid being hit in the face!

Day 18 post-op

Monday 7th May
Not too much has changed with my swelling but i'm starting to get more feeling in my lips and chin :)  Smiling is gradually becoming easier, but still feels weird. I went to the cinema on Friday to see I Feel Pretty which is a comedy so my face hurt a lot afterwards😂. I also had a sleepover - it was meant to be a Eurovision sleepover but we got the date wrong - so we watched Britains Got Talent and I made an Oreo milkshake. I managed to sleep a bit upright on the sofa.

This bank holiday has been sooooo hot so i've tried to make the most of the sun (whilst occasionally icing my face!) We went to a river yesterday and out on our boat today. I resisted jumping in the water! The elastic band on my front teeth accidentally pinged somewhere at the beginning of the trip so I didn't have one on the whole day-oops. I managed to suck on a tuna sandwich today but mostly ate Pombears and cake, so was craving some vegetables for tea. I blended up carrots, broccoli, parsnips and a steak pie and had sweet potato too - it ended up being A LOT of food!!

Definitely filled me up

A chin!

2 weeks post-op!

Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd May

I can't believe it has been two weeks already since my surgery! My face is slowly getting back to normal - the swelling is just a bit lopsided. My bottom lip is still quite numb and feels really big. Yesterday I had mashed sweet potato and I blended up a vegetable pastry pie and, although it looked like vomit, it tasted great. I also ate a whole magnum which was an achievement. I ate too much chocolate and woke up covered in spots this morning!

Today I had my first bike ride - it was nice and sunny but I was very slow and unfit! I made sure I had my tightest elastics in so my jaw wouldn't wobble around too much😂. We bought some jelly and custard on the way. Someone from a job I applied for phoned me back today so I had to speak on the phone but he said he could understand me!😆  I am nearly able to smile now, just a bit awkwardly and painfully. These photos were taken when I took my bands out so it was easier!

Yummy

Day 11 and 12 post-op

Monday 30th April and Tuesday 1st May
I didn't do much yesterday as I was very tired, but managed to apply for some jobs. I also played a bit of tennis in the evening as I was getting restless (not sure if i'm allowed to really) but it felt good to be hitting again, even if I didn't move much! I had blended sausages and mash (with pesto) that evening which was surprisingly tasty!
Today I went to the hospital again for another follow up. My surgeon said all was looking great and changed my bands, but said I was still too swollen for any x-rays. He also told me I can start lying a little flatter when I sleep which is good! My next appointment is in two weeks.
My face still looks the same - I think at this point I look pretty normal to members of the public but I still feel swollen! The feeling has started to come back in my chin and cheeks but I still feel numb in my bottom lip and just below my eyes.

Before and after: amazingly my teeth don't stick out anymore! This pic really shows how my nose has changed too!

Day 9 and 10 post-op

Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April
Yesterday I went to watch my tennis club play a match - I can't wait to be able to play again! I ended up babysitting for a lot of it, which was exhausting, especially when even just talking takes a lot of effort. I said hi to someone who I went on holiday with last year and he just looked at me blankly - i'm assuming he didn't recognize me which is very weird! I had blended chilli for dinner - yum. I tried to suck on chips but it was not successful😒.

I still can't talk that well or smile, but the swelling is slowly going down, it's just puffy around my jaw. I'm also a bit worried that my face is lopsided but I'm hoping it's just uneven swelling. Pain levels still pretty low - except for my cheek keeps getting caught on my brace! :( I had Weetabix this morning and a cup of tea which was a first! I'm meant to be going to a waffle house with my friends later - think I will get someone else to order a milkshake for me!

The extent of my smile

Definitely lopsided!

Update: the milkshake was GREAT.