Day 32 Life Goes On

Here is the size difference between the
bands that I have to wear. The smaller one
I couldn't open my mouth to speak.
Thankfully the bigger one that I got
switched to last week, I can speak
no problem, but I take them out to eat.

I know, I'm a week late with this post! And... I forgot to ask my ortho for those pre braces pics!!!!! I'm horrible, I know! I will have to tie a string around my finger for my next appointment to remember! Next appointment date: July 30th. The last appointment was fairly uneventful. They really didnt do anything. But they noticed I'm missing a bracket in the very back, but aren't too worried about it right now, they'll fix it next time. I got new elastics too, a little bit bigger, so I can open my mouth easily and talk.

I asked how much longer he thinks I'll be in braces, he said 6-8 months. Disappointed!!!! It'll be 2 years already in September. I was really hoping they'd be off by Xmas. But, I'm sure it'll be nice to wait until my face settles, which he informed me that it takes up to 6 months. I'm beginning to like my results more and more every day, which I'm glad, I don't like feeling like I made a mistake.
As for my diet, I am enjoying soft meats, and tonight I had pizza! Yum! I've also been indulging in some melt in your mouth chocolate bars. I'm sure that 10lbs that I lost will be back in no time! Lol!

So, as the title of this post says, life goes on. I am pretty much back in my normal routines of life, although I have ALOT of housework to catch up on. It's coming along. My only real complaint is I do ache a little bit at night while I sleep, so I am not getting a very restful slumber as it wakes me up often throughout the night.

Sorry for such a late update! I'll be back in a week with a new post! XoXo

Day 24 Stubborn Bruises

On my computer this photo looks too over-
exposed so you can't really see it, but on
my iPad it's fine, so hopefully you all can
see it just fine. I will get some better shots
on Friday, and a side profile pic. Also,
I hope I don't forget to get the ortho's
"before" pics of me.

It's been just over 3 weeks since my surgery and these bruises are so frustrating! The dark ones are completely gone, it's the lighter ones that are so stubborn! They are yellow, on my neck, chin and chest. Good news is, I can hide them a little bit with makeup, thank goodness. 2 days ago I went out for dinner and bowling for my mom's birthday, I have attached a photo, just to show how well I can disguise the bruising, and hide the fact that I just had surgery on my face only weeks ago! However, there is still swelling under my chin and slightly on the sides of my face. I am very anxious for it to disappear, but from the research I have done, apparently it can take up to 6 months for my face to settle and take it's true shape. That means I'll be waiting until December! Also, my smiling seems a little restricted, and looks a little bit funny. I'll post a smiling picture eventually... 
The numbness in my lip hasn't changed, however I don't really notice it anymore, unless I'm thinking about it. I do however have to constantly be conscious of food being on it, that may become an embarrassing problem.
When I go to the orthodontist on Friday I will be sure to ask him if I will eventually learn to speak properly again, I struggle with certain words, and I find that I spit all over when i talk excitedly, another embarrassing detail. I'm hoping it'll eventually fix itself. I'm not sure if I've already mentioned also, that swallowing is a challenge. I suppose my muscles just need to learn their new positions.
I hope you all are having a fabulous week, I will be back Friday to update you on what happened at the orthodontist! Cheers!

Day 18 Bruises Fading

First off, I should say how my little jaunt on the elliptical was. I could only do about 10mins, only because after breaking a sweat, all the swollen areas were itchy and tingly, just unpleasant period. Then afterwards I felt nauseous, and I think the reason for that is not eating enough. I had a bowl of soggy cereal afterwards and felt much better. So instead of the elliptical today, I went for a nice walk, and then a few not too strenuous body weight exercises at home. Nothing major.

So, today I've been having alot of pain in the side of my face on one side. Not pleasant, but hopefully it'll calm down tomorrow. I think I may have pulled a muscle or something.

It's the long weekend! I'm going to get brave and go out in public, it's supposed to be hot out (hopefully that doesn't affect my swelling) I don't want to waste it by sitting at home all weekend! So I may not have any new posts for a few days!

Day 17 Cabin Fever

Not much to update today, only that I am tired of being cooped up in the house, hiding out because of my bruises. But they are fading! When I got up this morning, my 5 year old son said "Hey mom! Your neck is green!" Oh gee, thanks lol.



I think this evening I'm going to hop on my elliptical trainer and start getting back into a workout routine. I just need to make sure I don't over-do it, I can just see it, my face swelling up like a balloon and practically bursting. I just can't stand sitting around anymore. Once my bruises are gone, or at least hardly noticeable, I am going to get outside and power walk until I feel ok with running.

I definitely won't push myself too hard though until I talk to the orthodontist on the 5th of July when I go for my appointment. Pretty sure after that appointment I can take my bands out permanently! Yay!! I am also going to ask for the 'before' front and side profile pics that they took at the ortho office at the very beginning of this journey.


I took a couple pics today just to show the bruising and swelling, it is improving more and more every day. I'm was in my pj's all day, so.... sorry lol.


Day 16 Regrets??

I sure hope I didn't make the HUGEST mistake of my life. Is hugest even a word? Anyway, I really don't like how my bottom lip sits. I don't know if I have given myself a complex or what, or if it just looks funny because it's only been a little over 2 weeks and I'm swollen. Will I be happy with the results when the braces come off??! Oh I really hope so because right now, I am wishing I didn't do it. I wonder if any one else can relate to this feeling? Everyone that I ask swears up and down that it doesn't look funny and that I didn't make a mistake but I don't know. As if anyone is going to tell me that I look stupid and I looked better before. ARGHH so frustrated today!!!! It's not like I can undo what has been done. *sigh*



And to update on how healing is coming along, much to my disappointment, I'm still completely numb, no signs of life on that front. And my bruises are turning all yellow and gross. Also I still have my square face from the persistent swelling. I've been going to bed with a heated bean bag around my neck trying to get blood flowing through to flush out the bruising and who knows, maybe the swelling too. I knew I'd feel gloomy but some days I tell ya...... *le sigh*

Bruising is looking quite icky

Still square faced. Can't wait for that to be gone.

Day 14 UGHHH

It's day 14. And I am already getting fed up with all of this.
I have a hard swollen lump on the left side of my face that just won't go away. It's frustrating. I also have a constant headache that nothing helps take it away. I'm thinking maybe I should start taking a multivitamin every day. I get dizzy and head rushes when I stand up too fast. Pretty sure that's a sign of bad nutrition. I am also super tired, I napped for 3-4 hrs today, as well as yesterday and I'm still uber tired. Today I ate yogurt, soggy cereal, cream of wheat, and a chocolate bar. Super healthy right? What I really crave is cheesies. The crunchy kind. Mmmmm.
When I woke up this morning, I was really sore again, but happy to report that my bruises improved a lot over night. Hopefully they'll heal fast from now on. Other than that, I really don't have much to report for today.

Day 13 Banana Bread & Chocolate Syrup

I am managing to get more food intake as the days go by! Which is good because I had almost all but given up. It took me about 15 minutes, but I ate a piece of banana bread. Yum! It took a long time because I still can't open my mouth more than half an inch, so it was just teensy piece after teensy piece.








I am a little bit ashamed to say it, but I've also used up an entire bottle of chocolate syrup in only 3 days. Some of it I used to make chocolate milk, but the rest was literally guzzled on it's own *blush*
I know I know, I'm an animal. But that's what happens when you don't eat properly! I'm just glad the bottle is empty now. I won't dare buy another!



I'm quite achy today in my jaw. As well as the incision sites are bothering me a little bit for the first time. I got brave and felt the inside a little more to see exactly where they cut me. It starts from as far back in my mouth as they could possibly go, and ends just under my eye teeth on both sides. I didn't realize it was that big of a cut. * shudder*
I am pretty much at the two week mark tomorrow. I weighed myself this morning, and I have lost about 7-8lbs. But that's not a big deal considering I gained a few before the surgery, so now I am where my weight is normally. I will be surprised if I lose much more because as of tomorrow I can start chewing very soft things, for example, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soft rice dishes, and soft pasta dishes cut up to minimize chewing. It also depends probably on what I can fit in my mouth because I'm not supposed to force it open either. By the 4 week mark, I can up my diet to soft meats etc. and I should be able to fit two fingers in my mouth. Regular opening is anticipated at the 12 week mark, which isn't until September lol. I won't be able to bite or chew anything hard until that time as well. No apples or nuts or anything like that.

 

Today I found some video that I took back before I got my braces put on. I am trying to decide whether or not to upload it, or if I should just take some screenshots and post pictures.