Sat 21st & Sun 22nd Feb - Henry Farewell Weekend

Sunday 22nd February - Day 14

Today was pretty good! Went to church, got back into the thick of it!  Everyone asking how I am doing, giving me these sad puppy dog eyes... Why is everyone so surprised when I say I haven't felt any pain??

Levi turned the key tonight and I felt the pressure against my teeth/jaw.  I feel like I am feeling it more and more each day he does it. Afterward, my teeth feel agitated and I have to constantly clench my teeth together, and grind.  This actually feels kind of good. In a weird way.  Good probably isn't the right word to use. But satisfying is more like it.  Just as you would scratch an itch; if I bite down and grind and clench, I get the same satisfaction I guess... 

Food today was lasagne, chocolate cake with ice cream. Jelly cup. 

Oh by the way, while sitting in Sacrament, I guess I could feel something a little out of place in my mouth, around the bracket.  After some tongue prodding and sifting air through saliva and whatnot, I somehow managed to reveal a tiny piece of crushed nut from dessert last night... Not so great. I swallowed it anyway and told Levi... He wasn't so impressed!

Photos!!

Day 14 - Sunday after church (gap getting bigger, able to open my mouth wider!)

Saturday 21st February - Day 13

Today was a good day, but busy!

Took Kaylee clothes shopping, and found myself 6 items for $39 BARGAIN!!  And a free hoola hoop so I guess that 7 items..! Raced home and got ready for Church Leadership training 2-4pm then grabbed some groceries, raced home, prepped dessert for dinner at my brothers place; and raced out there by 6pm and cooked the cake in his oven.  That wore me out a little bit. Don't have as much pep these days...

While at my training meeting, I was talking away to someone and felt something on my front teeth, touching my lip.  Naturally, I reached in with my fingers to find the culprit... It was a stitch. Gross. 

Stepped up my eating a couple notches tonight!  Ate some lasagne and potato bake! Very small portions... AND to top off my night on a high note, I had some cake and ice cream. The cake, is delicious! It's a womens weekly best desserts or something.  Chocolate cake with a caramel drizzled topping and crushed nuts (pistachio, macadamia, walnuts).  Oh so yummy.  My only problem though was that some of the nuts were a little large to simply swallow down without feeling them.  So I tried chewing lightly on my back teeth/gums.  Result was very sore and tired gums/teeth/jaw.  Probably won't do that again so soon.

Day 13 - Gap is getting bigger I'm sure of it!

Friday 20th February - Day 12

Worked 1/2 day today. Watched news all morning, Cyclone Marcia devastating Yeppoon!  Was a little worried about my Aunty Lyn & Uncle Shane in Monto, especially when forecasters saying it is heading directly over Monto toward the end of it's tirade... But they escaped somewhat unscathed, with the exception of some farmland flooding, and needing to rebuild their farm fences. 

Dinner for Henry farewell tonight with Gran and Shanice. Villa Romana. I chose a ravioli type dish. Had to cut each parcel in 1/2 or 1/3 so I could push to back of my mouth and swallow it whole. Took well over an hour to bring dinner out, so imagine for a moment what it's like to be starving yet you can only eat tiny little portions without even 'tasting' it... Welcome to my life right now! :/

Levi had no worries turning the key tonight.  We actually forgot to do it, were half way in town when we realised, so had to turn around and go back to do it.   My motto from 2013 to 'be on time' isn't working so well this year... 

In order for him to do what he has to do (get the key in my mouth and turn it), I have to really tilt my head back into position that gives him good vision and access to the bracket. This part is not enjoyable for me... I get really dizzy when I tilt my head back in any setting now (dizziness comes when I tilt too far forward; and side to side too quickly also - I have woken myself up a few times from obviously thrashing my head around too quickly in my sleep!)  Basically, I have to lay on the bed, hang my head over the edge and tilt it back.  The whole room spins for a bit, then I close my eyes and hold onto Levi's arm while he puts the device in my mouth and works his magic.  This takes about 10-60 sec depending on his accuracy... When he's done, he has to slowly pull me up. I then sit on the bed for a few minutes and let my head settle...  My teeth feel slightly different. Whether they are or not I guess I don't know.  But it feels like the metal has shifted position, ever so slightly, and causes me to bite down, perhaps in a bid to get it back to the way it was...

Day 12 - Pictures from dinner!

Wed 18th, Thurs 19th Feb - Day 9 & 10

Wednesday 18th Feb 

I failed to mention that due to all th talking and laughing at work on Monday, my first day back, not only was my face (muscles) really sore, but my swelling increased a bit.  Think I overdid it. 

Wednesday, feeling good after a sleep in this morning until 8.30am 

Got Shanice around to mow my lawn while I whipper snipped and leaf blowed, which really took it out of me... 

Feeling a bit more movement in my mouth since my Doctor's checked it out. I guess I feel a little more confident opening it a bit wider. 

Levi had a bit of trouble turning the key in my expander tonight.  Poor guy.  Stressing over it. But he figured it out in the end.  Basically, you've got to make sure the key turns all the way around.  You can check this has happened by inserting the key in the hole afterward, if it goes in, that means he did a whole turn correctly.  If there is no hole, that means it's still got a way to turn. Which is exactly what happened, and he had to try his best to get the key back in which was very difficult, but he managed to do it. As his Gran would say 'he's a clever boy!'... ;)

Day 9 - more movement 

Day 9 - smile is a little less awkward! Top lip movement better.

Thursday 19th February 

Feeling pretty normal today. Had a couple visitors which was nice.  Running out of food options so going to have to find some 'soft food' recipes online. Here's hoping! 

Day 10 - Looking a bit more normal

Tuesday 17th - Day 9 Follow up appointments :)

Tuesday 17th February 2015

Back to work again today.  Pretty tired. Early start because a client coming in at 8.30am. Day went pretty quick. No lunch, busy. (Starving!!)  Finished work at 2pm to go to my follow up appointments at Dr Lane (Ortho) and Dr Finn (Surgeon).

NO FACIAL PHOTOS TAKEN TODAY. BUSY AND FORGOT. 

Levi accompanied me to my appointments. First stop Dr Lane office. 

Dr Lane 1 week Follow up Appointment 

Firstly a nurse / dental assistant examined my mouth and said all looked fine.  Dr Lane later came in & said the same.  They poked around and pull my top lip up a little higher than anticipated which made me whince. (Levi saw it). He showed Levi how to use the key to expand my bracket. Pretty straight forward. I asked Dr Lane a few questions outlined below, and we re-iterated what was going to happen (overall) with my dental plan. 

Q 1. I keep biting down and slightly grinding / gnashing my teeth. Is this going to affect anything or damage the blue glue holding my bracket in place?  

A. Dr Lane said it isn't anything to worry about. In fact, it's a natural bodily reaction to my mouth having something foreign in there.  Just like we would autonomously grab our arm if something hit it. We tend to clench our teeth together when something is going on inside our mouth. 

Potentially I could grind through the blue glue, but no drama, can just re-fill. 

Q 2. What's happening with my bottom teeth? How will braces fix them?

A.  Dr Lane explained that because of my significant overbite, my bottom teeth had nothing (i.e. top teeth) to hit and effectively stop them from growing further up. Hence why my gum line lifts up higher at front.  (He gave me an impressive scientific name for it but I forget). The braces are going to draw my bottom teeth forward which will correct my gum line in the process. Then when the surgery takes place next year, my bottom jaw will be brought forward enough for the teeth to touch my top teeth. 

Q 3. How big will my gap get?

A. It will become a slot wide enough to put a 50c coin in. Not so bad!

Levi will turn my bracket every night for next 2 weeks and I will return to see Dr Lane for assessment.  If all okay, go ahead with braces 2 weeks after.  If he thinks I need to turn a little more, he will advise how many, and potentially re-schedule braces fitting.  Expect braces to take 45-50 mins to fit.  Appointments made for 2 weeks and 4 weeks. EXCITED!

Everything else in good order.  Girls said that I came out looking pretty good (some patients come in with 2 black eyes etc).  Nicky Fang Yuen, Office Manager, asked if we were still talking to them (smiley face); of course! I really haven't suffered so much. 

Day 9 - Device to turn / crank my expander bracket

Goodies from Nurses

Dr Finn 1 week Follow Up Appointment 

Nurse examined my mouth; again, hurt when lifting upper lip. (Stitches!!)

Dr Finn very happy with progress.  He confessed that he thought my operation was going to be a little difficult, but he said all went very well..! In fact, he had more trouble with young kids surgeries performed recently. So he's happy with how mine turned out.  

While I was under, he opened the expander device right up and closed it again. He said a lot of movement potential which is great.  He told some stories, one including his own daughter who had this op done in Brisbane (she's at uni down there), where the surgeons didn't open up the jaw enough and they have to go again. So basically wants maximum space provided for my teeth to sit nicely with a big wide smile :-)

Q 1. Stitches in upper lip, whats happening with those? 

A  Disolvable. 

Q 2. Light headedness. When will it cease?

A He said due to the significance of the surgery, it may take some time. He gave me all the scientific info related but I lost track.  Basically, it is related to the surgery and also inner ear balance.  So I guess it will be some time before I'm good again. 

Q 3. Numbness. When should I expect feeling back around my upper lip / cheek area?

A  This takes time but upper facial numbness generally wears off and feeling comes back in due time.  This isn't always the case with lower jaw surgery however. Need to be mindful of that. 

Q 4. When can I chew solids again?

A Short answer - 2 years!  Once braces and everything is done, that's when I will return back to normal.  He said I should basically forget my old way of eating and adopt the new way; i.e. cutting food up very very small and stick to soft stuff... No more burgers... 

Devastating... It seems I didn't prepare myself for that answer.  I guess I'm going to learn to love some new food groups! 

Final : At some point in next few months, he will invite me along with Dr Lane to go through pictures on computer to show what my face will look like once surgery done.  I'm excited for that.  He also said if I wanted to, I could come along to a seminar night where he has students come along and he showcases once of his patients. Sounds pretty interesting! :-)

Monday 16th - First Day Back at Work

Monday 16th February 

First Day back at work. 

Most of the swelling has gone down. Bruises still visible, but I tried to cover with foundation.  Brain strain trying to get back to 'thinking'.  Got a little used to being in a vegetative state. (Although, I did manage to do some online shopping from the couch!)

Everyone at work gave me sympathetic puppy dog eyes all day, despite me telling them I have suffered no pain (vomiting only pitfall).  Think I talked too much today because I came home with a very sore face. Used the ice pack tonight. 

Brekkie : Hot choke
Lunch : Home-made sweet potato chips, very soft; lemonade 1/2 can
Dinner : Continental chicken noodle soup

Early to bed for work tomorrow. 

Fri the 13th..., Valentine's Day and Sunday...

Friday 13th February 2015

Feeling really good today.  So good in fact, decided to do some house cleaning to keep me occupied.  Went for a walk around the garden and checked the neighbours place as they're away.  Got a little light headed so came back inside.  Did dishes, swept and vacuumed floors, cleaned off all the bench tops throughout the kitchen and living area.  Felt like I accomplished something.  Energy levels pretty good.  Usually I want to sit or lie down and rest.  Must be on the mend :-)

Bruising is really turning yellow.  Not much change in swelling...

At bed time, I laid propped up with a cushion before I finally decided to go to sleep.  When I removed the cushion and laid my head down flat on my pillow, oh boy, did my head spin! Like never before...! Was quite scary really.  If I was standing up, I think I would've fallen over.  Composed myself and went to sleep.  Light headed feeling stayed with me throughout the night and early morning as I noticed whenever I was awake and turned my head form one spot to another. 

Breakfast : 1/2 glass choc-milo milkshake
Lunch : roasted sweet potato (mashed), lemonade
Dinner : chicken noodle soup
Snacks : jelly

Medications :
Still on antibiotics, took panadol before bed only

Day 5 - Yellow bruising coming through

Day 5 - Yellow bruising coming through

Day 5 - Able to open my mouth a little wider today

Day 5 - This is as best I can smile!

Saturday 14th February 2015 (Valentine's Day)

Nothing special about today, being Valentine's Day, although I'm feeling really great !  Levi had to work.  Swelling is going down a little.  I have started putting ice packs on my face again (gave it a couple days rest), which I think is improving. 

When I clean my mouth (meticulously) I noticed today that I have stitches right along my upper inner lip where it meets my gum line.. Hmm... I didn't realise that was cut, but that makes sense as to why I have so much swelling on my upper lip.  Mum said today (when she delivered me some groceries, thanks mum!) that my overbite seems more prominent now... Levi said it's because my top lip is so swollen it's protruding. 

Thinking I'm really going to have to get myself in the right head space before my next operation because in the current frame of mind, I don't want to go through with it. 

Finished antibiotics this afternoon! And not taking any pain killers. Woo hoo! 

Let's hope tomorrow I am feeling really good and my light headedness disappears altogether!

Day 6 - Swelling down quite a bit, bruising appearing under eyes

Day 6 - Purple bruising appearing under chin

Sunday 15th February 2015 (Day before I return to work!)

Today I had a bit of an off day.  Energy levels down.  Head felt cloudy and just wasn't feeling great.  Happy when Levi came home early from Church. Just knowing he was there in case anything did go wrong. (Terrified of vomiting - not that I felt 'that' sick). 

Face still swollen somewhat. Was hoping it was all gone by tomorrow, first day back at work, but unfortunately not.  But thats okay. Bruising I can try cover up with make up. 

Ice packs on tonight hoping swelling will subside. 

Day 7 - Ice packs for swelling

Day 7 - Bruising still visible

Day 7 - Starting to open my mouth a little wider, but feels restricted.

Thurs 12th Feb 2015 - Up up & away...

Tuesday, 10th February 2015

Today was an awful day! Felt very weak and hungry all day.  Going in and out of sleep.  Attempted to drink a vanilla protein shake but didn't enjoy it, not really wanting sweet flavoured things. Tried some lemonade.  Got up to watch a little tv.  Hungry because I can smell Levi's curry lunch.  Asked him to make me some beef 2 min noodles with extra liquid.  I went and laid down while he made them.  He brought them in and I had to leave it cool down a bit.  I tried eating some, got about 4 strands of noodles down before I had to stop.  Then I vomited. Oh dear... I'm not a good vomiter! In one word, I would say 'violent'. Poor Levi was dry reaching, he had to walk away and come back.  I threw up all over the towel before he made it into the room with a large plastic bowl... He threw the towel out.  Thank goodness I had that towel, otherwise, I would have spoiled my beautiful new doona cover!

Later that night, I tried eating some plain white bread.  Felt quite good. So I had another piece; and also a few little nibbles of some chicken breast. (I basically just pushed the food up the back, sucked on it for a bit and then swallowed - strictly no chewing).  I was out in the lounge sitting on the couch.  Not feeling so well, I made my way back to the room, laid down slowly and before I knew it, my mouth was watering... I called out to Levi (even though I had a plastic container, I don't like being on my own when I vomit), and away I went.  A lot of dry reaching before I actually started vomiting. But it was pretty terrible.  Tried not to cry. Just feeling like 'hell'... Too many medications, went to bed hungry and hoping for a new day tomorrow! 

Ice packs and blood noses!

Day 2 - not a great day!

Wednesday, 11th February 2015

Decided to stop taking Panadeine Forte today.  Levi had to go back to work, so he sent Gran around to check in on me.  She did the dishes and hung the washing out.  She brought some soup around (tinned stuff) and told me that the soup Henry got me before work is also in tins.  Not what I wanted at all.  Googled the cup of soup I wanted. Continental Classic Chicken Noodle soup. Showed Gran a picture so she went back out to get some.  She came back with 'cream of chicken'... So I tried it but I just couldn't handle it. Had a whinge to Levi and after some text message exchanges, he rocked up at lunch with the correct stuff!  And he helped me shower, so I felt better. 

Later I called Dr Finn office and spoke to a Nurse.  Told her about yesterday's vomiting episode and that I've now stopped taking Panadeine Forte. She said that's what she would've told me to do! She also said the antibiotic could be making me feel lightheaded also, but it's very important I stay on them to avoid infection. (I agree! Don't want a repeat of my wisdom teeth...)  Also asked her about dried blood in my nostrils - she said leave it to take it's natural course... don't force it out. 

Restless sleep tonight, maybe because I finally managed to keep some food down and my stomach is freaking out a little bit...

Day 3 - Bruising coming out

Thursday, 12th February 2015

Today is definitely a better day! Feeling functional and normal. Still, when I tilt my head slightly back (to gargle), I get a little light headed. 

Had a rough night sleep last night.  Bit of pain in my mouth and also suffering a sore stomach, perhaps it's just a little tender for not eating for a few days.  Snoozed a bit more this morning after I woke up and took some tablets.  Watched a movie and some tv, flicking in and out of Facebook and online shopping.   Made myself some roast sweet potato for lunch which was so good! Sick of liquids.  

Finding that I'm able to move my mouth a slight bit more than yesterday.  When I brush my teeth I lift my top lip up a little. The skin on my inner upper lip is peeling, despite applying paw paw ointment.  My bruising is turning yellow so looks like that's on the mend!

Last night when I was examining myself in the mirror, I realised that I have some burst capillaries perhaps, just under my eyes...  The inside of my lower eye lids also, is very red, kind of blood shot.  I would imagine this is from the brutal vomiting session on Tuesday. ;)

Front of my face i.e. lips, nose, cheeks up to lower eye socket is still numb.  My chin is ok. And I can feel the roof of my mouth and inner gums... Sometimes my face is slightly itchy, like very feint; I use a tissue to lightly rub and it clears that up. Healing perhaps?

On the whole, I think I'm well and truly on the mend. I hope I'm in good shape physically and mentally to return to work on Monday. I sure would love to get out of my pjs and the house! In fact, work texted me today to ask the same. Fingers crossed!

Medication today :
1 Amoxycillin antibiotic 4 times per day (until all finished)
1 panadol whenever I feel the need
warm salt water mouth wash every 2 hours

Breakfast : 1/2 glass choc/milo milkshake, water
Snack : 1 cup chicken noodle soup, some mango (probably equivalent to a mouthful, cut up into tiny pieces)
Lunch : 1 small purple skin sweet potato, schweppes lemonade
Dinner : macaroni cheese packet

Day 4 - Bruises turning yellow, swelling going down

Monday 9th Feb (D-Day) Top Palate Expander operation

Expander Operation

6.30am

Woke up at 6.30am and read through my hospital paperwork.  Today's operation is in the Cairns Day Surgery and I'm told the procedure will be 1 hour only.   Had to fast from last night's meal. No water either. 

Feel very nervous this morning, and throughout the night I kept waking up even though I tried not to think about it. But I kept picturing my top jaw being cut open and cringing... I think I'm just worried about the pain.  I had a pretty bad experience with my Wisdom Teeth (done by the same surgeon) so naturally, my bad memories from that day are popping up. 

Reading through the post-op paperwork, I am reminded to take painkillers every 4-6 hours before the pain starts coming through.  Even Levi reminded me of this last night, so I better stick to that regime.  Last time, I waited until i 'felt' the pain, before I took meds. 

7.00am

Okay, well it's now 7am and I need to be checked in by 8am so I had better go and get ready! WISH ME LUCK!!!  

Arrived to Cairns Day Hospital around 7.45am, raining, Levi came in and stayed with me until I got my call up, which was probably around 9.30am.

I weighed in at 59.5kg which means I've lost 1.5kg since getting my expander fit on Thursday...  The nurse taking all my recordings is Italian and planning a trip back to Italy in August / September / October. How nice. Let me day dream about that for a moment...

Excited for the surgery!

Right before I go into Surgery

9.30am
The anaesthetist explained to me that I would be getting tubes put down my nostrils for the procedure (whereas, for my wisdom teeth I had it down my throat)... Something about needing a clear airway for my throat, I don't know I kinda focused in on tubes being shoved down my nose... yuk... He asked if I would rather he did or didn't tell me that. Wasn't sure really, don't want to know beforehand, but handy to know afterward so I know why I'm dealing with things. So I said to him '50/50'...

I crawled onto the operating table and laid down. There were a few nurses around, doing this and that.  One nurse was sticking things all over me, for my pulse perhaps, little round patches.  Then the Anaesthetist put the sharp thing in my arm (inner elbow), little pinch.  Shortly after that, he administered the anaesthetic and before I knew it, I woke up in the Recovery stage 1 room.  Which is where I stayed for the entire day... My first recollection was around 11.20am when the nurses woke me.  Dr Finn came over very briefly and said the operation went well. I had a male nurse attendant and so I noticed later on that I missed out on all the 'how are you sweetie, darling, blah blah blah'... My guy kept it brief and manly. 

I managed to eat a small container of orange jelly.  Orange. Why do they do that? No raspberry??  I'd even take green over orange! They must get it on discount.  I also had some lemonade and some water.  That was hard work actually. Trying to suck it through a straw with no feeling in your face. But mission accomplished. I was starving!!!

Later on a female old-school nurse came over to me.  I say old school, because she actually knew what she was doing and was good at making you feel better. She cleaned my face up a little bit for me and said how mean my previous nurse was for not doing it already.  Hmm... how bad do I look? i say to myself.

Pretty soon, Im busting for a wee. So I ask the nurse if I can go to the toilet, she checks my charts and says, it's too early for me to getting out of bed and asked if I would use a bed pan. I said yep! And so I did. (And it's not the first time I've had to... IVF...)  And so I used the bed pan once again before my stay was done. And the 3rd toilet break was when I was finally allowed to get up and walk there around 4.30pm.  I was pretty out of it the whole time.  While I laid there however, I was staring at the clock in a daze, but time wasn't going slowly.  It seemed while I was watching the clock I got bored and fell asleep, so every half hour I was watching the clock and dozing off again... This went on for 5 hours!!!

Boy did I get a shock when I saw myself in the mirror! I don't know what I was expecting really, but not the swollen mess that was looking back at me!! And the dried blood, like, splattered all over, even in my eye brow... what the..? Oh well. It's done now. 

Whilst sitting in the waiting room for Levi to arrive, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself (I physically couldn't smile) at the girl across the room.  I figured 'thats what I look like' which was a terrible mess! Her cheeks were so swollen! She really did look like a chipmunk.  The only difference really was that she was making a lot of groaning noises and things. Poor girl. i'd say her first surgery. And she wasn't coping well.  She was pretty drugged up still! While in the previous recovering waiting room, I could hear the nurses trying to wake her up 'Sarah! Sarah! It's time to wake up. You have to wake up now Sarah!' Then I overheard a couple of them giggling at the fact the Anaesthetist gave her a 'special' meaning probably a little too much to handle. Perhaps. I don't find that funny at all.  Kind of dangerous really.  

A few hours after surgery - in waiting room

 A few hours after surgery - in waiting room

 Top lip area is really swollen and not moving at all - this is me smiling

At home, ready for bed, obviously not feeling 'chipper'!

Trying to drink a milkshake ain't easy with numb and swollen face

Sat & Sun 7th & 8th Feb Weekend before my first operation

Saturday 7th Feb

Breakfast : hot chocolate from the Pier

Lunch : leftover massuman beef & potato curry

Dinner : Reef fish and chips at Brothers

Summary of the day :

Went to movies, watched 'The Wedding Ringer' with Ash & Billy. Ran some errands etc like, bought a 2nd hand clothes dryer.  Then had dinner at Brothers to cash in on my 'free' birthday meal.  Mouth feels fine, although I think the metal bracket is rubbing on my tongue.  Not quite an ulcer forming, but it's leaving an impression on my tongue from all the rubbing and pressure when Im talking and sucking my spit back. Gross i know. 

Sunday 8th February

Breakfast : none

Lunch : chocolate milkshake with vanilla protein powder

Dinner : Beef & potato Massuman curry from Khin Khao

Summary of the day :
Had a pretty good weekend.  I experienced some different emotions.  Saturday I was nervous and then Sunday I was feeling excited that this is finally going to happen and is the start of a new smile for me. 

Wasn't planning on speaking much at church; however, I think it was the most I mingled with everyone, and, due to my counsellors not being able to conduct the RS lesson, I had no choice but to get up.  A few words unable to be pronounced, some laughs from my friends in the room (and myself), but all in all, I did okay. 

Came home with a very sore tongue... worn out and literally wearing on the metal plate.  I actually have an indent on my tongue!  I realise that I cannot say 'eat', 'shanice' or anything with an elongated 'e'sound... I guess that's why a healthy & proportioned palate is so important! Yesterday, Sarah (Barber) was telling me that when people have operations to correct a cleft palate nowadays, they actually peel back the entire face (like Face-Off the movie!) and operate 'behind the scenes' to leave no scar...

Lot's of talking again tonight as Fi came over to discuss our Christmas holiday plans for Europe. Feeling pretty excited about that which probably took my mind off the operation in the morning.

Our last selfie before the first op!

Friday 6th Feb 2015

Friday 6th February 2015

A new day today, gave me a new opportunity to improve my speech and eating ability. Finding that my tongue gets tired after too much talk. Eating is a drama. I made a mango/berry smoothie around lunch but was still hungry so I cooked up a couple packets of beef 2 min noodles and gave them a go. I pretty much had to suck them down and avoid getting them stuck between the metal... Foolishly tried to eat some BBQ potato chips but didn't get far with those.  This afternoon I ate an arnotts chocolate monte biscuit, with a bit of difficulty but I was determined ;-)

Each time I eat, I have to rinse my mouth out and I also brush and check it out, to make sure no food is stuck anywhere. 

Im dreading next week..., not being able to eat. Looking forward to 6 months time when I get this plate removed! Braces will be a breeze on their own! :P

Even up my bite
Yesterday, I noticed that the right side of my bracket (well the hardened glue) was sitting lower than the left side, which resulted in my not being able to bite down flush with my teeth. Rather, one spot on the right would make contact and that was it.  Last night's grilled fish meal was nothing short of a disaster trying to consume... Although it tasted so yummy (Mecca Bah).  I digress!  So I made an appointment today and went back to Dr Lane's office to have it fixed up.  Yasouf I think his name was, basically polished off a bit that hits my bottom teeth and it's a lot better now. Not perfect, but I won't complain... 

Now I'm off to slurp, er, eat dinner. Thai Mussaman curry at Khin Khao. I figure I should be able to eat the potato no worries, but not sure about the beef/chicken. Let's hope I can get something down!

So my thai dinner was somewhat of a success!  I managed to slurp the curry sauce, suck down the rice and do the same with the potato pretty much.  Couldn't eat everything, so brought home leftover Massuman beef & potato curry and coconut rice. 

Watched American Sniper at the movies. Awesome movie!!  Off to bed now. Hopefully I don't drool so much tonight... 

Thurs 5th Feb - Top Palate Expander

Top Palate Expander Fitting

A couple weeks ago, 21st Jan to be exact, I had 4 miniature rubber bands jammed between my 2nd? molers (the big double teeth) to force a space big enough to fit the expander bracket.  Whilst it didn't cause pain at time of fitting or afterward, there was a great deal of discomfort for days afterward. Actually, on 2nd thought, pain was triggered when I tried to chew hard foods like chips etc for the days following.  What was more annoying though, was the discomfort.  Took me back to my school yard days where I had a loose tooth and I would twist it and turn it and push it into my gum making kind of a painful yet satisfying feeling.  I just gnawed my teeth for 3-4 days until it settled down.  The nurses told me that it would feel like I had a piece of steak stuck in my teeth, they were right. And you know how annoying that is. 

Currently, it's 2:59pm on Thursday 5th February 2015 and I'm sitting on my couch. In 1 hr time, I will be at Dr Lane's office having my Top Palate Expander device fit to the roof of my mouth. I'm told the device will cause me to have a lisp. I've just realised that I've not yet asked how long I need to have the device in my mouth for (mental note to ask when I go today). 

Isn't it funny how it takes an injury for you to realise how good great health & fitness really is?!?  I've been preparing for this day for a couple of months now, so a little earlier, whilst I sat on this very couch and reflected about my future events, I seized the opportunity to finish off the 4th and last jar of nutella that my work Secret Santa gave me.  I never realised just how much my tongue relied on the roof of my mouth in order to really enjoy and savour the flavour and smooth texture.  Simple and everyday things such as this are going to frustrate me I know it. But the end result, I hope, will be well worth it. I'm counting on it. Just as Courtney said this morning when I told her "this is the last time your going to see my mouth like this and speak clearly without a lisp for a while", she said 'you better smile in every damn photo I ever take!!!!' Amen to that!

Pre-op teeth clean

This morning I went to Redlynch Perfect Teeth and had a full clean (free - courtesy of Medibank Private - 1 per year!).  It took less than 20 mins, they did an X-ray on a particular tooth that had a suspicious shadow on it but all is well.  Teeth clean went fine. I asked if I should be getting my teeth regularly cleaned when I have my braces on and she said yeah go every so often, as per what the Ortho says. Sometimes they want you to use their own hygienist. Guess I will soon find out!

The Last Supper

Peter shouted me to a final and hearty lunch at Brothers today (for my birthday). I ordered the chicken breast with cous cous and mashed potato, it was okay. I'm planning on having a nice salad and maybe steak or something on Sunday night. That will be my REAL final meal for a little while. 

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I'm told that my expander operation will need 1 week recovery time.  I've spent a part of this afternoon looking up photos of expanders and so now I'm wondering what mine will look like because there are a few to choose from.  I really hope it doesn't hurt. 

Expander Fitting - done

Okay, device is in. No real discomfort and nil pain; however, I'm having quite a hard time trying to speak. My 's', 't', 'c' so far are the hardest.  My tongue needs to figure out what's going on (at the moment, it thinks there's a piece of food in there and so it's salivating quite a bit).  I need to re-train my tongue how to talk correctly and of course, swallow again, because right now, it's struggle town! (And yep, I need to do this all over again when it's removed in 6-9 months time because my tongue will have forgotten the 'normal' way to speak). Yes, I said 6-9 months time.  I wasn't expecting that! Actually, I thought they might be joking when they said it.  Dr Lane said it's 6 months minimum as past experiences have shown that anything less, can result in palates moving back to their original narrowness.  Whatever it takes, I'll try to be a good sport. 

So the update given by Dr Lane today is as follows: 
- Expander fit today, 
- Operation on Monday 9th Feb, 
- Follow up appointment with Dr Lane the following Tues 17th Feb at which time, they will show me how to 'crank the key' in my expander device, which is going to open my expander bracket, thus open up my top palate.  This will be done regularly, over the course of a number of weeks, and each time I crank it, the expander will open 0.8 mm. After the operation, I should be left with a small gap; by the end of Feb / early March, I should have a large gap at which time, I should have my braces fit and I'm told that within about 10 days, my gap should disappear. The teeth move that quickly!
- Turn / crank the key for number of weeks.
- Fit braces sometime in March
- Holiday in NZ end of April

My speech impediment should have settled down in a few days. Fingers crossed. 

I realised soon after I had my expander fit, I will no longer be able to roll my 'r' when I practice my Italian. Bummer. Ever since I mastered that skill, I've quietly been enjoying it each morning when I do my Italian lessons! 

Levi was the first person I called after I finished up at Dr Lane's office whilst I was driving home.  They said I need to talk all afternoon and night in order for my tongue to start reacting properly to the device.  He didn't answer so I called my BFF.  I figured, since we aren't able to exercise tomorrow (she piked, not me - for good reason though..), I had better give her the opportunity to poke fun at me while I talk like a bit of a sped. And like I imagined, she laughed a bit. So did my mum when I called into her place on my way home. And so did Levi when he returned my call. Mum was actually a little horrified by the look of the device.  And she couldn't help but muffle her laugh when I was speaking.  Oh, and the Johnsons were home when I dropped into mum's place, so they got a good chuckle out of my misfortune also.  Actually, Sister Johnson said she had oral surgery years ago; they removed some of her upper palate skin and replaced it on the bottom.  Something to do with receding gum line I think she said.  Apparently it was quite painful, so she sympathised with me! When Levi got home, he gave me a kiss as usual and then gestured for me to show him inside my mouth. His eyes lit up (not in a good way lol) when he saw it. I guess it doesn't look pretty. 

Actually, the sides of the device are rubbing on my cheeks.  They gave me some wax to put on the metal, and cream to put on my cheeks, in case I get an ulcer, or it rubs. As I'm writing this, I've only had it in for <2 hours and I can feel that it's going to rub!  Now excuse me while I go and empty my mouth of the excess bubbling saliva thats congregating at the back of my mouth, which my tongue has yet to figure out how to push down my throat. Good times!

Dinner tonight with Shanice, Paula and Sharna was eventful to say the least.  I ordered grilled fish (according to the YouTube clip I watched earlier, fish is easy to eat because it's soft and flaky and kind of just slides on down...) I guess once I got into a bit of a rhythm it was okay.  My first sip of water however, was a challenge! I drooled all over. And just like the youtube kid said... icy drinks freeze up the metal on the bracket..!

Here is the expander in my mouth!