Day before Braces 17 March 2015

17 March 2015


Today marks 5 weeks & 1 day since my Expander operation. Here is a quick summary of where I am at!


Weight loss
To date, I have lost 6kg (not by choice). No physical activity is incorporated in my daily routine nowadays.  Couple weeks ago, I managed to whipper snip lawn while Shanice mowed. That was a struggle.  Returning to work has been the best thing for me, to get out of the house, get motivated and get my body moving and hence eating more. I got to a point where it was just too much effort to eat so I (a) drank lemonade, hot choc or (b) ate very small portion. Not enough obviously.  The past week or so, I've managed NOT to drop more weight. I go between 55-56kg now. (I started off at 61kg). I plan on hitting the gym in the next week or so, solely to lift light weights on arms and legs (no cardio or fast movement possible, I still get light headed particularly when I turn my head to the right too quickly, or tilt it back and/or to the right). Woozy. So I'm hoping that I can tone up, and increase my appetite from the gym.


Diet
Eating is fairly difficult, I am limited as to the types of food I eat. I have been surviving on soft foods such as pasta, roasted sweet potatoes, rice, custard, liquid drinks.  I've successfully managed to introduce soft/melted chocolate into the equation also!  Last night I scoffed down some of my mums famous cheesecake! The base, thankfully is quite crumbly so it wasn't too difficult to get down.


Work
I'm back to full time work for the time being. At least while one girl is away for this month. Then I will wait and see the demand.


Church calling
This didn't really stop. The only thing I delegated was in the first week of my surgery, a welfare callout. I physically couldn't get out of bed.  Other than that, I haven't altered my effort, it's purely based on needs that arise.


Pre-Braces feelings


I had been feeling pretty upbeat and excited about getting braces for a while but now I have a different set of emotions manifesting... A little nervousness about the impact this will have on my eating and speaking ability.  And, I guess, the added layer of teeth cleaning. I am already cleaning meticulously after each meal, but I suspect now that the degree of it will magnify.


Whilst I remain excited about the changes that will occur to my teeth, I am feeling anxious about the difficulties that will arise.


I am anticipating blisters and ripped skin inside my mouth (I got this on a minor level from the expander bracket metal rubbing my cheeks yet I didn't find the need to use the wax they supplied to me).  I am also thinking eating may have an added difficulty level because my slippery foods such as pasta etc, won't be able to slide down the sides, rather they will be forced to go through the middle of my mouth bypassing my expander bracket.  (Which, takes skill to get through that gauntlet! Half my meal gets caught and hangs off the bar of the bracket, or bits get jammed within the palette and metal bits closer to my teeth, frustrating).


Even so, I remain positive that this will all be worth it in the end!! Not that I want to get older quicker, but I look forward to 2 years time and looking back (smiling brightly) saying yep, it was so worth it! We shall see!!