There are no better words to describe my feelings than the words spoken by Martin Luther King in his "I Have a Dream" speech. Yesterday Dr. Kasey Li removed my arch bars. I feel like I have to learn again how to eat and speak.
After four to six shots (I stopped counting....I hate going to the Dentist), my face felt like it was the size of an exercise ball. He yanked.... excuse me extracted out the six to eight (I also stopped counting) wires holding the arch bars in place. These wires anchor in the arch bars around my teeth. Now that I think about it, it felt like he was pulling an iron anchor out of my mouth. It may sound like I am complaining, I am not, but I think I feared the arch bar removal more than the surgery itself. Let me say right here and now that Dr. Li did an excellent job and even though I am a "baby" (this is not the place to mention I am an ex-Marine) when it comes to repairs to my teeth after it was all done it was not a big deal..... no real pain.
Now that I am free of the arch bars and bands that held my teeth and jaws closed for 34 days, 8 hours and 23 minutes (but who's counting) I have to pace myself very carefully. I understand from other MMA surgery patients and from my own inadvertently bite of something that it can be quite painful if you get too aggressive on eating or talking too much. The pain that occurs with a too hard of a bite or too much talking is hard to describe. I am not sure whether it is jaw bone or jaw muscle pain, but it originates at the back lower jaw area (where it the lower jaw was cut/broke apart and screwed back together).
I have decided that I will have to work slowly back into the chewing and talking routines. I can tell you right now, if one has to be drastically reduced it will be the talking, because this 6' frame is almost down to 180 lbs. and I have seen too many food commercial (especially the Superbowl ones) to hold back much longer.
Enough of the downside. I really needed to lose some weight. My goal........ to start eating only the good things. I am actually craving a salad, but that is probably 3 weeks away.
Now that my flu, cold or bronchial infection is losing its hold on me I plan on:
After four to six shots (I stopped counting....I hate going to the Dentist), my face felt like it was the size of an exercise ball. He yanked.... excuse me extracted out the six to eight (I also stopped counting) wires holding the arch bars in place. These wires anchor in the arch bars around my teeth. Now that I think about it, it felt like he was pulling an iron anchor out of my mouth. It may sound like I am complaining, I am not, but I think I feared the arch bar removal more than the surgery itself. Let me say right here and now that Dr. Li did an excellent job and even though I am a "baby" (this is not the place to mention I am an ex-Marine) when it comes to repairs to my teeth after it was all done it was not a big deal..... no real pain.
Now that I am free of the arch bars and bands that held my teeth and jaws closed for 34 days, 8 hours and 23 minutes (but who's counting) I have to pace myself very carefully. I understand from other MMA surgery patients and from my own inadvertently bite of something that it can be quite painful if you get too aggressive on eating or talking too much. The pain that occurs with a too hard of a bite or too much talking is hard to describe. I am not sure whether it is jaw bone or jaw muscle pain, but it originates at the back lower jaw area (where it the lower jaw was cut/broke apart and screwed back together).
I have decided that I will have to work slowly back into the chewing and talking routines. I can tell you right now, if one has to be drastically reduced it will be the talking, because this 6' frame is almost down to 180 lbs. and I have seen too many food commercial (especially the Superbowl ones) to hold back much longer.
Enough of the downside. I really needed to lose some weight. My goal........ to start eating only the good things. I am actually craving a salad, but that is probably 3 weeks away.
Now that my flu, cold or bronchial infection is losing its hold on me I plan on:
1.) resting allot; 2.) eating/drinking well; 3.) exercising; and 4.) thanking the Lord and all of you for your prayers.
Ohhhhhh My Sleep, I almost forgot about that, (that sounds good, just forgetting about it) my sleep is back on track. It was difficult sleeping or attempting to sleep when I had a fever, cough and sinus congestion. Now that that has diminished, I expect a long gradual improvement. Last night I slept for four hours straight and then on an off till seven in the morning. But the most important thing is I woke up and did not feel bad. I actually felt somewhat rested. Just give me a few more days (maybe weeks) like this and my wife will have to keep me from mountain biking in the hills behind our house!
When we arrived home from Palo Alto last night our fantastic and loving daughters and families had a bouquet of roses (and a beautiful note) waiting for us when we opened the door. I am not a flower person, but I am a father that loves his family and this meant allot to both of us. My wife deserves these flowers and much more for all she has endured before, during and after the surgery.
Ohhhhhh My Sleep, I almost forgot about that, (that sounds good, just forgetting about it) my sleep is back on track. It was difficult sleeping or attempting to sleep when I had a fever, cough and sinus congestion. Now that that has diminished, I expect a long gradual improvement. Last night I slept for four hours straight and then on an off till seven in the morning. But the most important thing is I woke up and did not feel bad. I actually felt somewhat rested. Just give me a few more days (maybe weeks) like this and my wife will have to keep me from mountain biking in the hills behind our house!
When we arrived home from Palo Alto last night our fantastic and loving daughters and families had a bouquet of roses (and a beautiful note) waiting for us when we opened the door. I am not a flower person, but I am a father that loves his family and this meant allot to both of us. My wife deserves these flowers and much more for all she has endured before, during and after the surgery.
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