Day 11

Well, I went back to the doctor's today, no good news to report. He actually added a third rubber band to my mouth, going across my front teeth- it hurts like a bitch. He wants to try to straighten out my bite a little bit more, since my midline is still a little off on the bottom. Ugh! Haha, I was really hoping to get un-banded today. But maybe, just maybe, friday will be the day. I just really don't want to go down to get Cameron and not be able to talk. Although, maybe thats a good thing because I won't be able to shut up once he's home :)

Doc did take out most of my stitches inside my mouth though!!

What a relief that was! I can smile and laugh now without a lot of pain :) its awesome! So, i guess there is good news there.

I went out for milkshakes tonight with some of my friends, its so great to be able to get out and about again- i basically look normal! I got to take off my bands and show off my new teeth to everyone, and i could sing in the car!! I forgot how much I love singing.

Not much new to report... Although, one of my friends, Shawn- his brother had jaw surgery last year, and he looked at me and said "now, I don't know when you had your surgery, but based off of how my brother looked when he had it, I'm going to say you're almost 4 weeks out". That made my night! Haha, he was really surprised when I said that it was only day 11 :)

One thing that I swear by is Arnica root. I don't know if you've heard of it or not, but it is an extract from the daisy flower, and it is used to relieve both bruising and swelling. It comes in (as far as i know) both a topical cream and little tablets that you dissolve under your tongue, and it works wonders! I started taking it the day after surgery, and I am convinced its helped a lot with my recovery. You can buy it at most vitamin stores, as far as i know. If you're about to have surgery, I'd really recommend it. Start taking it maybe a week or so before surgery, and keep using it afterwards :)

Here's some update pictures :) not much new to report, just the swelling is going down slowly and surely. Maybe i'll post a smile picture in a few days. I hope my smile looks more normal soon- one of my best friends is coming home from Utah in a few days and I haven't seen her since school, so I'll be smiling plenty!! She comes home on thursday, and then I'm leaving a week from today (monday) to go to see Cameron's family, so i'm going to try really hard to make my face function normally by then!

I'll write again soon!