- Pain: 0/10
- Inconvenience: 2/10
Current side profile.
All of my swelling has now dissipated, so that’s the side profile I’m going to live with for the rest of my life. I’m content with how it has decided to turn out. No more underbite.
I went to the Olive Garden with a good friend for dinner last night. She forced me to make an attempt at eating chicken, breadsticks and salad. Lo and behold, I could eat all 3 of those things! I’d like to thank my dinner date for pressuring me into doing things I didn’t think I was ready for.
I also tried to eat olives last night. The story behind that seemingly random statement is this: Olives are the one foodstuff on this good, green planet that I have never appreciated the taste of. I always told myself that the day I’m able to enjoy eating olives is the day I will have finally grown up. I believe they’re an acquired taste. Well guess what! I tried them last night, and I actually liked them! I’m officially ready for you, world.
Something I’ve noticed since being able to eat solid food is that I can’t seem to convince my stomach that it’s full. I’m wondering if they might have given me a 2nd stomach during surgery.
I have no random stories to leave you with on this fine Sunday afternoon, so I shall instead part with something I know and something I’ve learned. I know that I still have no feeling in my lower left chin or lip, and I learned that I need to raise my cheekbones when I smile. It’s time to start practicing in front of the mirror.
June 6, 2010 at 7:23 pm
FWIW, Green olives are something that I have to eat only a few at a time. More than that and it makes me sick.
June 6, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Suzie, they’re next on my list, you can be sure of that.
I have one friend who has eaten olives straight from the jar his entire life. I’ve telling him I’ll be able to do the same one day.
That day just hasn’t hit yet.
June 6, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Ok, so you have to be REALLY grown up to appreciate green olives… 🙂
June 6, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Yep, I chewed on my cheek more than on the lettuce too!
June 6, 2010 at 3:45 pm
@isolde: My surgeon told me the bone will be fully healed 90 days after surgery.
His exact words were, “You can get punched in the face at the 90-day mark and your jaw will be just as strong as it was before the surgery.” Comforting, right?
However, full movement and feeling takes longer than that. That’s just when you get to stop being so careful about guarding your face. 🙂
June 6, 2010 at 3:43 pm
@Suzie: I still can’t handle green olives. These were black.
@Tammy: Yep yep! I’m going to get my before pictures from my surgeon in a few weeks and then put a before-and-after page up. =)
@Audra: Salad was a huge hassle to eat. I think I chewed on my cheek more than I chewed on the actual salad.
June 6, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Your profile looks perfect. Your jaw definitely looks different than your FB profile photo.
June 6, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Hey Graham, do you know if your bones are fully healed now? I’m wondering how long it takes for them to fully unite, this question is surprisingly hard to find an answer to! I just wonder when the official moving in day of the bite is complete, i.e. when all the previously broken bones are zipped up and healed and merged etc.
June 6, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Sounds like you are unsure of your own abilities. I’m glad to hear you have people who will push you to try new things…and that you find out you ARE ready for them. Yay for you! And here’s to Graham being grown up… Woohoo.
I tried salad for the first time last night too. I think it went OK too.
June 6, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I think you need to show us a side by side comparison with your old profile. I haven’t seen what you looked like before, I’m curious! 🙂
June 6, 2010 at 11:58 am
Too funny. On day three after my surgery, I had this HUGE craving for green olives, don’t ask me why.
Does this mean I’m old? Damn.