- Pain: 0/10
- Inconvenience: 2/10
♫ I’m bringing home a baby bumblebee…
Lately, I’ve been finding bees in my place. Yesterday, I discovered a wasp crawling around in the laundry room and a bumblebee on a little adventure across the kitchen floor. I killed the wasp, because they’re evil little creatures, but I scooped up the bumblebee and set it free on a dandelion in the backyard. As soon as it could see the flower (or weed, depending who you’re talking to), it flew over to it, stuck its tongue out and started sucking up the delicious nectar. I’m holding that lovely insect in today’s picture, although it’s small and dark so you might not be able to tell. Either way, I love bees.
Remember how I was looking forward to singing again? Well, I’m now able to sing in a very lispy kind of way. However, every time I do so, I open my mouth way too wide, snapping the elastics I constantly forget I’m wearing.
Life is getting a lot better, as of late, for the following reasons:
- I can now eat blended soup with no milk mixed in. I appreciate that more than you might think, because my meals are no longer watered down.
- Two of my teeth on the right side of my mouth are once again in contact.
- I’m able to eat with a children’s spoon, so I’m no longer restricted to drinking my meals.
- I’ve been eating yogurt, peanut butter, honey and ice cream (after it’s been melted a little bit) out of a bowl!
I also went and met a lovely lady named Audra, also a double jaw surgery survivor, while I was in Calgary over the weekend. I was all prepared to bring pre-made smoothies to tie me over during my road trip, but was absolutely delighted when Audra and her husband invited me over for lunch. It was really nice to be able to talk to someone who actually understands what I’ve been through. We vented about the hiccups in our recovery over shepherd’s pie (blended, of course) and a fine dessert of banana cream pie, which is also the first dish I’ve been able to eat without blending in over 8 weeks. So Audra, I thank you for your kindness and hospitality. You have no idea how much I appreciate that gesture.
I guess this blog has finally paid off in the name of a free lunch!
July 11, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Thanks Graham, my next question to you was going to be how long before you could actually chew. I tried some gum today and that didn’t go over all that well. I did however manage to get my baby toothbrush on the back of my teeth…awesome!
July 10, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Well it will be 56 days post op on Friday. Met with the surgeon today…I only have to wear my elastics at night now! Woohoo! I can eat anything I want except for crunchy food, carrots and apples. I tried chewing fish and fries for supper…it was a no go! I ended up just swallowing it. Reality set in, my teeth are all in a new place and I have to learn how to chew all over again. I still can’t open my mouth very wide and the surgeon suggested that I take some Advil and practice yawning as much as I can to get the muscles moving again. Very excited but a little disappointed, I don’t know why I thought I would be able to eat everything.
July 11, 2013 at 9:01 am
Terry, that’s great to hear that you’re elastic-free (at least as far as the daylight hours are concerned)! You’ll be able to eat everything again over the next month or two, I promise! Think of it like building muscle at the gym—it takes a few months to rebuild the muscles in your jaw so you can crunch through that tough food. =)
January 26, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Hi Graham!
I had double jaw surgery as well as an additional operation to fix my deviated septum on June 1, 2012, thirteen days before my 19th birthday. I had an open bite and a severe overbite. I am now fully recovered aside from a very small amount of residual numbness in the left side of my bottom lip and chin. Having the surgery was one of the most intense times of my life, but I would absolutely do it again as it has made so many positive changes to my everyday life.
While I was in the recovery phase, I checked your blog many times a day to not only see what I should expect, but also to receive comfort knowing that I was not alone in my frustrations, despite the fact that I was surrounded by amazingly caring people. Reading your blog helped me in so many ways. I truly admire your sense of humor throughout the whole ordeal and I was generally able to maintain a stiff upper lip (possibly also because of the numbness :)) throughout the majority of the process thanks to you. You are a fantastic writer!
I am now following your travel blog and I find it so inspiring. I have recently changed my major to International Relations and I am slated to study abroad in Argentina next year. It has been such a pleasure to read of your journeys.
Greetings from California,
Amy
January 26, 2013 at 10:02 pm
Amy, thank you so very much for your kind words. Traveling can be lonely at times, so it’s nice to know there are kindred spirits out there. I hope you’re enjoying your new smile and embracing the new year. Cheers from Vietnam!
June 25, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Abby, it’s not so much that I completely forgot I was wearing those beloved elastics, but more so that I only noticed them when I did things such as yawn or eat. You’re still in the honeymoon phase with your elastics (though it’s the worst honeymoon imaginable, I’m sure). Give them time and you’ll get used to them. =)