Crossing fingers that all will go well for all of you and that your cycling season can resume quickly.
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Crossing fingers that all will go well for all of you and that your cycling season can resume quickly.
UPDATE: I finally got in to see an oral surgeon yesterday and had a 3D image of my jaw taken. Pretty freaky to see your skull up on a huge computer screen! Unfortunately, the CT scan the ER in Georgia did did not detect THREE jaw fractures that I received in my accident. The oral surgeon was not surprised as my fractures are rather subtle, but there nonetheless. He is going to consult with a colleague on my case today, but it appears I will have to have my jaw wired shut for awhile, possibly followed by Invisalign braces to continue re-aligning my bite. I'm a bit overwhelmed but not really surprised, given how wonky my bite is since my accident. Looks like I'm in it for the long haul....
As if that weren't enough, I caught a cold (fortunately on the wane now) with much coughing AND have an itchy tick bite on my leg. Fortunately I got it off before it had latched on for long, but it still itches. When it rains it pours!!! :( :( :mad: :mad:
So glad a competent doctor got a look at you, Emily. Sorry it's going to be a long fix though. Hopefully you'll see some good results quickly!
Wow. It's frustrating to think that the CT scan was not able to pick up the fractures, though I guess the inflammation you had at the time might have made it harder for them to show up. A friend had a similar experience last year after a bike crash, with the initial x-rays showing one injury but a follow-up x-ray showing something else. But, at least now you know what's wrong and what needs to be done to fix it.
I actually recently saw a doctor who had his jaw wired shut due to a fracture. He was able to talk well enough for me to understand him. He mentioned a liquid diet, and looking forward to getting back to eating real food. Hopefully you won't be wired up for too many weeks.
Glad you have more info Emily but sorry about the consequences of the info. The thing about the wired jaw I’d be thinking about is filling my freezer with my favorite ice cream’s for some wonderful milkshakes. :) and Rainbow's ftw...and remember the clouds that come floating into our lives can also add beautiful colour's to a sunset sky. Wishing for a quicker healing process than anticipated.
I am so sorry, Emily, but at least you know what the treatment will be. Don't give up...
I can't speak to the jaw wiring part, but I had Invisalign braces from 2005-7. Yes, I had regular braces as a kid, but what they don't tell you, is that unless you wear a retainer forever, your mouth shifts back. I still wear the Invisalign retainer 3 times a week. The process was pretty non-invasive and moved much more quickly than anticipated.
Keep us posted.
Oh my Emily, I am so sorry to read your news. I've never had braces, or my jaw wired shut so I can't offer words there. I am very glad they found the cause, and may things go more smoothly now than they have been. Do keep us posted!
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Thank you for sharing your experience! I too had braces as a child (the ugly metal full-band ones that were most common back then), and although my teeth were gorgeously straight when they first came off, as a 9th grader I wasn't diligent about the retainer, so yes, mine also slipped back some, although they were still far better than pre-braces. If I end up getting the Invisalign, I may end up with teeth as straight as back in 9th grade. I would be more diligent about wearing them now, too!Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
I have read several sites/blogs from people who have had their jaw wired, so have a pretty good idea what to expect. Liquid diet, check; discomfort, check; but joy when it gets taken off: double check! We will probably need to get a Nutribullet for making smoothies, a waterpic so I can clean my teeth, and lots of liquidy stuff. Milkshakes for sure. Most people lose weight when they're wired, so that makes milkshake an allowable pleasure! :D I already miss crunchy foods, though, as I've been on soft foods only since my accident (April 21).
As with everyone else, sorry to hear that it's going to take longer to heal, Emily, but you'll get there.
Wow. Hoping that the whole thing will be behind you sooner than later. Talk about a nasty result of a fall. blah.
Hang in there Emily. Glad you finally got the full picture and have a path forward.
Here's the latest post-accident and now post-surgery update:
http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...nt-jaw-surgery
Hope no one here ever has to go through this. It has not been a walk in the park, but hopefully the worst is behind me now... :D
Thanks for posting -- I was wondering how things were going. I too hope the worst is behind you!
Sounds like things are going according to plan, Emily. I know it's a pain to wait, but keeping your nutrition up is really important. I am a firm believer in using food for healing from surgery.
I haven't had much surgery, but when I was pregnant with my younger son, I was on "house arrest" for the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy. The meds they put me on to stop premature labor made me lose weight, not something you want to do when you are 8 months pregnant. I bought a special cookbook and my mom spent most of her time with me, cooking high protein meals. I continued to eat these meals after delivery, to keep my strength up and heal, while at the same time taking care of 2 kids under 3 years old.
I always use the analogy that surgery is like your body getting hit by a truck. You need to rest and feed it more than you think.
Totally agree, Crankin! I am getting lots of protein and have only lost 1 lb. so far, not bad under the circumstances. I am taking it easy and resting much more than usual as well. Good thing I like to read! Even walking isn't comfortable as it makes my lower face move up and down a bit, where I still have a lot of sensitivity from the lower jaw fracture, so I am only taking short, slower walks. It's a shame as I know my fitness level has gone way down, but I've been in the position of having to come back from illness or injury before and know I have it in me to do it again.
And this guy is my new hero: after a triple-fractured jaw and leg fracture as well in 2014, he placed 7th in the RAAM in 2015 and is doing it again this year! He's a lot younger than me, but still very inspiring!
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/in...oke_his_j.html
Really good to read your update, Emily, so glad you're in the healing phase now!
Are you having any green smoothies? I love those, loads and loads of veggies and full of flavor, yum!
Interesting article about that guy, and I agree with his attitude.
Yes, sure am. Also green soups in the blender. I feel like Popeye!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
LOL!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by emily_in_nc
I make one that is so savory, just love it, it's got cilantro-onion-spinach-kale-lime juice-carrots-celery-green pepper-tomato. I add chia and flax to it as well. YUM!!
That sounds good, Pax! I have to be careful as I have to end up with something totally smooth so the little bits don't get stuck in my wires and between my teeth, since I can only brush the fronts, and not very well. And our blender isn't super high-powered, so I'm doing stuff like starting with Bolthouse carrot juice (yummy), adding spicy V-8, raw spinach, and plain Greek yogurt, which is all easier to grind up than a lot of raw veggies. When we used to have a Vitamix, I could do things like your recipe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
Yeah, my recipe is definitely for a vitamix. We bought one when our bullet died and it is fantastic, I think a less powerful blender would leave a lot of chunks.
We used to have a Vitamix and used it all the time. Motor finally died after about ten years. We just don't have the storage space in our motorhome for one (nor the money to buy one at the moment with all my medical bills). Fortunately, we were able to borrow a blender from my mother, as we only carry an immersion (stick) blender in the motorhome.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pax
Hang in there! It sounds like I won't be able to comfortably eat for a short time after my cervical spine surgery, but nothing like what you're going through. May things continue to improve!
Thanks Catrin! I am beyond excited about getting the wires cut on Tuesday afternoon. I'll still have arch bars and elastics but will be able to start eating soft foods again. Can't wait. I will not want a milkshake or smoothie for a long time after this!Quote:
Originally Posted by Catrin