tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32567867461800337162024-03-12T18:45:27.410-07:00Operation Break Nora's FaceJust a small town girl's journey to and through double jaw surgery: Lefort I, BSSO and genioplasty.Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-44928381711403237202012-03-21T18:43:00.000-07:002012-03-21T18:43:06.321-07:00Eight Months OutFirst of all I want to apologize for updating so infrequently. Between school, my last medical adventure, catching up on classes, taking midterms and feeling all-in-all back to normal I just haven't had the time to update.<br />
<br />
That being said - <i>wow!</i> It's been <i>eight whole months</i> since surgery! I still remember sitting on my couch back in July thinking I couldn't survive the first week. Well I survived that one, and the next one, and the next all the way until now. What a long and incredible journey this has been!!!<br />
<br />
<u>The Positives</u>:<br />
1. No more pain and cracking!!!*<span style="font-size: xx-small;">see #1 below</span><br />
2. My bones are 100% healed now :)<br />
3. I am incredibly happy with my profile and no-longer-gummy smile.<br />
4. I can open my mouth to three knuckles width now.<br />
5. I can eat anything without a problem (though I will be staying away from gum for the rest of eternity)<br />
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<u>The Negatives</u>:<br />
1. <span style="font-size: small;">My jaw clicks and crunches still, though it is no longer a matter of me doing it intentionally - it just happens every now and then. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">2. The muscles in my face are sooooooo tight and knotted up from clenching and having my jaw wired. I really need to get back to physical therapy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">4. My teeth have shifted, throwing my bit off again :'(</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">5. I <i>desperately</i> need to see a dentist for a good cleaning</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If you look at this list, yes there are negatives, but they are all temporary and fixable! The permanent stuff is there for good! Like I said, I really need to get back to physical therapy; my jaw muscles and posture are suffering from my neglect. I'm guessing that this, along with complaint 4 have a lot to do with the reappearance of clicks and pops. I really desperately want to get back into braces (I know, who on earth would ever think to write that?!) so that I can get my teeth and bite back to where they were post op. Right now one of my teeth has shifted, forcing my lower jaw to move to the left if I want the bite to mesh. Otherwise my bite is dead on, but then it is slightly open. My teeth also look a little wonky and crooked right now, too. That's the consequence of doing this sans-braces, folks! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Those minor things aside I'm thrilled. Everything feels so much better, even on "bad" days. The urge to crack my jaw hasn't returned at all. My eating has returned to normal, though I need to slow it down since I'm gaining back that weight I lost. College food, <i>sigh.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Also since my last update a lot has happened in regards to my December surgery. I went to see my surgeon, and he told me that my nose was definitely infected. He thought it was the graft in my nose that I was reacting to. I was admitted to the hospital on February 21 and put on IV antibiotics. My nose responded to them very well, and the swelling was down noticeably the next day. Dr A ordered a CTscan so we could see what was causing the infection and where it was located. After looking at the scans it turned out that the graft was perfectly fine. </span><i>Something</i> was causing the infection, but no one really knew what. Wednesday and Thursday were spent debating whether or not to take me into the OR again to clean out the infection. On the one hand we knew the graft was fine, but on the other there was definitely an infection, and if it needed to be cleaned out then it was best to get it done. Finally Friday came and so did the decision to take me <i>back</i> to the OR. Dr A cleaned everything out, and got rid of two abscessed sutures. I went home Saturday afternoon and was back in class by Monday morning. We're all still baffled by the whole situation. I was sent home with a one month course of antibiotics, which I'm still taking.<br />
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Other than that hiccup, things from my December surgery are great. That bit of my cheek that had scarred down to the muscle has been freed up, and my nose is back to being a natural looking width.<br />
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I can't even begin to say how thankful I am for everything. It's been a long process, and there were more than a few really lousy days involved, but it has all been so worth it. Just living without pain and a nagging urge to click is worth every bit I went through and then some. This whole process has just been so incredibly rewarding from the people I've met to the things I've learned to the incredible benefits.<br />
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Life these days really is back to normal. The only time I even think about my surgery is when I look at old pictures. If there's one thing that orthognathic surgery has taught me, it is that no matter how much your life gets turned upside-down, you <i>will</i> find normalcy again, and the world will right itself without your noticing it. And when you finally <i>do</i> notice, you just think, "Well, what do you know? I made it, after all."<br />
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Be well, every one. I can't thank you enough or tell you what your support has meant to me these past months. Chin up, it gets better!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-39916755689870397742012-02-18T14:05:00.000-08:002012-02-18T14:05:32.434-08:00Day 212 - Complications and FrustrationHi all! It's been a while since my last post. I didn't plan on posting again until the seven month mark, which is this Tuesday, but I've just recently got some frustrating news.<br />
<br />
I'm of course back at school still, and as mothers will, they miss their children dearly. My mother really wanted a photo of me, and after asking for a couple of weeks I finally got one to her. She showed it to my surgeon and he was not pleased.<br />
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Let me rewind a bit. About three weeks following my last surgery I started to get a really foul smell in my nose. It smelled like a mix of feet and dirty belly button (sorry I know it's really gross). After seeing online that this was very common following a rhinoplasty I didn't really let it concern me too much. In the event of an infection I smeared triple antibiotic ointment in my nose every day, which seemed to help. Then I got a cold... of the sinus variety.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to now. I still have a cold and I've been blowing my nose for weeks. Because of this I've thought nothing of the swelling and apparent re-widening of my nose. I figured that it was from the constant blowing and perhaps I'd snapped my alar cinch. Since there could be worse things in the world than an imperfect nose I decided to swallow my frustration and love what I have.<br />
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Then my doctor saw the photo, and asked my mother if it was for real. My nose should definitely NOT be as swollen as it is. It seems that I've had a reaction to one of the grafts they put in my nose and it's become infected. Mom's coming to my school today to drop off some antibiotics, but this isn't something that a little pill can really fix.<br />
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Dr A needs to get me into the OR <i>again</i> to remove the graft and fix anything that the infection may have ruined. Oh joy, more surgery. It isn't the end of the world by any means, but it's frustrating that after being in and out of surgery and recovery and appointments since January 2011, I really was hoping I was done with everything.<br />
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Oh well, life goes on.<br />
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Aside from the nose woes, my jaw isn't too bad. Things have really solidified and I've noticed that my chin seems totally healed now. The only annoying bit is that crunching is returning even more to the left TMJ. It's still not a voluntary action, which is good, but it's still totally annoying. Time to get back to physical therapy. I haven't seen her since December because of the winter break. My bite is also horribly off again, braces are a must. Better get on that asap...<br />
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I'm sorry this post is so dreary and filled with bad news, but I hope that the rest of you are doing well. I've been keeping my eye on those of you in recovery and you look wonderful! Be well, everyone, you're the best!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfICA8XVIQnQGzLNfKmwLgOK3mTNtY3E1xZ1Vg9SxOEsYEtI3XMKoVZ6ZvEJpd-jkQsmTMRQf0GPMyKUhs9BRjDT4PwFdWzrJV68A57p6ZBMYdWebeN_vPCoCTnSmA8oiXt42J2HaBFIM/s1600/Photo+on+2012-02-16+at+19.06+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfICA8XVIQnQGzLNfKmwLgOK3mTNtY3E1xZ1Vg9SxOEsYEtI3XMKoVZ6ZvEJpd-jkQsmTMRQf0GPMyKUhs9BRjDT4PwFdWzrJV68A57p6ZBMYdWebeN_vPCoCTnSmA8oiXt42J2HaBFIM/s320/Photo+on+2012-02-16+at+19.06+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nose is clearly still very swollen :'(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-7082776888190414812012-01-21T19:32:00.000-08:002012-01-21T19:32:37.940-08:00Six Months!I can't believe it! Exactly six months have passed since I had my orthognathic surgery. How has it been an entire half of one year already? That absolutely boggles me.<br />
<br />
When compared to six months ago, I feel like a totally different person. I certainly look like one. Numbness is gone except for my upper and lower gums and teeth. Well that's not entirely true, there's some new numbness from the rhinoplasty, but the numbness from the first surgery has gone away now. Pain from surgery is also a distant memory at six months out. That went away months ago.<br />
<br />
The good:<br />
1. I am no longer in pain!!!<br />
2. The conscious urge to crack and crunch my jaw is gone!!!<br />
3. My diet is back to normal and I can handle everything except for carrots and corn on the cob.<br />
4. Mobility is improving.<br />
5. I have a chin :)<br />
6. I no longer look like a shark when I smile, haha. <br />
<br />
The not so good:<br />
1. My teeth have shifted like mad, and my bite is off again. It is no longer anything like what it was out of surgery. I really want to get braces to fix that.<br />
2. Clicking and crunching have returned to both sides, though it happens on it's own without any help from me. It's not painful though, and I think if I get my bite fixed, then this will go away again.<br />
3. Since my second surgery I have lost progress and slightly regressed in how much I can open my mouth.<br />
4. There's still some muscle stiffness, though it's slowly going away. <br />
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These last four concerns will be brought up when I next see Dr A, just to get his take on them and see what can be done. Other than that I couldn't be happier. This surgery was 100% worth every bit of trouble, pain, and frustration. I can't imagine what life would be like if I hadn't had this done. The results are above and beyond what I could have expected. I feel so blessed to have gotten back something I thought I never would again, a life free of pain. :)<br />
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Tomorrow I go back to college. This semester is going to be pretty heavy, but knowing what I went through last semester between balancing classes, exams, healing and constant travel to medical appointments, I know I can handle just about anything. I'm excited to see my friends again and fill my day with the kind of silly things that make wonderful memories. There's definitely a chance that I won't sleep tonight, lol. My room is a war zone of clothes and hangers, bits and bobs. Leaving packing until the last minute probably wasn't my most brilliant idea...oops!<br />
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I have no pictures for you tonight because I'm an absolute mess, but I will be taking some tomorrow when I get back to school. Though I have updated my Christmas post and added pictures for you wonderful people!<br />
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And speaking of you guys - I cannot express my gratitude enough. There's just no way to put it into words. From the beginning when I was just starting to look into this surgery, and the entire way through the process, you've all been here for me. You've answered my questions, celebrated my successes, and comforted me in my moments of doubt. This community has been so valuable to me, and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of me heart for what you have done.<br />
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Be well, be happy and remember that no matter how tough things get, things will always work out right in the end :)<br />
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I plan on updating every once in a while and leaving this blog up as a source of information for others like me. If I've helped at least one person then I know this blog has been worth it. Until next time, bloggers!!!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-66185985081976535612012-01-19T00:35:00.000-08:002012-01-19T00:35:06.147-08:00RealizationI'm looking at old photos of myself.<br />
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And finally, I realize - I was beautiful.<br />
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Do I regret my decision? Not at all, I'm pain free and happy. I'm just sad that this is what it took to see the "old" me the way that everyone else did.Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-59626601874613424892012-01-12T18:25:00.000-08:002012-01-12T18:25:24.810-08:00Day 175 - Life Goes OnHi everyone! It's day 175 (which means my last few posts somehow got totally mislabeled), and I'm feeling really good. Since my most recent surgery, things in my life have been slow and uneventful. I've been quite lazy the past week, only getting out to go to the store, or visit friends in NYC. It seems that my last two breaks from school have been devoted to surgery and recovery. Oh well, that means the next one will be that much more special :)<br />
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The most frustrating bit now that the pain is gone is the skin problems. Yep, just like last time, surgery and all the drugs they pumped me up with have wrecked total havoc on my skin. The inability to properly was my face (due to the tape on my nose) certainly doesn't help. Annoying as this may be, things could always be much, much worse, and so I have little to complain about.<br />
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My jaw these days is great. There's still a bit of cracking and crunching going on in the left, but unless I have the conscious urge to intentionally pop my jaw, I'm not going to worry. Considering where I was just one year ago, I'll take the odd click or crunch. No pain is a blessing I could never have imagined, and I won't cheapen it by desiring perfection. <br />
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I hope you're all doing well :) Thanks for reading.<br />
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As soon as I can find my memory card I'll post the pictures that I've taken over the holidays for all of you to see.Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-89138220034096693292012-01-03T21:13:00.000-08:002012-01-03T21:13:15.981-08:00Day 169 - Feeling Human AgainToday I feel human again. Yippee! *jumps and does a dance*<br />
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I got the nasal packing removed today, and for those that don't know what it is, <i>please</i> don't look it up. If you decide to ignore that advice, then please be prepared for some icky images and/or videos. I hereby absolve myself of any responsibility for being grossed out/passing out/gagging at the new information.<br />
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To be totally honest I was terrified of this step. People all over the interwebs were talking about it being the most horrific thing ever or accompanied by ungodly pain. That's may be true, but for me there wasn't one iota of pain. They injected litocaine (sp?) into the packs, thankfully not into me, and then pulled them out. The best description I can think of is that it felt as though they were flossing my brain lol.<br />
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In summary, things in nose recovery aren't too bad aside from the constant dripping and snotting (sorry for the gross). I can't blow my nose for at least 3 weeks post op, and I'm not to wear glasses or sunglasses for a year. On the lame side of the equation is that this added surgery means any hope of hitting the slopes in February (however slim they may have been) are entirely dashed to pieces. I got a lovely new snowboard for Christmas, but I won't be using it until December 2012. Poo. Oh well, there are certainly worse things in life.<br />
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Back on the jaw side of things is a little frustrating. I've noticed that my jaw crunches on the left sometimes when I open my mouth. It is not painful, but I am worried. I've also noticed that since my nose surgery my bite seems a little off. I have no worries about this being a bone issue, but more a matter of muscle change. That bit of muscle that had been stuck on the right by scar tissue has been freed up, so I think I hold my jaw differently. My front teeth no longer overlap slightly, but rather the uppers sit right on top of the lowers. I'm sure it's nothing that time or braces won't fix, but I'll mention it to Dr A and see what he things. I've also had a bit of joint soreness since my most recent surgery, but I think that's from constantly having my mouth hanging open to breath since my nose is useless for that function right now.<br />
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I hope you are all doing well. Keep cheer in your hearts and a smile on your face :)Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-52608136450651153412012-01-01T18:59:00.000-08:002012-01-01T18:59:48.354-08:00Day 167 - Deja VuHi there everyone! I'm happy to say that this post finds me feeling tons better than the last one. I will confess though, this recovery is worse than the first surgery. For the jaw surgery the nerves had been mercifully bruised which allowed for limited feeling of whatever damage had been done. That is not the case with a rhinoplasty. You can feel it all and man does it hurt!<br />
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I went into surgery around 7:45 in the morning. My original surgical team was there again, and they were all super excited with the results of the double jaw surgery and genioplasty. They even taped up my before and after pictures on the walls of the OR. They said that they don't typically get to see the end result of that surgery first hand, so it was exciting for them to see how their hard work had paid off. I felt really special :)<br />
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My anesthesiologist, Dr K, went through the same procedure as last time, acquiescing my request to be knocked out with gas before they poked me with any needles. This time I have a better memory of going under. I took too deep of a breath at one point which made me want to cough or sneeze, but I didn't. The next thing I knew was a loud buzzing in my ears and a tingling vibration in my face and that was it.<br />
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At 2:30 the surgical team woke me up. Again, I have memories of this, which is different than with the first surgery. I felt burning hot, significant nausea and a good deal of pain. Dr K gave me some nausea medication and they got all of the blankets off of me. They wheeled me into recovery to try and get my body temp under control. I'm not sure if I was on good pain medication at this point or if I was just too nauseated to feel anything else, but pain wasn't an issue yet. They started to get my body temp down by hooking up a cold air ventilator to the bear paw gown which helped tons. Then they gave me the strongest anti-nausea meds that they could which felt like a such a blessing. Those knocked me for a good two hours and I woke up to feeling sick and pain again. It took several doses of mediation to dull the pain and nausea again, and this pattern of sleeping then waking went on until about 8pm. They got my nausea under control one more time (thankfully I never threw up) and then I was set to go home. Mom took me home, and we made me as comfortable as possible on the couch.<br />
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The next couple of days have been spent on that couch, and thankfully the nausea has been taken care of. Between the Zofran and food in my stomach before other medication I haven't felt too queasy since about 4 this morning.<br />
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As I said the pain with this surgery is more significant, but as long as I stay on top of it with the narcotics or Motrin and don't allow it to get too strong, it's not so much of a problem anymore. Compared to Friday night I'm positively dapper and fit as a fiddle. Definitely feeling more like myself. I even got by with only one dose of Lortab today, and Motrin was sufficient to take care of any other pain all day. Yippee! As with last surgery, the sooner I can stop the heavy pain medication, the better.<br />
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Right now my biggest complaint is the pressure from the swelling and the packing. The packing will be removed on Tuesday, and I'm worried about that hurting, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Friday the stitches come out and from there it's back to the old waiting game. And as miserable as all of this sounds, it is tolerable, and it does end! Discomfort doesn't last forever and that's what anyone recovering from surgery needs to remind themselves of. I've also noticed that things are worse if I wallow in self pity. If I just take a deep breath and remind myself that things get better, my current state is definitely more tolerable.<br />
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Again, thank you all for your kind words. I cannot stress enough how much support and encouragement from others helps out after surgery. It really does make things a lot easier knowing that there are people out there rooting for me. You guys are the greatest, and I appreciate what you do for me so very much! I'm sorry for the long update but I feel that you guys deserve the entire truth so that any decisions you make can be more informed. Be well everyone and Happy 2012!!!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-5700823317399295192011-12-30T20:45:00.001-08:002011-12-30T20:45:10.819-08:00Day 165 - Home<div><p>Hello everyone. Thank you all so so much for your good luck wishes and kind words.</p>
<p>I'm home now which is great. Surgery lasted 6 hours. Before anyone worries about this if they need scar revision I'll let you know that that portion of the surgery took only about an hour.</p>
<p>The reason it took so long is that I also got a rhinoplasty. Yep, the secret is out. It was nothing extreme, but anyone who has had jaw surgery knows that it changes your nose, too. For me my nose had significantly widened, and it widened even more whenever I smiled. The movement also exposed a bump on my nose. So my surgeon put in an extra couple of alar cinches and shaved down the bump on my nose. The tip was also refined to bring it back to a delicate point. I know that this will be worth it in the end, but I'll be honest when I say that I'm quite uncomfortable right now. My nose is packed and I have a "cast" over the bridge. Totally not comfy.</p>
<p>Also, I'm not sure if anyone remembers, but back when I had a fifth screw in my mouth with a rubberband it had cut the gum above my left tooth. It did heal one I got rid of that band, but it healed in a weird right angle shape higher than the gum on my right side. Therefore another aspect of todays procedure included a recontouring of that potion of my gums. </p>
<p>The scar on my right has been successfully freed from the muscle beneath it. One bit of good news was the fact that the scar tissue in my mouth seems to have sorted itself out because once Dr A got in there he didn't feel the need to remove anything. The last bit of surgery involved the burning off of a couple birthmarks with a cool radio wave machine.</p>
<p>So there you have it! That was today's surfgery. I'll add more to the update tomorrow, but for now I need to get some sleep. Thanks again everyone, your kindness means so much to me. Be well!</p>
</div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-58191120076975468872011-12-29T20:41:00.001-08:002011-12-29T20:41:35.102-08:00Day 164 - Surgery Part II<div><p>Hello everyone. Tonight's is a very quick update.</p>
<p>I'm doing well and my jaw feels great. The muscle on my right is rather stiff again, but my exercises should help out with that. </p>
<p>In 7 hours I will be going in for more surgery. This time it will be to removed the bands of scar tissue from inside my mouth and revise the scar that has adhered to my muscle. I'm neither nervous nor excited. It's something that needs to be done and so I accept it for what it is.</p>
<p>Surgery won't last too long, I think only three hours. Even better is the fact that I won't be staying over night in the hospital. Thank goodness! My best friend went in for surgery herself today, though of a totally different kind, so we'll be hospital buddies. Best friends for years and now this - life is funny sometimes, but I'm glad for it in this case. Friends work wonders for healing :)</p>
<p>I hope you are all well and I promise to update you all as soon as I feel up to it.</p>
</div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-18404560250847880552011-12-25T21:00:00.001-08:002012-01-19T16:21:28.257-08:00Day 160 - Christmas Cheer<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfFKM4H_bOzKrFi2Y62FlTmY0Ch5CVwhuZ7aWHrxLHgcZG6ieg0GhWPMyT79aD_7FnkmTXzIGWO3dqKKjagHHw7ijykfQFh6bk8uMDrhv18h1OK_uHE6Gz42egFoZlDWskbbwOGsYWYKI/s1600/CIMG0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfFKM4H_bOzKrFi2Y62FlTmY0Ch5CVwhuZ7aWHrxLHgcZG6ieg0GhWPMyT79aD_7FnkmTXzIGWO3dqKKjagHHw7ijykfQFh6bk8uMDrhv18h1OK_uHE6Gz42egFoZlDWskbbwOGsYWYKI/s320/CIMG0006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">decorating the tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXpVebAvir0vuIuBqHf6-bUGClvOfXil8j4ZUv8TEutivKXrNvQDajw-azN3ocd7ww1fMu2tZnx2Jfgp06_tKJ6KIGzno83jRh1sPGNLVKXHZvZPZ7UqpjkayRA0D3DyLQE4J_D6_W81a/s1600/CIMG0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXpVebAvir0vuIuBqHf6-bUGClvOfXil8j4ZUv8TEutivKXrNvQDajw-azN3ocd7ww1fMu2tZnx2Jfgp06_tKJ6KIGzno83jRh1sPGNLVKXHZvZPZ7UqpjkayRA0D3DyLQE4J_D6_W81a/s320/CIMG0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presents!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbfesX0pgEksS_CHvdRkW-Pu2fY7MltU4Y0zChcrs5KoeCXbs0gEg2Q7Di5UtglS1_8LjfHdAdEXt7pJjFbgNJs1yZ1YZ5GnXXQabgS5-s08fAghNkjZZP6w_dIWUJcHcJKaG5jxfKHgA/s1600/CIMG0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbfesX0pgEksS_CHvdRkW-Pu2fY7MltU4Y0zChcrs5KoeCXbs0gEg2Q7Di5UtglS1_8LjfHdAdEXt7pJjFbgNJs1yZ1YZ5GnXXQabgS5-s08fAghNkjZZP6w_dIWUJcHcJKaG5jxfKHgA/s320/CIMG0081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15FpZdq23FGpqqZ818EGQuYuKuDN4YRa6Tn8I-oo1E_O_NAybw83fXuLmper5oznIrzTLj4KRCDmhdWTWnxS0t7E9Wu_2YieL2yya-h5U4TGUZXn4WInrmXneNB__GlL3jiWezG4aPvMU/s1600/CIMG0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15FpZdq23FGpqqZ818EGQuYuKuDN4YRa6Tn8I-oo1E_O_NAybw83fXuLmper5oznIrzTLj4KRCDmhdWTWnxS0t7E9Wu_2YieL2yya-h5U4TGUZXn4WInrmXneNB__GlL3jiWezG4aPvMU/s320/CIMG0085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet new earmuffs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8SDSYeWPC8GAXU_WppiPKLe1g1cDeVkYXAyFJ_AhMIlDX4zbifIkjq2mbWSZ8khWu02tj6KqX6W5UHRC6mc0geRfLGBfQqbux3cjb3HiJiv0KRrTWnpCUVNDKh6C4GIa74guvRhRy31-/s1600/CIMG0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8SDSYeWPC8GAXU_WppiPKLe1g1cDeVkYXAyFJ_AhMIlDX4zbifIkjq2mbWSZ8khWu02tj6KqX6W5UHRC6mc0geRfLGBfQqbux3cjb3HiJiv0KRrTWnpCUVNDKh6C4GIa74guvRhRy31-/s320/CIMG0093.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "kids" table. When did we become the "young adult" table?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ3JbSsi0L7CpLgrMINypkVWddrPLQ0_dhuEeblmffe_f31iTsy_3n50mh5vJWi6PfSYRviWnlCRDN-C1ZW3LFVK2uVyRpvCtn8dLcKNTa75uOy8q3sKo2YGV24eqgT-or2esPUDPoAih/s1600/CIMG0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZ3JbSsi0L7CpLgrMINypkVWddrPLQ0_dhuEeblmffe_f31iTsy_3n50mh5vJWi6PfSYRviWnlCRDN-C1ZW3LFVK2uVyRpvCtn8dLcKNTa75uOy8q3sKo2YGV24eqgT-or2esPUDPoAih/s320/CIMG0098.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More gifts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Hello bloggers. And for those of you who celebrate it - Merry Christmas! <br />
This was my first Christmas with the "new face" and the first in in more than 7 years without pain, cracks and clicks. A Christmas miracle if ever there was. It was a lovely day with friends and family. For the very first time we included people other than the immediate family in our Christmas eve and morning traditions. Two of Zoe's friends joined us, and for one it was his very first Christmas. We woke up to gifts and then my aunt, uncle and two cousins joined us for family time and Christmas dinner. Toasts and laughter were abundant and fun was had by all. :)<br />
My jaw was great today and I was thrilled to be able to enjoy the day sans pain and distraction. Equally thrilling was the ability to chow down just like I used to without worrying about whether or not I could handle the texture of the food. It's such a blessing to be back to normal again.<br />
I do of course have pictures that I will post a.s.a.p. for all of you. To those of you who celebrated the holiday I hope it was blessed and filled with good times. For those who do not, I hope today was lovely just the same!</div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-28283454892442732742011-12-23T20:27:00.001-08:002011-12-23T20:27:17.077-08:00Day 158 - Making Christmas<div><p>Hi bloggers! Day 158 has been busy busy busy. Christmas is almost upon us and that means getting ready. I've spent the entire day unpacking the last of my college stuff and cleaning up my room. After that I've been a right little kitchen mouse. So far I've made two varieties of cookies, linzer bars and cupcakes. That list will certainly grow by Sunday, but for now I'm all baked out.</p>
<p>Today my jaw cause no problems at all. I confess that these days I hardly notice it at all. The only times that I'm reminded of the fact that I'm still healing are when I remember the things I can't do yet (like snowboarding), when I make sure I don't knock myself or get knocked in the face, or when I remember I don't feel quite safe sleeping on my stomach yet. Other than those things and a slight bit of swelling life is totally back to normal. My gums are still rather numb, but the surface has regained most of its feeling back. The deep tissue is what is still it's difficult to believe that just five months ago I was swollen like an easter island head and still in the hospital. A lot has changed, to say the least!</p>
<p>Be well everyone. And to those of you who just recently had surgery (Tara and the others) you guys are doing great! I promise it gets better :)</p>
</div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-79689148007703449492011-12-22T20:39:00.001-08:002011-12-22T20:39:45.803-08:00Day 157 - Good Memories & Graduations<div><p>Hello there bloggers! It's day 157 and I am tuckered out to say the least. Today was a long day, but it was definitely a good one.</p>
<p>My big sister (my best friend) graduated from college today! It's hard to believe the girl that used to struggle through school graduated from a university ranked in the top 2% in the world. Not only that but she graduated with honors (cum laude) and a semester early to boot! Congratulations Zoe Gabrielle. I love you so very much and I'm more proud of you than I can say. </p>
<p>Since it's Zoe's graduation the day was dedicated to her. We woke up early and headed off to the school for the ceremony and then off to a super fancy dinner with one of her friends (also a graduate - congratulations Steve!) and his family and then headed back home. This long wonderful day has come to a close and I'm one tired girl!</p>
<p>My jaw feels great. To emphasize the point I chowed down on 16oz of fillet mignon and enjoyed every steak-y bite! Healing is such a cool thing  :)</p>
<p>I hope you are all well and enjoying the holiday season! </p>
<p>Tara - I saw you got through surgery safe and sound. Congratulations on making it to the other side. I'm sorry I didn't get to comment sooner, but I have been keeping track of your blog. You're already almost through the first week. Keep it up girl, you're such a strong person!  :)</p>
<p>I do have pictures from today but I will post them later as I desperately need to get to sleep.</p>
</div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-76424524589775662082011-12-18T19:51:00.001-08:002011-12-18T19:51:18.723-08:00Day 153 - Home for the Holidays<div><p>Hi there bloggers! Day 153 is drawing to a close. At long last I'm home for the winter break. It really hasn't set in that I have no class for more than a month and that Christmas is just a week away. I need to find something to get me in the holiday spirit. </p>
<p>My jaw treated me just fine today. Not a pain, crunch, creak or crack to speak of. Yippee!</p>
<p>Sorry for the short post but moving has worn me out. Be well everyone! :)</p>
</div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-71833004823532904582011-12-17T18:28:00.000-08:002011-12-17T18:28:07.384-08:00Day 152 - Goodbye Fall Semester, Hello Winter Break!Hi everyone! It's day 152 and it is my last night at college until next semester. It's so strange to me that it feels like just yesterday I came back to school with a puffy face and a mouth that I could hardly open wide enough for a pancake. However it happened, time has flown and semester has come to a close. When I look back the the beginning of September I see such a huge difference in my healing progress.<br />
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My jaw felt great today as I enjoyed a super relaxed and lazy last day. My muscles are a bit stiff today and I'm curious to see how bad they do or do not get over break. I really don't want all of that physical therapy to go to waste so I will definitely keep up with my exercises.<br />
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Tomorrow I go home, and I only hope that break is just as interesting and note-worthy as the past couple months have been. I also look forward to what it will bring in terms of healing and final revisions. I can't wait until I have a break from school where I don't have to think about surgery, but for now I'll take what I can get!<br />
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I hope you are all well, wherever you may be.<br />
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Tara - I wish you the very best during your surgery. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and sending positive vibes to you and your surgical team. Pretty soon you'll be posting your "on the other side" update and I can't wait to read it. Good luck!!!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-83821801298421097672011-12-16T18:53:00.000-08:002011-12-16T18:53:04.614-08:00Day 151 - Finally Done!Hello everyone! It's day 151, which for me has been awesome. Why was it awesome, you ask? Because I finished up with my last final exam! I was a bit nervous as it was the final for my weakest class, but I studied hard and was prepared. When I sat the exam I knew exactly what to do, and finished the test in about 25 minutes. After that freedom officially set in. I won't be getting picked up until sunday, though, so I have a some time to myself. Tomorrow I'll be packing and cleaning then attending a Christmas party. Sunday morning will be move day.<br />
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My jaw was just fine today. I remember mentioning that when I sleep sometime my jaw will click as the muscle relaxes. That's still been happening though not as frequently, so I'm hoping that eventually it will stop entirely. Swelling is up a bit from clenching my teeth while studying, but it's not too bad. For the most part things are going just fine.<br />
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I hope that you're all well and that you all have nice relaxing weekends ahead of you. Until next post!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJJaJF5okJ-2fzJFObxte1nIeys-FVJh1Xlv-n3VteSK-0MXjcXFEThcUM_kGNifZPseEndQDWndsfZx3lPgHSTgDuOfrRSNZyGlX8xWTSnh3rgY5YSXYbD-Pv4mZZKBNzHkKucUz_ADo/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-16+at+21.40+%25234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJJaJF5okJ-2fzJFObxte1nIeys-FVJh1Xlv-n3VteSK-0MXjcXFEThcUM_kGNifZPseEndQDWndsfZx3lPgHSTgDuOfrRSNZyGlX8xWTSnh3rgY5YSXYbD-Pv4mZZKBNzHkKucUz_ADo/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-16+at+21.40+%25234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDCk8v-iLAm4QWWHfve7lKNidUxnp9KVNjrDRtqOYk7nJaLn_qdOF0btscy2x0y_Ehm-MFGMFXgB14GYNr7wR4RXN8bPDAVuy8brFSVcTHs_jIta2hCToBDcU8WDP0NatngAb6BzJQYce/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-16+at+21.42+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDCk8v-iLAm4QWWHfve7lKNidUxnp9KVNjrDRtqOYk7nJaLn_qdOF0btscy2x0y_Ehm-MFGMFXgB14GYNr7wR4RXN8bPDAVuy8brFSVcTHs_jIta2hCToBDcU8WDP0NatngAb6BzJQYce/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-16+at+21.42+%25232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKssRrlYfapv0xvkkM5-obRC0LUSryYgYjDEXvBwcEqfY4LFXkxT0txEkTXZo-ef83uJ_xmq26NNSZKREz1zft7QcB_YbJBgUFFBxWjjkgbV70IqZCOGkManEhcFzDJvTdKb67CuLdmxb/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-16+at+21.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKssRrlYfapv0xvkkM5-obRC0LUSryYgYjDEXvBwcEqfY4LFXkxT0txEkTXZo-ef83uJ_xmq26NNSZKREz1zft7QcB_YbJBgUFFBxWjjkgbV70IqZCOGkManEhcFzDJvTdKb67CuLdmxb/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-16+at+21.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-66993709167385825452011-12-14T20:03:00.000-08:002011-12-14T20:03:16.250-08:00Day 149 - A Free DayHey there bloggers! I hope today finds you all in a good mood. It's day 149 of recovery and I feel great. Today I got to relax and spend time with friends before diving into studying for my last exam. Freedom is so close!<br />
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All of the insurance things have gone through for the second surgery, so it's all systems go. The plan is for my family to pick me up on sunday and then I will get my pre-op blood work and physical done. After that it's time for the holidays and then December 30th is surgery day. The idea of more surgery is a little strange, but I just keep reminding myself that once this is done, all will be as it should be. It is an interesting way to ring in the new year, though.<br />
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My jaw was just fine today, and there were no problems to speak of. Yippee!<br />
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I hope you all are well! :)Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-89299324544705454762011-12-13T21:36:00.000-08:002011-12-13T21:36:04.962-08:00Day 148 - One Down, One to GoHi there bloggers! It's day 148 now. I've enjoyed a nice break today since I finished my next to last exam. There are a few days left until the exam so I can relax a bit until then. At last it feels like break really is on the way and I'll be home for the holidays. :)<br />
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My jaw feels really wonderful these days. It still doesn't feel "normal," but it certainly doesn't feel bad. There's no pain and no constant urge to crack my jaw anymore. There's really no way to put what I feel into words when I think about that. Amazing doesn't adequately explain it.<br />
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Be well, everyone and keep smiling!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-56339632146722007212011-12-12T22:01:00.000-08:002011-12-12T22:01:26.287-08:00Day 147 - Friends and FinalsHello all, day 147 has come and gone. In true end of term fashion I've been hitting the books hard. Thankfully I have some wonderful friends as study buddies. It really is amazing how just studying with another person is enough to keep the stress away. Friends really are wonderful.<br />
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I had my last day of physical therapy until next year. My next appointment is scheduled for February 3, 2012. My therapist took some measurements to send Dr A a report of my progress and then gave me exercise and stretching techniques to do at home over break so that I don't lose any of the progress that I've made. Some of the things I've learned really are useful and worth maintaining. My posture has improved significantly which allows me to hold my jaw correctly. This prevents the muscles from getting too tense and helps combat TMJ issues. Physical therapy has been incredibly beneficial, and I'm thankful for what I've learned.<br />
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Things on the jaw front were just fine today. All in all things are great. No pain = the greatest thing in the world :)<br />
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There is one thing, though, which I think is worth mentioning to Dr A before surgery. On the right side of my jaw there is a bump on the bone. It's been there for a while, and it doesn't hurt, but as the swelling goes down it seems to be more pronounced. I don't see it being a problem, but I want to make sure that it really is a bone thing and not scar tissue or anything like that.<br />
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Be well, everyone and keep warm. The temperature's a-droppin'!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-70298376597942679112011-12-11T21:14:00.000-08:002011-12-11T21:14:53.183-08:00Day 146 - Small Victories..and Little TumblesHello everyone, day 146 is over and I'm basking in the small victory that is my completion of my final essay for my Victorian Britain class. One weekend of hard work has paid off, and I can relax a bit until my next exam. Tomorrow is the last day of classes for the semester. I cannot wait until I'm done with finals! I'll be able to relax without worrying whether or not I'm forgetting something important.<br />
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Today there were no problems whatsoever from my jaw. I even ate a nice crunchy pizza crust without worrying that I'd snap something. Another small victory :)<br />
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I did have a scary moment today, though. For the first time ever I fell off of my longboard. One minute I was staring at the bump that I knew would be my literal downfall, and the next my nose was an inch from the pavement. Thank goodness for reflexes and strong arms or else I would've landed flat on my face. (Don't worry mom, I'm safe!) It rattled me a bit, but all is well. There's not a scratch on me.<br />
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Other than that all is well, and I'm feeling good. Finals week isn't nearly as bad as the last one and I'm just coasting through at this point.<br />
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I hope you all are well (and stay away from bumps on boards!)Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-41377767931749221532011-12-10T21:47:00.000-08:002011-12-10T21:47:35.915-08:00Day 145 - Weekend WarriorHey everyone. Sorry for the super late post, but I've been a real study bug today and I've been working on final essays.<br />
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My jaw felt really good today, and I didn't notice any problems at all. Every day there is less and less to note.<br />
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Today was quite uneventful (after all there's nothing fun about studying) so I don't have anything interesting to share. I'm pooped, though so I'm calling it a night. Tomorrow is another long day and then I can relax again for a bit. I'm really glad I spaced out my work the way I did - it's way easier and far less stressful Always a good thing!<br />
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Be well everyone :)Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-24863298395024560012011-12-09T19:33:00.000-08:002011-12-09T19:33:26.646-08:00Day 143 - Cold Weather's ComingHello all! Its day 143 and I have exactly one week left before I'm done with semester. Goodness, it really feels like I just started semester yesterday. Though it is the weekend there will be no rest for me. I've got ten pages worth of final essay to write before monday at 5 o' clock, so I will be spending the weekend writing that up. Monday I'll study some more, take a Tuesday exam and then have a small break until Friday. My goal is to do the best I possibly can on these finals, so starting tomorrow things move into heavy study mode.<br />
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Studying isn't the only thing headed my way - the cold is at last setting in. I can't tell if the seasons are growing milder or if I'm less sensitive to the cold than I was as a child, but December seems different than I remember. Some days a light jacket is sufficient. Late or not, the cold weather is here and I think the mild days are coming to an end. Bring on the snow!<br />
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Today I had no problems to speak of with my jaw, but also nothing new, either good or bad. Not that I really expect much change this far out. Not being in pain is enough for me. :)<br />
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I hope this post finds you all well!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-32441008158115053882011-12-08T20:30:00.000-08:002011-12-08T20:30:25.847-08:00Day 142 - The Study Marathon ContinuesHi there everyone! It's day 142 now and I've been busy preparing for finals. Like yesterday, there wasn't much worth mentioning.<br />
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My jaw feels fine, and swelling is going down even more. I also feel like I can open a bit wider than I could a couple days ago. Yay! I love progress, no matter how small :)<br />
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Tomorrow begins the really intense bit of studying, but compared to midterms, finals are much easier this time around. Thank goodness. My last class is monday, my last final is friday, and then I can be home with my family. I am beyond excited.<br />
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Be well, all! Those of you that got snow I hope you're nice and warm, perhaps by a lovely warm fire.Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-64748203564652513072011-12-07T20:42:00.000-08:002011-12-07T20:42:48.627-08:00Day 141 - A Rather Uneventful DayHello all. Day 141 has been really uneventful. The work towards finals continues, so that's what I've been concentrating on. I'm feeling food though. :)<br />
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My jaw feels fine today, though I did notice the cold bothered my face more than usual today. I hope it's not going to become a constant thing to deal with during cold weather. Winter will set in soon enough and let me know.<br />
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Sorry for the short post, but an uneventful day means nothing to write about. Be well, everyone!Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-9419710211700182632011-12-06T19:43:00.000-08:002011-12-06T19:43:10.603-08:00Day 140 - Being StudiousGood evening to all of you on day 140. It was a rainy day marked with the continuation of finals week work. Despite having some form of work to do every day, it is far better than delaying all of it for the last minute and stressing out. I think there's only one week left for my semester. Wow, how did that happen?<br />
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Speaking of not many days left, the time is going by quickly until my revision surgery comes. It's less than a month away now. That's a bit surreal to me still, having more surgery. I'm just thankful that it is nothing major or requiring long recovery again.<br />
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My jaw was just fine today, though the school work meant that I neglected my jaw excercises. I'm usually very good with doing them every day, and I hope that I don't miss them too often during finals week. After all it's not long before I go without therapy for more than a month, and it would be good to get into the habit of doing my exercises regularly.<br />
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I hope you are all well, and those of you in the final exam boat with me, I wish you the best of luck! :)Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3256786746180033716.post-15357430904834768502011-12-05T18:39:00.000-08:002011-12-05T18:39:07.341-08:00Day 139 - Work WeekHello all, it's day 139. This week is the last full week of classes. Next week I have exams and then it's home for the holiday! I can't wait, but it seems like there's still so much to do. Christmas shopping and final projects and exams. The next 9 days are going to be absolutely bonkers!<br />
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My jaw felt lovely and pain free today. I had physical therapy again, and things are going well. So well, in fact, that next monday's might be my last appointment. During the break I won't see my therapist, and she said that we will only continue PT if my surgeon thinks it is necessary. It's hard to believe that not that long ago I couldn't open wide enough to eat a noodle, and now we're considering the end of therapy. I've said it before - the body and the healing process are insanely cool.<br />
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As it's such an uneventful day on all other fronts I've finally got a new picture for all of you.<br />
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Be well, you wonderful people! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyym_dyMcbnIGzNQeR3HbrxD9_JixTJKRSSnTXtwgOpz4bzkXbLqQQk3L0FLjw2_Q6lNDZm-nOxHWzKmpoGTSx4qrRGaNYdWsVO5Ai_Ietvczdgw3Tyw5bg8-ZbCs-wPq03ExNt32wqKW/s1600/Photo+on+2011-12-05+at+21.32+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyym_dyMcbnIGzNQeR3HbrxD9_JixTJKRSSnTXtwgOpz4bzkXbLqQQk3L0FLjw2_Q6lNDZm-nOxHWzKmpoGTSx4qrRGaNYdWsVO5Ai_Ietvczdgw3Tyw5bg8-ZbCs-wPq03ExNt32wqKW/s320/Photo+on+2011-12-05+at+21.32+%25232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Nora Simonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12860737562795814985noreply@blogger.com1