I can't believe it's May already. Where has the time gone?
70 days have passed since I underwent lower jaw surgery and as you can see from the pictures, my expressions are still as hideous as ever. But on the bright side, I can open my mouth a little wider now.
I still wear rubber bands on my teeth. This will last for another month or so. My orthodontist wants to make sure that my realignment doesn't mess up my jaw. The bands are very inconvenient. But I'm glad I can remove them to eat.
Speaking of which, I am now chewing on steak and lobster. Well, maybe not lobster. But assuming I could afford to eat lobster, I would definitely be able to chew it. However, I can't bite into larger prey like the elusive hamburger. My mouth doesn't open that wide. Instead, I have to cut it into small chunks and eat with a fork. Doing this at restaurants makes me seem dignified and pompous. But it's all for practical reasons, I assure you.
My taste may or may not be coming back. I can't tell because I don't really remember what different foods used to taste like. Sometimes, I feel like I can faintly taste things (like pesto). But even then, I can't tell if it's because my sense of smell is compensating, or if I'm really recovering. The inside of my mouth hasn't regained much feeling either. Boo.
If you've stumbled upon this blog seeking information about jaw surgery and the recovery process, please feel free to leave questions in the comments section. I'll try to get back to you in a timely manner. Now excuse me while I go to the bathroom to replace my rubber bands.
