it ain't over!

the saga continues...

i got a second infection in the same plate area.

the infected area didn't get super big and visibly swollen, but i could feel it growing and feeling the same way as last time.  based on the previous infection i was able to recognize it much earlier than the first one when i was like, durrrrrr what's this swelling, i'll just wait and see, it will get better, i'm sure...  :) 

since i'm long-distance from my surgeons, i was able to communicate via phone and email and get some antibiotics which helped the infection go away.  my surgeons are so helpful!!!  it's really lucky for me because it could potentially be very difficult being so far away, but they are very responsive and willing to help me a lot.

so at this point, we're looking at the plates coming out.  yes - a second surgery!  in the process of scheduling it now and making plans.

i did some online research that indicated the plate removal can be as intense as the original surgery in terms of swelling and numbness, and even worse bruising.  that seems kind of bizarre to me, because they're not  doing nearly as much mucking around up in my face, just small incisions, grab the plates, in and out.  so i'm hoping that is not true.

at the least, my jaw function won't be destroyed by this procedure; that was the longest and most difficult part of recovery by far.

otherwise i'm doing well.  i can open my mouth pretty wide, seems normal now, just kind of feels like a good stretch.  eating really crunchy stuff like hard chips and nuts feels sort of weird, slightly unpleasant, but otherwise i can eat everything including chewy stuff.  things are still sensitive in my mouth, i jabbed my gum with my toothbrush by accident and that was OW!  also i can't use my electric toothbrush, it feels like a jackhammer.

still numb in my gums and one part of my chin, but i will take it.  even if it's permanent, it doesn't really bother me and the aligned jaws is worth it!

i do have lip incompetence still, which is the fancy way of saying my lips aren't closing and meeting together properly.  i think my top lip is the problem.  to close my lips i have to strain the bottom lip up, which causes "pruney chin."

so that's my report for now!  i'm glad that me showing my case to the online world is helping other people looking for info about their same problem!