Originally Posted by Soberpotamus

It was a great visit! Lots of positive info received.

He asked how I'm doing -- "much better" I said. We smiled and I laughed. He said anything must be better than last visit (remember, I cried my eyes out in front of him!).

First, he said I was doing an excellent job of keeping my teeth clean! Darn right, I am. Lol. Brushing six times a day, sometimes more. Lots of mouthwash, tongue scraping, etc.

He told me "no way" to the chin strap, V. He said, no way are we doing that, lol. It's a big no-no, apparently. Oh well, I tried. I told him about the trouble sleeping, the trouble with the painful elastics, etc. Tough cookies. He said I'm going to be fine. I won't hurt my jaw in my sleep. Not to worry, etc. I really will be ok. No need to even wear the elastics. He is confident things will be fine.

In three weeks he wants me eating a regular diet!! This was the absolute shocker. I said "are you kidding me??" Nope, not kidding. Everyone's different, every situation different, and so six weeks was my time limit for the liquid diet. Turns out, as usual, I was overthinking it, worrying, and planning too far ahead.

He basically wants me to chill out, to stop worrying, to relax, and to start moving my jaw around! Really the only discomfort I should be feeling are the muscles pulling and reattaching. And the numbness dissipating.

Another shocker. He said he moved one side out 6mm and the other 4.5 mm!! This was more than we'd thought originally. My jaw was asymmetrical anyways, positioned slightly to the left, and that's why one side is out further than the other -- to compensate for the asymmetry. Now they are symmetrical.

So, that's pretty much it.

And I loved it at the end, when my husband had the smiled plastered on his face, nodding and going along perfectly with the doctor, and then he mentioned he might like to have some work done. The doctor let him know that he better start being nice to me, because if the roles are switched, and he needs me to care for him one day, payback can be a bitch!

The doc and I exchanged smiles and I thanked him for saying that.

I'm pretty sure Brian was surprised to hear that. Later, he asked me what I'd told the doctor. I said I didn't have to tell him anything -- Tom told all. He said, "That son-of-a-bitch! He's never coming back over to the house again."

We went to Dunkin Donuts. Got another caramel macchiato, no receipt paper found this time.

Originally Posted by Steely

You smiled and laughed with your surgeon? You're on the road to recovery Soberpotamus. Thank goodness.

Originally Posted by Soberpotamus

I feel capable, brave, patient, determined, confident, and positive. These aren't just feelings. I'm no longer grasping at them. These qualities are carved out and hard-won.

Originally Posted by Soberpotamus

I'm going to use what I learned from this experience to guide me in the next big life project -- growing my business.

I feel capable, brave, patient, determined, confident, and positive. These aren't just feelings. I'm no longer grasping at them. These qualities are carved out and hard-won.

My goals are within reach, and I'll get there. Just takes time and plodding along. And the ability to tune out all the noise.

Ready to shift my focus to the proofreading business and home improvement in order to sell. No idea yet where I'll buy land once I sell. All I know is I want out of this house and neighborhood, and I want some privacy.

Originally Posted by Anna

Btw, I've heard 'My name is Lucy Barton' is excellent, though I haven't gotten it yet.