[Buffheart]

So I had surgery last July on my jaw because my bottom jaw was slightly smaller than the top, and the top was down too far, and it has been bugging me ever since. I saw a specialist last Thursday to take measurements for a special mouth guard to wear at night (though I don't think I have TMJ because I have no headaches and it is not worse in the morning).

I talked to him about how I can't open my mouth all the way, and he measured it and said the same thing. I said that I can't even fit a banana in my mouth all the way without it scraping against my teeth. It is awkward to eat things that are too wide because I can no longer fit them between my teeth without chewing with my mouth open, and that was never a problem before. It also hurts to the point that I can't eat much, unless it is soft like bread. Now is a good day because I can eat carrots (yay!). It also hurts everytime I yawn.

The surgery went fine, but it healed wrong. He said something about scar tissue and cartilage and some other stuff. This guard is supposed to help so that I can avoid a $1500 MRI, which I wouldn't care because the hospital and insurance are covering it all. I *thought* he said something about it possibly requiring surgery to fix it, but my mom didn't hear it and says that I am just imagining it.

I don't really care, because we don't have to pay, and I don't mind hospitals much, except that my mom would have to spend the whole day in Seattle, instead of cleaning, like she likes to do.


*Just realized, I posted this on the wrong board. Sorry!