There are certain foods that I don't even think about eating. When I do think about it, I say to myself that I don't really like them. I generally avoid fruit like apples, anything that requires biting into. I don't like salad very much, or steak, or beef in general that's chewy. I don't like carrot sticks, or really any raw vegetable.
Then I had to stop. Because I realized that I used to like these foods. In fact, I used to eat them all the time. I realized that my dislike of these foods has nothing to do with their flavor, but entirely with my ability to chew them. And very unconsciously, before I even knew I had a jaw problem, I stopped eating those foods. Eventually I believed I didn't like them. I'll probably still tell people I don't like them.
SO, another thing to be excited about for surgery! Everything I've avoided, to the point of even forgetting why I avoided it, I'll be able to eat again!
I spend probably too much time in the mirror positioning my jaw and imagining what it would be like to have a normal bite. As nervous I can be sometimes about this surgery, I'm also really excited! It has been over ten years since things have been "normal" for me. It will be so great to just eat and not worry about how I'm going to eat...
Oh I know how you feel about avoiding those difficult foods, and I am also very excited to be able to eat all of them! And don't be too nervous. The anticipation for the surgery is scary but also very exciting! It will be over and done before you know it! And then a few months later you will be able to enjoy all of those very chewy or hard foods. I am still working my way up to the hard foods part but we will both be there eventually! Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteMy 19 yr old son has an open bite (only back teeth touch) and has the condyle on the left side shorter than than the right. He is seeing
ReplyDeletean oral surgeon in January to address the condyle issue. Will you be
having any surgery to the joints?
Hi Deborah. I'm not having surgery on the joints themselves. The surgery I'll have will cause the joints to sit in a more healthy position and hopefully prevent any more damage. Both jaws will be moved forward and rotated.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellie for your response. I hope that my son will be able to avoid surgery to the joints. We are trying to do as much research prior to his visit with the first oral surgeon in January. Hope you had a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Belated Birthday!!!!