Thank you all for your kind words of support. I go to see my surgeon tomorrow afternoon and I will know more about our course of action then. As for now, today is day 7 of a second round of antibiotics (counting the one right after surgery). Pain started to get worse around 4 days into taking the antibiotics this time and hasn't subsided yet. It hurts pretty much anytime I move my lower jaw (i.e., to eat, do exercises, and sometimes talking). My surgeon has been great and we've kept in touch via text. He had me discontinue mouth stretches for now (and boy can I tell a difference not being able to open my mouth as wide just after 2 days of no exercises), taking ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours regardless of relief, and moist heat applied anytime it gets too painful. In addition to the pain, which the best way to describe it is that it feels as sore as a painful cyst although I don't feel any nodules, is that I am also experiencing extreme hypersensitivity/pain in the roots of a few teeth on that side of my mouth. It hurts to brush my teeth and eating with those teeth. Then last night, I started to experience shooting pains in that TMJ (left side). I'm going to share all this with the doctor tomorrow. The swelling though appears much like it did last week when he put me on antibiotics, only slightly more than the right side.
Still experiencing pain in the screws to the left of my nose when I smile or laugh big. And the screw below my right eye is very irritating and uncomfortable. It's slightly visible and both screws under both eyes can be felt quite easily as they are located in the thin skin area right below the corners of my eyes. I am quite worried about those in the long term, so Olive perhaps you're right, if I have to get the metal out now, there is an upside of not having to worry down the road.
BaliGirl, my doctor mentioned taking the lower one out alone would be a quick in office procedure and minimal downtime much like having a wisdom tooth extracted. He did say if the ones by my eyes came out, I'd have to go to the hospital and the surgery would be quite similar to the first one. I am not sure why mine would be more invasive than yours, but I've seen that some have to go to the hospital and some do the upper jaw in the doctor's office. I don't think the recovery is as long, and I vaguely recall him saying either 1 or 2 wks off work, but that swelling would be similar to the first time around.
I'm getting married in June and have only put a deposit down on 1/3 of the wedding/honeymoon costs. We are actually eloping in Hawaii and having a reception back home when we return. We chose to do this to accommodate my surgery in case problems arose (would suck to lose a bunch of money if I get an infection a month or two before surgery when most get an infection - 12 wks post op!). We are also in the process of saving for a house and want to buy something this summer. So we have a lot going on and I just want to get better soon. I am usually a very active person but haven't worked out since pre-surgery. I'm 7 weeks post op Monday.
Sorry for the rambling post. Thanks again for all of you who are there to provide encouragement during difficult times on the road to recovery. Seems most people experience a few hiccups now and then post-op and at least it's not that bad I guess it could be much worse. I'm really trying to stay positive.
Olive, before I forget, I'm able to eat much more now with the splint out and food is delicious! I eat pretty much anything except raw veggies, nuts, and tough meats. I have eaten salad cut up very small and chicken which surprised me so quickly after surgery. My teeth don't touch on one side so I chew on the other side. It's weird but at this stage, you'll eat anyway just because real food tastes so good and you miss it! I find myself adapting all the time to my temporary "handicaps." It's amazing how resilient we can be.
