The time has flown since I finished rads on May 19. Dental problems and my numb lower lip still keep me hostage to some extent. I feel well and have resumed my long walks but I have to wait until about Xmas before I get a better dental plate. The temporary plate is very uncomfortable and has had a gap in it since a front crown broke off. It's still better than nothing but if I have visitors I'm often relieved when they go so I can take the damn thing out. The cutting of one of the main nerves near my mandible means that the left lower lip and chin are numb and twisted and food and liquid spill on eating, making it impossible to eat out. I can have a coffee if I wear a scarf to catch the spill but even a milkshake/smoothie with a straw is difficult with the plate in. At home I can eat more and more but only with the plate out.
Tooth decay has set in fiercely. The dentist thinks I'm cleaning my teeth as well as I am able - my mouth is a battlefield of flaps and scars. I can't really go to a local dentist so end up ringing the hospital every other week for one repair or the other. I've bought a Waterpik (wonderful) and some expensive fluoride toothpaste which I sometimes rub into the gum/tooth join.
I am grateful to be alive and kicking but surprised by how surgery to one smallish area of my body has diminished my quality of life to such an extent. I'm lucky that I enjoy my own company because I feel that I have to put off going out and meeting new people until the new plate is made. Such bad luck that I moved town not long before all this happened so don't have people around here who know me and my story.
I'm not writing this to moan. I know I'm lucky to be a four-time cancer survivor. I know there are people out there with far worse challenges. I just want to document the process in case there are others my story will resonate with or people who can tell me off for being such a wuss about socialising:)

Alpaca you're pretty tough for a Kiwi mate!

I had a tooth decay problem before my other problems, my dentist told me to rub a thin smear of Sensodyne toothpaste on my teeth, spit but don't rinse, and leave it on when I go to bed. Worked ok, but I couldn't handle it when my mouth went crazy during treatment. I would try it and if it doesn't bother you sleeping, its a cheap treatment.

You don't mention mouthwashes? You must be pretty trained and experienced on the bicarb mouth washes by now yeah?

Hey if you need some inspiration I had a picture of a brave girl installed at your house. I put it above the bathroom sink.

Ha, I came up with the thin smear of Neutrafluor toothpaste myself while waiting to see the dentist about what I think is decay under the gum, perhaps in the roots of a molar. I've been doing it for several days and now the inflammation and soreness have gone down. Sensodyne stings like mad for me but Neutrafluor is gentle on my mouth. In fact it's the first fluoride toothpaste I've been able to tolerate in ages. By googling I found that dentists can solve root decay by using a filling infused with fluoride so I figured that applying fluoride myself while waiting might frighten the bugs away for a while. No mention of fluoride trays here in NZ.

I think I'm pretty tough in some ways. I'm lucky enough to enjoy exercise so I keep fit. That fitness gives me a feeling of general wellness that helps me cope with the isolated discomfort in my mouth. Just have to keep negotiating the sharp corners on the road to recovery and/or acceptance.