My obturator is a huge headache. Literally. Every time I put it in, it gives me the sort of throbbing, radiating headache that I have to take 600 of ibuprofen to quell. It's extremely uncomfortable to wear for more than about six hours at a time.

Now, I understand that as I get used to it, it'll get less irritating, but at three weeks post-surgery, is this where I should expect to be? About when can I expect to be able to wear it for, say, twelve hours without pain?

And also, jaw stretching (I feel like this topic should have its own scary music):

I'm using the incredibly high-tech Stacked Tongue Blade Technique right now, along with heat and massage. And the occasional glass of wine.

How long will it be before I see consistent gains in my stretch? Every morning I wake up and my mouth is just as shut as it was before; it takes several minutes of passive stretching to loosen up. I seem to be holding at about 38 mm maximum (which my prosthodontist is unhappy about; presurgery I was at 55), but it's a struggle. Does it get any better in terms of holding gains?

I'm doing anywhere between five and ten sets a day of stretch-and-rest. I wasn't given a formal plan, so I start with the number of blades I used the day before and add one or two at a time, hold that for five minutes, then rest for three to five, then increase the stretch. Does that sound right?

My second career is going to be as the female Richard Simmons of jaw workouts. I had no *idea* this was going to be such a huge deal; thank you all for cluing me in the first time I came here and introduced myself.