hi malka & nellie...not sure where the art stuff came from? anyhow, funny cause i am actually an artist, so don't mind the info one bit : ) private art school since a youngin and graduated from moore college of art and design in philly. always fun for the kids and theraputic as well! hope you are feeling well and feel free to read on and join in, all opinions and advice is so appreciated anytime : )

hope the wedding was fun colleen! just re-read your post, what a long day. lance came down with something so decided to give him the bed. yes, pretty generous i know, this way he has all the room in the world - and so do his germs!!! so all comfy in the basement (finished obviously). thanks for the cleaning info. probably all obsessive with it, cause its like the one thing so far that obviously involves ME dealing with the wound. i shared all your suggestions with lance and he of course said he will watch when they take out the one-weeker. i definitely am relieved at the idea of having a basis to judge on. i made him promise he won't make any disturbing faces, he hugged me and assured me that he would never. i don't know why i am so disturbed with this part, seeing it, it seems almost vein and i don't really think of myself like that. i guess, well i know, i will just have to get over it, really its the least of my problems! is the removal of the first one painful? i have read in some spots that it is, did they numb you first, does it take long? while on the cleaning front in general, how do you know if it IS clean in the beginning, does anything like, come out (scabbing, etc.). and oh yeah more, the dentist...the prost. doc said that you take the obturator out for dental work (i.e. cavities, etc. later on) is that true, just don't quite get it, like wouldn't it, drilling etc. make you sneeze? and lance had a question too, when you have a cold, does caughing/sneezing call dislodging of the obturator and how about when it is not in? wow, i do have some odd questions don't i, i am sorry, i hope not too many... funny how you can keep coming up with more when you just cannot stop thinking about something. wednesday is my next consult with the surgeon. i have been a little concerned this week about how much experience he has with this type of surgery. i was SO floored at the last visit with the plan that i neglected to ask. he is a maxo-facial surgeon in the dental/maxofacial dept. but it seems to me (though could be certainly wrong) that more patients in the cancer dept seem to have this surgery than in dental? even when i went in for my molds when the assist. came in to x-ray she assumed i was a cancer patient due to the maxillectomy determination in my file. so now i have this total concern about his experience and what can go wrong. i assume nerve damage, etc.? still waiting on my second opinion from big-wig second cousin once removed. YES MY MOM IS HAVING MY GRANDMOM CALL HIS MOM FRIDAY if we do not hear back by then! hate to do that, i really do - but can't take much more waiting. not all his fault, in his defense, as it appeared that i kinda missed my niche when my records weren't there for him like they were supposed to be (figures!) i am not expecting him to do it, as i believe he specializes in soft-tissue cancers, but I KNOW he knows my surgeon and the protocal, so i am SURE he can at least recommend or not recommend him. hopefully by weeks' end i can unglue myself from my cell! so on wednesday supposed to clear the surgery date and go over pathology. there are 4 types of ameloblastomas (one is malignant, but super rare on top of already rare) and the pathologist who did biopsy was absolutely certain it was not (phew...) i am pretty sure from my own research that the pathology will determine my recurence rate? perhaps you know more on that end. also, taking your advice, next week i am going back to the original periodontist who started this all for my scaling/gum disease. i practically laughed when his office called today, the billing dept, to let me know my coverage, apparantly will be charged by the "quadrant" - can scratch more than one of those quads off that bill! luckily and unbelievably, no cavities to report, small miracle. so decided to take the month of june to enjoy summer and get my house prepared for my mother. like i said she always stresses me out, probably cause she is like a total neat-freak who actually wants the vacuum cleaner lines straight! so i am ending my last round on e-bay (i am a die-hard seller) to make time to get my closets clean (not to mention the guest room and bathrooms, ugh!) hope things are great with you and write me when you can...hugs back at you, marieka