Sorry it has been so long since I posted. For about a week after the surgery I was feeling pretty bad--just very swollen and taking those prescrip. pain meds that make you groggy and constipated. I started stretching my jaw with the therabite about 5 days after the surgery, as instructed by my ENT, but even with that, I have not had an improvement in my range of motion. In fact, it seems to have gotten a little WORSE than prior to the surgery, which is really discouraging. I have been pretty good about using the therabite for 7 stretches 7 times a day as they say you should do--now I feel like I should have done it more often (and am trying to do it more often).

My ENT did say that even after doing the coronoidectomy and cutting away the scar tissue on my cheeks, when I was under anesthesia, they could only get me to about a 23-24 mm opening which was discouraging. Right now I am way less than that though.

But even if I can't get any wider, the surgery seems to have helped in some other ways. For one thing, I have not had one horrendous jaw cramp since the surgery, I am hoping maybe that will be permanent. If that is permanent, I think the surgery was worth it just for that reason. Also, I had a thin line of scar tissue on the inside of my lips that made it hard and painful to open my mouth wide side to side (it literally hurt to smile). They broke all that up and I have a much WIDER grin now (it still hurts to smile but I figure it's physical therapy ;-).

A week after the surgery I went to VT to visit my extended family including see my nephew who is normally in CA so I only get to see him once or twice a year. It was hard to recuperate and stretch every day with all the family stuff going on but worth it. Unfortunately (as often seems to be the case when I visit family) I caught a really nasty upper respiratory virus that has me feeling really lousy and ever since I got back Sunday night) I have had to really spend a lot of time doing class prep for the fall. So I have not had much time to keep up here and I may not for a little while longer. But I think of you all a lot. Thanks for the messages and well-wishes. I'll try to stay in better touch.

Nelie