Learning to chew and bite all over again

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#1 Post by **nvcarissa** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:22 pm

Okay...it's Day One of chewing again. The first thing that I "chewed" was leftover Chicken Cannelloni from last night's dinner, but it was so soft, I was basically eating it like I did before when I wasn't allowed to chew. So...just now I decided to try some toast. Toasted myself up a bread end, not too much, just enough to brown it, buttered it and bit in. Thing is...I overcompensated with my lower jaw just like I had to before and my lower teeth got caught on my front teeth. Ouch!! So...just like I had to relearn to talk with my jaw in its new position, I am having to relearn chewing and biting! Ah the adventure! I know I will get used to it, but it's just so odd right now.

It's also the first day of my clothes pins therapy. That went all right and I felt like I pushed myself just enough...some discomfort but no searing pain. All is well in my world.

#2 Post by **nahky** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:09 pm

Nice to hear nvcarissa

I think it took me about a 2-3 weeks to get the hang of biting properly. Especially after hvaing an underbite so long, it was bizaare to ahve so much contcat with my teeth.

#3 Post by **smile2006** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:58 pm

Great on moving on to the next stage. I've got 2 more weeks before I can chew. After having an open bite my whole life until surgery, I can't imagine what it will be like to be able to actually bite into something like pizza, a sandwich or a bagel. I guess there is relearning for everyone. Is the numbness you have bothersome as you begin the chewing phase? I suspect I will still have considerable numbness in two weeks.

#4 Post by **anabel** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:03 pm

Yeah, pizza!! It used to just slip right through my open bite. Can't wait to try that! Anyway, congrats nvcarissa, that is a huge step!!

#5 Post by **nvcarissa** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:41 pm

Is the numbness you have bothersome as you begin the chewing phase?

A bit. My left side, though it's getting its feeling back, is still a bit of an issue, so I have to be careful. I have to make sure I take small bites. This defintely is an exercise in focused eating. I am not at all at a stage where I am not having to think about it. It's a bit frustrating, thinking that I would be all back to normal at this stage, when it is still about therapy and such things. Mostly I am back to normal, it's just when I want to eat that things get a tad dicey.