Deja Vu

The same apricot tree today that was covered in snow on Sunday.

Last July I had a gum graft along two-thirds of my lower gum line. Yesterday it was evened out as the other third part got it's graft.

I'm propped up in bed against some pillows, feeling swollen and hungry and groggy. I'm typing and holding a small baggie with ice cubes against my cheek. I'm not in pain, as long as I'm holding still. As soon as I move around or talk my mouth and face start to throb. This is the reason Jordan and Jemma are at my parent's house. The key to recovery, I was told, is exactly what I'm doing today - nothing. It's fall break, so school's out. It's perfect weather for fall break - sunny and pleasant looking.

Too bad my camera's photos are not worth 1000 words. This is a photo of the canal just down the street. It's so beautiful today with the light coming through the trees and the reflections in the water.

Here's your warning: stop reading now if you want to be spared the gory details. The last two paragraphs are good though.

It's interesting to think about how our minds and memories play tricks on us. There were some details from my previous experience that I remembered well - like how the procedure itself wasn't so bad, but waking up the next morning was painful and strange. I remembered having time to read (Pillars of the Earth) and watch movies (mainly the long version of Pride and Prejudice). The memory of a quiet afternoon spent reading and dozing wasn't so bad.

I had forgotten about the constant taste of blood for the first day or two (blech) and the cumbersome feeling of the plastic guard that fits completely over the roof of my mouth and all of my top teeth as it is covering and protecting the donor site. I forgot that I can't smile or swish the mouth rinse as directed.

After the first time I wondered if I had been talked into an unnecessary procedure that left me feeling out of sorts and unable to eat normal food for 20 days all for the benefit of the periodontal industry. Sometime in August I began realizing that the left side of my mouth was much less sensitive than the right side, with a constant awareness of my bulked up gum tissue over there. I also noticed that I'm already experiencing the phenomenon of creeping attachment (this is a good thing). In other words, the gums are actually covering more of my teeth, like normal gums should. A couple of weeks ago I saw my childhood dentist and showed him my gums. He was extremely impressed and said it was a beautiful graft. So I scheduled the next appointment.

To get the record straight, and give you more detail than you probably ever wanted, my top gums are fine. When I was 12 I had braces. This is probably what caused the gum tissue along my lower gumline to begin it's recession. That, and most likely a genetic disposition to thin gum tissue. Over the years more and more of my teeth have been exposed. I had convinced myself that it didn't bother me at all, although I was a little nervous at the sight of the roots of some of my teeth that were beginning to show.

And so the Free Gingival Graft. After the first round I did a little research to find out exactly what it involved. This resulted in maybe too much awareness yesterday.

They numbed my mouth (only half of it this time) and gave me some nitrous oxide, which was great because I felt quite happy even though from the motions and positioning I knew they were slicing a pocket along the entire length of my lower teeth on the right side. There was a lot of suctioning and gauze after that. Then they very quickly cut the tissue off of the roof of my mouth, removed the nitrous (I was wishing they would leave it on for a while longer) and began tying off the tiny vessels. I could feel the pull of the sutures as they made a cross-stitchery on my palette. Then some reconstruction, I imagine - I don't know since I couldn't see it - of the just-harvested tissue, placed it in the freshly opened pocket and began tacking it together with more stitches. After that the assistant pulled my lower lip out in a very uncomfortable position while the perio repeatedly pounded my gums with gauze. That was the worst part. Then a squeeze of plastic to cover up the graft - it will remain covered for two weeks - and the installation of the guard over my top teeth. The transplanted gum will grow together with the existing gum within a matter of days. And the roof of my mouth will repair itself seamlessly - again - within the next few weeks.

Why they handed me a mirror before I even sat up in the chair I don't know. Did they want my approval? Or just to show me how beat up I looked? I didn't have any interest in regarding myself at that point.

yikes

I felt pretty fine until the numbness wore off and then I felt irritable. There's pain, not unbearable, but it's triggered by the slightest movements. I'm sporting a John McCain-style chipmunk cheek. I don't think I had swelling like this last time, but it's not abnormal.

I just ventured outside to get some fresh air and take a few pictures. Some of the leaves are changing now.

Yesterday was more notable for my brother Mark and his wife Suzanna because they welcomed their new little baby boy into the world. His name is Luke and I hope I get to see him soon.

I was very happy to see my dad looking well yesterday too. He was just out of the hospital after an 11 day stay. He's one who knows a lot about pain and discomfort and healing. He also knows about having a positive attitude and enduring. And nice, as always, to see my mom. She's very nurturing and energetic. Also, Chris brought me a giant strawberry milkshake from McDonald's for dinner. So it's not all that bad.