Going Herbal

Hello Everyone,

Well, I hadn't heard from my surgeon's office about when my pre-op appointments are supposed to be scheduled for, so I called them.  Looks like I won't be scheduled for my first pre-op until 3 days before my surgery.  Seriously.  Something about the calendar being really full.  

I said fine, but I'm really not thrilled about this.  I have a growing list of questions I was looking forward to being able to ask my doctor way ahead of time--- starting with, what the hell exactly are you going to do to my face??  

The scheduler reminded me that I could email my doctor the questions.  My particular insurance carrier provides for email access between doctors and patients.  I've used it in the past and it's pretty great, but I was hoping to be able to sit down, face-to-face with the doc to go over everything. 

Anyway, aside from wanting to know exactly what the surgery plan is, which she probably wouldn't be able to tell me until the molds were taken anyway (this is also why I asked the scheduler if doing all of that only 3 days before my surgery was enough time for her to put together her game plan),  I wanted to ask my doctor about taking some supplements before surgery in order to better prep my body for the massive trauma.  I think my diet is one thing to help it prep, but I also feel that some extra vitamins/supplements couldn't hurt.  I wanted to find the best homeopathic remedies I could for inflammation, pain, and recovery.  I've read a lot about the pain meds and other medicines given for recovery, and the side effects just seem so extreme.  Hair falling out? Nausea? Weakness? Dizziness? Perpetually habit-forming?  Um ... I find it all kind've scary.  But, let me just add that I'm not crazy!  I will obviously be doped up at the hospital, and if I am in pain I will take the drugs, for sure.  But, in the meantime, I wanted to find more natural stuff to take instead of the pain/inflammation meds once I'm out of the hospital.  

A side note on me here:  I really believe in finding cures for the body's ailments in nature.  We come from dirt, and so I think we should trust the medicines that grow from dirt too.  Lots of new cancer drugs, in fact, are now coming from plants that we're only now beginning to study for medicinal properties.  Lots of Eastern and Latin-American cultures derive medicines from the environment and have been for thousands of years.  My own parents have always believed in herbal remedies.  As a kid, when I got a nasty cough, I got honey mixed with cinnamon by the spoonfuls for 3-4 days, after which I'd be all better while other kids were stuffing down cough medicine for weeks.  

Okay, back to the point!  Here's what I've found after some exhaustive personal (online) research.  Please also talk to your doctors before you go out and buy or take all this stuff.  I'm also checking with my doctor to make sure she's okay with all this.  I did this for me, but I wanted to share it with everyone just in case some of you might want to try a more "natural" approach to recovery.  Again, don't get me wrong, the drugs the doc gives me won't be far.  

Bromelain: It's a compound found in pineapple and papaya.  It apparently helps with swelling and inflammation, and is particularly beneficial to the sinuses and avoiding sinus infections.  Many people take it before a facial surgery, and/or during recovery.  I've read mixed things about how doctors feel about it.  Most say it's okay to take a few days before your surgery, a few say to only take it after.  This is why you should ask your doctor.  However, I get piece of mind from the fact that Germany recently approved bromelain as an effective supplement for the treatment of swelling/inflammation particularly of the sinuses and nose after surgery or injury.

Turmeric:  Turmeric is a plant found in Chinese medicine and other Eastern cultures (Indians use it in curry).  Among lots of other uses it's properties have been shown to help with joint pain, and swelling.

Quercetin: Comes from plants, and has shown to help with swelling, and excess congestion.  

Arnica:  I got a lotion/creme version. Apparently it helps with bruising.  

B12:  I bought B12 sublingual drops.  B12 is apparently good for nerves and nerve regeneration.  I'll be taking lots of this immediately after surgery to help make sure I get as much feeling back as possible.

Again, I'm double checking with my surgeon to get her okay before I take any of this stuff.  If I get the green-light, my plan is to start the bromelain 2 weeks before surgery, then start the turmeric 3 days before, and finally taking the bromelain, turmeric, and quercetin regularly after surgery.  I'll apply the arnica as needed for any bruising.  

Hope the info helps!  If you need more details the info is just a google search away.  :)

March 8th, 2013: Operation Break My Jaw

Well, as the title of this post suggests, my surgery date has been scheduled for March 8, 2013.  I had to tell my employer right away because they had been anxious about when I would be out.  They’ve been really kind about me taking 4 weeks off for recovery (instead of just 2 weeks), but they needed to start looking for a temp to hire to take my place while I’m out so that I don’t come back to mountains of work, and so that they don’t fall behind without me.

Also, I’d like to give you all a mini-update on my diet changes and quest to eat as healthily as possible before surgery.  I’ve been a vegan since January 1^st.  This means no eggs, no dairy (including butter), no seafood, and no meat.  Some people freak out when I explain what a vegan diet is because people think I can't possibly be getting all the nutrients and vitamins I need, but I beg to differ.  I have actually never felt better in my life.  And I truly mean that.  Here’s a break-down of what I’ve been eating/rotating through meals for the last 18 days:

1. Veggie tacos- I make these on a regular basis and use whatever veggies (try potatoes!) I have in the fridge to make a yummy sauté.  I usually add black or pinto beans and even a vegan Mexican “cream” recipe I found online.  
2. Veggie bowls-  one of my favorite “simple meals” growing up was a bowl of rice, beans, and avocado.  I’ve modified this by adding even more veggies like caramelized onions, tomatoes and other veggies. DELICIOUS. 
3. Salads- there are a million and one different salad recipes online.  I’ve made so many different kinds of salads, and they’re all delicious and filling.  Love my salads. 
4. Veggie/fruit smoothies.  I make these in the morning and/or evenings if I’m too lazy to cook.  I swear these are my secret to feeling so amazing because I just put everything into the blender raw (health experts say cooking veggies makes them lose some of their vitamins).  As an example, this morning I blended some soy milk (I also use something called flax milk sometimes) a swiss chard leaf, kale, spinach, a carrot, a banana, a mix of frozen berries, and a little protein powder (though I get most of my protein from all the different kinds of beans I eat, so I don’t always add this).  I'll be adding ginger right before and during recovery because it's a natural anti-inflamatory food. These smoothies honestly keep me full for about 4-5 hours--- it’s a raw, full meal of vegetables and fruits in one sitting.  I have a feeling I’ll be having a lot of these kinds of smoothies during recovery to help with the hunger.  
5. 17 bean stew (or other veggie stews and chilis—super easy to make in a crockpot)  
6. Pasta dishes--- I use whole grain pastas, but I love pasta dishes (with no cheese of course)

I feel like I get tons of vitamins and all the nutrients my body could possibly need.  It was pretty hard the first week, but once I broke through that first week, I kinda stopped craving all the stuff I wanted on day 1 and 2.   18 days in, and I know I've lost my "holiday weight" (all my clothes fit comfortably again, some even fit loose).  My hair and nails are super strong.  I noticed I don't lose as much hair in the shower as I normally do when I wash it.  My skin cleared up-- I really think this has to do with the dairy---- I've ALWAYS had issues with acne, and this is the first time I've ever noticed it subside for a sustained period of time (and it's only been 18 days!).   And lastly, my energy levels are through the roof.  I don't even really need coffee in the morning anymore... which is sad.  I like coffee, but lately it gives me the shakes if I drink it.  I wake up feeling completely refreshed and rested--- I don't have that Oh!-I-don't-want-to-get-out-of-bed feeling anymore at all---this really freaks me out, and it's  been the most surprising thing of all.   I just can't believe how not tired I am anymore.  I don't even get that 3pm nap time feeling anymore.  So weird. 

But for now, I'm taking all of these things as good signs that I'm doing good by my body, and (for now) I'll keep going.   But let me also just say,  I will be SO EXCITED the day that I'm braces free, and able to open wide enough to bite into a thick juicy "LA-gourmet" burger (if I still crave them by then)!!

The "BEFORE" Pics

Up until now I've posted some pics of me smiling that I thought were good examples of my problem areas.  The thing is, those pictures were of me trying to hide my smile and wonky chin.  I'm sure you can all relate.  Even when we're trying to hide our flaws can still pop up in some pictures, and worse yet--- now we're tagged in them on Facebook!  But, before I digress ...

I was going to wait to post some current pics of my teeth until I got my x-rays back to also post, but I've decided to just go ahead and post.  I must say that this surgery is becoming very "real" to me as of late, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared.  I am. I'm scared of the pain, scared of the possible recovery issues, or even worse.. a lifelong problem I can't fix.  I've been having those moments of looking in the mirror and thinking that maybe I'm crazy for going through with this--- is it really that bad that I need to break my face and start over?

Well, now that I've taken these pictures, I'm still feeling scared, but I'm back to feeling ready.  I'm so ready to not have to worry about everything on my face being crooked.  I have a bump in my nose (therefore, a lil crooked).  My nose isn't one of those cute little perky noses. Nonetheless, I've learned to like it---bump, and all.  I really do think it gives me character.  But, my smile?? My mouth? The whole bottom half of my face?  No, not even after 20 years of a weird smile do I feel good about it . And personally, I'd like my face to be as pain-free as possible, which it currently isn't.

Well, here goes.  I've uploaded some pictures where I'm smiling nice and big, and then I have the requisite profile shots-- Geez, I can't wait to get a chin ;)

Thanks again for reading.  I really do feel less lonely in all this knowing so many others can relate.

My Face is Crooked

Sooner rather than later, I'll post some pictures of my improved smile since I've been in braces for a year now.

I have an orthodontist adjustment on January 8th, and I plan on asking them to please email me a copy of my X-rays so that I can post them, along with current pics of my teeth, smile, and face.

Back in November, when I first met with my surgeon and she saw my before and after molds and x-rays, she said my overbite was greatly improved than from when I first got the braces on.  She asked my orthodontist to add brackets to my very back molars (and a new wire), and to finish straightening the bottom teeth.  Both the surgeon and the orthodontist think the braces will be able to move my overbite back enough so that they don't have to move my upper jaw back in surgery.  The braces have even helped my cant a lot--- my smile is still crooked from the top gum-line, but because my overbite has been forced back, my lips cover much more of the gumminess than they used to.

Also, I realize now that I've been so excited about the aesthetic changes to come that I never mentioned my facial asymmetry also causes my jaws to pop and lock on a semi-regular basis.  Let's just say I have to be careful when I yawn or when I open too wide for a sandwich.  My grandmother has had TMJ her whole life, and now can barely open her mouth wide enough for a fork or spoon.  When she heard about my jaw problems she told me and my mother to definitely do the surgery or expect my TMJ to get worse.  My surgeon and orthodontist have also told me this is possible.  So, here we are... and with insurance coverage!! Thank you full-time job!! 

I'm just glad that not only will I prevent future damage, but I'll be treating some current chronic jaw pain, and of course, "fixing" my smile!

Here's a self pic I took of myself shortly before my braces were put on.  I had just given myself a facial, and was going to text it to my (ex)boyfriend just to make him laugh, but when I saw how crooked my chin was, I was too embarrassed to send it at all.  I'm actually surprised I still had it on my phone at all.

Funny, how such little things can make us so insecure.  So glad we live in a time when we can do something about it.  Aren't you guys?

A Plant Based Diet for the Swelling

Happy 2013!

I know already that this will be a RECOVERY year for me. 

I've been spending a lot of time researching and trying to prepare for the pain and swelling that's to come from this surgery.  I try to "tough out" pain as much as I can so that I don't have to take medication (I don't even like taking Advil for a headache).  In general, I try to stay away from ingesting too much medicine, so the idea of being on very strong pain med's and antibiotics for a while is a little worrisome. 

The other thing I find worrisome is that I know I'll also be swollen for a few months and/or up to a year.  The amount of time for swelling to go down seems to vary from person to person, but I personally believe that diet must and probably does play a role in how quickly we recover.  I don't have the scientific evidence/references to site on my blog, but the info is just a Google away I'm sure.  I mostly say this because I went vegetarian 4 years ago, and wow, what a difference I felt it made to my immune system.  I have rarely been sick since going vegetarian (haven't had the flu since), and if I do get sick, it's only for 2 days, and then I'm back to normal.  I also noticed a difference in my skin, hair and nails--- all improved so much--- even my chronic dark under-eye circles diminished significantly.  This is my own personal experience, so I can't speak for everyone's experience from a plant-based diet, but I have found that it works for me.  I'm just hoping that going vegan before and during recovery will help speed along the healing as well as bring down the swelling as rapidly as possible.

I also looked up foods that commonly cause inflammation in the body, and can make swelling worse or last longer.  I found a great article on a website called The Conscious Life.com  I've posted it below for you guys to check out.  If you're a dairy person, and having this surgery, I would highly recommend you go dairy free to reduce body inflammation. I would also add SALT to this list.  Salt causes us to retain water like crazy, which also makes us look more swollen.  

Anyhoot, I hope you find the information helpful! Soon enough, I'll also be posting a list of some of the foods and other things I'll be purchasing for recovery.  

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Top 10 Inflammatory Foods to Avoid Like the Plague

Stay clear of these inflammation-causing foods to instantly upgrade your health

1. Sugars

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Excessive sugar intake causes tooth decay and has been linked to increased risks of obesity, inflammation and chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Recently, it has also finally been proven that sugar, as well as dairy, are the causes of acne.
  Find them in: Sugar-sweetened beverages like soft drinks, fruit drinks and punches are one of the major sources of dietary sugars that many have overlooked. Do you know that drinking a can of Coke is as good as sucking ten sugar cubes? Other obvious sugar-loaded foods to avoid or at least limit include pastries, desserts, candies and snacks. And when you’re looking out for sugar in the ingredients list, note that sugar has many names: corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, golden syrup, maltose, sorghum syrup and sucrose are some of the creative names used.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Got a sweet tooth? Opt for natural sweeteners like stevia, honey, or blackstrap molasses to flavor your beverages and foods modestly. Natural sugars found in fresh or dried fruits and fruit preserves with no added sugar are also great choices. Not only do they give you the sweetness you crave for, fruits also supply you with vitamins, antioxidants and fibers that you won’t find in sugary foods and drinks. Dates, figs, persimmons, kiwis, tangerines and various types of berries are but some of the natural healthy snacks you can sink your teeth into.

2. Common Cooking Oils

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Common vegetable cooking oils used in many homes and restaurants have very high omega-6 fatty acids and dismally low omega-3 fats. A diet consisting of highly imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio promotes inflammation and breeds inflammatory diseases like heart disease and cancer.
  Find them in: Polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as grape seed, cottonseed, safflower, corn and sunflower oils. These industrial vegetable oils are also commonly used to prepare most processed foods and takeaways.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Replace your omega-6-saturated cooking oils with macadamia oil, extra virgin olive oil, or other edible oils with a saner omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio. Macadamia oil, for instance, has an almost one to one ratio of omega-6:3 fats, and it’s also rich in oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acid.

3. Trans Fats

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Trans fatty acids are notorious for their double whammy effect: they increase the levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, while lowering levels of the ‘good’ cholesterol. But that’s not all they can do. They have also been found to promote inflammation, obesity and resistance to insulin, laying the ground for degenerative illnesses to take place.
  Find them in: Deep fried foods, fast foods, commercial baked goods and those prepared with partially hydrogenated oil, margarine and vegetable shortening. Note that items that list 0g trans fats on the label may still contain some amount of this toxic fats. This is because in the US, the government allows items containing less than 0.5g of trans fats to be declared as trans-fat free. Commercially prepared peanut butter is one good example. Your best bet is to read the ingredients list and make sure partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening is not used.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Look for alternative products that contain no trans fats, or don’t have partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening in the ingredients list. When in doubt, assume that all commercially prepared foods contain trans fats unless stated otherwise.

4. Dairy Products

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: As much as 60% of the world’s population can’t digest milk. In fact, researchers think that being able to digest milk beyond infancy is abnormal, rather than the other way round. Milk is also a common allergen that can trigger inflammatory responses, such as stomach distress, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, acne, hives and breathing difficulties, in susceptible people.
  Find them in: Milk and dairy products are as pervasive as foods containing partially hydrogenated oil or omega-3-deficient vegetable oil. Apart from obvious milk products like butter and cheese, foods with hidden dairy content include breads, cookies, crackers, cakes, cream sauces and boxed cereals. Scanning the ingredients list is still the safest way to suss out milk.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Kefir and unsweetened yogurt are acceptable in moderation for those who are not allergic to milk. They are easier on the stomach as the lactose and proteins in the milk have been broken down by beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts.

5. Feedlot-Raised Meat

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Commercially produced meats are feed with grains like soy beans and corns, a diet that’s high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids but low in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. Due to the small and tight living environment, these animals also gain excess fat and end up with high saturated fats. Worse, to make them grow faster and prevent them from getting sick, they are also injected with hormones and fed with antibiotics. The result is one piece of meat which you and I shouldn’t be eating.
  Find them in: Unless otherwise stated, most, if not all, beef, pork and poultry you can find in the supermarkets and restaurants come from feedlot farms.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Organic, free-range animalsthat fed on their natural diet like grasses instead of grains and hormones contain more omega-3 fats. Having more room to roam freely, they are also leaner and contain less saturated fats.

6. Red Meat & Processed Meat

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Researchers at theUniversity of California San Diego School of Medicinefound that red meat contains a molecule that humans don’t naturally produce called Neu5Gc. After ingesting this compound, the body develops anti-Neu5Gc antibodies – an immune response that may trigger chronic inflammatory response. And low-grade simmering inflammation that won’t go away has been linked to cancer and heart disease.
  The link between processed meat consumption and cancer is even stronger. In the 2007 report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, processed meat has been stated as a convincing cause of cancers of the colon and rectum, and possibly esophagus and lung cancer too. Processed meat includes animal product that has been smoked, cured, salted or chemically preserved.
  Find them in: Common red meats are beef, lamb and pork, while processed meat include hams, sausages and salami.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: You don’t need to avoid red meat totally, though the same thing can’t be said for processed meat. No amount of processed meat is safe. Replace the bulk of your red meat with organic vegetables, poultry and fish, and relegate red meat to a weekly treat. When you do eat red meat, remember to choose lean cuts and preferably, that of grass-fed animals. To reduce the formation heat-generated food contaminants, it’s also advisable not to overcook your meat and use moist heat cooking like stewing and boiling more often than high-temperature dry heat methods such as grilling and frying.

7. Alcohol

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Regular high consumption of alcohol has been known to cause irritation and inflammation of the esophagus, larynx (voice box) and liver. Over time, the chronic inflammation promotes tumor to grow and gives rise to cancer at the sites of repeated irritation.
  Find them in: Beers, ciders, liquors, liqueurs, and wines.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: A refreshing and thirst-quenching glass of pure, filtered water, anyone?  How about a cup of anti-aging and anti-inflammatory jasmine green tea? If you find the idea of swapping ethanol for water or tea implausible, at least limit your consumption to no more than one drink a day.

8. Refined Grains

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: A lot of the grains we eat nowadays are refined. They are devoid of fiber and vitamin B compared to unpolished and unrefined grains that still have the bran, germ and the aleurone layer intact. This makes refined grains as good as refined sugars, which are practically empty calories. And like refined sugars, refined grains have a higher glycemic index than unprocessed grains and when they are consistently consumed, can hasten the onset of degenerative diseases like cancer and coronary disease.
  Find them in: Refined grains and products made out of them are almost everywhere. The common ones are: white rice, white flour, white bread, noodles, pasta, biscuits and pastries. To make things worse, many products with refined grains undergo further processing to enhance their taste and look, and are often loaded with excess sugar, salt, artificial flavors and/or partially hydrogenated oil in the process. A prime example is boxed cereals which contain substantial amounts of added sugar and flavorings.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Go for minimally processed grains if you are not gluten intolerant or allergic to grains. If you’re an avid bread or pastry maker, invest in a grain mill to produce your own flour. It will be much fresher than the stale one found in stores. When buying cereals or other products made from grains, don’t take the words on the packaging for granted. Just because the box says whole grains, it doesn’t mean the grains inside are 100% intact. The problem is due to a lack of an internationally accepted definition for the word ‘whole grain’. When in doubt, if it doesn’t look close to its natural state, don’t buy.

9. Artificial Food Additives

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Some artificial food additives like aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) reportedly trigger inflammatory responses, especially in people who are already suffering from inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  Find them in: Only packaged foods contain artificial food additives. If you need to buy them, read the labels carefully and weigh your risks. If you order Chinese takeaways, make sure you’ve the option to ask for no MSG. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: Besides limiting the consumption of processed foods, use anti-inflammatory herbs, spices or natural sweeteners to add flavor to your dishes instead of relying on food additives.

10. <Fill in the blank>

• Pro-inflammatory Agent: Why is this blank? Because it is meant for you to fill in with the food that you’re sensitive to. Many people are sensitive to certain food but are totally unaware about it. Unlike food allergy in which symptoms usually come fast and fiery, symptoms caused by food intolerance take a longer time to manifest. And when they do appear, they are often brushed off as common minor ailments such as tiredness and headaches. But repeated, long-term exposure to food that irritates can cause inflammation and lead to chronic diseases.
  Find them in: Common food allergens are gluten, milk, nuts, eggs and nightshade vegetables. Contrary to common belief, it is possible to develop an allergy to the foods that you eat often.
  Inflammation-dousing Substitute: If you suspect that a particular food may be responsible for your food intolerant response, try avoiding it completely for about two weeks and monitor your reaction. At the end of the abstinence period, re-introduce the food back into your diet. If you’re in fact incompatible with it, you should be able to notice the difference in how you feel easily.