Not Something You See Everyday

Last night as I was getting ready for bed I had a weird experience. After I finished brushing (ever so gently) my teeth and rinsing with salt water, to help the healing process on my gums, something fell into the sink. First I felt it in my mouth and then I saw it hit the sink. It was pieces of bone. Of course it scared me because that is not something ya see everyday after a normal tooth brushing session. Then again, nothing related to my mouth is normal right now. :)

I picked up the pieces and then checked inside my mouth to see that it was, in fact, some of the exposed pieces of bone in my jaw. Since my surgeon was not able to cover it all when he attempted to fix it last week there are several pieces of bone in my jaw that are not covered with gum tissue. He had warned me that since the bone is not covered there is a big chance that the bone will die off. The bone does not have adequate blood supply flowing through it so it eventually dries up, grows brittle and disintegrates. That is why it felt like a clumps of hardened sand and fell easily out of my mouth.

I called the doctors office this morning and they verified that it is not surprising that the bone fell. I just wanted to check to be sure. It is dead bone now so it eventually just pulls away from the jaw and made it's way down the drain. Not after first giving me a scare.

It is a disappointment because we did, indeedm hope for a 100% success on the bone graft. We now know that is not going to be the case. I am praying that the bone beneath the gum tissue is growing and fusing as well as gaining strength. It is what we need to move forward in the reconstruction. I would love to hear down the road that the bulk of the bone remained and is usable for implants. It is in the Lords hands. Only He can determine how my body responds. We will wait and see.

So yes, it is not something you see everyday...a chunk of your hip hitting the bathroom sink after you brush your teeth. Wrap your brain around that one! It was odd, scary, frustrating and disappointing but part of the deal. There hasn't been much in this process that has been normal so I should not be surprise at the twists and turns.

I gotta confess I don't wanna see that again!