6 Month Update

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Hey Mom;

It's hard to believe how quickly time goes by. 6 whole months since my MMA surgery, which actually seems forever ago.

Last Friday, I went to Stanford to see a pal (k8e) who had MMA surgery last Wednesday. She had a bit of a tough time the first couple of nights, but she's doing much better now.

I originally met her at the MMA get-together in Sunnyvale a few months ago. She was one of the people who hadn't had the surgery and was still trying to decide if she was going to go through with it. Anyway, she made her decision and vwala! There she was, all fixed up and recovering comfortably in Ward C2!
I also happened to see a few familiar peeps (nurses) at the hospital.....and Dr KL also happened to be there which really didn't surprise me at all.

He's a great guy, and it's always good to see him.

I also met another MMA recepient ("D")from out of state. She was walking down the hallway

with her husband ("R") and I recognized the little 1-sucher incisions on each cheek. It looked like she was doing really well. It's good to know that 2 more people out there will probably sleep much better at night now!

On the Pinski-front, recovery is going as good as can be expected. Feeling in my mouth is gradually coming back. The lower regions are the most significant as far as improvement goes, but the top is also following suite. My hard pallet is slowly getting feeling back from the back, forward and I feel frequent sensatioins in random front teeth., which feels kind of strange, (especially when my teeth feel like they are vibrating when I talk or blow my nose) but that's still progress.

As I mentioned in the last entry (I think), Dr KL did a terminate reduction in his office, but a followup appointment revealed that a second round is in my future, so I will be going back next Monday to have that done. I want to do as much as I can before the end of the callendar year since I've already fully paid my out-of-network insurance (and then some) deductable.

Speaking of insurance, still no word on weather my fight to get back the 5 figure sum I had to pay the doc up-front will be re-imbursed. I think it very well might be, but it's still in the hands of my company's benefits adminitistrator and her supervisor. Turns out the insurance company low-balled the payout and I'm not too keen on them getting away with that since they led me to believe they would pay all of what was deemed as "reasonable and customary" after I paid the out-of-network deductable.

Also, I have another MMA-related appointment with an orthadontist on the 19th. Unfortunately, I have been having a bit of trouble with my jaw and my bite. In other words, my TMJ seems to have returned. I don't think my teeth are quite lined-up as they were (close but not quite), so I am going to consult with the otrho to see if a third (sigh) round of braces are in my future. I had much worse TMJ back in my 20's and it pretty much went away after my second round of braces, so I'm hoping that a re-alignment of my bite (or some sort of treatment) will help clear it up once and for all. Fingers crossed that something can be done because the jaw (especially on the left side) is pretty achy most of the day, but especially in the mornings.

Lastly, I have to think about diet and exercise which I've done neither of recently. I did lose 20 pounds after the MMA surgery, but I've unfortunately gained all that back, plus 7 or 8 pounds. I'm feeling a little "thick" and out of shape, so I'm visualising (!) doing something about it soon!

So that's about all the news worth reporting. Here's a pic taken today. As you can see I'm back to my old bearded self with a slightly updated haircut.

Hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods. Paul and the cats are doing really well, and send their love. We're looking forward to getting the tacky aluminum rainbow Christmas tree put up, so let the X-mas decoration excitement begin!...next weekend!

much love:

Pinski

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