• Jaw Journal

    For Heather: Surgery and your voice

    Recently, Heather asked: Hi Lindsay, I hope you still check this website. I am a vocal teacher and was a vocal performance major. It’s safe to say music is my life. I teach over 80 students a week, and sing constantly : ) I am having double jaw surgery this July and I am extremely nervous about moving my jaws and still being able to sing. I am hoping that the surgery will take the tension that I feel 24/7 and help me to open my jaws with ease… and also help open up my airways. I am curious what your experience with your voice was after the surgery? Did…

  • Jaw Journal

    One Year Later: Before and After Photos

    I can’t believe it has been a YEAR since my jaw surgery! My life is so, so different than what it was a year ago. People often ask me if it was worth having surgery, and my answer is unflinchingly YES. I would do it again in a heartbeat! It was absolutely worth it, and I have no regrets. A year ago, I was under the knife. My doctor broke my lower jaw in two places, realigned it, and pinned it in place with two dog bone-shaped titanium brackets. I swelled up like a somewhat square balloon, and spent a week with my mouth locked shut (by way of rubber…

  • Regular Blog

    17 Weeks: Time for a change

    Today marks exactly 17 weeks since my surgery. Since I pretty much don’t even think about the fact that I had surgery anymore, unless I’m feeling the hole in my jaw bone (which is kind of fascinating), I figure it’s time to change things up on my blog a bit. I will continue to update ya’ll on any jaw-related things that happen. (Don’t worry, those before/after pics are still coming…promise!) But I’m going to start transforming this blog into being more, well, blog-like. My goal is to start posting book reviews, musings, writing, etc. Perhaps people who are looking for something other than surgery tales will be able to enjoy…

  • Jaw Journal

    confession

    It’s 19 days until surgery now, and just to say it, I’m feeling anxious today. Ok, not anxious as much as scared. I keep thinking about all of the unknown things about surgery, and I’m freaking myself out. Bone saws, sliced nerves, swallowing blood, stitches… Ugh. I need to stop. It all came crashing down on me when I got home from work, and all I could do was crawl into bed and try and sleep for an hour or so. There may have been a few tears. But only a few. Being afraid of surgery is only debilitating, so I need to dwell on the good things. Like being…

  • Jaw Journal

    November Miracles!

    I can hardly believe I’m able to write these sentences: My jaw surgery is OFFICIALLY SCHEDULED! And…INSURANCE WILL COVER IT! Wow, it’s been a wild ride since my last update–and this post will be full of even more evidence of God’s incredible mercy and provision! So, as I talked about last time, Nicole (at my surgeon’s office) was pretty sure my insurance would NOT cover my surgery. They submitted the paperwork, and we entered yet another waiting game. While we were waiting to hear from insurance, a few more issues arose. 1. My surgeon’s office announced they were dropping my insurance company as a provider on January 1, 2012. 2.…