I’m Back :)

 Hey!

    I am finally feeling like myself today so I thought I’d better get on

My shirts are super cool! ;)
here and let y’all know!  About 99% of the pain is gone and the swelling is pretty much gone.  Before the surgery, the numbness in my lower lip and chin were so close to being gone, but the last surgery brought it all back plus some.  I was numb halfway up my lower jaw on both sides, my whole chin, my lower lip, and part of my upper lip.  In the week since surgery, I have regained feeling in most of my jaw, my upper lip, and most of my lower lip but my chin remains very deeply numb.  Apparently it is normal to have numbness for a little while after implants even when you don’t have any local numbing medicine.  It just slowly but surely decreases over time.  It’s really weird how something can be numb but yet so so painful! I have my surgery follow up on Thursday to make sure all is well.  Then it’ll be 3 months before I go back to have the final testing to make sure the implants are ready for teeth.

Please consider sharing any of my fundraiser links everywhere you can to get it out there where more people see it!  Still need $90 for this surgery I just had and $5,000 for the next step.  Thanks!

Allison

 •Follow on Twitter!

A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!
The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

So. Much. Pain!

On our way home…Ezra stretching out
while I was out of it from meds.

Ezra checking on me after surgery.

Heading home

 Hi Friends!

      Just a quick update to let you know I made it through and the remaining 3 implants have been placed.  I am in SO much pain.  I thought my J tube was the most painful procedure ever….. I was wrong!  I woke up practically screaming in pain and it took them a while to get it somewhat controlled.  I’m home now, but in agony except for a few hours right after taking IV acetaminophen.  Please pray for pain control and comfort!

Allison

Surgery Details

 

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” {Philippians 4:7}

Good morning, Friends!

      The Lord has provided all but about $90 of the money needed for my surgery and they’re letting me go forward with placing the remaining three posts.  SO, as expected, I’m supposed to arrive at the hospital at 5:00am for my oral surgery at 7:00am tomorrow morning.  At least this time I can be focused on the fact that it will be DONE and I don’t have to do it again unless the upper denture fails and I need implants up there.  I’m so excited that it almost doesn’t feel real that implants are actually happening!  It felt so hopeless for quite some time.  I’m just so very grateful that my mast cells aren’t having a problem with the implant!  I now need to raise $5,000 for the final step with my implants!  This step is for testing to make sure my jawbone and gum tissue has taken to the implants and cemented them in.

Thursday’s appointment with the prosthodontist didn’t go so great.  He has never done the technique that my oral surgeon said I need for the implant denture and his overall attitude wasn’t very pleasant.  I need a specific technique for my lower implant denture where it’s removable so I can daily clean underneath it (greatly lowers infection risk) but very durable.  The typical removable ones are lower quality and have parts that have to be replaced occasionally — not to mention that the material could be less durable because of my reflux.  The “permanent” ones are screwed down into the implants where you can’t clean underneath them and have to have them removed every so often by a dentist to clean them.  These can cause the implants to get infected and they end up having to remove the implant, let it heal, and put it back…. A big ordeal for anyone, but a HUGE ordeal for someone like me who requires the hospital OR and poses major risks.  The prosthodontist was less than thrilled about me wanting the specific technique and was charging me the same price for them as the permanent ones instead of them being a bit cheaper.  Long story short…I contacted my oral surgeon and requested a referral to someone he works with and trusts.  So now I’m just waiting on the new prosthodontist to contact me and get me scheduled.  The Lord used the prosthodontist to link me to the right surgeon, but I can’t continue with someone I don’t feel I can trust.

I will try to keep y’all updated after my surgery, but just be patient with me…. if this surgery is triple what it was last time, I may be out of commission for a while!  I’m expecting a nightmare and hoping for at least no worse than last time.  I greatly appreciate your prayers!  I need extra courage and strength for tomorrow.  Thankful for the sweet peace my Heavenly Father is continually supplying and I know He will carry me through!

Taking Life One Implant at a Time….

Allison

•Follow on Twitter!
A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

Plans

 

Hi friends!

     I am doing really well!  No reaction whatsoever to the implant and 99% of my stitches have dissolved/unraveled.  I had my post op follow up this afternoon.  He said my gums are looking excellent and he sees no evidence of any issues.  SO, I am scheduled to get the other 3 implants placed on Monday at 7:00am (I’m assuming I’ll have to arrive at 5:00am again).  I paid a little more than 3/4 of what was left of this next surgery, and hope to have the rest by Monday.  Plus then I have the last visit to make sure my gums and jawbone have firmed around the implants which will be another $5,000.  That will be for an exam and testing. I have been so blessed with the generosity I’ve been shown.  I’m so grateful for those who have given and prayed…. Please continue!

I’m so overwhelmed with the peace the Lord has given me through this entire implant journey!  Indescribable peace that only He can give.  He has given me the sweetest, most compassionate surgeon whose entire office truly cares about me (they even sent me flowers) and I could never ask for better.  I think back to those days where I just cried because no one would/wanted to/could help me and I was rapidly losing hope of ever finding a surgeon.  And then Jesus brings me this surgeon and about made me cry because I was so happy!  Yes, I am dreading going through this again, BUT I’m not afraid or anxious.  There is a part of me inside that is kicking and screaming even though I know I need to go ahead with the rest of it….the sooner the better!  I must say - I now definitely know why people get ALL of their implants done at once…you never wanna do it again! ;) lol

Tomorrow I have an appointment with the prosthodontist at 2:00 for a treatment plan and pricing for the teeth part.

Thank you so very much for your gifts and prayers!!

Allison

•Follow on Twitter!
A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

Turning Point

 Hey There!

    So, today has been much better in many ways.  My pain is greatly decreased, I’m not so swollen, I’ve been up and about more, and I can whistle again (fam isn’t so thrilled about that one! ;))!  I was finally going to get a nice, leisurely shower today only to get in and find a giant spider above my head! LOL  There went the “leisurely” idea!  But it was nice to finally feel good enough to get a shower…even if it was panicked and rushed! ;)

Left: the morning after my surgery.
Right: this morning.

Thank you to those who have prayed and donated towards my implants!  Please continue!  I don’t have any news on whether or not I’ll have the surgery for the other 3 implants on May 16th.  It’s still tentative at this point until we hear back from the Surgeon’s office.

Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all you moms out there!

Allison

•Follow on Twitter!
A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

I Survived!

 Hi Friends!

  I survived! :)  The pain is horrid, 

Right as I was leaving
the hospital

I’m rather swollen, and I’m exhausted, BUT….thrilled to have this first step done.  He had to file my lower jawbone down flat before placing the implant.  I now have no ridge whatsoever on the bottom jaw.  You never know how much your teeth and that little ridge of gum helps your tongue stay in your mouth til ya don’t have them anymore!  The implant is taking some getting used to.  It feels like I have one of those little watch batteries on my gum.  Funny thing is, right after I woke up from anesthesia,

That little bit of metal
is the implant

I actually asked the nurse in PACU (post anesthesia care unit) why there was a watch battery in my mouth.  LOL!  I’m sure she had something to laugh about when she got home last night! ;)  

My swollen face
last night

This morning, I woke up with a mouthful of my mouth.  Lots of swelling in there from the trauma (which is not abnormal for me) and it just fills up my mouth because I don’t have any teeth to block it.  Thankfully, IV acetaminophen and ice are keeping the worst of the pain at bay.  The office called this morning to ask about scheduling for May 16th to get the other 3 implants and they’re working on maybe getting some kind of financial plan since I don’t have all the money to pay off the rest of it.  I’m short $2,600 for the implant placement as it stands right now.  If y’all know of anyone that might could help, feel free to share my caringbridge site (www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisonworkman), my blog (www.allisonworkman.blogspot.com), Twitter (@HelpAllieSmile), and all of my fundraiser links!

 

Being silly before going
to the OR :)

Specific prayer requests:

~ I’ve had numbness in my chin and lower lip since waking up from anesthesia.  (I had no locals so it’s not numb from that.)  Please pray that it’s temporary or just from the trauma and inflammation and not permanent injury to the nerves in my lower jaw.

~ I would continue not reacting to the implant.

~ I could get the other 3 implants placed on May 16th.

~ The Lord would bring in the needed funds to finish paying off my implants and get the teeth made.

~ Courage and strength to go through this again.  It won’t be easy, but the end goal of having my smile back is keeping me going.

Taking Life One Implant at a Time…

Allison

•Follow on Twitter!
A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

Surgery Details

 Hi There!

    So, I have to leave the house at 4:00am this morning to arrive at the hospital at 5:00am to have surgery at 7:00am.  I am SO excited to be taking the first step toward having beautiful teeth again! :)

 

I greatly appreciate your prayers!  I will try my best to keep y’all up to date on how everything goes.

 

Taking Life With Very Little Sleep ;)

Allison

 

•Follow on Twitter!
A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

Peace

 

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” {John 14:27}

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:
for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” {Psalm 4:8}

Hello!  I’ve just been overwhelmed with God’s indescribable peace the last few days.  I thought I would be frightened and anxious when the time came where I was rapidly approaching oral surgery for implants…. But it hasn’t been that way at all.  It’s just like the Lord has wrapped His comforting arms around me and given me complete peace about this and made it to where I’m actually really excited!  I am SO grateful to be only a couple days away from getting my first implant.  I will have waited one day shy of 16 months for that day to come!  No, things haven’t turned out the way my human mind would think best…that would’ve been 8-12 weeks after getting my teeth removed, but it is happening in the Lord’s timing and I have peace that He truly knows best.  His ways are always perfect.  My only fears are that they’ll wake me up and tell me they couldn’t do it and that I’ll get this one done and won’t be able to afford the other 3 implants.  But that is all in the Lord’s very capable hands.  I’m one who likes knowing what, when, and how things are going to happen and it takes a lot for me to just simply trust the One Who holds my future.  I’m just so grateful for the peace that the Lord provides even when we are headed into scary, uncertain times in our lives.  Wednesday morning is approaching very quickly and I am SO ready for it!  My surgery is scheduled for 7:00am, but they said they’ll call me tomorrow with the arrival time.  As long as everything the doctor has planned is the Lord’s plan, I’ll be having the one implant placed and then come home afterwards.

•Follow on Twitter!
A Smile For Allison (@HelpAllieSmile)

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!
https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal.com "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

Thank you so very much for your continued prayers and encouragement!

Taking Life One Surgery at a Time…
Allison

The tiny screw they had me taping
to my arm to make sure I didn’t react
 to the implant metal.

My silly RooBug (Ezra) being his silly self :)

Exciting News!

 Hi Friends!!

      I have some exciting news!

We now have fundraising set up for my implants.  The ways you can help...

•Buy a T-shirt and all the profits go toward my implants!

https://www.bonfire.com/a-smile-for-allison/

•Make a donation!

Via PayPal "friends and family" payments using the email address ASmileForAllison@gmail.com

•Watch and share my video everywhere you possibly can!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAk0KkoU4H4

•Pray!!

The most important of all.  Our Heavenly Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills....I just need a few of them! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't react to the metal that they use for the implants, so I was cleared to move forward with getting the first implant placed!  What's even MORE exciting is I'm scheduled to get the first implant next Wednesday at 7:00am!!!

I have tried the older batch of formula with no reaction so we are trying to collect as much of the older manufactured formula as possible so I'll have as long as possible to figure out what I'm going to do.  The company hasn't admitted to changing anything so far, but we're supposed to officially hear within a few weeks.  Honestly, it could be something as simple as getting one of the ingredients from a different place!  Just please pray as we try to sort all of this out!

Taking Life One Exciting Day at a Time...

                                                                             Allison

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