July 14, 2009   Hi everyone, I am sorry that I have been lax in writing.  Not much has happened with Jodi since I last wrote, until today.  We headed to SLC for her to have her botox done on the left side of her mouth.  The botox will begin to paralyze that side of her mouth in about three days.  It will be such a pain at the beginning because she will experience the inability to talk and open her mouth to eat again.  Hopefully however, she will be forced to use dormant muscles on the right side of her mouth and that side will begin to get the exercise necessary so that her face will begin to function more appropriately, using muscles on both sides of her mouth and not just the left side.  This should improve not only her speech, but will decrease future dental problems.  As of now, due to the left side of her mouth over compensating for the right sides lack of cooperation, her front teeth have moved much too far to the left and she chews very little on the right side which causes TMJ and pain on the right side.  The Dr. decided to try to help her right forehead and brow as well. By depressing a muscle which made her brow on her left side come down too far.  Hopefully with botox, in time that muscle will begin to relax so that her brow on that side will be more normal.  I will try to keep you more informed now that this has taken place.  Her next visit to the DR. is in three weeks.  At that time, they will re-evaluate and decide if they need to do more.  The currant botox therapy should begin to wear off in about three months.

 

Jodi is out of insurance sponsored physical therapies at present and until we can appeal, she will be doing her own therapies.  Disappointing  but not expected.  Connie