Dental "impressions"

I'll start with a general update on the healing process. The swelling is going down, but it is still swollen. Or, it could be a combination of swelling and excess tissue that should shrink during radiation. I am sleeping flat now which makes a big difference in quality of sleep. Yesterday I found a lone stitch behind my ear. Tried to pull it out, but it seems to have found a permanent home. Same thing with a stitch in my leg. It REALLY bugs me. Just one of those things. I was treating my eye (because of the apparent lack of blinking) with "tear" drops and ointment. I haven't used the ointment the past couple of nights because it is affecting my vision and I use the drops ocassionally during the day. My eye really bothered me on the way home from Houston Thursday. Felt tired. Back to the leg... feeling much better and improving range of motion. Right after surgery I couldn't bend at the knee all the way. Now I can. The random shooting pain on the side of my leg has subsided considerably. As advised, I do try to remember to keep it wrapped if I'm going to be out & about for any length of time.

Now for the update on Thursday. I typically try to post quicker after my appointments so I can remember more, but the doctor I met sat with me for 45 minutes and gave me so much information that I wasn't going to remember it all anyway. Here's what I do remember.

Dr. Mark Chambers:
The purpose of this visit was to get impressions made for a stent that I will have in my mouth during radiation. I saw a sample of the final product. It looks like half of a mouthpiece with a big solid piece of plastic that connects the front to the back. That will force my tongue to the other side of my mouth and protect it from the radiation. It will also hold my mouth in the exact same position for each treatment. As I mentioned the doctor was with me for about 45 minutes and the topics of conversation were all over the map. I'll recap what I remember in no particular order.
*He asked me for a re-cap of my parotid history. I told him that my 2 previous surgeries were done at Methodist. He wanted to know why I didn't come straight to MD Anderson the first time. (I thought the question bordered on cocky.) I explained that I was in College Station and that I didn't have much confidence in my doctor there. My sister helped me find another doctor (long story) and that's how I ended up with Dr. A. Besides, as far as I knew, MD Anderson CANCER Center was for Cancer patients. I only ended up at MDA because Dr. A referred me there. He seemed satisfied with that answer.
*He corrected my terminology. I said I found "nodules" in my neck and he explained that they were actually "nodes" and what the difference was. He said I needed to be clear in that. (NOTE: I went back to the operative report from Dr. Weber. He removed "nodules" from my neck. WHATEVER!!)
*Side effects of radiation will include a burn to the skin especially since I'm so fair. Also, mucositis (mouth sores). Both, he said, could be treated. I think he said my taste buds would be effected too, but it was temporary.
*We discussed my possible hearing loss and he was going to order another hearing test. Still feels a bit stuffy - like a head cold on one side.
*He asked what I did for a living and I said "self-employed." I would have explained further, but he moved on. Later, he asked if my business was in accounting. I had to shake my head "no" since I had a mouthful of goo for the impressions. By the time he took it out, again, we had moved on. Next time...
*Speaking of next time, I go back on Monday to pick up the wax mold of the stent. I'll use it for the simulation later that morning. They'll take it back and make a permanent one of hard plastic.