I've gone back and forth on whether to post this or not because it is deeply personal. But I decided ultimately to do so because I hope this can inspire others going through their own struggles. You can achieve anything you want in the world if you want it bad enough.

I had to move to public school in the middle of my junior year of high school in 2008 after being expelled from my private high school, i was an outcast in my fraternity and dealt with substance abuse issues all throughout college until my late 20’s, I had to re-apply to dental school after having a public display of bipolar disorder leading to dismissal from my first dental school in 2015, I was suspended a year from my second dental school for a code of conduct violation (not cheating) in 2019-2020, I had to leave my first oral maxillofacial surgery internship out of dental school after having my second bipolar episode in which I truly did not snap out of mania for 9 months in 2021-2022, I was fired one month into my job as a general dentist after finally being healthy enough to work in 2022. I had multiple suicidal ideations and lost the will to live over a course of 16 years of struggles. But in 2024 I was one of ~ 120 in the country to match into a combined MD OMFS residency and am going to be an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon. Un-fucking-believable

For all those stuck in their own metaphorical pits, this scene was one of the guiding forces in my journey out

Good job @op
I've dealt with mental health issues as well so I know the struggle
To God be the glory

Another important scene for me and hopefully can motivate others as well

And one of the songs I kept listening to

Happy for you

Incredibly real op i hope for nothing except more success

let me hold $20

Great job op

Wow, that post got me smiling and s*** you're a legend
God bless you man and I pray you go from a success to another for the rest of your life <3 thank you for sharing your stories I was really stuck in a rut for a few days and been looking for some light and this post really pushing me forward tbh

Wondrful thread op!

Amazing. Powerful. Let me hold $20.

I literally always go to this scene when im down/discouraged lol i love it and im really happy for u bro!

what type of tooth brush do you use? @op

prada you

Philips SoniCare goes crazy

Congrats @op don't stop

I'm not sure if you can help with this but I fainted a few months ago and to the best of my knowledge my left cheekbone/left side of my jaw hit the side of a counter in my kitchen

It hurt to chew on that side for a few days and there was some general pain in that area for that same amount of time but that basically all disapated and I didn't notice any swelling

I wouldn't be able to go to a doctor about this for a few months

(currently home bound for the most part due to a disability - I can recover from it though and i really appreciate what you wrote in OP and your general sentiment when it comes to thinking of a future beyond my current state)

Should I be concerned and what kind of medical attention/questions should I be asking about if I do want to get this checked out eventually?

While your immediate symptoms have resolved, in cases of facial trauma, even without visible swelling or prolonged symptoms, there can be fractures or other injuries that may not be symptomatic initially but could lead to complications later. Here are a few things to consider.

1. Get a CT scan to rule out any fractures to the cheekbone (zygoma) or the jaw (mandible). This can provide detailed information about bone integrity and help in diagnosing any fractures that might have been missed initially.

2. Discuss any lingering functional issues you've noticed since the incident, even if they seem minor. This includes difficulty chewing, any sensation changes in the face (like numbness or tingling), or changes in the alignment of your teeth.

3. While you mentioned that the pain and swelling have subsided, it's important to report if there were any recurrences of these symptoms or if any new symptoms have developed.

4. Ultimately you’re gunna have to go in person to get the CT and physical exam done to make sure everything’s alright but since you mentioned being homebound at the moment you might want to get a telehealth appt for initial consultation. Many OMFS offer virtual visits, which can be a good starting point to assess the need for in-person examinations or treatments.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!

Thank you so much for all of this, it's extremely helpful and way more informative than what I was pulling from hapless googles

Would you follow me back when you have the chance so I can shoot you a PM?

holy hell you have been through the ringer. cheers to your success. I once dated a girl who is bipolar and I know how to tough it is to deal with!

Followed!

My bad for taking a second but I just messaged you, thank you in advance for any and all help

My bad for taking a second to hit you back initially but I just wanted to let you know again that I messaged you

My bad if I'm bringing this up while you're busy and thanks again

very inspiring, awesome awesome job