kyburg | Ow.

I have a slightly less than perfect lower lip. This is the result of a third-degree electrical burn I sustained when I was three when I got curious about what light tasted like and got caught on a nightlight.

Fast-forward, I lost 50% of my lower lip in the incident. There is a dense scar at the site with some of the remaining musculature attached - and, for most of my life, this was not an issue.

As I have gotten older, though, some of those muscles haven't remained happy. Instead of healing together neatly, most of the fibers came together in a bunch with some of the edges curled - and these at times, go into spasm. Like now. And, like most things I've dealt with related to this, some simple things like massage work well to release the spasm. It's like having a charley horse, after all.

Unfortunately, this time, the spasm constricted a blood vessel or two and broke them. Massage just further inflamed the area and now I look like I got hit in the mouth. Swelling, tender and oh, you want me to talk? Ow.

Ibuprofen, tiger balm and don't move it much. It's tender even to touch.

First, I get sick. Now, I can't talk. Wonderful.

(It's time to try and find a reconstructive surgeon again. I've only seen half a dozen already.)