Day 13: Seeing the surgeon

Pain in Jaw: 4/10
So today I saw my surgeon the first time since surgery and my orthodontist again. He was beyond excited to see me and was incredibly pleased with my results! I've finally had the middle band removed; I still have two bands either side but instead of just squaring around a couple of teeth, they now go from my canine tooth right the way back to my third molar. He also had a look at my stitches and surgical sites and said that they were healing pretty nicely.

Along with this i've been given the all clear to start eating soft foods - i'm still under strict obligations to not chew under any circumstances for the next couple of weeks, but they see no reason now as to why I can't try to eat mash, rice, pasta etc...

Upgrade!

So for my first 'non liquid meal' I attempted a lasagne. Not the softest of things but I was adamant that I wanted one. Upgrading from a syringe to a baby spoon I thought I had it all covered, until I realised how small my gap actually was. I can only open my mouth enough to fit in the tip of my little finger; so trying to fit a spoon WITH food ontop was impossible. I just kept knocking the food off, It took me about an hour to eat quater of it. I was so scared of opening my mouth too far also, I kept hearing this cracking noise and got a sharp pinch, but i've put this down to the band. My bottom jaw also spasmed to the right (before surgery I could move it all about the place) I can't tell you the pain I experienced after this, but I've got comfort in the fact that my jaw is going to let me know when i'm about to do something I shouldn't! My ortho told me that it's important at this stage to start to open your mouth, to get your muscles stretching again. I don't mind so much though as I've discovered I can actually fit a chocolate button into my mouth now, this should keep me happy for a while!

I asked my surgeon also about sleeping upright. He told me that during surgery he had to do alot of work inside my nose to remove turbinates and soft tissue, although it's healing nicely he told me to take it slow, starting slightly elevated and then gradually lowering myself. The main concern he had would be I'd get too congested lieing flat and would struggle to breathe - but he said that if I'm comfy I can go ahead and lie down. I think i'm going to stay sleeping on a chair for a while, partly because I only have one bed which I share with James, and I don't want him smacking me in the face in the middle of the night!

Funny story also, today (prior to bands being removed) I was eating my yogurt through my syringe with a self-attaching plastic straw. Pressure built up in the syringe and exploded, knocking the straw into my mouth and the yogurt ended up going all over my face, in my eye and up my nose. As bad as syringe eating is, it's given the family lots of laughs!

Edit: One thing I forgot to add, since having the band removed I have abit more movement in my mouth when talking, although I'm still clenching my teeth together constantly. Not only do I feel like I need to learn to eat again, but talk too! The next couple of weeks shall be fun!

Day 12: Worry and Protection

Pain in Jaw: 2/10

Before I'd had this surgery, I never expected myself to worry so much about my post-op progress, but lately that's all I seem to be doing. I guess it's normal after waiting so long for something, and then undergoing such big surgery. What i'm trying to say is, I guess nobody prepares you for the different feelings you experience  or pains you encounter, or even when your jaw makes a cracking noise every once in a while.

Today it's the position of my jaw. Day 1 after surgery I had an extra band put into my mouth, as I couldn't voluntarily bite my teeth together; my brain didn't know where my new bite was, so my surgeon added an extra band which took over and bit down for me, meaning my teeth are constantly closed now. I've been encouraged to open and close my mouth which I do, but I'm petrified the moment i open my mouth, my jaw will think 'Screw you, I'm going back to my old bite!' I know this is impossible, but the fear is still there!

Jelly - Syringe style, best thing ever

This moves nicely onto the level of protection I have over my face now, again I guess this is normal. I remember when I'd just had my surgery I didn't dare even to bend my face down, incase my jaw slid and moved position - it's strange what you think isn't it? The car rides I had were awful, I felt like my face would dislodge over every pot-hole, or speed bump.

One thing I still can't do is hug people normally - just because i'm petrified of people coming near my face, especially when they're about to throw their arms around my neck and probably shoulder me in my jaw! Alarm bells definitely start to ring when somebodys hand comes near my face, I daren't even touch my face myself.

My new cutie - Played with this little fellow all day!

I guess this is when the reassurance of your surgeons come in. I feel relaxed when somebody has told me recently that it's all okay, and it's all still looking good. I see my surgeon again tomorrow and I can't wait to hear this from him! I dread the day he discharges me, I think I might have to have his number on speed-dial!

On a happier note, I had some jelly again in a syringe today and it was the best thing ever! It's the only thing i've had since surgery which is actually the same consistency and texture that it's supposed to be. I also became the owner of a very cute fox puppet from my friends Vicky and Jordan, ironic as my dad keeps on telling me to become a ventriloquist! He is the cutest thing ever and has given us all plenty of smiles and giggles! Yawning has started again, I was amazed at how your body knows it can't do these things (along with sneezing) so doesn't bother; but today it seems to have forgotten as i've done nothing but, I find it so comical as i'm still banded together, It just seems to yawn out of my nose instead!

Day 11: A new video

Pain in Jaw: 3/10

I headed back to Birmingham with James for the night last night and I got the best nights sleep ever, which i'm thankful for as I was turning abit moody.
I also got to see Dani again which was great - especially as she hasn't seen me since a couple of days after surgery so she noticed the difference in swelling straight away! I still have a little bit to go, i'm just waiting for my face to shape up now, but I think for 11 days post-op, swelling is looking pretty good!

I can't wait to get back to normality and to see the finished results. (I also can't wait to attempt to put make up on, but as I'm numb I think this will be abit of a weird feeling!)

I thought I better do another post-op video, courtesy of  Fraser, I got a translator!

Day 10: Another bad sleep, another bad day.

Pain in Jaw: 4/10

I'm still not managing to sleep much at night, and tiredness has definitely begun to set in. It seems that during the night is when my pain sets in most. Since surgery i've only ever had pain around my bottom jaw and chin, but lately it's moved into my upper jaw - over where I assume my surgical incision line is and into my ears.

I broke the other two bands (as guessed) late last night, I called my hospital ward as it was Sunday and I was seen by different maxillofacial surgeons at 9am; but both knew my surgeons and what he wanted. They spent time finally showing me how to replace the bands incase it happened again. I didn't realise that I still had a surgical line in my gums being held together by my stitches, I assumed that it was too deep for me to check out myself, but they checked this out - and so did I. They answered a few questions that I had and reassured me that opening my mouth a little was ok, and encouraged it - if they wanted me completely still they'd have wired me. (They also told me a story where one of their patients bit through an apple soon after surgery and it moved their jaw by a couple of mm, to think how on earth they achieved this is unreal!) Anyway, they told me the importance of trying to open and close your mouth so that the brain can adapt to the new bite position. They both complimented what an amazing job he'd done and that the results were great, and off I went to enjoy the rest of my day.

I've been on a real low today. I'm fed up of liquid, and i'm fed up of being banded together, and i'm fed up of people asking me 'what' when I attempt to communicate with them! Urgh! But I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere, even if it is a little dim at the moment!

Day 9: Laughter and Stitches

Pain in Jaw: 2/10
Pain in Stitches: 8/10

So the past 24 hours haven't been the best 24 hours for me. It all started when I choked on a smoothie. I'm really flemmy in the throat lately because I can't cough it up, and I think the smoothie was just too thick, I choked, and when you're banded together and can't open your mouth, it's a scary experience.

Moving onto the night, I had 0 hours of sleep, I've got a constant numb bum, and i'm just getting so uncomfortable sleeping on a recliner chair. I can't tell you the frustration of your pillows falling down constantly, and just sleeping upright in general. I was debating today whether I missed my bed more, or food. Anyway, around 5am this morning, in some bizzare way i'd also convinced myself that I could open my jaw ALOT more than I could the day before, so I worried for the rest of the morning about how I probably wouldn't be able to get hold of my surgeon over the weekend to tell him that the bands aren't resisting very good, when I finally awoke properly - it's exactly the same as it has been since surgery - urgh, worry over nothing!

When i'd just had my surgery I couldn't feel my stitches, infact I didn't even know they were there. Since the feeling is slowly coming back on the inside of my mouth, so is the pain around the stitches on the inside of my upper lip. It only hurts when I smile or laugh (I assume because it's stretching the stitch doing this), but when it hurts, it HURTS. I even said today that it hurt more than jaw surgery itself. I was worried it had become infected, It doesn't look it but i'm certainly going to keep my eye on it...Anyway, todayas I was eating my lunch with mum and James (or drinking it should I say) somebody cracked a joke and James ended up squirting my mum with one of my syringes, to cut a story short, it ended up with lots of laughter, and then lots of tears. I was in so much pain it was unreal.

On a lighter note, the tears caused me to become congested in the nose, although this is a bad thing in itself, the clot of blood/mucus/tissue/other gooey products that has been stuck in my nasal passage since surgery became loose, worked it's way down and came out. It was about the side of a marble, and it was disgusting! But atleast I can fully breathe, and that's lovely!

I also ventured out of the house today properly since surgery and it was lovely; I went to ASDA. Not a massive thing, but another milestone and a step in the right direction. Although I was pretty paranoid with everyone looking at me, I just wanted to wear a sign saying 'I've had jaw surgery, I don't usually look like this!' But James kindly reminded me that I won't look like this forever. :)

Roll on no more swelling! It's definitely come down alot quicker than I expected, just waiting on final bits!

Day 8: Itchy-ness and dreaming

Pain in Jaw: 3/10

So day 8 brings me both a relieved yet annoying sensation at the same time...

As the nerves start to wake up and kick back into action, you get a range of weird sensations throughout your skin - it may be a little too soon just yet, but itching has become one of them. I'm sure JS undergoers would agree that when you're face is numb, attempting to itch it is impossible. I can't even feel where the itch is! But I guess I shouldn't moan if my nerves are waking up right? :)

Today is my first full day so far without taking any pain meds! I still ache alot, but it's nowhere near as bad as it was last week. I've been trying to reduce the amount of codeine i'm taking because i'm scared i'll get addicted and it's making me dream a hell of a lot - the other night I dreamt I walked into a kitchen, it had a big range stove and on this stove was beef, pork, turkey and duck with all the trimmings including yorkshire puddings! You can imagine my horror when I woke up.

My energy levels remain high, and i'm still happy! I even braved a walk around the garden today although I don't like the wind on my face. Vicky and Jordan also came to see me which was lovely, they brought me lots of little gifts inside a box which i'm allowed to open when I feel certain emotions, like fed up or frustrated, etc.. very cute! I've also begun to get my appetite back, I actually feel hungry the first time since surgery, although I don't know why my stomach is growling as it can still have only liquid!

If there's one thing i've learnt from having jaw surgery so far, it's that i'm never going to worry about my weight again (okay maybe that's a lie, but i'm certainly going to enjoy my food more) and that friends and family, they spoil you lots!

Day 7: One week!

Pain in Jaw: 4/10

So i've made it to one week post-op already! Where has the time gone? It's safe to say that the first couple of days are definitely the worst, my energy is slowly returning, and i'm beginning to feel somewhat 'normal' again.

My swelling seems to have come to a stand still, I don't look that swollen but I feel like a great big puffer fish (a drooling one at that), and it's stopping me from closing my mouth. I know that I still have a long way to go, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter, and I know that I would never have made it this far without the help of my amazing family, friends and boyfriend. Love you guys! <3

I apologize in advance mass-photo taking!

Day 6: A Band disaster!

Pain in Jaw: 3/10

So i've decided that if possible, i'm going to blog everyday, just so that in the future I have a daily record of what I went through, so apologies if I begin to get annoying with pointless posts! :)

Since surgery i've had 3 bands on, two either side squared around a couple of teeth, and one directly in the middle which are firmly holding my mouth closed, and preventing me from wiggling my jaw too much.

Much to my horror, I snapped the band on the left side this morning while I was brushing my teeth, I watched it fall out of my mouth and go down the plug hole, and I was petrified! I felt like all support had totally gone from my jaw, and it was about to break free. My mum called my surgeons secretary (I don't even attempt at phone calls) and within half an hour, I was at the hospital getting it replaced.

It was quite comical being at hospital because people kept staring at me - it doesn't help that bruising is at it's peak, taking up most of my face, my entire neck and chest. It's funny watching children look at me, wondering what the hell has happened to my face! Some woman asked if i'd been in a car accident, I don't think she could understand me when I told her i'd had jaw surgery.

It's the orthodontics first time seeing me since surgery, and he was incredibly pleased and happy with the result, he said how amazing the changes had been so far and he couldn't wait for all the swelling to go down completely so that we could see the finished result. He also told me that when I see my surgeon next week, fingers crossed they'd take the middle band out - and they'd start to get me changing them myself.

Pain has now set in since having the new band put on, but I guess it's just down to the new resistance.
I can't believe it's nearly a week since surgery, and I still can't get over that this massive thing i've waited years for has finally happened, and that i'm no longer waiting for a date - i'm simply waiting to fully recover, and that's a nice thing to wait for. :)

Day 5: An update

Pain in Jaw: 6/10

Currently 5 days post-op, trying to get as many things down as I can before I forget them!

Feeling quite good, (so much better since being out of hospital) although the food situations make me feel abit dismal everytime I attempt to eat. The other night I managed to have some blended mash and peas and they were pretty vile, although a chat with the boyfriend soon got me back into high spirits. I keep dreaming about food, but this is because i'm craving it so much, I will never take food for granted again - but seriously, if anyone can suggest any substantial food ideas, send them over!

I also cleaned out my nose, this may seem like the smallest thing ever, but to me it was a massive milestone. I was genuinely so happy it was clean and I could vaguely breathe, not to mention it wasn't dripping gunk and other blood products everywhere! I was pretty surprised what came out of it, definitely not something for the faint hearted.

I'm also managing quite alot of sleep at night - 10 hours of sleep (YES!) I usually wake up for painkillers, antibiotics and a drink, but soon fall back to sleep! Sleeping upright isn't as bad as I thought it would be!

All in all, feeling pretty good at the moment!

Day 4: Bruising and visits

Pain in Jaw: 6/10

Day 4 is the peak of the bruising, i've been using Arnica cream 2x daily on my face and neck to try and bring it out, and it has definitely worked!

I also woke up to the smell of a fry-up, not for me though unfortunately. I'm surprised I could smell it, as I can't seem to smell anything else.

Some of the besties, Dani and Dave came to see me today also, it was great to see them and made me feel normal, although halfway through the visit I had to take some co-codamol and this makes me abit spaced out! But atleast I don't feel cut off from the outside world! They also got me some little pretty gifts and some flowers, just the little things that get you through and remind you that you're loved! :)

Easter for me! Melted chocolate in a syringe!

Day 3: First post-op video!

Pain in Jaw: 5/10

Happy i'm Home!

Veg soup, syringe style!

Day 2: Overview

Pain in Jaw: 6/10

So I made it to the other side!
I'm currently 2 days post-op surgery and got discharged home today. I had mandibular advancement, maxillary impaction with genioplasty and as far as my surgeons were concerned, it went like clockwork!

I've attached some before and after photos below (If you click on them they come bigger). I love the side improvements but the front looks abit weird - but I guess that comes down to the swelling especially in my lips and nose, I cant close my mouth yet because I feel like a great big puffer fish. All in all, I totally wasn't prepared for this surgery, quiet a few times I've said I've regretted it but that's just down to me being a mard and not coping very well at the time, in a few weeks i'll be all singing and dancing I hope! (Or nearly!)

Eating is still a challenge and i'm just having to use really thin IV syringes for thick foods, or the purple enteral syringes with a straw for drinks etc. I was also a lot more dribbly today than usual, but I guess that's due to not having the suction at home. Once I got home I had a shower and some food and felt abit more human although I got abit teary later on as I couldn't breathe very good, my nose began to bleed again (it's still full with blood and im under strict instructions not to touch it) and i'm drooling lots!  I did manage quite a few undisturbed hours sleep, although I did wake up with really bad pain in my upper jaw, but the co-codamol knocked me straight out!


Before Front, Day of Surgery, Day 1 post-op, Day 2 post-op.

Before side, Day of Surgery, Day 1 post-op, Day 2 post-op.



Day 1: Pain, Pain, Pain!

Pain in Jaw: 8/10

The Syringes i'm using to eat and drink

I awoke about 6am in a lot of pain in the side of my right cheek, radiating up my skull and into my temple. Luckily and somehow I managed to have quite abit to drink, a wheetabix for breakfast, along with some mash and gravy for dinner with a yogurt for afterwards. I thought I was doing pretty well until my surgeon added an extra band in my mouth, closing this gap completely in order to bring my teeth to 'bite together' as I couldn't do it voluntary. Although he said that I looked fantastic considering i'd just had major surgery. Eating soon became an extremely frustrating challenge, although I did manage some soup and a ensure drink for tea. The day just dragged in general, my family came again and told me that my results looked amazing, and I realised how much I couldn't have done this without them by my side. I also came out in a burning hot read blotchy rash on my chest and arms, the nurses just put this down to being allergic to my antibiotics. Medication wise, I was on IV co-amoxiclav 3x daily, diclofenac 3x daily, and could take ibuprofen and co-codamol upto 4x daily as required. I also began to brush my teeth using a baby toothbrush and toothpaste, although I didn't poke around too much. 

Day 0: Surgery day has Arrived!

Pain in Jaw: 6/10

Update before hospital: So the day of surgery has finally arrived and i'm feeling pretty good! I managed to have about 4 hours sleep last night which is alot more than I expected me to have, it's 05.45 at the moment and we plan on leaving in 45 minutes - it's mad to think that it's all finally taking that big step further! The day i've been waiting for has finally arrived! I haven't eaten since last night (as advised) and i'm already starving, but I may aswell get used to it as I'm pretty sure i'll be feeling hunger an awful lot after surgery! Family are currently eating their breakfast around me - weetabix have never looked so good!

Update in Hospital: So I got to the hospital about 07.15 and unfortunately James or my mum were not allowed to stay with me, this distressed me instantly but I soon calmed down, and before I knew it I was being wheeled to theatre. 

I can't actually remember much of the 'put to sleep' process, I remember being cannulated and the anaesthetist giving me some sedating drugs, asking how I was doing before putting an oxygen mask over my face - the next thing I knew I was waking up, my surgeons and the recovery nurse were telling me that my operation has finished and to take nice deep breaths.


Visually I can just recall a very blurry image of my surgeon smiling at me. Instantly my hands were all over my face, I tried pulling my oxygen mask off, I vaguely remember the nurse telling me to leave the mask on and that it was ok. She then told me that she'd leave it on because I will still very sleepy and my sats were pretty low, I remember waking up with a really flemmy and chesty cough. About half an hour later I perked up, although my mouth felt like sandpaper and I was totally bewildered as to what had happened, I was in my own little world just watching everybody else. I was desperate for a drink but didn't bother asking for one, i'm not sure why, I think I was scared as to how I was actually going to drink. Two hours later I was moved from recovery to my ward, and everything went downhill from here. The moment I got in my bed I had a wave of nausea and I vomited blood all over my sheets and gown. I was sick after this about 5 times, every moment I tried to take a drink or move it came straight back up. My nurse wouldn't let me out of bed because he was convinced I was going to pass out, I needed some ibuprofen but told the nurse that I would just throw it straight back up. In addition, all dignity was lost going to the toilet infront of a male sat on a commode, but I really didn't care. Soon after my family came to visit me and I was sick another 4 times - I can't really remember much after this other than three of my surgeons coming back around me because my nose had started to bleed, them giving me some anti-sickness, bandage on my nose and having an awful nights sleep.

Day (-1): Surgery tomorrow!

So the day has finally come, Surgery is tomorrow!

At the moment, i'm feeling quite excited - I woke up in this kiddy-excitement mood and it's stuck so far. I met with my surgeons today, they both just went through everything again and checked that my wafers fit (I did ask what they were used for, but if i'm honest I completely zoned out - from what I gather they're just a guide to put my jaws in their new position!) The plan is still to have maxillary impaction (move the top jaw upwards), mandibular advancement (move the bottom forwards) and depending on how my jaw sits in it's new position, they may do my chin too (genioplasty), however they did tell me that they usually do this at a later date just because of the swelling. They reminded me that i'd be in safe hands, they'd look after me, and advised me to have one last good meal, and they'd see me tomorrow morning!

I have FINALLY done a video which is below (Sorry about the thumbnail, it's not very attractive!) - but a couple of things I've missed off, post-op wise I've been told that it's strictly a liquid diet for the first 4 weeks, and then a soft diet upto the 6 week mark. I'll be tightly banded when I wake up, however there is a chance they may wire me together, depending on how stable my jaws are sitting afterwards - but that's a play it by ear scenario! I've also done some before photos, but i'll add them when I have some after photos to compare them to!

For now, I'm going to enjoy my Easter Egg, and wait for nerves to kick in! (I should probably pack my hospital bag somewhere in this too :P)

Pre-op Steak!

So since i've found out about my surgery, my food countdown has begun. (Some people only do a week, but i've had every nice food going as much as I could for the past month!) Including; Endless maccie D's, nandos, chocolate, cookie dough from pizza hut, pizza and last night I went for my last pre-op steak with the boyfriend!

      

 

Surgery Plan

So just got back from my 'meeting and plan' with my surgeon - the last time i'll see him before the big day in 13 days! Before I went in I was so nervous, I couldn't sit still, and the 2 hour wait didn't help me either, I think it's because I'd changed surgeons last minute, and I wasn't sure what to expect from him, whether he was going to approach my surgery from the same angle as my previous surgeon, or whether he thought I was even ready for it! But he was beyond lovely and relaxed me instantly. From this only meeting, I have complete faith and trust in him, he made sure I was happy, and planned everything around what I wanted to change about my jaw, rather than him just telling me what he wanted to do instead!

So the surgery is so far still go ahead for the 28th March (fingers crossed it doesn't get cancelled) and here's what Mr. G is planning on doing; (apologies if this doesn't make sense, i've tried to remember as many details as I can!)

• Top Jaw (Maxillary Impaction); The main aim of moving this is to correct my gummy smile. He said that a 'normal' jaw/gum line will display about 4mm of teeth, but I've currently got around 13mm of teeth and gums. He did say that to make this look to the usual '4mm' he would have to move my top jaw upwards around 8mm, and this is a DRAMATIC move. He explained to me that long-term, this would make myself and my gummy smile look worse. Apparently, as you age, everything 'goes south' meaning that as my jaws drop, my gums would too. (He told me that this is what has happened to the olympic athlete whose name I can't remember when she had correction of her gummy smile). In addition to this, too big of a movement can make the rest of your face 'squash up' aging it somewhat - So instead he plans to just move my top jaw upwards about 4-5mm, in all honesty, this is still a pretty big move, and will still reduce my gummy smile a hell of alot - so i'm pleased about that! He did say that usually with maxillary impaction, it can alter the shape of your nose, making your nostrils flare slightly. However I have a thin nose, and he doesn't think this would look too much of an issue!

• Bottom Jaw (Mandibular Advancement): Simple plan to move this forward - I actually don't know the proposed measurements as he said it's something that he would have to look at during surgery, as by taking my top jaw upwards slightly, this would automatically move my bottom jaw forward, but I would still need surgery on it to move it forward that little bit more.

• Chin (Genioplasty): This is something which may not go ahead, again, it is something that he will decide while i'm in theater, depending on how my chin looks after the new changes to my jaws - although he did say that sometimes it is better to carry this out at a later stage, if I wanted it done. 

Post-op wise, he said that he doesn't wire together his patients, instead he will use plates and screws to hold my jaws in their new position, and i'll probably just have a few bands for support. I've been told that i'd be able to eat only soft foods for a couple of weeks, and I should keep talking to a bare minimum - he also told me that i'd be extremely swollen (word for word, i'm to 'imagine the worst swelling ever, and expect far worse than that'), but pain wise should be bareable with normal pain killers combined with some local anaesthetic he'll give me whilst i'm asleep! Surgery should take approximately 6 hours, and I should be in hospital for atleast 2-3 nights, depending on how things go! He did touch on the 30% risk of perm nerve damage, due to the nerve running through the lower jaw - however, I think the benefits of jaw surgery in itself outweigh the risk of nerve damage.

After he told me his plan, he spent time telling me exactly how he's going to achieve this, where hes going to cut, and where he is going to plate. I've added a couple of YouTube videos which explain this really well..

• Top Jaw (Maxillary Impaction);

• Bottom Jaw (Mandibular Advancement):

• Chin (Genioplasty):

I think if this post has highlighted the importance of anything; it's to make sure that you have a surgeon you can trust, and you feel comfortable with, even if it means waiting that bit longer, it does make all the difference!

Surgical Hooks On!

So just got back from having even more impressions and my  hooks put on, surgery is still go ahead on the 28th of March (providing there's no emergencies between now and then). I've got another appointment this Friday to meet my surgeon again,- to make sure I'm happy with everything they're going to do, and a final appointment on the 19th of March to get my wafer fit (some people call it a splint), and to sign consent forms!

The hooks are sitting well at the moment, I had visions of them tearing my gums up like the braces did, but I guess they're already pre-hardened to it now. They're just relatively annoying, and I can certainly feel that they're there! (Especially when my lip keeps getting stuck on them!) I've just been told to keep an eye on them, some movement is fine but they don't want them snapping off before surgery. From what i've been told, the hooks are used as a guide when they detatch your jaw, and to then lock them together while they plate and screw my jaw into the new place!

Surgery wise I feel OK! My moods do keep changing from excitement to nerves, but I guess this is normal. I just can't get my head around by how fast the surgery has come around. I'm more annoyed at the fact that I know i've got alot of post-op work to have done still. Before braces I had a broken tooth capped, and from having the braces, the force and movement has caused abit of nerve damage on the tooth under the cap, making it appear shorter than usual (you should be able to see it on the photo), so this will have to be replaced once all the braces are off! Although my family keep on telling me that it doesn't look nearly as bad as it does on the photos i've taken.
Compared to some people, I don't feel all that prepared - the most i've bought is a baby toothbrush and some tissues, but that's about it! So if somebody can give me a kick up the bum and tell me what to buy, that'd be great! Else i'll be panic buying in Asda the morning of my op!

I'll upload some 'proper' before and after pictures soon, and blog again on Friday!

Update: Just ate tea, food stuck in braces was bad enough, without the added drama of hooks too! :P
x

The Date..

I haven’t posted on here for a while, as nothing new has happened. I’d still been going for regular check-up’s with my orthodontist, and I had still been waiting for my date. My next scheduled apt is for the 12th of March, 2013, and by now i’d come to the conclusion that I wasn’t going to have a date for the op anytime soon, and i’d probably have to wait until after university has finished in September to even think about having it done. However, as of yesterday (22nd February, 2013) I FINALLY got my date!

It took me by surprise, as it certainly wasn’t expected. I’d just finished nights at work and I received a phone call from an unknown number. It was the secretary of my surgeon, asking if i’d be happy to change surgeons, and if I was happy, then I had a date - the 28th March 2013!

I took it instantly, as I haven’t really bonded with my current surgeon - I’ve only met him once, I thought what the hell! Excitement took over me instantly and I told everybody I knew, and that knew I was expecting an operation. I think it took most people by shock, fear has set into myself and everybody by now - but atleast the ball is finally moving!

Currently have a range of dates over the next 3 weeks to get my surgical hooks fitted, and to meet my surgeon to finalise everything. I'll update some before photos soon, front view and side on, and keeping fingers tightly crossed it doesn’t get rescheduled for another day!

A regular visit..

It’s 6 month since I’ve last had something to blog about, but I guess not a lot has happened during that time. Surgery-wise at the moment is still a waiting game, any day now my date could come with Mr Posty man through my letter box, but until then, I’ve been visiting my orthodontist every 6-8 weeks just for general check ups!

So yesterday (9^th October 2012), I went to see my orthodontist as I usually do, just for him to change my bands and make sure that I was doing ok in general.  As soon as I walked in his face lit up, he asked me if I’d had my date yet and how excited he was to see my finished results. As always, I answered with my ‘no date yet’ and I thought that was that. HOWEVER, his assistant (Dental nurse? Whatever she is) whilst I was being seen by my orthodontist went into another room to print a spreadsheet off. She then came back into the room and started talking about something that I assumed was ‘dental banter,’ until I realised that they were telling me how many people was on the  op list - there was 1, 2, 3 and then me. They both looked at me, grinning down at me while I was lieing in that stupid chair, telling me that I was 4^th on the operation list. I cannot contain my excitement now, as I’ve never been told how close I was, and I certainly didn’t expect to be this close! I had the biggest smile on my face imaginable!  Obviously, this is subject to change as you never know what emergencies may crop up, but non-emergency, maxillofacial wise, I AM 4^TH ON THE LIST. (Still excited, can you tell?) My orthodontist made me another appointment for the 4^th of December, and said that hopefully, by then, I will have received my date! Fingers crossed!!!