So I'm still on a no chew diet but I have been able to eat soft foods for the last few weeks. I am fully banded shut but can take them off to eat. It was pretty much a nightmare at the beginning. My face was still numb and I slopped absolutely everywhere. I just stuck to the safe options of mash and porridge etc. I swear though the first time I tried to eat mash post op I thought I was going to choke. But honestly just stick at it, its worth it!
I have now started being more adventurous. At 3 weeks post op I hadn't had any meat for 3 weeks. I then tried a sloppy lasagne. I had a small portion and cut it up until it did not resemble a lasagne but OMG it was amazing! Last night I had a hankering for chippy chips. There is a chippy right near our house and you can smell it sometimes when you leave the front door. I picked out some really soft ones, cut the ends off as they were a bit too crispy, mashed them up with a fork and spooned them in. YUM! I felt like a real person again having a real meal. Off to my mum and dad's for tea tomorrow for more homemade sloppy lasagne. Heaven!!
Just two weeks until I can try chewing!!!!!!!! :)
Friday 30 March 2012
Thursday 29 March 2012
Photos!
I slacked a lot really on the photos - I hoped to go back to my posts and add them in but for some reason it isn't letting me edit atm. Get ready for a long post jam packed with photos up until now (4 weeks post op)
Day 6
Day 7 new bands ( one of these on each side) I can't open my mouth at all while these are on!
Day 9
Day 9
Day 10
Day 10
Day 10 smiling
Day 11
Day 11
Day 14
Day 14
Day 14
Day 21
Day 21
Day 21
Day 24
Day 24
Day 27
Day 27
Day 27
Day 27
Day 27 - SEXY!! ha
Day 6
Day 7 new bands ( one of these on each side) I can't open my mouth at all while these are on!
Day 9
Day 9
Day 10
Day 10
Day 10 smiling
Day 11
Day 11
Day 14
Day 14
Day 14
Day 21
Day 21
Day 21
Day 24
Day 24
Day 27
Day 27
Day 27
Day 27
Day 27 - SEXY!! ha
Stitches
So 4 weeks post op and the dreaded stitches have not disappeared yet! Now thinking back I was never actually told they were dissolvable and I am really just guessing they are. Little bits have gone but the vast majority are still well and truly there. And oh my god!! They hurt like a bitch if you catch them!! I am praying when I go to my appointment next week the ortho doesn't decide to yank them out!!!! Eeeeeeek!!
I was never told to use salt water rinses just to use a medicated mouthwash twice a day for 2 weeks! After speaking to other jaw surgery patients they all said they did salt water rinses and are still doing them. So.... I have got on the bandwagon and I am rinsing what feels like all day long!!
I was never told to use salt water rinses just to use a medicated mouthwash twice a day for 2 weeks! After speaking to other jaw surgery patients they all said they did salt water rinses and are still doing them. So.... I have got on the bandwagon and I am rinsing what feels like all day long!!
Day 28
I've not been here in a while so I firstly apologise about that! The main reason was I didn't just want to come on here every day moaning about one thing or another - that will not be helpful for people that are getting ready for surgery! Also not much as happened that I haven't already talked about. Its still been a massive struggle - some days are really good and other are still a bit tricky!
The main thing that is still really bothering me is my elastics!!! They are still so tight. I haven't seen my ortho since two weeks post op and I will see him again in 4 days time. He did mention at the last appointment we may be able to look at wearing the bands only at nighttime after the next appointment so fingers crossed. The bands are that tight that they are pulling on my other teeth. About 4 of my bottom teeth at the front are now a little wobbly and have gone wonky :S I wouldn't be that alarmed if you are reading this as I may just be a strange case. My teeth move VERY quickly, even my ortho was surprised!! I am going to have a word with him when I see him next week.
Thought I may also add I still haven't even seen my surgeon. I saw another surgeon 4 days post op for about 5 mins but thats it. This does make me feel a bit uneasy as I don't feel like things are being checked up on properly!
The main thing that is still really bothering me is my elastics!!! They are still so tight. I haven't seen my ortho since two weeks post op and I will see him again in 4 days time. He did mention at the last appointment we may be able to look at wearing the bands only at nighttime after the next appointment so fingers crossed. The bands are that tight that they are pulling on my other teeth. About 4 of my bottom teeth at the front are now a little wobbly and have gone wonky :S I wouldn't be that alarmed if you are reading this as I may just be a strange case. My teeth move VERY quickly, even my ortho was surprised!! I am going to have a word with him when I see him next week.
Thought I may also add I still haven't even seen my surgeon. I saw another surgeon 4 days post op for about 5 mins but thats it. This does make me feel a bit uneasy as I don't feel like things are being checked up on properly!
Friday 16 March 2012
Trials and tribulations of bands...
Since my ortho cut the wires at the very back of my braces yesterday, I've had nothing but trouble from my jaw/teeth!! The bands I've got on are very tight which means not only is my jaw completely shut all the time, but it is clamped down tight putting a lot of pressure on each set of teeth. Now the wires have been cut my bite is shifting and has definitely finding the right place. However, my top front teeth are now hanging lower over my bottom. Because of my bottom brackets being in the way they are resting on them. This hurts a lot. I also worry about what it is doing to my teeth (Will is grind it down a bit?) and will the bracket manage to take the pressure. I'm not seeing my ortho for 2 and a half weeks now. Its making me hold my jaw funny and his makes things hurts even more...... hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Day 14
Today marks exactly 2 weeks since my operation took place. I really can't believe this time 14 days ago I was in hospital. Words cannot even begin to describe how happy I am that part it over with now. After all the time to work myself up to it and stress about it, its nice to have it out of the way. Now I'm just overly obsessed with checking my reflection looking for changes. urgh :/
I had an appointment with my orthodontist today. He had a look at my bite and seemed really happy with the progress. He told me it must have been a bit scary when it didn't come together right. I'm glad he said this, because it was. I think a lot of the time professionals don't empathise with you as they see things similar all the time.
He decided the bands and formation were staying the way they are now and I was only to take them off to eat and brush my teeth. On one hand I was happy with this as the thought of not having the security of them is scary. But.... they are painful and annoying to have on too! He clipped the very back bits of wire from my very back teeth on my braces. He said that this would help my bite find its own and the wire would be restricting it. Before I left I asked him how long he reckons the braces need to be on for now. He said we are still working towards the 6 months mark. YAY! I was worried that due to the complications with my bite this timeframe may have changed. So hopefully by September this year I will have the braces off! Looking to get my teeth whitened too. happy if this does all work out as I'll be turning 25 in October and my aim was to have them off before then!!
I had an appointment with my orthodontist today. He had a look at my bite and seemed really happy with the progress. He told me it must have been a bit scary when it didn't come together right. I'm glad he said this, because it was. I think a lot of the time professionals don't empathise with you as they see things similar all the time.
He decided the bands and formation were staying the way they are now and I was only to take them off to eat and brush my teeth. On one hand I was happy with this as the thought of not having the security of them is scary. But.... they are painful and annoying to have on too! He clipped the very back bits of wire from my very back teeth on my braces. He said that this would help my bite find its own and the wire would be restricting it. Before I left I asked him how long he reckons the braces need to be on for now. He said we are still working towards the 6 months mark. YAY! I was worried that due to the complications with my bite this timeframe may have changed. So hopefully by September this year I will have the braces off! Looking to get my teeth whitened too. happy if this does all work out as I'll be turning 25 in October and my aim was to have them off before then!!
Day ten
I decided to get my butt out of the house and stop wallowing today. Me and Marc went out for a walk! It was lovely. Think I managed to be out for about 45 mins (Mainly because we got a little bit lost so I had no choice!!!) I was truly knackered by the end of it though and so was clinging on to him. It definitely did me some good mentally to be out and also to get some fresh air. Definitely going to try and get out more!
Saturday 10 March 2012
Day eight
Today was the first day Marc was back to work and if I'm honest I really didn't want him to go. He has been so amazing looking after me and making me feel better. He is the only person in the world that can bring me out of any mood. My mum had booked some time off to help me out and so she was coming over later on to see me. I needed to go to the doctors this afternoon to get a sick note so she was going to drive me there.
I got up managed to have some ready brek for breakfast and got showered and dressed. My mum got here for about 11. We just chatted and watched daytime tele then had some lunch. I started to feel really rotten and had a splitting headache that painkillers weren't easing so I went for a lie down and left her to it. When we went to the doctors he agreed with my surgeon that I would probably need at least a month off and signed me off for four weeks from the operation date. By this point I felt super rubbish! We got back to the house and my dad nipped in to see us on his way home from work! They stayed for a bit and got off back home. Then Marc got home and it made me super happy! Although soon after I started feeling rubbish again and ended up crying my eyes out over not much for nearly an hour. I just felt so emotional.
My friend came round at night see me which was nice - she came bearing gifts of milkshake and magazines! :) For tea I was really adventurous and managed to have mashed potatoes with butter and cheese and salmon crumble (minus the crumble) It was so difficult to eat and at point I felt as if I was going to choke. By the time I'd finished it was stone cold. But it was worth it to have a different taste and texture after all this time :)
I got up managed to have some ready brek for breakfast and got showered and dressed. My mum got here for about 11. We just chatted and watched daytime tele then had some lunch. I started to feel really rotten and had a splitting headache that painkillers weren't easing so I went for a lie down and left her to it. When we went to the doctors he agreed with my surgeon that I would probably need at least a month off and signed me off for four weeks from the operation date. By this point I felt super rubbish! We got back to the house and my dad nipped in to see us on his way home from work! They stayed for a bit and got off back home. Then Marc got home and it made me super happy! Although soon after I started feeling rubbish again and ended up crying my eyes out over not much for nearly an hour. I just felt so emotional.
My friend came round at night see me which was nice - she came bearing gifts of milkshake and magazines! :) For tea I was really adventurous and managed to have mashed potatoes with butter and cheese and salmon crumble (minus the crumble) It was so difficult to eat and at point I felt as if I was going to choke. By the time I'd finished it was stone cold. But it was worth it to have a different taste and texture after all this time :)
Day seven
I had my 1st post op ortho visit today at 10am at the hospital. I went back over and luckily didn't have to wait long at all to see him. He seemed really impressed with how clean my teeth are (I thought I weren't doing a great job so this was good to hear) and he also didn't seem concerned about my bite being shifted to the left.
He said my bite is going to change every day so not to worry, just follow his instructions. He took out all the bands that were in and counted either 13 or 14 in total. He really couldn't believe the other guy had put so many in! I couldn't either!!! He asked me to open as wide as I could and then bite together a few times and then he put only two bands back on. He put them in a weird formation though so they covered 4 teeth each in total. he said he was going to show me how to take them off and put them on as he wanted me to start eating very soft foods and to take them off to do so. (SCARY!) By showing me, all he did was give me a mirror and point to the teeth he wanted me to go to first then in which order. I just agreed! I asked him about relapse and he confirmed my case will be higher chance! :( lets hope I'm not the unlucky one that it happens to! Then he said he will see me next week!
After the appt I dropped in to see my mum for a brew - well Marc and her had a brew. I still can't handle hot drinks on my numb lip. It doesn't feel nice at all! We then went to the range to pick up something we had ordered but I was too tired so had to stay in the car. After going home and having a rest and lunc (still on complan as I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to take the bands off yet) I decided I wanted to venture out again. We went to asda to get the food in for the week. Everyone was staring but it just felt good to be out. I was so tired walking round I had to cling on to Marc and by the time it got to paying I had to go and wait in the car. It was worth it though as it got me out a bit.
He said my bite is going to change every day so not to worry, just follow his instructions. He took out all the bands that were in and counted either 13 or 14 in total. He really couldn't believe the other guy had put so many in! I couldn't either!!! He asked me to open as wide as I could and then bite together a few times and then he put only two bands back on. He put them in a weird formation though so they covered 4 teeth each in total. he said he was going to show me how to take them off and put them on as he wanted me to start eating very soft foods and to take them off to do so. (SCARY!) By showing me, all he did was give me a mirror and point to the teeth he wanted me to go to first then in which order. I just agreed! I asked him about relapse and he confirmed my case will be higher chance! :( lets hope I'm not the unlucky one that it happens to! Then he said he will see me next week!
After the appt I dropped in to see my mum for a brew - well Marc and her had a brew. I still can't handle hot drinks on my numb lip. It doesn't feel nice at all! We then went to the range to pick up something we had ordered but I was too tired so had to stay in the car. After going home and having a rest and lunc (still on complan as I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to take the bands off yet) I decided I wanted to venture out again. We went to asda to get the food in for the week. Everyone was staring but it just felt good to be out. I was so tired walking round I had to cling on to Marc and by the time it got to paying I had to go and wait in the car. It was worth it though as it got me out a bit.
Day six
Today was a much better day! I managed to go to the shop with Marc - I did have to hold on to him the whole way round but still I was very happy I'd done it!
Then after lunch my two friends came round with their babies to see me. This cheered me up as we mainly spoke about stuff other than my op! really took my mind off things and made me feel human again! They brought me round a massive bunch of lovely flowers and I felt so lucky!!
When my ortho emailed me back he mentioned on my next appt (tomorrow) he would teach me how to take bands off and put them back on again...... eeeeeek! I'm scared!!
I had been taking my morphine today and it seemed to be helping. I had some right before bed and it helped with my muscle spasms and I nodded off. My phone then went off and woke me up. When I woke up I started hallucinated - off the morphine I assume. this was not fun! Needless to say I won't be using the morphine again!
Then after lunch my two friends came round with their babies to see me. This cheered me up as we mainly spoke about stuff other than my op! really took my mind off things and made me feel human again! They brought me round a massive bunch of lovely flowers and I felt so lucky!!
When my ortho emailed me back he mentioned on my next appt (tomorrow) he would teach me how to take bands off and put them back on again...... eeeeeek! I'm scared!!
I had been taking my morphine today and it seemed to be helping. I had some right before bed and it helped with my muscle spasms and I nodded off. My phone then went off and woke me up. When I woke up I started hallucinated - off the morphine I assume. this was not fun! Needless to say I won't be using the morphine again!
Day five
As soon as we got up Marc rang the hospital to see if they could fit me in to sort out my bands. They said there was no surgeons or orthodontists in today so I would have to see a doctor on the ward. I went back in for 10am and saw the first doctor I saw after the op, the one that did my bands wrong in the first place. He certainly got band happy and added loads extra. I said I needed two and told him exactly where to put them and he put 8 on in place and did it completely wrong. Now my jaw was being pulled over to the right :/ I was not a happy bunny! I ended up emailing my ortho to his private work address to see if this is okay to wait until thursday. he replied and said leaving it a couple of days shouldn't be a problem! What was the problem was the new pain it was causing me. It was causing more crazy jaw spasms and all my teeth were clattering, I was not in a good place now!
I went to my GP as the pain wasn't going with the painkillers I'd been given (Co-codamol, ibuprofen). He ended up prescribing me morphine and paracetamol. I was a bit nervy about taking morphine. I've never liked the idea of it but they gave me a shot of it in hospital after the op and I hated the way it made me feel. But my GP advised me it would be for the best. i decided to start taking it tomorrow as I had had co-codamol today in my system!
Had my first proper visitor today. My friend came round for half an hour to see how I was and brought flowers - yay! :) It was nice to see someone else and to take my mind off things a bit. Although most questions are obviously op orientated so you end up thinking about it more!
After i'd gone to bed I ended up waking in the middle of the night in so much pain. I was crying my eyes out. This was the first time post op (other than weird/random off anesthetic) that I had cried. My bf was amazing and comforted me telling me how proud he is of me and especially as I'd held it together up until now. He had to get me a painkiller and i had to wait for it to kick in before my body would even think about letting me go back to sleep... just when you think you're doing a bit better!
I went to my GP as the pain wasn't going with the painkillers I'd been given (Co-codamol, ibuprofen). He ended up prescribing me morphine and paracetamol. I was a bit nervy about taking morphine. I've never liked the idea of it but they gave me a shot of it in hospital after the op and I hated the way it made me feel. But my GP advised me it would be for the best. i decided to start taking it tomorrow as I had had co-codamol today in my system!
Had my first proper visitor today. My friend came round for half an hour to see how I was and brought flowers - yay! :) It was nice to see someone else and to take my mind off things a bit. Although most questions are obviously op orientated so you end up thinking about it more!
After i'd gone to bed I ended up waking in the middle of the night in so much pain. I was crying my eyes out. This was the first time post op (other than weird/random off anesthetic) that I had cried. My bf was amazing and comforted me telling me how proud he is of me and especially as I'd held it together up until now. He had to get me a painkiller and i had to wait for it to kick in before my body would even think about letting me go back to sleep... just when you think you're doing a bit better!
Day four
Today was the first appointment I had my my surgeon! I now live about 13 miles away from where the hospital is. Its not the other side of the world but when you feel like this its daunting! My appointment was at 9.45 so we got to the hospital at about 9.40 - it took me so long to walk all the way up and I was clinging on to my bf! Stupidly we forgot to take any water. I sat in the waiting room for over an hour after my appointment time and they still hadn't called me in. it was so hot and I felt like I was going to faint :( In the end my bf asked them if it was time to go in yet as I was not feeling too good. I was honestly ready to just go home without seeing anyone.
After that they let me in not long after. I didn't see my surgeon but another one. I had spoke to him whilst I was in hospital and he was really nice. he asked how I'd been doing and talked to me about that then asked to see in my mouth. He seemed really happy with how my bite was coming along, because of the elastics. This made me feel like it was worth it. they called my ortho into the room who had a little look and seemed happy! I asked them about all the cracking and movement I could feel on my jaw and they said thats completely normal for the next six weeks! My bf then asked my ortho when the tight bands would be off and he laughed and said not yet... hmmmmm!
After i got home I was so tired from my adventures I napped on the sofa and watched tele! At night I started to lightly brush my teeth and one of my very front bands snapped off. I was devastated as I wasn't meant to be in the hospital again until thursday! I just went to bed and tried to forget about it. In the middle of the night the other front band snapped and woke me up :( grrr! Now the front of my mouth wasn't being held together!
After that they let me in not long after. I didn't see my surgeon but another one. I had spoke to him whilst I was in hospital and he was really nice. he asked how I'd been doing and talked to me about that then asked to see in my mouth. He seemed really happy with how my bite was coming along, because of the elastics. This made me feel like it was worth it. they called my ortho into the room who had a little look and seemed happy! I asked them about all the cracking and movement I could feel on my jaw and they said thats completely normal for the next six weeks! My bf then asked my ortho when the tight bands would be off and he laughed and said not yet... hmmmmm!
After i got home I was so tired from my adventures I napped on the sofa and watched tele! At night I started to lightly brush my teeth and one of my very front bands snapped off. I was devastated as I wasn't meant to be in the hospital again until thursday! I just went to bed and tried to forget about it. In the middle of the night the other front band snapped and woke me up :( grrr! Now the front of my mouth wasn't being held together!
Day three
Today was my worst day so far really for how I was feeling and how I looked! My swelling has got much bigger and I just feel rotten. My friend was supposed to be coming to visit me today and I couldn't handle seeing people so I had to ask her not to come round. I got up and realised it was time now to get clean. I hadn't actually showered since the morning of the op - EWW! I didn't have the energy but I knew I had to. My boyfriend ran me and bath and he had to help me into it. I tried to wash my hair but didn't really have the energy so I got help in that department too. He then helped me out and had to even dry my hair! Who knew it could be so exhausting?!?
After that I felt much more human. My mum and dad popped round to see me and came bearing treats :) They brought me a teddy bear, a blanket for when i'm chilling on the sofa, some ice cream, sorbet and milkshakes :) ! this definitely cheered me up! I think my mum got a bit freaked out as I think she thinks I will look this way forever. I have told her the swelling will go down but she thinks my face has changed loads!
My jaw spasms were really bad again today and the pain killers were not helping. I'm really worried about the pressure its putting on my teeth and on my freshly broken jaw!
My attempt at a smile :) :)
After that I felt much more human. My mum and dad popped round to see me and came bearing treats :) They brought me a teddy bear, a blanket for when i'm chilling on the sofa, some ice cream, sorbet and milkshakes :) ! this definitely cheered me up! I think my mum got a bit freaked out as I think she thinks I will look this way forever. I have told her the swelling will go down but she thinks my face has changed loads!
My jaw spasms were really bad again today and the pain killers were not helping. I'm really worried about the pressure its putting on my teeth and on my freshly broken jaw!
My attempt at a smile :) :)
Wednesday 7 March 2012
day two
I managed to actually get a lot more sleep last night that I thought I would on my mountain of about 6 pillows (no joke!!) I would sleep for a couple of hours, wake up then sleep for a couple more. My boyfriend did need to get up and make me up some painkillers half way through though. I ended up waking up for good at about 6.30 and getting up.
My boyfriend is being an absolute star, waiting on me hand and foot getting me painkillers and drinks! For that I really want to thank him! :) He deserves a giant gold star!
I felt really rubbish and still couldn't be bothered having a shower - minging I know. i just had no energy whatsoever!! I lazed on the sofa for a bit, snoozing here and there and taking a mixture of painkillers and complan (meal replacement drinks). I felt poo and didn't want to do anything really. Sickness was starting to kick in so my Marc (BF) went to the chemist to get some anti sickness stuff! It worked a treat and meant that when I was taking all my medications I felt half as bad as I had been doing.
It was difficult to breath through my nose and through my mouth. I spent most of my time if i'm honest just sat there thinking about everything, too tired to do much. Marc had to help me upstairs and downstairs which I didn't like. I hated being so helpless!!
My boyfriend is being an absolute star, waiting on me hand and foot getting me painkillers and drinks! For that I really want to thank him! :) He deserves a giant gold star!
I felt really rubbish and still couldn't be bothered having a shower - minging I know. i just had no energy whatsoever!! I lazed on the sofa for a bit, snoozing here and there and taking a mixture of painkillers and complan (meal replacement drinks). I felt poo and didn't want to do anything really. Sickness was starting to kick in so my Marc (BF) went to the chemist to get some anti sickness stuff! It worked a treat and meant that when I was taking all my medications I felt half as bad as I had been doing.
It was difficult to breath through my nose and through my mouth. I spent most of my time if i'm honest just sat there thinking about everything, too tired to do much. Marc had to help me upstairs and downstairs which I didn't like. I hated being so helpless!!
Jaw spasms :(
Main problem: Jaw spasms. The reason they banded me fully shut was because my bottom jaw was still hanging really far back and nowhere near where it should be. This meant they were trying to train my muscles to move forward. This is really really painful if I'm honest. Especially as I have no numbness around my lower jaw. I have been having a lot of aches and a lot of spasms. This happens particularly when I start to relax or fall asleep. My bottom jaw jerks forward in front of my top jaw and most of the time clatters my teeth whilst doing so. This obviously hurts, but it then wakes me up. Sometimes aswell when I am just awake watching tele or something my jaw would just tremble and jerk :( not pleasant!
It was worrying me as it hadn't been mentioned to me before and I hadn't really read much on it. I was worried about what pressure it was putting on my freshly broken jaw. I could feel and hear creaks and cracks on my top jaw which were really unnerving!!! :(
Day one!
I didn't get much sleep over night at the hospital as it was too noisy even though I had my own room. Between that and them keep checking my blood and fitting new IV stuff I just snoozed on and off. I woke up at about 6 and decided to just stay awake as I knew the doctor was coming to see my at 7am. My boyfriend had paid for me to have the TV card and I made use of it watching a couple of films (dipping in and out of them) and some trash telly! All in all it really didn't seem too bad.
The doctor came at 7 to put on my bands. I wasn't going to be banded shut., he put about 4 on in the end and I still had a lot of movement. I felt around my mouth and it didn't feel like my bite was together which did concern me... a lot!!! I was then supposed to be going down for xray straight after but they expected me to walk on my own downstairs and to the other side of the hospital which I said I didn't feel up to. This meant I waited about 2 1/2 hours for a porter. In this time the surgeon came round to check on me. He had a look at my bite and wasn't happy at all with it. This really freaked me out as he made out the operation hadn't worked (Which is what it felt like in my mouth!!) He said I needed to see my orthodontist so he could have a look at me and sort the bands out.
I went to see my ortho - SO embarrassing!! I had to go and sit in the normal waiting room with everyone else. Me in my pjs, bashed face with blood over it. Not great. The looks I were getting from people weren't great either! I saw him and he had to take off the bands that had been put on and re do them. He banded me completely shut.... ouch!! The bands didn't hurt when they were being put on, which I were worried they would. It was more the feeling of being fully shut and the pressure of my teeth against each other!
Quick note on hospital food - so annoying! They brought me a proper breakfast and I said I wouldn't be able to eat it and asked for a shake so they brought me one. In total this took me about 2 1/2 hours to finish using a syringe as I just didn't feel like it! They then brought me lunch.... chicken casserole!! By this point I was really struggling to speak as I had been banded fully shut! I managed to ask for a shake instead and she was not happy. She did bring me one though, not before telling me she would blend the chicken casserole instead (Eww!).
I then went down for xray - again they tried to make me walk down on my own. After this I came back up to the room and it was visiting time. I was looking forward so much to seeing my boyfriend after spending my time on my own there! He ended up sneaking in half an hour early and didn't get caught :) :) Whilst he was there a nurse came with my medication and said I could leave. I was SO happy!! He helped me get changed and then off I went home!
The doctor came at 7 to put on my bands. I wasn't going to be banded shut., he put about 4 on in the end and I still had a lot of movement. I felt around my mouth and it didn't feel like my bite was together which did concern me... a lot!!! I was then supposed to be going down for xray straight after but they expected me to walk on my own downstairs and to the other side of the hospital which I said I didn't feel up to. This meant I waited about 2 1/2 hours for a porter. In this time the surgeon came round to check on me. He had a look at my bite and wasn't happy at all with it. This really freaked me out as he made out the operation hadn't worked (Which is what it felt like in my mouth!!) He said I needed to see my orthodontist so he could have a look at me and sort the bands out.
I went to see my ortho - SO embarrassing!! I had to go and sit in the normal waiting room with everyone else. Me in my pjs, bashed face with blood over it. Not great. The looks I were getting from people weren't great either! I saw him and he had to take off the bands that had been put on and re do them. He banded me completely shut.... ouch!! The bands didn't hurt when they were being put on, which I were worried they would. It was more the feeling of being fully shut and the pressure of my teeth against each other!
Quick note on hospital food - so annoying! They brought me a proper breakfast and I said I wouldn't be able to eat it and asked for a shake so they brought me one. In total this took me about 2 1/2 hours to finish using a syringe as I just didn't feel like it! They then brought me lunch.... chicken casserole!! By this point I was really struggling to speak as I had been banded fully shut! I managed to ask for a shake instead and she was not happy. She did bring me one though, not before telling me she would blend the chicken casserole instead (Eww!).
I then went down for xray - again they tried to make me walk down on my own. After this I came back up to the room and it was visiting time. I was looking forward so much to seeing my boyfriend after spending my time on my own there! He ended up sneaking in half an hour early and didn't get caught :) :) Whilst he was there a nurse came with my medication and said I could leave. I was SO happy!! He helped me get changed and then off I went home!
I felt so weak and the walk to the car really took it out of me. When I got home I was in pain and so started to take my concoction of medications I was prescribed. Within about half an hour I felt alright and was talking away! Then came the downer after the up! I was knackered. We lazed on the sofa and I drifted in and out of sleep for a good couple of hours.
Monday 5 March 2012
Going in for the Op
My boyfriend came to the hospital with me and we asked the nurse if he was able to wait. She didn't seem as if this was normal and said he could but we would have to wait in the 1st waiting room as the others are split male/female as people would be in their gowns. I was happy with that, as long as I didn't have to wait on my own. She took me into a room asked some questions and checked my blood pressure and temperature. My temperature was 37.8 and normal should be 37 - this wasn't good. I asked if it would make a difference to me getting the op and she just said we would have to keep checking it and hope it goes down. I was so stressed about this, what if I couldn't have the op and it had to be postponed. I didn't feel ill and knew the reason was just because I was so stressed so coming again at a different time probably wouldn't make a difference.
The nurse came and told me we could go through to the next waiting room as there were no other female patients scheduled for the afternoon. I changed into my gown and got comfy. Conversation was minimal really between me and my bf as I was too scared, but it was just good to have him there. They kept coming and checking my temperature. Everytime it had gone down but only a tiny bit and not enough to make a difference. The anesthetist came to see me and asked what he needed, then I had to go and see one of the team of surgeons I was having. All the questions were pretty much the same repeated but I suppose they have to do it! They checked my temp one last time and it was normal enough for me to have it... PHEW! :)
I was left for a while and then the nurse came in to say it was time to go down. All of a sudden I burst into tears and couldn't control myself. She gave me a few mins with my boyfriend then it was time to go. As I walked down to the theatre I couldn't stop crying, I felt stupid. I think mainly it was a culmination of all the stress leading up to it. Plus I was SOOOO scared! I got onto the table and they started hooking me up to machines. They put the IV in and away I went...
I woke up in recovery about 2 1/2 hours later. The first thing I started doing was feeling round my mouth with my tongue to see what was numb. Only the top. That meant I must have had only a lefort 1 done. I felt really rubbish, in pain and sick. They asked how I was feeling then decided to give me a concoction of painkillers and anti sickness stuff. The anti sickness worked a treat and I felt much better. They kept coming and putting an oxygen mask over me as I was coughing a bit. I hated this as it hurt the inside of my nostrils. After about 1 and 1/2 hours they rang my boyfriend and took me up to the ward. I was so lucky I got my own private room which I wasn't expecting. This was much better than having to share when feeling like that!
I waited about an hour and a half until it was visiting time and then my Mum, Dad, sister and boyfriend turned up. This was so good to see people close to me. I've never been in hospital and wasn't liking the experience much as I preferred to be at home. I was doing quite well, managing to speak quite a bit and they said I didn't look as bad as they thought I would. I got my mum to take a snap of me before leaving. When they left I watched some tv and tried to get some rest. I didn't end up even trying to sleep until about 1am. Here is a lovely pic of what I looked like just after:
Not too swollen really!
The nurse came and told me we could go through to the next waiting room as there were no other female patients scheduled for the afternoon. I changed into my gown and got comfy. Conversation was minimal really between me and my bf as I was too scared, but it was just good to have him there. They kept coming and checking my temperature. Everytime it had gone down but only a tiny bit and not enough to make a difference. The anesthetist came to see me and asked what he needed, then I had to go and see one of the team of surgeons I was having. All the questions were pretty much the same repeated but I suppose they have to do it! They checked my temp one last time and it was normal enough for me to have it... PHEW! :)
I was left for a while and then the nurse came in to say it was time to go down. All of a sudden I burst into tears and couldn't control myself. She gave me a few mins with my boyfriend then it was time to go. As I walked down to the theatre I couldn't stop crying, I felt stupid. I think mainly it was a culmination of all the stress leading up to it. Plus I was SOOOO scared! I got onto the table and they started hooking me up to machines. They put the IV in and away I went...
I woke up in recovery about 2 1/2 hours later. The first thing I started doing was feeling round my mouth with my tongue to see what was numb. Only the top. That meant I must have had only a lefort 1 done. I felt really rubbish, in pain and sick. They asked how I was feeling then decided to give me a concoction of painkillers and anti sickness stuff. The anti sickness worked a treat and I felt much better. They kept coming and putting an oxygen mask over me as I was coughing a bit. I hated this as it hurt the inside of my nostrils. After about 1 and 1/2 hours they rang my boyfriend and took me up to the ward. I was so lucky I got my own private room which I wasn't expecting. This was much better than having to share when feeling like that!
I waited about an hour and a half until it was visiting time and then my Mum, Dad, sister and boyfriend turned up. This was so good to see people close to me. I've never been in hospital and wasn't liking the experience much as I preferred to be at home. I was doing quite well, managing to speak quite a bit and they said I didn't look as bad as they thought I would. I got my mum to take a snap of me before leaving. When they left I watched some tv and tried to get some rest. I didn't end up even trying to sleep until about 1am. Here is a lovely pic of what I looked like just after:
Not too swollen really!
Saturday 3 March 2012
Surgery Day!
So surgery day is here and I am so scared its unreal! I managed to stay fairly calm last night but now its the morning its just took over! I am allowed to eat a very light breakfast before 8am but I couldn't actually manage any so that's that for proper food I guess for the next 6 weeks! hmmmmmmmmm... I keep saying to my boyfriend do I have to go? Which I know is hard for him. He doesn't want to see me go through this but also knows I obviously do need to go!
Not sure if I can have anyone wait with me at the hospital before I go down for it. I really hope I can have him wait though. So scared and sitting there on my own with just my thoughts to take over will be too much. Not sure what I am scared of most, the anesthetic, the actual surgery or the recovery! :(
See you on the other side guys!
Not sure if I can have anyone wait with me at the hospital before I go down for it. I really hope I can have him wait though. So scared and sitting there on my own with just my thoughts to take over will be too much. Not sure what I am scared of most, the anesthetic, the actual surgery or the recovery! :(
See you on the other side guys!
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