I went to go and get my surgical hooks attached to the brace. Now this was something that I was really scared of for some reason. I didn't really find a lot of information on it beforehand and so didn't know what to expect. This should have probably pointed me to the conclusion that is isn't a big deal!!
It was fine, a little bit of pressure and that's it! You can hardly even see them either. I thought they were going to be these giant monstrosities that took over my mouth! The ortho did tell me to use some wax on them but i am pretty anti wax, i'd rather let me mouth get used to it. They have rubbed a bit, but not as bad as when the braces got put on. My teeth are sore but I think that's mainly from the work he did on my wire and a bit of tightening prior to putting the hooks on!
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
Last surgeon appointment - before pics
I'm due to get surgery for my Open bite this coming thursday - 3 days eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!
I saw my surgeon last week for my final appointment to find out whats going to be happening. When I saw her a few weeks ago they weren't sure what they were going to do yet and needed more time to think about it!
I saw my surgeon last week for my final appointment to find out whats going to be happening. When I saw her a few weeks ago they weren't sure what they were going to do yet and needed more time to think about it!
I've been told since I was 15 I needed it done but its sounded to scary so I just put it off. Its now starting to affect my health and I didn't like my teeth anyway so I decided to just get it over with! I'm lucky enough to be getting it done for free on the NHS and haven't had a big wait. I had my braces put on March last year and here I am ready for my op. I've been told it will probably be between 3-6 month of orthodontics after the op!
Anyway so I went last monday and she still wasn't 100% sure. She said my xrays looked like there was a big gap and showed I needed bi Max but when she looks at me in person she thinks it will just need the top jaw doing. She doesn't want to go through with bottom jaw unless she REALLY has to. So we've decided on a Lefort 1 posterior impaction (where they are tilting the back of the jaw down I think!) She did say this will bring my chin and bottom jaw forward slightly! If she gets in and does that and it isn't a class 1 occlusion she said she would do a bit of work on the bottom jaw!
The only problem I have is I wanted a more balanced profile. I predominately came into it wanting just a better function but now I want to sort out the aesthetics too. She did say after I am healed if I'm still not happy with my profile, as she said it isn't as balanced as it should be we will plan a genioplasty separate which she said is just a day case! hmppppph things are never easy are they!!! I'm off to the hospital again later today to get my surgical hooks on!
Here are some before pics:
Me before braces
Normal smiling face
Normal relaxed face
Close up of teeth -this is my bite completely together (only very back teeth touching)
Side smiling
Side relaxed
Friday, 10 February 2012
Waiting game...
Just thought I'd give a quick update. I'm kind of managing to stay positive about everything. I'm also researching Lefort 1's like there is no tomorrow. I'm hoping if I manage to trick myself into thinking I;m only having one of them if I get double it will be a bonus. My meeting is now 10 days away, which I'm hoping will go speedily!!!!
My mum has booked the time off to come with me and I'm hoping the appointment doesn't bother her too much. She isn't very PRO surgery (for anything) and the thought of it all freaks her out a bit. My boyfriend normally comes to the appointments with me as he's good at asking the questions I forget when I get overwhelmed but he is on a work training course that day that he can't get out of :(
Me and my mum have organised to go out for a nice lunch though afterwards! Should take my mind off it all hopefully as I need to enjoy that last week as much as I can! Me and my boyfriend have just moved house and are in the processes of doing it up. STRESS CITY ha.... trying to get things sorted a little bit better before the big op!
My mum has booked the time off to come with me and I'm hoping the appointment doesn't bother her too much. She isn't very PRO surgery (for anything) and the thought of it all freaks her out a bit. My boyfriend normally comes to the appointments with me as he's good at asking the questions I forget when I get overwhelmed but he is on a work training course that day that he can't get out of :(
Me and my mum have organised to go out for a nice lunch though afterwards! Should take my mind off it all hopefully as I need to enjoy that last week as much as I can! Me and my boyfriend have just moved house and are in the processes of doing it up. STRESS CITY ha.... trying to get things sorted a little bit better before the big op!
Monday, 6 February 2012
Disappointment
So I went to my pre op/ pre surgeon appt and to get my impressions etc done! As you can see from previous posts I was so excited to finally find out what was to be done in the operation as its not long off. I was concerned that my impressions and xrays were only booked in for after my appointment with my surgeon but I thought they must know what they're doing so i left them to it!
First I went in to see the pre op nurse and was in there about 50 mins - WOW was not expecting it to be that thorough! She told me I was probably having bi max surgery which I was happy about as they weren't 100 percent sure at the beginning of the process but I felt this would give me better results aesthetically rather than just functionally. She went through some things like how long I'll be banded shut, need off work and what the hospital stay may be like. She also weighed me, measured my height, took my blood pressure, did some tests for MRSA and booked me in for more blood checks to test my kidneys and liver.
After this I went in to see my surgeon. She had a look in my mouth and at my bite and couldn't believe how much my bottom teeth had expanded and moved out. She originally wanted to do bi max - rotating the top jaw and bringing the bottom forward, now she weren't sure about doing the bottom jaw. I felt gutted. I expressed concerns with just doing the top jaw as I don't like my weak profile/chin. She agreed that it wasn't balanced and said if they don't do the bottom jaw they could possibly look at doing some chin work? But everything was just speculation really and I couldn't ask questions as she didn't have answers for them. She said she needed to see my impressions and xrays first and do the mock operation on them prior to deciding what she will be doing. I get that this needs to be done but it was just so frustrating as I thought I'd find out today. She put some warm wax in my mouth and asked me to bite down on it whilst using some sort of measuring device on my face. Not sure what this was as it wasn't explained but I seemed to thin it could be for a splint? Not sure if I'm even having one of them!
So I went to my ortho's room and got my impressions made. He looked at my bite as said he thought it was a large gap not a small one but my surgeon thought it was a small one. So... now I just have to wait and see. My next appt is on the 20th Feb - which is 9 days before my surgery! I was so frustrated and sad after that appointment but I've managed to calm down and relax about it all. the main thing is since starting this journey I have developed a complex with how I look - my profile especially. Which I didn't have before. Its saddening to be told that they may not sort this. I came to jaw surgery for functional reasons but now need to sort physical things too as I think I'd still be unhappy afterwards!
I was told by preop 4-6 weeks off work and 2 week tight bands - liquid only, 2 weeks slightly lighter bands - mushy foods such as rice pudding and 2 more weeks lesser bands so soft foods. Not sure if all this applies if they do decide to just do one jaw.
Watch this space!
First I went in to see the pre op nurse and was in there about 50 mins - WOW was not expecting it to be that thorough! She told me I was probably having bi max surgery which I was happy about as they weren't 100 percent sure at the beginning of the process but I felt this would give me better results aesthetically rather than just functionally. She went through some things like how long I'll be banded shut, need off work and what the hospital stay may be like. She also weighed me, measured my height, took my blood pressure, did some tests for MRSA and booked me in for more blood checks to test my kidneys and liver.
After this I went in to see my surgeon. She had a look in my mouth and at my bite and couldn't believe how much my bottom teeth had expanded and moved out. She originally wanted to do bi max - rotating the top jaw and bringing the bottom forward, now she weren't sure about doing the bottom jaw. I felt gutted. I expressed concerns with just doing the top jaw as I don't like my weak profile/chin. She agreed that it wasn't balanced and said if they don't do the bottom jaw they could possibly look at doing some chin work? But everything was just speculation really and I couldn't ask questions as she didn't have answers for them. She said she needed to see my impressions and xrays first and do the mock operation on them prior to deciding what she will be doing. I get that this needs to be done but it was just so frustrating as I thought I'd find out today. She put some warm wax in my mouth and asked me to bite down on it whilst using some sort of measuring device on my face. Not sure what this was as it wasn't explained but I seemed to thin it could be for a splint? Not sure if I'm even having one of them!
So I went to my ortho's room and got my impressions made. He looked at my bite as said he thought it was a large gap not a small one but my surgeon thought it was a small one. So... now I just have to wait and see. My next appt is on the 20th Feb - which is 9 days before my surgery! I was so frustrated and sad after that appointment but I've managed to calm down and relax about it all. the main thing is since starting this journey I have developed a complex with how I look - my profile especially. Which I didn't have before. Its saddening to be told that they may not sort this. I came to jaw surgery for functional reasons but now need to sort physical things too as I think I'd still be unhappy afterwards!
I was told by preop 4-6 weeks off work and 2 week tight bands - liquid only, 2 weeks slightly lighter bands - mushy foods such as rice pudding and 2 more weeks lesser bands so soft foods. Not sure if all this applies if they do decide to just do one jaw.
Watch this space!
Friday, 27 January 2012
Time flies
When I first got my braces put on 10 months ago I felt that time would stand still and I'd never be ready for surgery! Wow, I was wrong.
Time has flown and now I'm only 5 weeks away from my surgery. Looks like I should finally make an effort with this blog and start documenting things now the important stuff is picking up.
I meet with my surgeon next week for a full break down of the surgery/ recovery/ hospital stay etc and to be honest I'm a little bit on the scared side. That means its real right? And I'm going to have to face up to it! Argh! No more osteriching around and sticking my head in the sand!
Time has flown and now I'm only 5 weeks away from my surgery. Looks like I should finally make an effort with this blog and start documenting things now the important stuff is picking up.
I meet with my surgeon next week for a full break down of the surgery/ recovery/ hospital stay etc and to be honest I'm a little bit on the scared side. That means its real right? And I'm going to have to face up to it! Argh! No more osteriching around and sticking my head in the sand!
Friday, 26 August 2011
5 months and waiting
So its been 5 months since I got my braces and I still haven't seen my orthodontist since before this :/ I am supposed to be seeing him in less than 2 weeks and I can't wait! It feels like it can't come soon enough. I've got so many questions but I know when I get in that room I'll forget them all and my mind will come up blank!
I've noticed I've got a tongue thrust and a reverse swallow, so I've spent the past month trying to correct this with exercises and constantly thinking about where my tongue is positioned in my mouth. Its hard but I know it will be worth it in the end. I don't want to go through all this and then have to deal with a relapse at the end of it. I'm planning to ask my ortho if I will be getting permanent retainers after all this - I hope so!!!
Another thing - My surgeon and ortho 5 months ago told me they want to do the surgery this january and i'm itching to know if i'm still on target for this. I hope he isn't particularly vague when I ask him. If he said I was on track that would make me one seriously happy bunny!!
I've noticed I've got a tongue thrust and a reverse swallow, so I've spent the past month trying to correct this with exercises and constantly thinking about where my tongue is positioned in my mouth. Its hard but I know it will be worth it in the end. I don't want to go through all this and then have to deal with a relapse at the end of it. I'm planning to ask my ortho if I will be getting permanent retainers after all this - I hope so!!!
Another thing - My surgeon and ortho 5 months ago told me they want to do the surgery this january and i'm itching to know if i'm still on target for this. I hope he isn't particularly vague when I ask him. If he said I was on track that would make me one seriously happy bunny!!
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
The week after wisdom teeth fun
So as soon as I got home I think I scared my mum half to death, she looked on at my face in horror. Okay so I was weirdly swollen to say it had just happened and was expecting most of it to come out overnight. I did have bits of blood on my aswell, struggled to speak and threw a glass of water down me trying to take a sip. It must be bedtime I thought..
I was feeling sorry for myself and this was pretty much the theme for the week. I went to bed and we put some tele on. At this point I refused to go to sleep even though the anaesthetic was working I didn't want to give in. I finally did. It was a restless night as the pain started to kick in after a few hours. I managed to sleep propped right up with about four pillows, took some pain killers and then tried to get a few hours kip more. I was awake fully for about 7am and decided to get up. Some how I appeared to be even more swollen than the night before and lovely bruising had started to come out.
I couldn't really manage to eat and still felt really sick from the anaesthetic. This went on for about 5 days. My friend came to visit me that first day and was shocked at my face (Nice ! :P haha) The days went by and I have to say I was pretty bored being off work and home alone. I wasn't supposed to be taking any time away from work and I ended up needing the whole next week off. I lost 9 1/2 pounds in 8 days - weight just seems to drop off me. Not when I actually want it to haha. So I was feeling pretty weak and was still bruised and swollen.
All in all I didn't expect the extractions to be that bad but I've heard mixed stories. Some people had same as me, worse or were completely fine afterwards. I think its because they were compact and one impacted though. I have got nerve damage and can't feel my chin still after 2 months. I'm hoping it will come back but its not the end of the world if it doesn't. The damage may get worse anyway after my actual surgery.
Here's a picture of me before the op:
Here's a picture of me after the op:
And a few days after:
I was feeling sorry for myself and this was pretty much the theme for the week. I went to bed and we put some tele on. At this point I refused to go to sleep even though the anaesthetic was working I didn't want to give in. I finally did. It was a restless night as the pain started to kick in after a few hours. I managed to sleep propped right up with about four pillows, took some pain killers and then tried to get a few hours kip more. I was awake fully for about 7am and decided to get up. Some how I appeared to be even more swollen than the night before and lovely bruising had started to come out.
I couldn't really manage to eat and still felt really sick from the anaesthetic. This went on for about 5 days. My friend came to visit me that first day and was shocked at my face (Nice ! :P haha) The days went by and I have to say I was pretty bored being off work and home alone. I wasn't supposed to be taking any time away from work and I ended up needing the whole next week off. I lost 9 1/2 pounds in 8 days - weight just seems to drop off me. Not when I actually want it to haha. So I was feeling pretty weak and was still bruised and swollen.
All in all I didn't expect the extractions to be that bad but I've heard mixed stories. Some people had same as me, worse or were completely fine afterwards. I think its because they were compact and one impacted though. I have got nerve damage and can't feel my chin still after 2 months. I'm hoping it will come back but its not the end of the world if it doesn't. The damage may get worse anyway after my actual surgery.
Here's a picture of me before the op:
Here's a picture of me after the op:
And a few days after:
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