Removal of Hardware Surgery Tomorrow!

Just got home from my pre-op appointment and I'm all set to have surgery tomorrow at 11 am.  I'm having two of the three plates removed and their screws (which I can actually feel AND see both on the outside of my jaw and inside of my gum lines) so I'm actually excited about having them taken out.  He said out of the 150 jaw surgeries he's done this year, I will be his first removal and he's doing one more on 12/26 for another patient.  This further intensified my theory of how horrible my luck is.  Dr. S also stated that there are only two reasons that the gums wouldn't heal properly; either you try to chew too early in the recovery process or your body just doesn't accept the metal.  I was cracking up because him and I both know that I am DEFINITELY in the latter bracket of this hell since I barely open my mouth/chew now as it is.

The cool thing is that I only received Vicodin for pain afterwards and no antibiotics, which I found surprising but definitely happy with.  So I'll be going in tomorrow morning after having starved myself for hours on end ;), surgery will be approximately one hour and then I'll spend one hour in recovery.  I will be released the same day and I'll be all stitched up but not banded or anything; after which I'll be on a liquid/soft foods diet for some time until my stitches fall out in 2 weeks hopefully in time for New Year's!
P.S. I'm only taking 2 days off work so here's hoping it all goes perfectly!

Will post after surgery xo

Days 3 & 4: They were right...

 Profile shot on day 3...

 

I am almost past the notorious days 3 and 4 post jaw surgery! Throughout this whole process, I kept hearing that these two days would be the worst both mentally, as many patients began to regret their decision around this time, and physically, as the anesthesia leaves your body these two days. Needless to say, they have been extremely challenging. I woke up with extreme nausea both days but was able to keep down liquid Emetrol to keep from vomiting. Also, I took a bath yesterday which felt AMAZING! I"m pretty sure I smell to high heaven lately as I've just been vegging on our recliner watching tv all day, lol. Breakdown of how I feel: there is still a LOT of pressure in my mouth as if someone is squishing my head and jaw through a panini press. I can't WAIT to just open my mouth! I am hyper aware of my teeth stacked up on top of each other and it's creating a lot of pressure in my ears. My right ear hurts more than my left but in terms of symmetry, everything else is the same. Pain, swelling and bruising is the same on both sides. The bruising and swelling traveled down to my neck and chest these past two days and I'm on strict instructions to stop using ice so I'm just waiting this part out. Thankfully, the swelling isn't getting any worse, it's just the nausea and pain that were heightened yesterday and today. I had a few visitors over the past couple of days which was nice but it really hurts to try to talk so I feel kinda lame hanging out with my friends, (sorry, guys!) I'm the loudest person I know so this has definitely been an adjustment. There have been some awesome glimmers of hope though! First, I am getting tingling sensations over my chin/lip which I assume are my nerves trying to connect back together, although I am still drooling when I eat/sleep and have no sensations under my nose. Also, I found an awesome combination of Chocolate Boost and banana that I can keep down and doesn't get stuck in my teeth! Ah, the simple things :) Although I did get some on the side of my lip which Steve so helpfully suggested I "just lick off" then quickly realized that my tongue is stuck between 100 rubber bands, haha. I've noticed that as soon as I go a few hours without food I feel extremely weak and tired so I'm learning the hard way not to deprive myself of food, even though I have to force it down. I was able to fold some laundry and put away some dishes today so I don't feel completely useless but even those two things wiped me out so back to watching Toy Story 3, hanging out with my puppies and being loved on by the hubs and Mom until I feel better. Thanks to everyone who stopped by with flowers, made me food, forced me to watch NFL ;) and sent me messages; you're totally keeping me going!

6 hours and counting...

BEFORE: My gross overbite-I will not miss you!

BEFORE: Profile shot! receding chin

BEFORE: teeth completely overlap and do not touch in the back

BEFORE: my big ol' before smile

BEFORE: I forced my lower jaw up for this shot to see all the hooks, 10 in alll

Hi. My name is Lara and I'm about 6 hours away from being admitted for in patient jaw surgery and it's finally starting to feel real. My stomach is currently in knots so I'll be short in my background leading up to this crazy journey but promise to update more along the way. Other people's blogs throughout their jaw surgeries have been immensely helpful to me so I figured what better way to have a forum to say all the things I will physically not be able to say but still want to share with my friends? Thus, this blog was created. I first sought an orthodontist consult in early 2010 for major spacing and an overbite and ended up getting a full metal mouth in early June 2010. A year an a half later, I've been diagnosed with Congential Mandibular Hypoplasia and a Maxillofacial Occulsion (which is a fancy way of say I have a recessive jaw and chin). Thankfully, I found an amazing surgeon who can fix this and in a few short hours, I'll be having my lower jaw broken and moved forward 7 mm and my chin broken and moved forward 4 mm. Hospital stay is about 2 days so I'll keep you posted... WISH ME LUCK!
*Thanks to all the amazing friends, family and co workers who have been extremely supportive in the process leading up to this. I wouldn't be able to do this without you.