Eating Utensil

 

    My new "fork".  Since I'll be wired shut, this is 

what I will use to eat with the first 11 days.

OLD SMILE

 

BEFORE

The reason for the surgery is that on the right side of my mouth  (left side in picture), I am chipping off my back teeth when chewing.  If left uncorrected, I'll just have more chipping and losing of teeth. 

Before Picture

10 days and counting...

Well, my my "pre-admitting" is done tonight. I'm still very nervous, tearful at times. I'm praying for peace and comfort. The worst thing I can do is panic, especially after the surgery. While I will have wire cutters on me at all times, should I use them in a panic I will botch the surgery.

I haven't looked nice enough lately to get that before picture. Maybe tomorrow.

I am having Orthognathic Surgery to correct an under and crossbite on May 7th. I chip teeth because of where my teeth hit when eating, so it has to be fixed. Here's a definiton.

Orthognathic surgery is surgery to correct conditions of the jaw and face related to structure, growth, sleep apnea, TMJ disorders or to correct orthodontic problems that cannot be easily treated with braces. Originally coined by Dr. Harold Hargis, D.M.D., Bones can be cut and re-aligned, held in place with either screws or plates and screws.

I am two weeks away from surgery and as nervous as can be. I spent the last nine months distancing myself and convincing myself that this was not going to be a big deal. WRONG! I had no plans of reading up on the surgery beforehand, then something nudged me to do so, so I watched a few video diaries (not the actual surgery) on youtube. I was so glad that I did because I would have been in tears at yesterday's appointment. Here are a few things that I know now:

• Surgery is approx. 4 hours long
• My top jaw will be moved forward
• My bottom jaw will be moved over
• My chin also may possibly be moved
• Overnight Hospital Stay
  
• 11 days wired shut
• First 3-5 after the surgery are the hardest
• Food the consistency of water for first 10 day
• 3 months no lifting over 10 lbs
• 3 months no blowing my nose
• 4-6 weeks liquid/soft food diet

What am I most terrified of?

--the wiring shut, not being able to breathe
--not being able to play with my kids or have them sit in my lap for the first couple of weeks

The nurse said a patient explained the breathing thing as "anyone can get up and go to the bathroom, someone who has had this surgery can get up, take one step, catch their breath, take another step, catch their breath, and so on".

I trust God will get me through the surgery, I just need to stay positive and accept lots of help. So if you have offered, you might get a call asking if you can take a kid here or there. I will post a before picture soon.