Surgery Wish List

Hey Ortho-blogees!
In preparation for surgery, I've decided to compose a list of post-surgery items I need or want and things I already have that I will use after surgery. This is inspired by my mom who wants me to make a list, and who calls Zip N Squeeze "Sippy Saks". Hehee.

Things I already have that will come in handy:

• "Hospital Tray"- I love this. Although it's a laptop cart, it's practically a hospital tray. It's perfect for drawing, (laptops of course), and reading in bed. I know this is going to be a huge asset for after-sugery recovery.
• Nintendo DS- This will definitely help the boredom factor. The only thing that saddens me, is that is will be very difficult to practice my French after surgery.
• Books, Puzzles, Computer- I've purchased a huge order of comic books off of Amazon.com, they've been slowly collecting on my shelves, and I've been trying to abstain until surgery is over... trying. :P I'm also a huge puzzle geek, and have got lots of puzzles (and puzzle games for the DS) to keep me entertained. Also, here's a warning: I'll probably be blogging a LOT after surgery.

My Wish List:

• "Sippy Saks"- I know Zip N Squeeze bags are huge on the jaw-surgery population. I do have a question though- I've heard a lot of people ordered them, but then their doctor game them some. Should I wait or just order them?
• Jaw Wraps & Spa Face Masks- These look so comfy and I'm not even in pain yet! On Michelle's Blog, she mentioned how her hospital uses the AqueCool device. Oh god. I wish my hospital uses something like that on me. I'm so jealous.
• Sonic Gift-Card- I have a feeling I'll be needing a lot of slushes. Although, there's this new "mom & pop" smoothie place that opened up near me, and I've never had jamba juice before, so this may be a good opportunity for me to experiment with slushies.
  

I'll probably add to this list as I get closer to surgery..

So, fellow blog-ees: What's on YOUR Wish-List?
~If you haven't had surgery yet, make a list on your blog about items that are on your wish-list.

~If you've had surgery already, discuss which items you couldn't have lived without, things that didn't make a huge difference, or things you wish you could have had then.

Jaw Surgery Dreams

Last night I had a dream that I just had my jaw surgery.
My chin was huge and deformed, and mouth was "wired" (aka banded) shut. For some reason I kept trying to open my mouth, or my teeth would come off the splint and wouldn't go back on it. All this time I kept thinking "Why do I keep trying to open my mouth!? Stop moving it!" Everything felt so tight and uncomfortable.

Even after I woke up my jaw was stiff and sore. *shiver*

It was such a weird dream.
(By the way, the picture on the right is a jaw bone dream catcher. I figured it was completely appropriate for today's post.)

So, my blogger buddies, have you had any dreams about braces, jaw surgery, or any upcoming event, for that matter, that went awry?

A little relief

I went to my orthodontist (Dr.B) today. I had a letter from Dr. Leibold to give him, plus I wanted to ask about my orthognathic situation.
He said my new SureSmile wires were coming in next Thursday, the 26th, and that he could fit them on me and the problem with my back teeth being too wide could be fixed by July 8th- the day when my surgical models need to be made.

I also asked him about my surgery. I told him I had a little anxiety because now I have this surgery date, but I really still don't know exactly what will be getting done. I'm just an extremely visual person, so if a surgeon just tells me "(insert medical jargon)" that doesn't help me understand what they're gonna do to me. I need to see pictures, I need to see before and after.
But Dr. B said not to worry, that they will have to work with my new surgical molds anyway, and they'll go more in-depth the closer we get to surgery.

For some reason, it really put me to ease, and I'm feeling a lot better.

He also told me that he heard Leibold's name mentioned on the Sports Radio the other night, that one Sportscaster is getting jaw surgery and Leibold is one doing it (or overseeing it). I think that's kinda cool, actually.

Just for Fun

Sometimes I'll play around in MS Paint. (That little paint program on practically every PC)
I know I could do much better in Photoshop, but I'm very lazy, and it takes about 30 minutes to book up my other comp with that program on it.

So, without further ado, I present the "MS Paint Jaw Surgery Predictions!!"


To see the picture better, you can click on them. And the "Before" is to the left, the "After" is on the right.


These "authentically fake" photos are of me after a very crude self-preformed LeFort II (even though I think I'll actually be getting LeFort I) and slight genioplasty.

Just a little fun thin I felt like doing, trying to get some kind of earthly idea of what they'll be doing to me in the near future.

It's go time.

July 24th.

Surgery day.

Although I've been incredibly eager to get the surgery done as soon as I can, the anxiety just set in and has hit me full force.

I went in for my 2nd pre-surgical evaluation. After waiting about an hour in the waiting area, I met with the doctors, Leibold & Largent. (The guys who will be doing the surgery on me). And then it was something like "Ok, we're gonna move your top jaw. ok. Let's move you to scheduling." I was a little put off because on one of the first appointments Largent had said something like 'to make it look right, we'll move both.' So, I opened my big mouth and asked about that, and Leibold said something like well, we can do a genioplasty (that involves cutting the chin and moving it forward with out moving the lower jaw.) "Yeah, let's do that."
And then THAT made me nervous. like.. if I hadn't said anything would they not do that, and would i have looked worse? Or, because I opened my big yap now they're gonna do something else and I'm going to look worse?!
And now my paranoid lil' brain is going crazy, I shouldn't have said anything or should I? I just want it to be done right... Ahh!!
I have faith in the doctors, but I guess it's just my first wave of pre-surgery jitters.

but July 24th.. WOAH.. That was MUCH sooner than I even hoped. That's really cool, but my paranoidness is just thinking "Is that enough time for the docs to do what they need to?" and a whole bunch of over-over analyzing. I'm just trying to re-psyche myself up for the surgery thinking "They know what is best" "The doctors know what they're doing" "You've got two fully qualified people watching over you, that's better than just having one surgeon!" Aaah, I can't wait.... I think! ;D

Aaarrr, matey! I've got hooks!

Good news, everyone!

I went to Dr.B's (the orthodontist) today. He took a long look at my teeth molds and said the problem that stood in the way of surgery could be easily fixed. Better yet, it can be done after the surgery. wee!!

He continued on to mention that when he was speaking to the surgeon last Wednesday he was talking about the wrong sister. Gee... that's nice... ;P But I figured as much when Dr. Leibold (the surgeon) kept asking if I had my SureSmile wires with a puzzling look.
Dr.B went ahead and but the surgical hooks on me today too. [on the weird topic of hooks.. image searches for "hooks" yield funny results: here. I'm not saying anything...]

He also ordered my second pair of SureSmile wires, they'll be here in 6 weeks.. Incredibly enough, he thinks I'll have surgery by then. I'm not that optimistic, but if it's possible I'm happy; if not.. I just wish he hadn't put the surgical hooks on just yet.. the one in the middle makes me look like David Letterman.. like I have a gap between my two front teeth (the hooks are black).

Oh well! All an' all, I'm pretty darned happy! :B

Dental Dissapointment

Well, I went to what I thought would be my final consultation for the surgery- where the doctor would tell me what and when all this jaw-stuff would be done and we'd get all the insurance stuff squared away... but apparently my top jaw is wider than the teeth on my bottom, so if they moved the jaws like they wanted to, it wouldn't line up so great.

SO

That means I'll have to get more orthodontic work before my surgery, when all this time I thought that all my teeth work was finished. And I've already have my SureSmile wires in, so I've got NO IDEA what this means for my surgery. It would take over a month to get new Sure Smile wires, if that is the plan, or if they take those out and put regular wires in it's like.. What was the whole point of doing ALL that work to get the SureSmile wires?

I was listening to the Doctor speak on the phone to my orthodontist. And I hear "Christmas break" and "Late Fall" and tears where coming to my eyes. I do not want to wait that long, and I also don't want to be a slobbering swollen mess alone, 4 hrs away from my family for Christmas. (Nor would I want to during Thanksgiving/my birthday).

I feel like my window of opportunity is disappearing.

But I hope hope hope hope that all this dental stuff works out so I can get surgery BEFORE the fall. Wish me luck!