Ugh and Ouch

I've been having a lot of upper-lip pain, especially at the incision area.

Last night a series of involuntary big yawns stretched my limits and might have led to my a nosebleed later during my nap on the couch. Unfortunately, I'm a very smiley person, too, and I just can't help it! But smiling hurts!

Panic-Kelley keeps fearing I maybe doing damage to my stitches, it's not the smiling I'm most concerned about (even though it hurts), but it's the those involuntary yawns you can't help are so frustrating!!
So, anyway, when I was cleaning my teeth today I saw some of the stitches hanging down and it freaked me out! Also, I think I have a cavity now. UGH. What's the point of getting my teeth all moved if they're all gonna fall out?? I'm trying to keep them as clean as I can.

Oh little mouth of mine heal up nice and normal! Pleaasee!
Meanwhile, I'll try to keep Panic-Kelley at bay.

It's 12am, which technically makes this my one-week post op! weeooh! *confetti*

Here's today's recovery pic:

Turn-Around

My family just went home today. Aw, I miss my mo-mo already.
I was tempted to go home with them, but I have my next appointment in a week, so, it would probably be too much effort back and forth.

The last couple of days have been hard. I think the worst part, rather than the obvious pain and swelling of my face, was all the stomach issues I had. First, while in the hospital, I threw up blood about 3 times. But after coming home, the problems swallowing made me gag on everything, the medicine made me sick to my stomach, and I had horrible heart burn. I couldn't lay down without feeling sick, sit without being sick, anything.

Well, today has been the best day, so far, after surgery. Day 5 Post-Op! This morning I woke up around 4, am couldn't fall back to sleep. So, I decided to take a nice long shower and prepare for the appointment this morning. The appointment went well, and Dr. Leibold said I was looking well. Then send me home with a pack of tighter rubber bands and said "see ya in a week!"

My meals today included a slush of blended ice, strawberries, and pomegranate leomande, Then for lunch, I tried my best to swallow some La Madeline's Tomato Basil Soup. I think my taste buds are a little dull right now, too, because nothing really tastes as good. And for dinner, I was feeling very tired, and a little sick, so I decided just to sip a little sprite/pomegranate lemonade mixture with a little cup of vegetable broth.

Well, here's the latest pic of my progress, there's more pictures in my "Post Surgery Photos" Section on the right --->

Home

Sorry if this post is short or misspelled, I'm very tired and dizzy. So, according to the docs, the surgery went well. it was somewhat easy to talk the first half day after surgery, but now it's very very hard. It feels like there is only enough room in my mouth for my tongue. My face is puffy, sore, and at the same time numb. And my nose is crusted with blood.

I think I was lucky with my roommate. She was my voice when I didn't have one. When I needed help, and pressed the nurse call, the voice would answer "Yes?" I'd answer the best I could, but all my groans for "yeah" (I need help) sounded like "nah". and the nurse dispatcher would hang up on me. I'd press again and get an annoyed "Hello?" and my roommate to the rescue would yell "Get someone in here she can't talk!" My roommate was spending her 7th day in the hospital. I think she was having some problems with her eye, and sickle cell anemia, and needed oxygen. She and my mom would talk, and it was nice to listen to the stories while I drifted in and out of consciousness. Like escaping from Hurricane Katrina, starting a new life here in SA, her and my mom talking about their own families and children.

Anyway, it was nice to have her as a neighbor. :)

My mental state: The best it can be at the moment, I'm trying to keep my sense of humor intact, but I've wanted to cry a lot (it's my way of getting stress out) but I'm too afraid I'd make myself more swollen. I also feel I need to be as strong as I can for my sister, who will eventually need the surgery, too, but who hasn't wanted it for several months now.

Well, getting tired, talk to you all later, thanks so much for all the wishes, they made a huge difference waking up after surgery.

Here's my first recovery pic:

The Day of a Thousand Bites

Good-bye solid food. I will miss you.

Today was my last day, the mighty crunchfest ended about an hour ago (midnight). I enjoyed La Madeline pasta for lunch (I usually get the soup/half sandwhich deal, but I'm abstaining from any of the "S" trinity: Soup, Smoothie, ..ssslliquidfoods? That's my new word. yes. Sliquidfood.

Anyway, my mo-mo, dad, and adorable little brother clay came down and after much consideration, tex-mex was the cuisine of choice. [I personally felt like asian food, but this is a democracy, besides, I'm always happy with mexican food]

At dinner, there was much laughter and munching. My family was patient with me as I slowly chewed my way through the meal. (Just wait, if they think I eat slow now...) After dinner, everyone donated their left-over chalupas to the Feed the Kelley Fund. And I tried my best to gnaw through what was there before the clock ticked 12:00am.

What happens if you feed the Kelley after midnight? Who knows, but the doctors said so.

Oh wait... THIS might happen:
Yeah, that's not a good idea. Keep me away from water, too. I might multiply.

Anyway, so if I don't have the chance to post a few final words before surgery, you'll be hearing from my mo-mo over on her blog.
See you on the other side!!
-Kam

YAY Confirmation!!

I got the call - I'm approved by insurance for jaw surgery! However, insurance denied coverage for genioplasty. But that's ok, because I didn't really want it anyway.

I had a final visit to Leibold and Largent today. I wanted to firm up somethings and ask a few more questions before surgery.

ALL my anxieties are extinguished and I'm feeling great and ready for surgery.

Leibold said I was an excellent candidate for the neck liposuction and that, although subtle, it would give me an excellent final result. And personally, I'd be MUCH happier with that than genioplasty.

Also, since the lipo or genioplasty wouldn't be covered by insurance anyway, the lipo costs half as much and the genioplasty would. EVEN BETTER!
Now, since hospitals & insurance are jerks, they would charge for any hospital, anesthesia time, and surgery room time for a procedure not covered by insurance. So, it would be cheaper for me to go back, about 3 weeks later, to get the additional procedure done at the Dental school (where the surgery room & anesthesia is a small flat fee) than to get it done the same time as jaw surgery and the hospital charge by the minute. hundreds vrs. thousands? I think the choice is simple enough.

So, the family is coming in tomorrow, then 6 am Thursday it's off to Surgery-Land!

A big shout out to Lori who got her surgery yesterday! I hope everything went without a hitch, and hope she's healing well!
Also, Michelle, Rachel, and I have started a little recipe blog called Jaw Dropping Blends, it's still being put together at the moment, and I'll be starting on the header graphics soon. So, check it out!

the end to a stressfull day.

Incoming rant/thingy:

Yesterday at the splint fitting, Largent had mentioned not doing the genioplasty after all, I was relieved a little bit, because instead of a bigger chin, all I wanted was just a little more definition in my neck. He mentioned how I had a little excess tissue & fat in my neck and that they remove that "All the time" ("We do this all the time" is like their motto)
I was really happy, and my hopes were really high for a moment before they came back down.
"We'll just do the top jaw and if we decide to do the genioplasty or any kind of lipo, we can always do that another time"
Well. I feel very anxious that this is the only chance I'll ever get to get this right. Hospital stays and operating room cost a LOT. Almost as much as the surgery itself, so the chances that I can go back for anything is like, non-exsistant.

So, my mom says to call them and see if I can consult with them a little one more time.
Instead of sawing bone and moving my chin forward, I would be more satisfied keeping the chin I have, but with the extra tissue removed, I think it would give the illusion of a more defined jaw/neck line. Now, that isn't covered by insurance, but I'd be much more secure with it than different chin. If the cost is ridiculous than it won't happen, but if it costs as much as the genioplasty covered or cheaper, then I would like to go forward with it.


In OTHER news. The underside of my tongue feels a LOT better. Last night hurt like crazy, and it felt swollen, but after I woke up the next morning, it felt fine. It only hurts a little if I move my tongue to the other side of my mouth to try to pry food out my my braces or something, but otherwise, I'm good!
I made a mini-lasagna tonight. Yummy yummy! Mom would be proud (she makes the best lasagna)

Splint Fitting Day

Well, today was splint fitting day! I walked in to the office and was quickly seen by Dr. Largent, and he showed me were my teeth were going to be, but before he could fit the splint, he had to file down some of my teeth so that they would fit together properly after surgery. No biggie.

...right?

Well, other than a little bit of sensitivity here and there, and the smell of teeth smoke, it didn't hurt. That is, until he accidentally slipped at the very end and cut into the soft veiny underside of my tongue.

Then the floodgates opened.

Although I only let a couple tears pass in the office, I went to the restroom afterward and saw my mouth filled with blood. And burst out in tears. Like, not only blood was spilling from the cut in my mouth, but so were anxiety, fear, sadness, overwhelming grief. I was embarrassed that I was so upset, but it caught me off guard, and that hurt more than the pain.

I went to get a sonic slush afterward (Route 44 Lemon, no peel is my signature order) since it was happy hour (half off drinks). My mom must be psychic, because when I told her over the phone she said:
"Well, you should go to Sonic and get a slushie"
*sluuuurrrrrpp*
"Oh, haha, good you got one!"

But maybe when I was talking to her over the phone some of the anxiety spirits flew through the lines and got her, because I know this whole thing isn't easy for her ether. I love you, mo-mo, don't be sad :(

My fear

It's not the jaw surgery I'm most afraid of....

It's the chin.

At the consultation (yes, I've still got jitters from the last consultation) there was a little confusion toward the future of my chin. It's still pending whether they will do anything with my chin or not, and it's been "maybe", "we will bring it forward", "we will move it back". My poor heart, I don't think I can take it. It's less than two weeks before surgery, I don't want the chin thing to be decided to day of, the day before, or during surgery. I don't want to wake up with a chin I wasn't prepared for!
It's like the surgical hooks "more is good, but if not we'll get by" no, no, no... I just want a "YES genioplasy is necessary for an even appearance" or "NO it is not and you don't need it". No gray area, just a black or white answer.

jittery jittery jitters... aaaahh!! :P

Mo-Mo Weekend!

Today I had my pre-surgical work up. I had new models made, blood work done, and all the paperwork was signed and sealed. And who came to do it all with me? My mommy!
My mom, and littlest brother, Clay came to visit me sunday-tuesday, and the time flew by soooo quickly.
Mom was a huge help, making sure I had the essential post-surgery items, and everything I needed before surgery. (we even got matching pjs, so that I can heal in style with my mo-mo!) ;P

My brother insisted I get a little bell so I can ring when I need assistance (he's so cute), I got a mini-dry erase board so I can write/draw silly things at the hospital, we also got frozen juices, soups, and other things so that I can "eat". (The hunt still continues for the cold spa mask and I'll be adding Rachel's new best friend to my wish list) So, I think once the big day comes around on the 24th, I'll be ready!

The pre-op visit went pretty smoothly, but now I'm starting to think "did he forget this? or that? How will this affect surgery?"
Like, for example, the measurements. I know almost everyone had strange measuring devices attached to their heads on the pre-op work up.. but he didn't do that, although I thought he said he was.. so I hope he didn't forget.
Or, He made a comment on the number of surgical hooks my orthodontist put on me and said something like "I guess we'll get by with this" (As my brain is screaming "Wait!! I can go back to the ortho and get more hooks! Don't "just get by" aaahh!")
Also, I really was hoping to learn my blood type, since I couldn't donate blood to myself, and I wanted to know which parent would have to donate to me in case of emergency,but the hospital wasn't given the "fancy paperwork" and so now it's "something we'll figure out the day of surgery". Grr. I wanted to knoooow! :(

But, I'm sure everything will be fine, and I'm really happy my mom and clay were able to visit me before the surgery date. yay :)

I want to be Ironwoman!

I had a bad last week. I was supposed to donate blood so I would have extra in case I needed it for surgery, but my blood is border-line iron deficient, so they won't take my blood, otherwise it could make me anemic. So, I need to start taking some iron supplements so my blood can be nice and healthy!
My mo-mo (mom) has got my back, though. And she's there to support me, even with extra blood if I need it!

Also, last week, I had to reschedule my appointment that I would be getting my new SureSmile wires. That really made me nervous because I don't know if my teeth will have enough time to move where they need to be by the 8th (when the oral surgeons will be making my final casts). But my orthodontist, Dr. B, said they'll be where they need to by the 8th. I just hope.
I decided to experiment with colors for the first time too, I wanted something fun and whimsical before my surgery. So, this is my current look:
I actually like the colors more than I thought I would, they're just fun and different, and even though I like the clear, I kinda regret not trying the colors sooner.
He put different surgical hooks on me, too, these are silver, but I still have the dark, almost black, ones on my lower teeth, because he didn't give me a new wire on the lowers.
And for some reason, only my front teeth hurt, a lot, but not any of the back teeth, which are the ones that are supposed to be moving...

Before I go, I just want to give a biiiiig shout out to Michelle and Rachel. Michelle just celebrated her one-week post op anniversary and she's doing great! Rachel went to the hospital on wednesday, and I hope everything went on without a hitch! So, go visit their blogs and give them lots of support!!!