Day 6 Post-Op

Well, I must say things are getting better. With that comes wanting to "eat" and "talk" and all of those things that are frustrating right now. I still get tired pretty easily and very nauseous. Not sure why as I've pretty much stopped pain meds except for occasional Ibuprofen and the antibiotics they have me on. Maybe that's it? I see my OS on Wednesday so I'm going to ask about this. I also have a very dry mouth and lots of nasal stuff. Which I would anyway since it's allergy season. I'm concerned about my lips not closing. I know the OS said he had to cut a lot of muscles right there so maybe I just need to do some exercises to get it back? I tried to put my lips around a straw and can't. Hopefully that'll change. This is probably also why I'm drooling so much.  I'll ask on Wed. My swelling is going down some. It's still pretty swollen on my left side of face and I'm starting to bruise on my chin and even down my neck. But, things are improving! Thankfully! Eric is staying home Wed and Thurs and will return to work on Friday. He has a meeting tomorrow he HAS to attend so my wonderful neighbor is going to watch Emry for a few hours to help out.  Well, here are Day 6 photos. I tried to smile in the second one! lol!

Day 4 Post Op

I just noticed how I have drool all over my shirt and sunglasses on my head! I look like such dork! Oh well, I really haven't cared much about that these past couple of days.  Today seemed a little better. One big piece of advice I can give is to push yourself to actually drink from a cup. You get so much more this way than w/ the syringe. Also, I pushed myself to swallow pills instead of the liquid meds. These also seem to work longer/better. Then if you can do this you can also take a multi-vitamin.  I hope my swelling starts to go down soon. I had a little "variety" today. Muscle milk, an EAS shake, tomato soup, lots of chicken broth. It really helped w/ my nausea. I've been trying to get my mouth cleaned out. I just have this really bad taste no matter what I do. :( My kids are  coming home tonight. I'm so excited to see them. I know they'll raise my spirits. Eric is still home until Tues morning. Then it's all on me...my son will be in Kindergarten all day but I will have my daughter home w/ me. This has been making me nervous. I don't know what I'm going to do. Hoping that I can be able to manage and just nap when she does.

I can't wait to be at that place where you say...I'm sooo happy I did this! I know it will come. I'm just very impatient...and I'm a constant drooling mess!!!

Day 3 Post-Op Photos

Yesterday was day three post surgery. I had surgery Tuesday afternoon and came home Thursday night. Friday I was seen back in the OS office for a follow up. He said everything looked good and that my swelling was minimal. I don't feel at all like it's minimal! My eyeballs hurt because everything is so swollen and I can't breathe through my nose at all. I think I feel like such a freak that it's taking it out of me emotionally! I just want to get better already. I'm nervous around my kids, my dog, my husband! I just look and feel like a huge bloated fish!

I'm still taking pain meds and anti-nausea meds. I actually hadn't been nauseous until today. I also choke down chicken broth and muscle milk daily. I started out w/ Ensure but it was a little thicker than the muscle milk so now I'm drinking it. Doesn't taste the greatest but it has those calories and protein needed to heal...and I want to HEAL!!!!

I didn't sleep well at all last night. I have all the pillows propped up and can't breathe. I'm just hoping I can manage when Eric goes back to work on Tuesday. That's what's making me nervous.  I'm in charge of this house and I feel HELPLESS. :(

Elishia the Chipmunk!!!

just posting pics. i'll update later. Pretty swollem and doped up.  Surgery took approx 5 hours. Didn't even need the chin implant as my lower jaw came forwar 10mm,. That's one FULL cm.  I also went up 5mm on top and out 2mm. Can't wait for swelling to go down and blood clots out of nose. But doimg "okay" XOXO. Of course the one's w/ less swellimg is right after surgery. The other two are from today. Gotta get  back to bed!zzzzz

I Got the "Hook" Ups!!!

So, I def got  the "hook" ups on Wednesday! I went to the Ortho and he placed five surgical hooks on top and three on bottom. I don't think they'll be using them all but just wanted the extra in there in case. My daughter was with me at that appt. (she's three) and I think I scarred her for life. I had all of these wires hanging out of my mouth. I wish I had a photo! Anyway, the hooks were no big deal. It took about an hour to get it all in there but they didn't give any discomfort. The only issue I had was that I couldn't sleep on my side anymore so now I'm only sleeping on my back. I guess I better get used to that anyway! Besides, Dr. Oz says it's best for you to sleep that way! :)

Thurs was my final appt. with OS before SURGERY. This appt lasted approx two hours. They took a pan x-ray and several impressions on my top teeth and bottom, plus some "bite" impressions for a splint (I think) and took vitals, etc. Everything looked great and I feel a huge peace with my OS and staff. He is super nice and calm (which is important to me!!!) and never made us feel rushed. My Hubby had lots of questions (and probably repeated several) and they never once acted "annoyed". I'm very secure in our choice of OS. He also introduced us to the cosmetic surgeon that assists him in the OR. Sorry, but no projected photos. OS told us that they used to do them but then it may give you a false idea if things don't happen just like that and you may be disappointed. It makes sense! Ultimately his goal is to get my bite, function and breathing corrected first and foremost. I totally understand that. So, I told Eric to make sure and take photos right after surgery before the swelling takes over.

Originally they thought I would need a 2-segment Lefort but after reviewing the models I'll only need a Lefort I. Very excited about this as it will be a little easier recovery and less time in the OR. Surgery is expect to take 3-4 hours. They'll do my upper jaw first. Expect to go up approx. 4 mm and out a little. Lower jaw is expected to go out approx. 8 mm and then a chin implant.

I have to be at the hospital at 9:30 am on Tuesday and surgery will start approx. Noon. I am super duper nervous. I can't even begin to describe my anxiety. I'm more anxious worrying about my kids, Hubby and animals. I actually get wobbly in the legs. We watched the movie Extreme Measures last night and I plan on watching the show I Shouldn't Have Survived. This totally makes me know that if they can go through THAT stuff, I can do this! ;)

*Note: Just realized the show is called I Shouldn't Be Alive...this is how out of it I am! lol! :)

I have to say that I am so thankful to have such a supportive Hubby, sister and bloggin' friends. My sister is eight years older than me but she is like my best friend. She has always looked out for me and knows how sick I was as a kid. She believes in this as much as I do and I'm thankful for that. Even though she always teased me around the house calling me "Bucky Beaver". lol! I still love her!!! XOXOXO

The Countdown is OOOOONNNNNN

Okay, so tomorrow will be one week until my upper, lower jaw surgery w/ genioplasty. I cannot believe it's been over a year since I began this journey. My how time flies...and stands still at the same time! I go for my surgical hooks on Wednesday and my super duper appt. with the OS on Thursday to get exact measurements, draw blood, $$PAY$$, etc. :)
Insurance denied again..no surprise...so I am filing a second level appeal and having my OS suggest it be reviewed by an MD who specializes in this field. He says I have an open bite which is a skeletal defect so we'll see.

I am gearing up for the big day. I am setting up a bed downstairs w/ everything I need. Which is really NOTHING but a bunch of pillows, chap stick, nose spray, TV and some books. I have no clue what I'm in for. lol! I also bought some vitawater, lots of chicken broth, carnation instant breakfast, ensure and emergen-c (which I have been taking everyday to get my vit C up!).

I received a call from the hospital last week going over my meds that I can/cannot take. I mostly only take vitamins anyway, but I have to discontinue my Osteo-Bio flex, Omega 3's and Excedrin Migraine. This one was the HARDEST.  I've been getting lots of migraines since my last braces adjustment and w/ the allergy season upon us it has been miserable. I got the WORST migraine last week and thought I was going to start puking...I hadn't purchased any Tylenol yet (which is the only "safe" med to take) so I took the Excedrin anyway and then headed up to buy some Tylenol. Thankfully, I haven't had any episodes since. I guess I didn't realize how much I relied on the Excedrin. I hope this surgery helps my migraines. I've had them since I was about 8 years old. They were really unbearable until I discovered the Excedrin....I should sponsor them! lol!!!

Last weekend I took a little weekend trip w/ my best friend of 20 years. We had a really good weekend. The only problem was that the water was AWFUL there and I'm totally reliant on my bottle of water. Especially at bedtime when my mouth gets so dry from all the "mouth breathing". Anyway, I woke up w/ my dry mouth and cheeks that had STUCK to the brackets of my braces. It must've ripped some skin b/c I am now battling w/ several canker sores on the insides of my cheeks. It's AWFUL to eat and I'm pretty peeved about this considering this is my last week of eating for awhile and I wanted to go out in STYLE!  :) They're getting a little better so I think I can up my eating  in the very near future. I'm holding nothing back this week!!!

My oldest boy just started Kindergarten this past week. I think it's been an adjustment for him and some stress for me but it's getting better. I'm just glad that he has a couple weeks to get used to it before my surgery. Thankfully he'll be off from school the Friday and Monday following my surgery so that should make it easier.

Oh, I almost forgot! The nurse that called said I should make sure and bring some button down shirts to wear for awhile after surgery so I don't "bump" my face. I hadn't considered that. I guess I should buy some????  Was this a problem for anyone??? anyone???

Progress in Progress!!!

So....I met with my Oral Surgeon yesterday and progress has been made. He was very impressed with the models that were sent from my Orthodontist's office and said I'm ready for take off!

Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, August 31st as long as there is an opening at the Surgi Center they use. I am so excited. I'm also excited where the surgery is being performed as it will not only cost less but there are private rooms with Wi/Fi. Not so sure I'll be feeling well enough to update while hospitalized but we'll see! :)

I will have my surgical hooks put on one week prior and also have my long 2+ hour appt. w/ the Surgeon to go over the exact measurements and have all my diagnostics done, etc. His "guess" is that I will probably go up approx 4mm on my upper jaw and out 5 mm on my bottom. I was told this will dramatically change my life and increase breathing DOUBLE from my mouth and my nose. I couldn't be happier. You can't put a price on that. I've spent my whole life struggling w/ breathing issues and this is such a big deal to me (and my husband). I am also impressed with the Surgeon. He is so kind and makes me feel like this is just as important to him as it is us.

He still hasn't decided if I will need a two piece Lefort or just one. He'll know at that long appt. If he decides on two pieces the surgery will be about an hour longer (3-5 hour surgery) and I will have a splint in place. I will not be "wired" shut but have rubber bands on my teeth and will have braces approx. 9 months after surgery. He's guessing a 2-3 night hospital stay.  The Surgeon also mentioned that I may still have some gums showing when I smile because my teeth are so short. I guess they have another surgery that can be done later where they laser your gums so you have more enamel showing. No thank you! I'll stick with my short teeth. I don't plan on adding any additional $$$$ signs! :)

In the insurance avenue....My Surgeon recommend that I insist the records being reviewed by another Maxiofacial Surgeon as it will show my open bite and the fact that it's a skeletal defect that needs to be corrected. He was also going to have the office manager call my insurance again to pressure them some more. We'll see what happens. He DID tell me not to give up and keep fighting! That's all I needed to hear to get my gloves back on and get back in the ring for another round! :)

Hope everyone is doing well. Summer is almost over. I'm looking forward to fall and some butternut squash soup! :)

XOXOXOXO