Smile pre-braces!

I tried to find some pictures of me for the "before/after" shots.  But low and behold, I'm not in very many pictures!!  I'm usually the photographer!  This is actually a pretty good picture of me and my friend Krys on one of the many Breast Cancer 3-Days walks that we did.  The teeth look pretty good here, but you can only see the top set, the bottoms are recessed.  I guess Ill have to get out the IPhone and do some "clinical" before/after shots!

(I'm on the left)

Jaw Surgery Shopping List

Stuff I have purchased special to get through surgery:

• Notebook: to keep track of meds and to communicate
• Small white board to white quick notes to hubby
• Magic Bullet Deluxe: to prepare smoothies and grind food.  It comes with several small glasses  so I won't have to keep cleaning the blender. There are also containers you can blend and store in, and lids that strain, as well as "on the go" lids!
• Squeeze top puréed organic baby food. Mostly for the fiber content.
• Soy milk in vanilla, coffee, and chocolate!
• Aquaphor: for super stretched lips and dry skin after surgery
• Boogie wipes: pre moistened towelettes to clean my face (found in the baby section of the grocery store) they look pretty ingenious !
• Saline spray*
• Afrin*
• Sudafed*

* these items were on the surgeons list of stuff to aid in recovery

If I think of anything more ill let you know!

On your mark - get set.....!

Things are starting to move a little more quickly this week.  I have managed to keep myself occupied by working long work days, vacationing, and visiting haunted Bed and Breakfasts in Tennessee! (Really - a haunted house - not just one of those things that people dress up at and jump you from behind with a chain saw!! check out the Thomas House on Ghost Hunters weekends!) Diversion is very good!  The problem is that I have done so much prep at work and home, I am now left to my own demise and imagination!!  Not a good thing!! 

I received a call from the hospital yesterday and they just needed to verify my surgery date and insurance information.  "Ms Murphy", Yes, "Are you coming to see us Friday?", yes, "Can we verify your insurance information?", yes, "Can we get the remainder of your out-of pocket payment prior to you coming in on Friday?", no - the surgeon has first dibs on that!, "Okay then, we will bill you." Great - thanks.
That was the extent of it.... warm and fuzzy all over.  After that I got a little shaky with little butterflies in my stomach.... now its real!   Yesterday afternoon I went to the surgeons office for my pre-surgical everything;  x-rays, bite molds, information and disclaimer forms, AND a "free" plastic cup, special mouthwash and syringe, feeding syringe, and a handful of prescriptions for everything from narcotics, antibiotics, to anti-nausea stuff!! 

Dr.Jo was very reassuring and reviewed the entire procedure with me again.  After he was done I felt pretty good about the entire ordeal.  He is still hoping that I will be there just one night, when I wake up I will only have 2 little rubber bands holding my bite closed, If he gives me the green light on my follow up appointment on Monday I can graduate from "non-particle" liquids to fork soft foods as tolerated!! (In order to pass his inspection there can be no sign of any infection and I have to keep my mouth as clean as possible).  He did say I will have the splint on my upper jaw for 6 weeks to keep it stable (because he is splitting it in two!)

He then followed all of that with, "Now, because of your age (I cant believe he is still saying this!!!!) and that you are a re-do (because of the prior surgery in 1985) there are a few things that you need to be aware of that may happen."  Here it comes.... (the sound of sinister music filled my ears as he continued).  Because of the previous surgery he may not be able to split the bottom jaw as neatly as "usual", therefor he may have to use larger screws and plates - resulting in two small poke incisions on the outside back of each side of my lower jaw.  This will be where he places the larger screws. Ok - I can handle this!  They will heal invisibly!
Also, depending on the integrity of the bone (because of my age and prior surgery) I may wake up to being hard-wired shut.  The chances are slim, but greater than an "ordinary" case.  There may also be some numb spots on my lip and chin that never come back.  Great!  Lastly he said, "Hey!  Did you know you have a heart murmur??", Why no - I didn't!  He said it was very faint and nothing to be concerned about, but if I went to my GP to mention it to them and "tell them your Dentist found it!"  He said this with a little smirk on his face that was quite amusing!  They loaded me up with all of my instructions, notes, phone numbers, prescriptions and off I went. 

Today I dropped off all of my prescriptions at the pharmacy and called the hospital for my pre-surgical assessment.  That is pretty much the end of what I need to do other than show up in Atlanta Friday at noon!  As I said, I left the Dr's office feeling pretty good - almost a false sense of calm.  Last night I started thinking there is no time to get everything done prior to surgery, and then realized... its all done.  Now what?  So, tonight I'm going to get my nails done and go to Target or Walmart for Boogie Wipes, tube baby food, Aquaphor, and a couple of the OTC nasal sprays that I am going to need! 

So - this may be it until after the surgery!!  If I think of anything else that I can post I will - or if you can think of anything I need to know... please tell me!!

Go!!!

Well, today is "surgical hook" day!  I go to the OD this morning and they install the hardware... Not looking forward to more hooks! The ones that I have had since the beginning of braces have started bothering me over the last three months.  I think it is just because of ten way my teeth have shifted.  No pain, no gain - right?

Other big news! My wonderful husband went to Costco yesterday and picked up a Magic Bullet Deluxe for me to use after surgery! (who needs jewelry when you can get appliances!)  really, I'm very excited about this.  I have read several blogs that have mentioned that this is just more convenient than a big clunky blender. It comes with several smaller "cups" that. An be used to blend, drink, or save for later.  It also came with a couple of "to go" lids just like on my favorite to-go Starbucks mug!!

That's it for now!  To keep myself busy this weekend my friend Krys and I are headed to the north end of Tennessee for an overnight at a haunted Bed and Breakfast!!!! I've never done this but she is a pro! We are going with about 5 others, so if nothing else it will be fun just to be with this wacky bunch!!

My time line so far:
October 1985, both upper and lower jaw surgery to correct sever open bite, over bite, and receded lower jaw. This was after 3 years of braces!

February 2011: braces back on! Seem to be much more modern than the thick wires of old! Much less pain than in the "old days"

August 2012: OD said I was ready to see the surgeon an schedule!  Met with the surgeon, and due to some scheduling issues on my part, set the date for September 28th!

September 2012: September 19th- surgical hooks go on, September 24th - final. Consultation with OS.  At this appointment I will be having final models made, get all of my medicine prescriptions, instructions, and will be able to ask any questions that I may think of last minute!!

Starting to get a little nervous - but not scared... Yet!