Jabber Jaw Surgery Blog

Wow

2009-11-19T14:40:00.000-08:00

So, I had another person contact me today through Facebook regarding jaw surgery after finding my blog. I thought, dang, how are so many people finding this blog? So, I Googled "jaw surgery blog" and this one comes up first on the list! I know it sounds lame, but I thought it was AWESOME!

Comparison

2009-06-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

My new driver's license finally came in. I think the top picture was taken at least seven years ago (definitely prior to all the jaw surgery/braces). I still can't believe the difference (or the hairdo I was sporting back then...ugh)!

Confusion at the driver's license office

2009-05-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

So, this year I could have renewed my driver's license online but my picture is at least 7 years old. I needed a new pic with my new face on it! I forgot how much I loathe the DPS office. No matter what time of day, what day of the week it is, it is packed. It took an hour (which was suprisingly fast) to get mine done. First off, I didn't see the last numbers on the vision test. The guy passed me anyway since they were close (I said 6 and it was a 8). However, it was a lot blurrier than I admitted to so I REALLY need to get my eyes checked. Then, he asked my all my documents (my insurance, my social security card, and my old driver's license). He looked at my old license, looked at me, looked at the license, and looked at me with a really puzzled face. I asked if something was wrong and he said, "you look totally different, what did you do to your face?" He quickly said he wasn't being rude but that it looked like a completely different person in my license. I smiled and just told him a got a new one. I guess I forget sometimes what a big change my surgery made...for the better of course!

p.s. in addition to my post about my hair falling out awhile ago, its finally coming back. I just wanted to reassure anyone that reads this with the same problem. My hairdresser said it was tons better than the last time I saw him six weeks ago.

One more update

2009-02-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

I know I keep saying that every post is my last. But, I also said I'd have to post when big things happen. Well, it did. After five years of dating, Clay proposed last Thursday. I had my doubts it would ever happen and was completely caught off guard. I can't wait to get the setting we picked out done and couldn't be happier.

Update

2009-02-03T15:39:00.001-08:00

After seeing my dermotologist, she agreed that it was the stress on my body from the surgery that caused my hair to fall out. Dude, they should really put that in the pre-op notes! She told me that the Nioxin wasn't that effective and it would just take time. She thinks it will take a whole year for my hair to recover. Ugh. So, I think I'm going to chop it off the next time I get my hair cut just to make it lighter. I might even get some hi-lights again. This natural hair color thing is BORING!
So, for now I just keep taking all my vitamins and fish/flax oil. I can see new growth so I'm too freaked out. It is pretty scary for someone with thick hair have it come out by the handfuls...especially a girl! The falling out has slowed, so its just a matter of it growing back.

On another note...I suggest anyone who has any exposure to the sun to get a mole check. She found one mole that I have to get removed and two others that she's going to watch. Don't forget the sunscreen!

Hair today, gone tmmw

2009-01-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

I know my last post was the "farewell" but I have something else to share. The past couple of months, I've noticed my hair falling out A LOT more than normal. It didn't really bother me at first, but it hasn't stopped. I went to my hairdresser last night (who I haven't seen in three months) and he noticed a big change. He mentioned this and I've read it on several websites that patients might experience a dramatic change in hair loss 3-6 months after a major surgery. WHAT?! So, I'm not bald, but it is a lot thinner than I'm used to. He did say that he could see new growth, so it wasn't anything permanent. He suggested doing two 60 day cycles of Nioxin and to schedule an appointment with a dermotologist just to make sure it isn't anything like a thyroid problem or anemia. Just when I thought all this surgery stuff was over! I've also stopped using shampoos with sodium laurel sulfate (which is in most shampoos) since it is really harsh on hair. I also had him color my hair back to my natural color for the first time since I was in seventh grade! No more blonde for now. I think a rest from hi-lights will do some good too. Just thought some of you might have had this happen to you.

It's coming to an end

2008-12-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

Well, after my little bit of bonding on Wednesday, that's it. I'm finally done. I've had my braces off for almost two weeks and I couldn't be happier with the results. For all you fellow bloggers, thank you for always answering my questions and being so supportive. For those of you that have just stumbled upon this blog, I hope you find answers to any questions as well as a positive outlook on this surgery. It has truly changed my life. I no longer have to worry about not showing too much gum in pictures or having my face look twice as long as everyone else. I can smile and feel so much more confident than before. My sister even jokes that we finally look related. The best advice I can give is to find an orthodonist and surgeon that you trust and that communicate well not only with you, but with each other. If you don't feel good about the first surgeon you see, go see another one! I knew after meeting Dr. Q (who was actually and great referral from Dr. Kunik) that he was the right surgeon. I couldn't have asked for a better team. Dr. Kunik and his staff were always so caring and they never had me leave after an adjustment wishing that my braces were tighter. They were able to move my bottom teeth enough that I got out of lower jaw surgery and my teeth were in place for surgery after only nine months. Dr. Q is the best at what he does. We went over the surgery over and over until all my questions were answered. He explained everything to my boyfriend and mom so they felt at ease (or close to it). Every surgery is different, every recovery is different. Mine was easy and not all are, but the results are life changing and worth every penny. If you are worried about the surgery, the recovery, the diet...keep in mind that this is only a flash time of your life and when it's over, you'll be so glad you did it. Plus, smoothies are pretty good and post-surgery weight loss isn't too bad either. So, I hope to stay in touch with all the bloggers. If any of you newbies have questions, please feel free to email or message me on Facebook. Good luck to all of you!

I'm free!

2008-12-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

So, I got my braces off on Tuesday morning. It feels great!! I got to throw out all my bands, wax, food picks, super floss, and floss threaders. I have a feeling I'll be finding the bands in random places for awhile. I always seem to have at least a couple floating around somewhere. They are so sweet at Dr. Kunik's office. I was surprised with a cake, flowers, coffee/coffee thermos, and another cool t-shirt. It was like I won the orthodontic lottery or something! From there I went on to Dr. McCarty's office for my gum recontouring. I wasn't expecting to have so many shots in my gums! It took about an hour and made a huge difference. I'll take a close up this weekend when they aren't so red. I still have to go back on the 17th to get a little bonding on one of my front teeth. I also got to see my x-ray today with all my hardware. Here are before and after shots:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I couldn't believe how much that tooth on the top right of the x-ray came down and how deep the anchor for that implant is!! I'll post more pics after my night out on the town with some friends this weekend.

So close, yet so far

2008-11-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

I went in for my last check before de-bracing just to make sure it all looked okay. I had almost convinced myself that he would look and say, yup they are great and take them off. That didn't happen. This will be the longest week ever! Only about six days to go. I also scheduled my gum recontouring for the same day so I'll have big, naked teeth in no time!

I wish you all and your families I happy Thanksgiving. May you all have a safe holiday.

Almost a brace free Turkey Day

2008-11-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

I was really hoping that my braces would be off in time to rip through some corn on the cob for Thanksgiving, but its not going to happen. No biggie, there is one tooth that needs to come down just a bit more to close the bite all the way. I did get my permanent retainer put in on the bottom so my teeth are double wired. I've got a new band on the left and hopefully that will do it. I go back in two weeks for a quick check and then I get my braces off on December 2!! Only three weeks to go! At least I'll have them off in time for the office Christmas party.

Other good news

2008-10-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten all my bills straigtened out with the insurance company! I will be getting a reimbursement from Dr. Quaroni's office that will be used to pay the anesthesiologist and the hospital. Dr. Q's office was so quick to issue the payment once we talked it over with one of the ladies at my insurance company. I feel so much better. That is a huge relief!

On a side note: According to my representative at United Healthcare, none of the providers are supposed to collect the deductible or out of pocket maximum prior to submitting their claim to the insurance company if they are "in network". That way, claims get paid as they are submitted and you don't have to worry about getting a reimbursement to pay providers whose claims were processed first. I'm sure all insurance companies are different, but it would be a good question to ask your insurance or human resources contact before you make any kind of payment!

Still getting there...

2008-10-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to go to the orthodontist this morning with hopes of making molds for my retainers. However, I was shot down. My midlines are still off so I got a band on the right side this time that I'll wear 24 hrs a day to see if that does the trick. The bottoms are great and the mold was done for permanent retainer. These dang top teeth are just being boogers. So, I go back in three short weeks and will try again. Keep your fingers crossed. If all goes well then, it looks like a brace free Thanksgiving.

Getting there!

2008-09-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

I saw Dr. Kunik today. It seems as though that really awesome band that I've had to wear across the front for the last five weeks worked. My midlines are lined up perfectly. So, now I just have to wear it at night to keep things that way. I'll have to go back to wearing it during the day if I notice that its slipping. Other than that, I just have one heavy band on the left side in triangle formation to get my teeth to touch a little more. I go back on October 20. If things look good, then they will take molds for my retainer and I'll get these things off two weeks after that. That would put me right at four months post op. Not too shabby. Just in time for the holiday parties!! So, I'm back to the countdown clock. Tentative de-bracing...t-minus six weeks. Keep your fingers crossed that my teeth comply with that!

Back to Dr. McCarty

2008-09-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

I saw my general/cosmetic dentist Dr. McCarty yesterday. I haven't seen him since my first appt when I asked the question that started the downward spiral..."do you think you could do something to reduce my gums?". Oh, if I only knew how loaded that question would be. He told me that he strongly recommended braces because of my crossbite and narrow mouth. That's when I went to see my ortho Dr. Kunik who informed me that I needed jaw surgery. Ha, all because I hated how much gumminess I saw when I smiled. Anyway, yesterday's appt was meant to be for taking the mold for my crown/implant. However, it wasn't so easy to do since I still have my braces on. After some consideration, he decided to put in a temporary crown and then have me come back when the braces are off so he can do a proper mold and get one made with a perfect fit. The temporary is great and its nice to have that gap finally filled in. He also wanted me to wait since I will definitely need some whitening done after de-bracing and wants the crown color to match the new whiteness. There is also the issue with my tooth that sits between my front big tooth and canine on the right side (#7). It is really small from being squished for so long. Anyway, there is quite a bit of space around it right now since it where its supposed to be but not big enough to fill the space. Dr. McCarty told me that if he put a veneer on it the way it was, it would like a Chiclet stuck to my tooth. Even though I had 6mm removed from the top during surgery, I still have quite a bit of gum covering up my teeth. He suggested that I have laser contouring done to remove more of the gum to show more teeth. The teeth would then be elongated and would balance out the wide space. I'm so ready for all this to be over, but I think that would really be the icing on the cake. I don't think it hurts that bad and it definitely couldn't be worse than anything else I've had done, so I'm all for it. Here's an example of it:

Also, I have to apologize for my lack of blogging. Things aren't very interesting once you get past the hard part of surgery and recovery. It's basically a waiting game for the feeling to come back in your gums and for your braces to come off. Life has been pretty quiet except for the new puppy. Ruby is a handful but her and Bruiser are best of friends now. Bruiser didn't win the Austin Boston Terrier contest but thank you to all that voted for him. I must say that winner was ugly, but oh well! We are all bracing for Hurricane Ike here in Texas. Austin isn't going to get that much weather out of it but we are being flooded with evacuees. Please keep all those near the coast in your prayers. I can't imagine what those families are going through. I hope you all have a great weekend and I promise to take new pics!

Bruiser got a sister!

2008-08-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Here is Bruiser's new sister, Ruby Tuesday. She is an 8 week old brindle French Bulldog with ears that look like she can receive radio waves. I think she'll grow in them. Bruiser's not too sure about sharing his momma's attention, but they already love playing together. Hopefully, they'll wear each other out. Oh the puppy phase again, time to hide the shoes!
p.s. Bruiser is doing pretty well on the Boston Terrier contest. If you ever have time, you can vote more than once. Thanks for all of you that have already voted for him. We'll keep our fingers (and paws) crossed.

Vote for Bruiser!!

2008-08-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

Hey All,
This month is Boston Terrier month on the Austin American Statesman dog contest. As of right now, Bruiser’s pics start around number 109 and go to around #116. That may change as more people upload pictures of their dogs. He is way cuter than those other Bostons! (I might be a little biased). Please give him your vote!

The link is below...

http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/interactive/hotnot_best_boston_terrier/index.html

Thank you!!
Rachel

One woman, two faces

2008-08-12T16:48:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I put a before and after pic side by side to really see the difference. Wow! Its so weird! My face is so much shorter and my teeth and smile are so much WIDER! The picture on the left is not very gummy because over the years, I got really good at keeping it under control. The pic on the right is me smiling as wide as I can and you can't see them at all! I saw Dr. Kunik (ortho) today and got a quite interesting band configuration. I've been really worried that my midlines haven't been lining up. I guess that's the OCD in me. I want them to be spot on. So now I have a really sweet band that goes diagonally across the front. I asked him the question he knew was coming. So...how much longer will I have these babies on? He said he would like to do another adjustment next month and see how things are going. He thinks that I can do one adjustment in September, one in October, and then get them off completely in November!! Yeah! Just in time for holiday parties, Christmas, and New Years Eve!! That would be FANTASTIC. I'm going to wear these stinking bands all day unless I'm eating. No pain, no gain and at this point it means the difference between taking pics at the office Christmas party with a blinding gleam coming from my teeth or to be feeling great with my new smile in a cute party dress. I'm going to call the dentist and see how long he thinks I need to heal in order to have my implant done. I would love to have a day of teeth that includes getting my braces off, having my implant done, and doing any bonding/veneering on my two small front teeth (and whitening at this point). My teeth look so dingy to me, but I can't really do anything about it except keep brushing. Normally, I would bust out the Crest White Strips, but those aren't quite made for braces. Someone should definitely invent whitening for us metal mouths! So, hopefully I only have three months or less left to go.

A little help from Uncle Sam

2008-08-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

I did a little searching after my last post. All medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income can be written off on your taxes. This includes all dental procedures, braces, your portion of surgical expenses, and even mileage to and from doctor's appointments. Here is the link to the IRS website section regarding these deductions. Just thought it might be a good piece of info for you guys:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf
It looks like this will be my first year to actually use an accountant!

In my next life...

2008-08-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not as lucky as Michelle V. No big check from my insurance is coming this way. After a nice weekend in Arkansas, I came home to my first collection of bills from various medical offices. I have decided that in my next life, I'll own a surgical center. You wouldn't have to worry about the emergency room woes, everything is pre-approved before the patient arrives, and its privately owned. I guess that's why they can charge so much to my insurance. The hospital alone was over $33K! I know its difficult for them to show that I've already paid my deductible and my max out of pocket, but that was over a month ago that I made that payment to my oral surgeon's office. I freaked out when I received another bill from my anthesiologist's office that said I owed another $1400. I checked my insurance carrier's website and it stated that the claim had been processed and that it was owed. However, is also showed that I hadn't made any payments yet. Go figure, they are behind on showing the money you've shelled out, but they're very quick to tell you that you owe more money. I called my insurance and the anthesiologist. I got a statement from the surgeon to show that I made a payment large enough to cover my part. Thank goodness that all my doctors have really nice and helpful office staff. Even though I hate the hoops that insurance makes you jump through, I'm sure glad I have it. There is no way I could ever afford to have this done without it. I still haven't seen all the charges, but so far, my insurance has had close to $58,000 submitted to them in claims! I also found out that I can write off my portion of medical expenses on next year's taxes. I believe braces can be written off too as a deduction. That should be a huge help on next year's tax return!

p.s. lots of new pics will be taken this week with my co-workers b-day bash tomorrow and the dog party that Bruiser and I will be attending this weekend. Sorry I've been behind with the pics, its just been a little nuts lately.

Almost 1 month down...

2008-07-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

I went to see Dr. Q again today. Everything is looking great. He told me that I could start putting my bands on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours. That means I can put them on late at night and then take them off once I get to work. It sure will help with people asking me "so when do you get to take off all those bands?" with their scrunched face look. He also told me that I could keep eating more and more solid food. I figure if it hurts, then I just spit it out because obviously I'm not ready. This is probably another reason why I'm not a huge fan of eating in public. I tend to have bits of random food fly out of my mouth because of the bands too. Let me tell you, its pretty hot. I have regained feeling in my cheeks finally. Its probably all that aggressive facial massaging. I love using my apricot facial scrub when I massage my cheeks but it sure does make it look like I scrubbed off a couple of layers of skin by the time I'm done. However, my skin is super smooth from it! So, I don't see him for another three weeks and by then I'm hoping that we can take my "after" x rays so I can compare the two. I told my mom just the other day that its going to be pretty sad when this is all over with. I really like my surgeon, my ortho, and all the their office staff. Geez, I've been seeing them for over a year now pretty frequently. I sure will miss getting to chat with all of them.
Speaking of being done with my doctors, I asked Dr. Q in his opinion how much longer he thought I would have braces. I promised I wouldn't take it as something in stone but he said he didn't think I would need them for that much longer. I'm not sure what that would constitute as but Dr. Kunik, I know you read my blog so you can be sure that the question is coming at my appt in two weeks. I'll wear double wires if I have to get these babies off! So, that's all for now. I'm going on a road trip to Arkansas this weekend for Clay's grandpa's 90th birthday. I'll have lots of new pics when I get back.

Lady of the Lake

2008-07-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was back on the lake yesterday! Its a big deal for those of you that know me. Clay and I are quite the lake rats during the summer, so not being able to go has been the pits. We braved the heat yesterday with some friends and hit Lake Travis. The water was a little choppy at first, but I just made sure my teeth didn't knock together over big wakes and Clay didn't go too fast. We found a nice quiet cove to hang out and swim. It felt great. It was so nice to be back! We stopped at our favorite lake spot Cafe Bleu which was perfect since they have nice and mushy crabcakes that were awesome. Their killer mojitos aren't a bad addition either!

Day 23 post op

2008-07-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry I missed the official three week mark on Wednesday. I can't believe I'll be post op one month in no time! Even though I had graduated to "meatloaf consistency" on Tuesday, that hasn't been an easy feat. By blending all my food before, I had it pre-chewed. So, by integrating some solids and still not being able to chew all that well has led to a lot of indigestion. I've been emailing back and forth with my mom and Michelle on ideas of what to eat. I've resorted to going back to blending for now. I don't liquefy it, just chop it up a little. I did have some homemade raisin bread and scrambled egg whites for breakfast this morning which was a nice change from the oatmeal (even though I love it). I think I pushed it at lunch when I ordered a chicken wrap from the cafe down the street. Some of the chicken was okay and moist, but the dry pieces mostly got pushed to the side. The tortilla was soggy enough that it made it down okay. Dinner was blended chicken and rice casserole which is always good. My energy level is back to the way it was before surgery or better. I sleep so much harder now that I can breathe through my nose. I actually get to go into a really deep sleep at nice. That probably explains the really weird dreams. This is first time I have to use an alarm clock! I feel refreshed in the morning and no longer drink caffeine...at all. Don't need it. This experience has really changed my life. I can smile as big as I can and still have little to no gum showing. I added a new profile picture as well as from the front to my album. Man, if you compare the profile from before and after surgery, my chin looks like it got totally lopped off!! And that's a good thing! I still have numbness in my gums, upper lip, and around my nose. I have really been doing my lip stretches and facial massages aggressively. I'm starting to feel shoots of tingles through those areas which means things are healing. I love to feel them, then I know its getting better.
Our sister site is still in the works, but we have made some changes. If you haven't checked it out yet, make sure you stop by!

Here Comes Jaw Dropping Blends!

2008-07-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have already read about our new blog on Kam's latest post. Kam, Michelle V, and I have joined up to create Jaw Dropping Blends. This site is in it's first stages right now. We are gathering up all our ideas and adding as we go. We have lists of things to stock up on, what to have on hand before surgery, and smoothie and soup recipes. So, check it out when you get a chance and come back to see our progress. When its complete, it will a plethora of jaw surgery related posts. We love comments, so make sure to leave us a "slurp!" If you have ideas to add, feel free to give us a shout. All of us have our email on there and will be more than happy to answer any questions. Keep in mind, we aren't experts but we have all been through it (Kam will be "on the other side" us with shortly). Her surgery is on Thursday, so please stop in to her blog and leave a positive note. They do help a lot. I think we have a great group of ortho bloggers that have created such a positive support group. We would like to make as much information readily available as possible. Enjoy!

http://jawblends.blogspot.com/

Semi-solid kind of life

2008-07-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

I went to see Dr. Q again today. Nothing new really to report. My swelling is still going down. Since I still do not have feeling in my cheeks and upper lip, he told me that I really need to get exaggerated and aggressive with my facial massaging and exercises. When I exercise my lips, it needs to feel like I'm really stretching them. Great, like I don't get stared at enough in traffic! People catch me making weird faces all the time. I'll do my exercises anywhere! So, the big news is that I have graduated to semi-smooth food. I can have anything that is ground up like meatloaf, spaghetti, etc. I confessed that I had eaten chicken enchiladas yesterday and before he could give me a hard time, I explained that I thoroughly mushed it up with salsa and didn't chew AT ALL. I told Michelle that Clay thinks he catches me chewing all the time but I haven't. Tonight was the first time. I overcooked the meatloaf a little (due to checking up on my blogger friends) so it wasn't that easy to chew anyway. I'm still taking it slow and I bought a ton of veggie burgers today since they are rice based and really soft. I've found that all the tofu products are really easy to eat. I bought the ground "meat" and put it with okra, tomatoes, and rice in the blender for dinner the other night. I couldn't tell the difference at all and it wasn't greasy like beef tends to get. I thought that I should just add red pepper flakes and hot sauce to all my blends to give them a little kick and all I got was a weekend of heartburn! Oh well, it did make it better though. Another tip that others have mentioned is to buy a baby spoon. My mom brought me one about two weeks ago and that thing is getting a workout. Its much easier than trying to cram a regular spoon in your mouth and it fits between my bands at night. It is great. I highly recommend getting one. I'll post new pics tomorrow. I look plain worn out today. It was a heck of a Monday.

Workin' 9 to 5

2008-07-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well, my days of leisure are over. I went back to work full time yesterday. It could have been a lot worse than it was. The other girl in the office really helped keep up with paperwork so I didn't have to walk into a nightmare. I'm still bombarded, but I'm hoping to be caught up by the time I leave tomorrow. Overall, things went well. I did have a few dizzy spells, but I think thats just from me needing to eat more now that I'm out and about. I took Michelle's advice and packed some extra Ensure to stash in the breakroom fridge. I'm fortunate to have a desk job that is mostly data entry, otherwise I probably would have been pooped out by the end of the day. Everyone had to make a point to come by my office to see the "new face" they had heard about. I still don't think its that different, but apparently it is. I think Bruiser is a little peeved that I won't be home during the day to play all the time. He's been quite spoiled the last two weeks with walks around the neighborhood and naps with his mom.
So, now that I'm officially tired of blending soups with various additions, I tried to blend chicken and pasta last night. I even swirled some pasta sauce through it and sprinkled on some dried parsley to make it look fancy. It didn't cover up the fact that it was still pretty gross. I managed to choke down half of it with a baby spoon but I think if I kick up the spice level it will help things out. I need to get my brain going on some new dinner ideas. I still can't stomach the idea of blending anything with fish it in, but I'm willing to try anything to get more variety in my diet.

Free at last...well, almost

2008-07-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

I went for another follow up with Dr. Quaroni today. He said everything still was great and all the ladies in the office were shocked that it hasn't even been two weeks. I only have a tad bit of swelling left around my nose and I'm pretty sure all the bruising is gone. I now have two bands a bit further back than before but here is the good news (drumroll...) I can take them off for six hours each day!! This was the best news ever! I will have six glorious, band-free hours everyday. I can't wait until tomorrow morning when I pop these babies off. I also got the approval to go ahead and see my orthodontist. I think I mentioned before that my top wire was cut in four places during surgery so I'll be getting a brand new one. I called Dr. Kunik's office and was able to get an appointment first thing in the morning. It will feel so much better to get that wire replaced. The jagged edges have been killing the insides of my mouth and I'm almost out of wax. It was pretty funny that when I spoke to Gina at the ortho office, she mentioned that somehow she came across my blog and was checking up on the pics. They are all so sweet at that office (and even sent flowers to the hospital). Its such a small world in our little bloggersphere. So, today has been great. I feel revived. I was able to do almost an hour of TurboJam (the best cardio kickboxing DVD ever) this morning. I kept it low impact, but man it felt great to sweat. I also went by the office to pick up some paperwork so I can get a head start for when I go back full time on Wednesday. I also tried tofu in my blended dinner tonight. Its not bad at all. It doesn't thicken soup very much and it does give it a lighter hue of orange than normal, but I couldn't taste it a bit. I thought I'd give it a whirl since it is such a good source of protein. So, don't be scared of the tofu! Here I am, 12 days post op... Dr. Q told me to start massaging my face and working out my lips to help them relax.

Wax on, wax off

2008-07-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

It feels like I just got my braces on for the first time. I'm getting all kinds of new spots on the inside where the hooks are rubbing. My doctor told me that he had to cut the wire in four places during surgery so its just kind of hanging there until I go to the orthodontist. I'm so glad I stocked up on wax the last time I went to the ortho because I'm blowing through it pretty quick. I can't find the silicone wax anywhere except for the ortho office so they always give me about four boxes of it and I have them everywhere (in my car console, in my office desk, my purse...you get the idea). I'm a bit concerned if I'll be able to open my mouth wide enough for an adjustment on my braces but I don't think I have to go for another couple of weeks.

So, here are pics from today (day 9 post op). What a difference 3 days does in regards to swelling. My lips still look weird when I smile since I can't feel them and they are pretty tight.

Saying good bye to some old friends

2008-07-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a group shot of some of dearest friends from the last week that I will no longer need. To my liquid Vicodin, you gave me comfort all through the day as well as that "fuzzy" feeling that can't be replaced. However, I no longer need you and you have now been replaced by children's Motrin (which tastes a heck of a lot better). To my baby nose sucker, you freed my mouth from all the drool that was just too much for me to swallow. Now that I'm able to chug water like its going out of style, I have no use for you. To my catheter/syringe apparatus, you've been with me since the beginning. You made it possible to squirt food, medicine, water, etc to that little nook all the way back in my mouth without making a complete mess on my face. Its sad to say, but I can now drink out of a glass and I only use the syringe for really thick "food." Oh, I can't forget my prescription mouthwash. You made my mouth feel as clean as possible when I wasn't able to brush more than my front teeth for almost a week. How I will miss you. You have all made my recovery much better but it is time to move on. Now if I could only get rid of that nasty pink antibiotic!

Silence of the bands

2008-07-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

I went to see Dr. Quaroni today for my (almost) one week post-op appt. He said everything is looking great. The bruising is minimal. It looks more like I smeared mustard on my face and forgot to wipe it off. The nose has quite the hook on the end of it, but that should relax a bit once my upper lip goes down in swelling. Things were going great until he put new bands on. They are so much tighter than the ones I had before that I really can't open my teeth at all. At least before I could fit the catheter through for eating but that is no longer an option. As for talking, its quite a bit more difficult. I was just getting to the point where people could kind of understand me but I've since been silenced. It shot down my morale because I love to talk but I see him again next week and hopefully he will reconfigure them again. On a positive note, I have gone two days without a nosebleed so I'm thinking that fiasco is over and my energy level is starting to get much better.

I've also started getting creative with what I eat so I will definitely put together a list for those of you who have surgeries coming up. The more you are prepared ahead of time, the easier your recovery goes. Also, I really think that what you eat and how active you are before surgery really plays a huge part in your body's abilitiy to heal itself. I've always been a bit of health nut and I truly believe that it makes a big difference. That's all for now.

My new best friend

2008-07-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

I bought this heating "sock" at Walgreens today and it is awesome. Its called the Bed Buddy Moist Heat/Cold pack. It is filled with stuff that kinda feels like a bean bag. After two minutes in the microwave...pure bliss on my cheeks. I think it actually helped with the swelling. I plan to use it a couple of times a day to get my cheeks to go down.

Other than that, things are much better. I've cut down on my Lortab a bit. I still can't sleep through the night due to congestion but that should fade away eventually. I go see Dr.Q tmmw afternoon for my first post-op visit. I'll be excited to see my new x-rays.

On another note, I just need to reinterate how great this whole blogging thing is. Since Michelle V and I had our surgeries not too far apart, we have been bouncing ideas off each other the whole time. Everyone is so supportive and great. Holly is looking great and always has words of encouragement. I appreciate all the comments and ideas that everyone leaves. Thanks again!

4 days post op

2008-07-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Things have pretty much stayed the same. The swelling hasn't gone down anymore. The bruising started to show this morning but so far it's just on my face and hasn't traveled down my neck. I think the most annoying things are nosebleeds and being congested (and the fact that it takes forever to make, blend, and strain a meal!). My meds were really hard to get down but I think I have perfected the art of watering them down so I can swallow. The throat feels pretty tight so swallowing has been a chore.

The saddest thing about this picture is that I actually thought it looked like a smile!

Pics

2008-07-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

I don't have the energy for Picasa. Its wearing me out. Here are pics from the day before surgery

You can see my "gummy smile" in the one above. I'm excited to see what its going to look like with all the gone. The next two are about 6 hrs post op. The resolution isn't that good since they were taken on a camera phone.

The next two were just taken a couple of minutes ago. I just made a trip around the block to get some fresh air. It's actually cooled down outside a bit so it felt really good. Its doesn't take much to get worn out though. I also finally took a real shower and washed my hair. That can make anyone feel like new woman! This was my best effort to smile...

I'm home

2008-07-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

I got to come home this morning. The first day was pretty rough. I got really nauseated from all the drainage and my throat was super sore from the breathing tube which made it almost impossible to get anything down. Yesterday was better. I took a washcloth bath, put on some pajamas, and walked a couple of laps around the hospital. Everyone there was so incredible. I have really lucked out on this whole deal. I don't have a splint and I only have two bands. I've hit a couple of rough spots emotionally but that is bound to happen with such trauma. My pain hasn't really been that bad and my swelling is actually going down quickly. I'll post some pics tonight once I set up my Picasa. Everyone at the hospital was amazed as to how great things were going. I can talk, but I sound like a man since my throat is still swollen. The biggest change is being able to breathe through my nose. It is absolutely wonderful. I don't have to strain to keep my lips closed anymore either. It's so weird. My nostrils are opened up a bit which helps immensely. My face is already starting to itch and tingle which means the feeling is coming back. Dr. Q was also really happy that I never lost feeling in my chin after the genioplasty. I have full feeling in my bottom lip and my chin. I'm still pretty weak. I hadn't weighed myself in forever and I had been working out quite a bit before surgery. Come to find out I had already dropped 10 lbs before surgery and I'm down another 5 since then. I really need to work on eating more but it is such an ordeal and messy. It's hard to keep stuff down and I have to spit ALL the time. Clay bought me a baby suction thing so I can suction the spit. Its pretty gross. Overall, the surgery was a huge success and everything went well. My doctor was laughing because he said that I talked non-stop when they did the anesthesia until the last minute before I was out (not shocking to those who know me). Apparently, we talked about my asperations to be a nurse quite extensively. He told me he learned more about me then than ever before and I don't remember any of it. Dr. Q is awesome and I can't thank him and his staff enough. This afternoon I was taking a nap and I think I moved my jaw side to side in my sleep which caused a big surge of pain and scared me. I thought I had messed something up, but I think it okay. I'm just trying to be as careful as I can. Bruiser doesn't quite know what to think of me. It took him a couple of hours when I got to home to stop staring at me. He's finally realized its me and laid down for a nap with me on the couch. It was pretty funny at first. My mom was here and he stuck by her for most of the time until he figured things out. I'm so glad she was with me whole time as well as Clay. I know it was boring to stay in the hospital and I know Clay had to watch more chick flicks than he cared too but he did it anyway. Well, that's all for now. I'm going to go see what I want for dinner. I'm getting pretty tired of sweet shakes and Ensure. I think I'll blend some Italian wedding soup and see how that goes. Thank you for are your wonderful comments. I hope everyone recovering is doing great. Hopefully, it won't be long before I can add a countdown clock for when my braces come off! Happy 4th of July to everyone!

ONE DAY POST SURGERY!

2008-07-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. This is Rachel's mom, Jayne, and I'm filling in for her until she is up to posting herself. It's one day post surgery, and Rachel is doing very well. The surgery went very well, about 2 1/2 hours, and Dr. Q was very pleased with the results. He was able to do everything he wanted, including the chin work, the septum manipulation, tooth implant, and jaw surgery. The most exciting thing for Rachel was waking up and being able to breathe through her nose! She had some nausea yesterday, but it seems to be better today. The swelling had been kept under control fairly well, and she only has two bands, so she is able to drink some from a cup and talk a bit. Anyone who knows Rachel knows that she goes ninety to nothing at all times, so having to take the time to let her body heal is testing her patience! Thank you all for your support, prayers, and postings. Having the ability to share this experience with others has been great for Rachel, as well as me - it has been wonderful to see the progress you other surgery 'before' and 'after's! We don't know yet whether she will be going home today or tomorrow, but will keep you updated as time permits, and hopefully Rachel will be back at the computer in a few days!

Bruiser is already bummed

2008-07-01T21:06:00.000-07:00

This is Bruiser. The look on his face says that he's already bummed that his mom is going to be out of commission for playtime for awhile. He is a good snuggler though... I think Bruiser needs to grace the pages of my blog more often. If I haven't mentioned before, I think he is the best dog EVER!

This is it for now, my mom will update you guys after surgery.

p.s. My last solid meal consisted of chips and salsa, chicken enchildas, and red wine. I have a bit of a love for Mexican food

One more day of solid food

2008-06-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

I have definitely taken advantage of every chance that I have to enjoy my favorites before surgery (banana pancakes, BBQ, pizza from Rockin Tomato, lots of watermelon, and Vietnamese tmmw). I went and did last minute shopping tonight for Ensure, instant breakfast, soup, broth, etc. I also got all my meds filled. Geez, I look like a walking pharmacy! The pre-op physical went really well this morning. My blood pressure was suprisingly low. I hate hospitals so it is usually higher than normal. Not today though, cool as a cucumber. My bag is already packed. I have to be at the hospital at 6:30am on Wednesday. Then, its finally go time!! I'm kind of excited to get it over with. I have already convinced myself that recovery is going to be a breeze...

Last consulation

2008-06-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

I had my last consultation with Dr. Q yesterday. He took out my molds that we made last week and I couldn't believe how much wider my mouth is compared to the molds I had done before I got braces on. It was weird! Anyway, he drew on the molds exactly where the cuts are going to be and went over all the problems that can happen (but we're hoping they don't). We looked over all the xrays again and he gave me all my prescriptions (5). Hopefully, I won't have any allergic reactions to the antibiotic because there is a slight chance that it will give me the same reaction that I get with penicillin. There are only a handful that I can take that don't make me break out in hives. I also got my "The Healing Jaw" book and Zip N Squeeze bags. I wish I would've known that I was getting those since I had already ordered a pack. I guess more can't hurt. There are a ton of great recipes in that book and most of the "dinners" are pretty simple so that should help a lot. He wants me to stay pretty active after I go home and said that as long as I don't mind being seen in public he really wants me to keep going to the gym to do the stationary bike or walk on the treadmill. I think I might just walk around the neighborhood depending on how beat up I look. The evenings aren't as hot so it will be fine. I wouldn't want to scare any small children at the gym! I'm still having a bit of anxiety, but who wouldn't? Dr. Q is really good and I feel totally comfortable with him , but it still is a big deal. I'm so ready to get it over with so I can move on and get over it! I am excited that I'll have time to start reading again. I haven't been able to read for fun in years because my nose was always in a textbook, but those days are over. Any suggestions for good murder mystery books? I haven't read any of my new magazines either. I'm dying to read my InStyle, but I just tucked it away so I can have it to read later. Other than that, things are pretty good. My whole family will in town this weekend so we're going to enjoy the weekend on the river. I can't wait. My mom has four sisters and three of them will here with their families and the other one will be here next week. We are quite the crowd when we're all together!
P.S. The hospital just called and informed me that I have to go in for pre-op physical. Ugh! I don't have time for all these appts! We are closing out the books on Monday at work so it is going to be crazy. At least it will help keep my mind off things...

What to pack

2008-06-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

I thought I was going to be really good and do all my shopping this weekend, but I went to the lake instead. Go figure... Anywhoo, I meant to ask what I need to pack to take to the hospital. I know they will have quite a bit of stuff there, but I'm sure there are some insider tips as to what comes in handy. I'll make sure to bring all my mindless comedies that I watch over and over (i.e. Accepted, The Sweetest Thing, and Old School) and my gossip magazines (my guilty pleasure). 8 days to go. Geez, that makes my stomach hurt when I see that I'm down to single digits!

Saw the doc today

2008-06-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

So I went for my two week pre-op visit. I can't believe it is less than two weeks away! Since I have a belated graduation party next weekend, this will be my last weekend to live it up on the lake. We have definitely taken full advantage of the sunny weekends while I still can. I think I might be out of commission from bouncing around on a boat for awhile after surgery so boat time is a must. Anyway, I had to get two sets of molds and bite impressions done. Ugh, it sucks because my mouth is really little. Plus, I can't breathe through my nose so it feels like I'm holding my breath the whole time. I always cringe when they take it out because it feels like my teeth are going to come out with it. We also did pre-op pics and tons of x-rays. It was really interesting to see my x-ray head on. It is very apparent that my septum is crooked. I'm still holding out for Dr. Q to straighten that out a bit while he's in there. My mom met the doc today too. I think she has read up on all of this and she checks all the blogs that are linked to mine so she really didn't have any questions. Anyway, she called me afterwards because she had a doctor's appointment with her doctor in the next building. She had mentioned that she just came from Dr. Q's office because I was having jaw surgery with him. She said her doctor knows him personally and went on and on about how amazing he is and what great transformations he has done. She said he saw her do surgery on a girl that was in a car wreck and had all the bones around her eye socket area crushed. After he operated on her, you coudn't tell she had ever been in an accident. It always makes me feel a lot better when I hear rave reviews from fellow doctors. I have heard nothing but great things about him from everyone. I'm so glad that I found a great doctor. I guess summertime is the time when all of us with funky jaws decide to get it done because he has 17 surgeries in the next month. Wow, that is a lot of bone cracking. Well, next Thursday I have another appointment. This one is just to fill out all the paperwork and sign my life away. It's also time to dish out half of my savings. I think scratching that check will hurt worse than the surgery!

My jaw is having anxiety pains

2008-06-12T06:08:00.000-07:00

I think my jaw has realized its impending doom. The last two days the joint has been throbbing. Its right next to my ear on the right side. It has never hurt like this until now. Its starting to really hurt to eat. My doctor always asks if my jaw hurts and I've always been able to say no. I guess things will be different at my appointment next week. I hope this doesn't change anything. T-minus 20 days!

Starting to stock up

2008-06-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

The big day is only three weeks from Wednesday. It's creeping up on me fast. My Zip N Squeeze bags showed on Satuday. The straws on them look kinda thin, but I guess you aren't supposed to be eating anything too thick anyway. I bought a ton of Vaseline lip balm and have started to collect lots of soup recipes. I think it will be easier to make them ahead of time and put them in Mason jars so I don't have to worry about it later. Soup just doesn't sound to appealing right now since its so dang hot. My doctor told me that key to a liquid diet is variety and to try to stay away from too much sweet stuff. I think if I get some Muscle Milk that will keep me on track for protein and then have a lot of blended soups. I know some of you had lists of things to get beforehand on your blogs so I'll have to go back and take a look. I've got to get my little dry erase board so sure. I'm trying be to as prepared as possible so I don't get nervous at the last minute.

Dr. Q visit

2008-05-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

I saw my oral surgeon today. Everything still looks good. Not much to report. He gave my boyfriend the low down of what he'll have to take care of after surgery. He forgot to mention that Clay will have to be responsible for keeping up with my blog! Oh, there is some good news. He thinks that because he is taking out quite a bit on the top that it will really help me breathe better through my nose which would be awesome. He also said that I should be in the hospital no longer than two days. It would be great to be home in time to watch 4th of July fireworks on the back porch (they should be extra pretty under the influence of pain killers!). So, no molds this time. They scheduled that and xrays on the 19th. Then I go for my pre-op physical on the 26th, then surgery on the 2nd. It will be here before I know it!

$$$$$

2008-05-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, I guess I will need to start bleeding money. I FINALLY talked to the lady at the surgeon's office about how much my portion of this whole fiasco will be. She was supposed to have gotten back to me a month ago and left messages sounding irritated when I called to follow up. Anyway, looks like my portion is going to be around $7k since insurance isn't going to cover the genioplasty. So, add that to the $7500 for braces and I could have bought a small car with that! It makes my stomach hurt to think about it. I keep telling myself its a small price to pay for everything they are doing. Thank goodness for finance plans!

Tic Tock

2008-05-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

The weeks are going by so fast. Yesterday was the t-minus six weeks mark. I went to orthodontist this morning and they won't see me again until the day before surgery. I thought the hooks I had on my braces already would be all that I get, but I've been corrected. I'll go in the day before to have bigger hooks put on. Great, the ones I have still leave huge raw spots on the insides of my mouth. I go see Dr. Quaroni next Thursday to make the molds and do x-rays. Its getting close! Happy healing to Heather and Leah!

Nose problems

2008-05-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

You would think my face is melting or something. It seems as though the nose has gotten worse. It may not be as bad as Cameron here, but it has definitely moved a lot since high school. While I was at home on Mothers Day, my mom showed me a picture from my senior year and my nose was pretty much in the center and wider. Now, not so much. I guess since my doctor pointed it out to me, I think about it a lot more. It has become much more difficult to breath through it over the years and the tip is really leaning to the left. Have any of you had or know someone who has had surgery to correct a deviated septum? My surgeon thinks that my jaw surgery could help open up my nostrils a bit since they are no bigger than slits. I emailed a plastic surgeon that I went to a couple of years ago after a little accident where I had split my chin. He also operates out of the same hospital that my oral surgeon does. I'm going to see what he thinks. Man, I really could have a new face after all this is said and done. Scary!

FINALLY!!

2008-05-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

I finally graduated on Friday. I can't believe it's over! No more summer school, night school, correspondence, term papers, or group projects. One milestone down...

Bad idea

2008-04-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

So I thought I was cool enough with the idea of surgery to watch a video of it on YouTube. Don't do it!! I'm usually fascinated by watching surgical videos, but I guess it was the idea of having it done to myself that made me nauseous. I think I felt my dinner come up. So, if any of you that haven't had the Lefort I done yet, don't seek out videos! I think I'm completely freaked out again. I thought I'd post a link to it on my page for any others that wanted to brave the freakshow, but I can't bring myself to do it. AAHH!!!
On another note, I've got another adjustment tomorrow. The time between visits seems to go by quicker and quicker. I figure I should only have two more trips to the ortho before surgery after tmmw.

Quick Question

2008-04-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Did any of you guys start a pre-op vitamin regime? I've been reading up on it a bit and plan on going to my little nutrition store this weekend to ask the owner. She and her husband know everything when it comes to herbs and vitamins. I've read that vitamin C & A, zinc, copper, and B complex promote healing while Arnica Montana and Bromelain (whatever that is) help reduce bruising and swelling. Did any of you take any of this before surgery and if so how early before? What about post-op? I've taken Vitamin E after having stitches in my lip and chin area and I healed super fast. Just thought I'd get everyone's opinion. I see my surgeon at the end of next month so I'll ask him too.
On another note, did any of you have issues with a heart murmur? I've read on some blogs that it freaks docs out and could postpone surgery. Mine isn't bad but its loud.

p.s. apparently I have a new found love for countdown clocks. I had to add another one for graduation since it's sneaking up quickly!

Great hospital

2008-03-23T16:16:00.001-07:00

I also found out that I will be in Austin Surgical Hospital for my procedure. This is great. It is in a really nice part of Austin and is an awesome facility. My doctor works out of there because it is smaller and has a really great nursing staff. I'm so glad I won't be one of the major hospitals downtown. I've had a stint in the ER once or twice and remember how gross it was. Doesn't look like this will be to shabby. I hope everyone had a great Easter.

Both docs in one day

2008-03-19T08:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was quite the day of doctors. I saw my ortho in the morning to get my last set of wires before surgery. They aren't that much thicker, but they sure are tight! I got the powerchain off on the bottom which feels better but I did like the fact that it toned down the glare of all that metal down there. He said everything looked great and that my teeth finally stand straight up instead of turned inward. Looks like I'll be eating soup again for the next couple of days.
Then, I went to see my oral surgeon, Dr. Q. We took a side view x-ray so he could show me how much he will be removing from each section. He made the final decision that definitely will not have to have my lower jaw done, just the top. He is still going to decrease the chin a bit and move it over to the left. As far as the top goes, looks like about 5-6mm will be coming off. We are hoping that by moving the jaw up, it will open up my nose a bit. I have a really hard time breathing through my insanely small nostrils. Good news is that we finally set a date!! It makes seem like its finally happening. July 2nd is the big day. The only thing that sucks is that I'll miss July 4th weekend on the lake but I'm sure there will be plenty of lake time before surgery. So, the countdown is on. Its very exciting.

106 days until surgery
52 days until graduation

I'll update with some pics after this weekend, school is definitely keeping me busy. I can see the light! I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend.

Adjustment #5

2008-02-13T07:31:00.000-08:00

This time was a whole lot easier then the last. My two powerchains on the bottom did the trick and they left the top alone. I now have one powerchain on the bottom across all my teeth to pull them back a bit. Hopefully, it will give me more space since my bite is pretty tight. I turned 27 yesterday and really hope that by this time next year I'll have my new face and be brace free! My next appt with the ortho is on 3/18 which is the same day as my appt with the oral surgeon. I'll be getting my "surgical" wires and set the surgery date! Pretty exciting.

Face Pic

2008-01-21T18:22:00.001-08:00

So, as you can tell, my chin isn't quite in the middle (neither is my nose as my doctor pointed out, but that will have to wait). Also, there is a bit of gum on the top. I actually have to think about it when I take pictures not to smile too big or else its all gums and no teeth. This is what will change the most after surgery. It will so nice to genuinely smile big in pictures and not have to worry so much that it will be all gums.

Update from Dr. Q

2008-01-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

Good news! Dr. Q was "amazed" at how much my teeth have moved. I really wish I had taken pics when I first got my braces on, but oh well. He couldn't believe that so much has happened in three months. I can, for as much as they hurt, they had better be movin'! So, apparently, they have moved sooo much, that he thinks that I might not have to have lower jaw surgery done at all. I would still have to have my chin moved over since it doesn't quite line up in the middle. If I could do without the extra cuts on the bottom, I'm all for it! Less is definitely better in this circumstance. He said that it is totally feasible for us to go ahead and plan on surgery mid-summer which is perfect. I finally graduate on May 9th, and then on to my new face! He told me that the crowding on the bottom is what caused my teeth not to fit together, but now that they are almost straight, it is much better. I will still have to have all the junk done to my top jaw, but recovery should go much smoother. We'll make that final determination the next time I see him which is in March.

Adjustment #4

2008-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how quick a month flies by in between adjustments. So, we looked at my pics from before I had braces on and there has definately been some major movement within three months. My crooked tooth on the bottom is almost completely straight and my teeth have almost stood up straight. My top wire was replaced with a much thicker one that is supposed to make my teeth move out even more. The bottom wire was also replaced with a thick one nd two power chains were put on. Man, they aren't messin' around! I woke up this morning and thought my teeth were going to fall out! I'll definately be pounding the Advil. At least I'm over the flu some I'm not double miserable.

Waterpics are awesome

2008-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

So I forgot to mention that I got a Waterpic for Christmas. This thing is the best invention ever. This one in particular has several attachments including one especially for peeps with braces. It gets out everything! My teeth feel like I just powerwashed them all the time. Its pretty sad that I'm so excited about it, but it gets out all those pesky little bits that get jammed in my brackets. Now that I can do it without spraying water all over the bathroom mirror, its just great.
Next adjustment with the orthodontist is already next week again. I feel like I just went. I think I had some major movement in the last four weeks but I'm sure they crank them super tight again. I also have another appt with my oral surgeon in about a week. I can't believe its already been three months since that last time I saw him. Months are flying by so fast! I've already been braced for three. It feels like it was just yesterday that my mouth became bejeweled. July will be here before I know it. I just hope we stay on track for me to have my surgery then.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a safe New Year!

Not intended for braces

2007-12-17T13:11:00.001-08:00

So, my teeth are definitely moving...a lot. My braces are rubbing new holes all over the place. I had to go stock up on wax again. I should've snagged the free stuff from my ortho last week but didn't think I needed it. Anyway, one of the spots where the surgical hook is rubbing has now turned into a canker sore. This product looked like it could do the trick. These are the weirdest things I've ever seen. You stick this disc (that isn't much thinner then a Skittle) on the sore until it adheres itself to your mouth. It then dissolves and numbs the area. It didn't take long for it to stick to my braces and lodge itself on a bracket. I think I"ll stick to Zilactin from now on. Just a helpful hint for all the metal mouths out there.

Adjustment #2

2007-12-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it was already time for another adjustment today. Time is flying by. So, the powerchain didn't do as much as I hoped for. It helped to turn out one of the bottom teeth a bit. There is one stubborn bottom tooth that is pretty crooked since I waited so long to get my wisdom teeth out. So, the powerchain came off and they put wire ties on. Man, this better do the trick. It is so tight that I don't see how it couldn't. Thank goodness I had Advil in my purse because it already started to throb when I left. No pain, no gain! We looked at the pictures that I took on the first day and already there is pretty significant change in my bite. My teeth that were turned in so much are beginning to stand up straight. It's always reassuring to see progress. I was hoping for the tooth colored wire on top, but my bottom teeth need to catch up to the top so they left it alone this time.
I finished my last final for this semester. Only one more to go! I can't believe graduation is just around the corner. I have one correspondence class to complete during the Christmas break and then 3 classes in the spring. My best advice to any of you in college is to stay with it and finish the first time around. My "break" that only supposed to be a semester turned into three years. At least it is almost over with. It'll be nice not to have night school anymore!

First adjustment

2007-11-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

I went to go see Dr. Kunik for my first adjustment today. They are so great. It only took about fifteen minutes. Anyway, I did talk to him about a tentative surgery date. At first, he thought it would take a year in braces before my teeth were ready. I had expressed to him that I was really hoping for next summer before we hit the "busy season" at work. We changed my time in between adjustments from six weeks to four weeks and I got a power chain put on one side of my bottom teeth. I had a really bad experience the first time I got my wisdom teeth out so it took my seven years to go back and do the other side. Waiting so long caused some significant crowding in front. Hopefully, this chain will get things moving. They also double upped the wire on the top. I think they plan on using a larger guage next time. He thinks we can make it to where my teeth will be ready for the summer. Then, maybe I could be completely done before New Year's next year! So, things might be a bit more painful, but it will be worth it to stay on schedule. I have yet to take pictures with my new grill, but will post some soon.
-On another note, I also found out why I already have surgery hooks. The orthodontist said that mine are part of the bracket. He doesn't want to risk having any removal parts on my braces after surgery since they are doing so much work. I guess it is better to be safe then sorry. I least they aren't cutting my lips to shreds anymore.

Update from the doc

2007-10-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

I went to go see Dr. Q (oral surgeon) yesterday. I feel so much better (unless what he told me is a bunch of crap). Apparently, I will not have to have a bite splint afterwards which makes me very happy. I've read enough horror stories in all these blogs to know that I definately did not want to have to do that. I won't have my teeth banded together either. He said only 2-4 bands would be in and I can handle that. The bad part is that he thinks that it will take a year in braces before my teeth are lined up for surgery. Geez, I'll be requesting the heavy duty wire the next time I go to the orthodontist! I was really hoping that we could do this surgery thing next summer so that I'd be healed by the fall. Maybe Dr. Kunik (ortho) can make that happen.

Do I sound foreign?

2007-10-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I have a really great lisp going on, but please, it is not that bad. My boyfriend and I went to the sports bar last night to watch football and you would've thought I was speaking Russian to our waitress. She acted like she couldn't understand a word coming out of my mouth. Ugh. I really got work on this. I least I can eat a little better now. I managed hot wings by pulling it off the bone and that made me happy (especially with ranch dressing).

On a side note: To any of you who have discovered "Just Fruit", steer clear of the blueberries. This stuff is great. It's freeze dried fruit with nothing added that kinda expands back to normal in your mouth. However, the blueberry stuff got caught so deep in a bracket that I had to use a sewing needle to get it out. Just thought I'd share.

www.justtomatoes.com (the dried veggies sound gross, but the fruit is awesome)

Another pic...

2007-10-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

Another pre-braces pic from vacation. How things have changed since then!

The good 'old days

2007-10-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my ginormous boyfriend just three weeks ago in Bora Bora. Ahh, I wish I was there again (especially with no braces)! I'm just glad I waited until we got back to get them put on!

From the beginning...(it's a long one!)

2007-10-13T14:26:00.000-07:00

This all began last May with an innocent dentist appointment. Dr. McCarty was my new dentist so I thought I'd ask him a couple of questions regarding my smile. I've always had a "gummy smile" that I've hated. I asked him if there was a way to do gum recontouring with lasers. He told me that I actually needed braces instead. Are you kidding me?! I'm 26 years old and need freaking braces?! Ugh. So, then I proceed to the orthodontist. Upon my intital consultation, the first thing out of his mouth was that I would need orthognathic surgery to get me the results that I wanted. Not only would this correct cosmetic problems, but also the way my teeth fit together. My jaw is too long on the top and too small. I had adjustable retainers when I was little, but everything has moved back since then. So, then I go to the oral surgeon that was recommended to me by my general dentist. He was going to be taking out my wisdom teeth anyway, so I thought he could be my first to ask about the surgery. Geez Louise, this guy obviously does not do very many jaw surgeries. He told me that it would be an easier recovery than getting my wisdom teeth out. I'm beginning to think this guy is on drugs or something. Is he serious? Obviously, I'm in need of a second opinion. My orthodontist referred me to another oral surgeon that is supposedly the "jaw guy" of Austin. It's basically all he does. I had a ton of questions and he had an answer and then some for every one. However, he has more planned for my face then I thought. Instead of just having the upper jaw done, he wants to do upper, lower, and a genioplasty. I'm glad about the genioplasty (which I refer to as a "chinectomy") since I've always been a bit long in the face. So, now he will be cutting across the front, down the front, and twice across the top of the roof of my mouth to widen the entire upper jaw. I didn't think my mouth was that small! As far as the bottom, I think it's going to be moved up a bit and then take a chunk off the chin. He said on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most difficult), that this would be an 8. Yeeozah, like that made me feel any better. Then, you all know what happens next. The pre-determination letter gets sent to the insurance company and then you wait...and wait...and wait. I think they got tired of me calling because I got an answer in less than a month. I used to have to fight with insurance companies when I worked at a pharmacy so I learned early that more gets done when you wear them out. Well, obviously the surgery is going to be covered. The genioplasty will not since it is considered cosmetic, but I'll just be saving my pennies until then so I can get this all knocked out at once. I have to admit that I'm a bit freaked out. I mean, they are basically breaking the entire lower half of my face and putting it back together. My doctor said that there will be quite a dramatic change in the shape and contour of my face. So, that is background. I've been braced since last Wednesday (which sucks) and can't wait to get this metal out of my mouth. Between the braces and the spacers before that I haven't been able to eat right for two weeks. I guess at least I'll be losing some poundage while on this escapade. I have my next appt with Dr. Quaroni (oral surgeon) next Thursday. The surgery hooks on my bottom braces are still cutting into my lips quite a bit but its nothing that a few Mexican martinis can't make better.