So, this isn't really about my jaw surgery, but it is an interesting point of comparison. I had my gallbladder removed on Tuesday (not emergency surgery, but they figured out what was wrong on Friday, Monday I saw the surgeon, and Tuesday morning I had the surgery, so it was quick!) and I was amazed at the differences between my 2 experiences with surgery! They were at 2 different hospitals (in 2 different states), that probably accounts for a lot of the differences.
Anesthesia/going into the operating room: For my jaw surgery they put my IV in while I was in pre-op and then they gave me some floaty stuff before they took me to the OR. All I remember about the OR is that it was green. This time I was brought down to pre-op (from where I checked in and changed and such on the surgical floor), and they put in my IV, put a hair net on me, placed all of the heart monitors, put the compression socks on my legs, stuck a temperature strip on my forehead, and stuck some other monitor across my forehead. They gave me some meds before they took me to the OR, but I was still fully conscious and aware. I remember moving over to the operating table, they strapped down my arms, hooked up all of the monitors, and put an oxygen mask on me. I was awake for probably 5 minutes after I got into the OR..way different than before!!
Recovery: So I think that I way way more aware after this surgery, so I actually remember more of my time in the recovery room. However, they wouldn't go get me my teddy bear!!!! That's the only thing I would say when I woke up from my jaw surgery and my surgeons went out to get him from my parents (mostly because they thought it was hilarious). This time the nurse said she couldn't send anyone to go get him and I got very upset...causing myself more pain and more than doubling my stay in the recovery room.
Pain management: When I found out I would be having this surgery I figured it would be a piece of cake after orthognathic surgery. The surgery was done laproscopically, so I figured my pain would be easily controlled and I would be better in no time. Wrong! Now, I'm only 48 hours into recovery, but so far this hurts way worse. I was getting morphine injections every 3 hours at the hospital (I think I got them every 4 to 5 hours after jaw surgery) and am taking my prescription pain meds every 4 hours on the hour. I know recovery overall will be quicker and easier, but for now this seems much worse...
Leaving the hospital: So every hospital that I (and anyone I've ever talked to) has been to requires you to leave in a wheelchair when you are discharged. Not this hospital! They practically make you walk out (Has anyone else experienced this?).
My orthognathic surgery was my first surgery (except when I was very little), so I thought that what I experienced then was pretty standard, but this has really changed my mind about that. I guess it all just depends on the hospital you're in!
<3 Stefane
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Numbness...and Lack Thereof
So, as most of you have probably realized, the majority of orthognathic surgery bloggers stop blogging within an few months of de-bracing...unless they have continuing issues. Now you all can guess which camp I fall into...
I've been in Michigan all summer, but went home to Colorado last week for some family time. It turned out that I spent more of my time at the dentist/orthodontist/surgeon. I was supposed to have three appointments: ortho on Monday, surgeon on Tuesday, and dentist for a cleaning on Wednesday. Everything went fine at the orthodontist: my teeth haven't shifted, my retainers are all good, and they took me off of active patient status!
Tuesday's appointment was a little more complicated: my entire lower lip and chin are still just tingly and the plate that is on the right side of my nose vibrates sometimes when I talk (annoying and painful!). Dr. N doesn't think that the feeling will ever completely return...though he thinks there might be some changes in the next couple of years. We also discussed taking the troublesome plate out at Christmas (when I'm home again). I think that taking it out would probably e best for me, but my parent's aren't really supportive of that at the moment.
Teeth cleaning at the dentist was fine, except for the cavities (lower right side) that they attempted to fill in December (but couldn't get me numb). They aren't bothering me or anything, but the dentist felt that we should attempt to fill them again before I needed a root canal. So I made an appointment to have them filled Thursday morning...
It wasn't my normal dentist who filled the cavities, but he knew what was going on. First he tried a normal Novocaine injection and (after trying 3 or 4 times) he couldn't even get past the scar tissue to get to the nerve. Then he tried a maxillary blocker (I think that that's what it was called) where they inject the numbing stuff up closer to the jaw joint (owwwwww). That got me partially numb. After another maxillary blocker (again owwwwwwwwww) my teeth were mostly numb, but I could still feel pressure. After a third (by this point I'd been there for nearly an hour and my jaw was starting to tighten) I was finally numb (thank goodness!!). Since it had taken so much for me to get numb they decided to drill out an old silver filling (which was going to need to be replaced eventually) on one of those teeth, in addition to the small cavities they were intending to fill. After the drilling, they filled one of the holes and went to grind it down and shape it...I could feel everything again. So the dentist came back in and gave me another injection (mouth opening now getting smaller by the second). They filled the remaining cavities and shaped those ones (the medicine was wearing off again, bad enough to make me cry, but I didn't want any more injections).
Apparently the meds take forever to work into my system, because by the time I got home they were no longer wearing off. I was numb to an inch or so over my ear. I spent the rest of the day laying on an ice pack and eating soup. Novocaine always makes my jaw extremely tight and painful; it has been 5 days and it is still tender.
Since I didn't know they were going to drill the silver filling (which was on the surface of my 1st molar) and the couple small cavities were in between my teeth, I didn't bother to bring my retainer with me...leading to the next chapter in my week of dental appointments. They built up that molar too high (possibly because I could feel the shaping of the tooth and was in a lot of pain) so my bottom retainer didn't fit at all. Phone the orthodontist. Friday: 2nd orthodontist appointment. They managed to get my retainer to fit again by grinding down both the bottom and the top...it was a close call with having to get a new one made!
So, now that I've had my rant and you are all sick of reading my long post, I'll say that in general this surgery has been amazing for me. There are some issues, but I suppose that is to be expected...
Hope all is well with everyone finishing their journeys and good luck to everyone apporching their surgery!
Stefane
I've been in Michigan all summer, but went home to Colorado last week for some family time. It turned out that I spent more of my time at the dentist/orthodontist/surgeon. I was supposed to have three appointments: ortho on Monday, surgeon on Tuesday, and dentist for a cleaning on Wednesday. Everything went fine at the orthodontist: my teeth haven't shifted, my retainers are all good, and they took me off of active patient status!
Tuesday's appointment was a little more complicated: my entire lower lip and chin are still just tingly and the plate that is on the right side of my nose vibrates sometimes when I talk (annoying and painful!). Dr. N doesn't think that the feeling will ever completely return...though he thinks there might be some changes in the next couple of years. We also discussed taking the troublesome plate out at Christmas (when I'm home again). I think that taking it out would probably e best for me, but my parent's aren't really supportive of that at the moment.
Teeth cleaning at the dentist was fine, except for the cavities (lower right side) that they attempted to fill in December (but couldn't get me numb). They aren't bothering me or anything, but the dentist felt that we should attempt to fill them again before I needed a root canal. So I made an appointment to have them filled Thursday morning...
It wasn't my normal dentist who filled the cavities, but he knew what was going on. First he tried a normal Novocaine injection and (after trying 3 or 4 times) he couldn't even get past the scar tissue to get to the nerve. Then he tried a maxillary blocker (I think that that's what it was called) where they inject the numbing stuff up closer to the jaw joint (owwwwww). That got me partially numb. After another maxillary blocker (again owwwwwwwwww) my teeth were mostly numb, but I could still feel pressure. After a third (by this point I'd been there for nearly an hour and my jaw was starting to tighten) I was finally numb (thank goodness!!). Since it had taken so much for me to get numb they decided to drill out an old silver filling (which was going to need to be replaced eventually) on one of those teeth, in addition to the small cavities they were intending to fill. After the drilling, they filled one of the holes and went to grind it down and shape it...I could feel everything again. So the dentist came back in and gave me another injection (mouth opening now getting smaller by the second). They filled the remaining cavities and shaped those ones (the medicine was wearing off again, bad enough to make me cry, but I didn't want any more injections).
Apparently the meds take forever to work into my system, because by the time I got home they were no longer wearing off. I was numb to an inch or so over my ear. I spent the rest of the day laying on an ice pack and eating soup. Novocaine always makes my jaw extremely tight and painful; it has been 5 days and it is still tender.
Since I didn't know they were going to drill the silver filling (which was on the surface of my 1st molar) and the couple small cavities were in between my teeth, I didn't bother to bring my retainer with me...leading to the next chapter in my week of dental appointments. They built up that molar too high (possibly because I could feel the shaping of the tooth and was in a lot of pain) so my bottom retainer didn't fit at all. Phone the orthodontist. Friday: 2nd orthodontist appointment. They managed to get my retainer to fit again by grinding down both the bottom and the top...it was a close call with having to get a new one made!
So, now that I've had my rant and you are all sick of reading my long post, I'll say that in general this surgery has been amazing for me. There are some issues, but I suppose that is to be expected...
Hope all is well with everyone finishing their journeys and good luck to everyone apporching their surgery!
Stefane
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Retainers and Such
Hello all!
Well, this semester has been even crazier than last winter semester! So, I finally got around to taking pictures of my retainers and found time to write a post...
I have 2 sets of retainers: a clear set to wear during the day, and a hard plastic and wire set that also serves as a bite guard at night.
You can hardly see the clear ones, but they do create a little visible gap in my bite just because of the plastic. It's really tiny, I doubt anyone notices it but me!
(Sorry about my crazy eyes in all of these pictures! I pulled an all-nighter last night and didn't realize how tired and wacko I looked until I put these pictures on my computer...)
Here's a picture of my bite without the retainers for comparison.
My night retainer is much more cumbersome, since it is a night guard. I went to the orthodontist on the 4th to get those retainers. The bottom retainer was really really thick and they shaved it down a bit and did several bite paper things to mark where my teeth hit the plastic so they could shave grooves in it. This made it so that my teeth all hit it equally and it holds my jaw in a different position at night so it can relax. However, it gives me a pretty bad lisp and my lips don't close around it unless I force them to.
So, I also have a copy of my post braces x-ray to share with you all, but my printer is not cooperating and won't scan it to my computer or a memory card...so once I figure out my technical difficulties I will post that!
<3 Stefane
Well, this semester has been even crazier than last winter semester! So, I finally got around to taking pictures of my retainers and found time to write a post...
I have 2 sets of retainers: a clear set to wear during the day, and a hard plastic and wire set that also serves as a bite guard at night.
You can hardly see the clear ones, but they do create a little visible gap in my bite just because of the plastic. It's really tiny, I doubt anyone notices it but me!
(Sorry about my crazy eyes in all of these pictures! I pulled an all-nighter last night and didn't realize how tired and wacko I looked until I put these pictures on my computer...)
Here's a picture of my bite without the retainers for comparison.
My night retainer is much more cumbersome, since it is a night guard. I went to the orthodontist on the 4th to get those retainers. The bottom retainer was really really thick and they shaved it down a bit and did several bite paper things to mark where my teeth hit the plastic so they could shave grooves in it. This made it so that my teeth all hit it equally and it holds my jaw in a different position at night so it can relax. However, it gives me a pretty bad lisp and my lips don't close around it unless I force them to.
So, I also have a copy of my post braces x-ray to share with you all, but my printer is not cooperating and won't scan it to my computer or a memory card...so once I figure out my technical difficulties I will post that!
<3 Stefane
Monday, December 27, 2010
Bye-Bye Braces!!!
Today was the day! The braces are gone!
19 months total: 6 1/2 before surgery, 12 1/2 after surgery,and now my teeth are free!
I don't have pictures or x-rays from the orthodontist yet, those will be taken at either my next appointment or the one after that.
Cleaning off the cement hurt on some of the teeth, mostly the ones in the very front and the very back. They took several impressions, and I'll go back in an hour or so to pick up my first set of retainers, and go back next week to get my more permanent ones.
I suppose I'll post again after I actually see my orthodontist (she's on vacation right now) and my OS!
<3 Stefane
19 months total: 6 1/2 before surgery, 12 1/2 after surgery,and now my teeth are free!
I don't have pictures or x-rays from the orthodontist yet, those will be taken at either my next appointment or the one after that.
Cleaning off the cement hurt on some of the teeth, mostly the ones in the very front and the very back. They took several impressions, and I'll go back in an hour or so to pick up my first set of retainers, and go back next week to get my more permanent ones.
I suppose I'll post again after I actually see my orthodontist (she's on vacation right now) and my OS!
<3 Stefane
Thursday, December 16, 2010
1 year
Hello All,
1 year ago I was waiting in the pre-op area, all hooked up to my IV, getting ready for a long surgery and recovery. I've been thinking about this post for awhile now , and I don't quite know what to write. Though it has been a year, the recovery certainly isn't over: I get my braces off in a week and a half, my chin is still a big block of numbness, and I'm probably going to have at least one of the plates removed.
A lot has changed since my surgery. All of my teeth it together now, and my jaw hasn't locked up in over a year. I can actually bite into foods with my front teeth (before the surgery I didn't know that "normal people" could bite into a baby carrot with their front teeth and actually take a chunk clean off). You can no longer see my tongue when I smile, nor can I touch my tongue to my nose anymore (though I hope that I will be able to once the braces come off, as I an strange and miss being able to do that!).
Somethings haven't changed that much. My muscles are still sore sometimes, since they're trying to adjust to my changing bite. Once the braces come off I think that that will change. I still get migraines, though I didn't think that the surgery would change that, since I started having migraines long before I started having jaw issues.
The numbness is still there, though I think it is getting better! There's a patch along my jawbone on the right side that feels more normal than the rest of my chin. I talked with my orthodontist about it during my appointment this week and she said that it took a really really long tome for the feeling in her chin to return completely (I don't know if I even mentioned that she had the exact surgery I had-expanding and advancing the maxilla and shortening the mandible- with the same surgeons!).
I don't see my surgeon until Jan 3, since this is their busy time of year, haha, but you'll get an update from me before then...just check out my countdown clock!!!
<3 Stefane
1 year ago I was waiting in the pre-op area, all hooked up to my IV, getting ready for a long surgery and recovery. I've been thinking about this post for awhile now , and I don't quite know what to write. Though it has been a year, the recovery certainly isn't over: I get my braces off in a week and a half, my chin is still a big block of numbness, and I'm probably going to have at least one of the plates removed.
A lot has changed since my surgery. All of my teeth it together now, and my jaw hasn't locked up in over a year. I can actually bite into foods with my front teeth (before the surgery I didn't know that "normal people" could bite into a baby carrot with their front teeth and actually take a chunk clean off). You can no longer see my tongue when I smile, nor can I touch my tongue to my nose anymore (though I hope that I will be able to once the braces come off, as I an strange and miss being able to do that!).
Somethings haven't changed that much. My muscles are still sore sometimes, since they're trying to adjust to my changing bite. Once the braces come off I think that that will change. I still get migraines, though I didn't think that the surgery would change that, since I started having migraines long before I started having jaw issues.
The numbness is still there, though I think it is getting better! There's a patch along my jawbone on the right side that feels more normal than the rest of my chin. I talked with my orthodontist about it during my appointment this week and she said that it took a really really long tome for the feeling in her chin to return completely (I don't know if I even mentioned that she had the exact surgery I had-expanding and advancing the maxilla and shortening the mandible- with the same surgeons!).
I don't see my surgeon until Jan 3, since this is their busy time of year, haha, but you'll get an update from me before then...just check out my countdown clock!!!
<3 Stefane
Monday, November 29, 2010
Again?
So...my chain broke again. It broke in exactly the same place, so there's obviously something rubbing against it that is causing it to break. I only realized this yesterday, and I'm not going to call my emergency ortho up here again. I will be back in Denver and at the ortho 2 weeks from today, so it shouldn't be a big deal. Plus, I'm heading into finals week, have 2 lesson plans due and an exam this week, and am working extra shifts at work for the next 2 weeks, so I don't have time to get it fixed right now!
Hopefully I'll post again in 2 weeks saying the Dr. W has given the final ok for the braces to come off on December 27th!
<3 Stefane
Hopefully I'll post again in 2 weeks saying the Dr. W has given the final ok for the braces to come off on December 27th!
<3 Stefane
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
3 Months til Done!
Hey everyone!
In 3 months I will no longer have braces!! I really need to start another countdown clock...90 days!!! Things are going well with the braces (I did manage to get the top chain replaced): my back teeth are moving down, they're not touching all of the way yet, but they're getting there!
The nerves in my lip and chin are not cooperating as well as my teeth are. I still don't have feeling from the corners of my lips down to the bottom of my mandibular. It has me worried now, though my OS says that it takes between 6 and 12 months and I've found other sources that say it can take up to 18 months for full feeling to return. It's been 9 months...
And, since it has been 9 months (and since I haven't posted before and after pictures since about 9-weeks post op) I have pictures!
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
It's been a long road, and it's not over yet! I can't wait for these 3 months to fly by! Plus, after I get my braces off they'll take my x-ray (my OS has post-op x-rays, but my ortho puts all of that stuff on my patient website so I can access them) and I'll be able to post those before and afters!!
<3 Stefane
In 3 months I will no longer have braces!! I really need to start another countdown clock...90 days!!! Things are going well with the braces (I did manage to get the top chain replaced): my back teeth are moving down, they're not touching all of the way yet, but they're getting there!
The nerves in my lip and chin are not cooperating as well as my teeth are. I still don't have feeling from the corners of my lips down to the bottom of my mandibular. It has me worried now, though my OS says that it takes between 6 and 12 months and I've found other sources that say it can take up to 18 months for full feeling to return. It's been 9 months...
And, since it has been 9 months (and since I haven't posted before and after pictures since about 9-weeks post op) I have pictures!
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
It's been a long road, and it's not over yet! I can't wait for these 3 months to fly by! Plus, after I get my braces off they'll take my x-ray (my OS has post-op x-rays, but my ortho puts all of that stuff on my patient website so I can access them) and I'll be able to post those before and afters!!
<3 Stefane
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Broken Chain
Hello everyone!
I was reminded this weekend of the struggles and headaches that accompany going to school far away from home. Every trip I take home is filled with appointments (Ortho, OS...though I don't have to see him so much anymore, Dentist, Dr...I was sick the last time I was at home), and then I leave to come back to school, with the phrase "If something feels off while you're at school/before you come back (fill in blank with what to do)..."
On Saturday night I realized that the chain on my top teeth had snapped waaaay in the back of my mouth (the second to last tooth from the back). Since I'm wearing box rubber bands on my back teeth at night, the tooth and bracket are being pulled downward, popping the wire out of the bracket. Now, the break in the chain is pulling the chain off the back tooth. No big deal...typically...but, I can just call up my orthodontist and pop in there to get it fixed. So, I called an orthodontist up here (luckily I had to go to one before, when I was having TMJ troubles...check out my first post) and am trying to get in to see him (and it would be really great if his office would call me back when they say they will!!!). I also called my ortho back home, to let them know what's going on.
So, it's just another day in the life of a college student with braces. Hopefully I can get this taken care of before the chain pulls off of my back tooth and drives me crazy!
Yours in frustration,
<3 Stefane
P.S. I'm back on the Nerontin, and there is still no change in the feeling in my lip/chin. I'm supposed to call Dr. N about upping the dosage.
I was reminded this weekend of the struggles and headaches that accompany going to school far away from home. Every trip I take home is filled with appointments (Ortho, OS...though I don't have to see him so much anymore, Dentist, Dr...I was sick the last time I was at home), and then I leave to come back to school, with the phrase "If something feels off while you're at school/before you come back (fill in blank with what to do)..."
On Saturday night I realized that the chain on my top teeth had snapped waaaay in the back of my mouth (the second to last tooth from the back). Since I'm wearing box rubber bands on my back teeth at night, the tooth and bracket are being pulled downward, popping the wire out of the bracket. Now, the break in the chain is pulling the chain off the back tooth. No big deal...typically...but, I can just call up my orthodontist and pop in there to get it fixed. So, I called an orthodontist up here (luckily I had to go to one before, when I was having TMJ troubles...check out my first post) and am trying to get in to see him (and it would be really great if his office would call me back when they say they will!!!). I also called my ortho back home, to let them know what's going on.
So, it's just another day in the life of a college student with braces. Hopefully I can get this taken care of before the chain pulls off of my back tooth and drives me crazy!
Yours in frustration,
<3 Stefane
P.S. I'm back on the Nerontin, and there is still no change in the feeling in my lip/chin. I'm supposed to call Dr. N about upping the dosage.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Lots of News!
Hello All! I have lots of news to share with you all, so I'll try to make everything short and sweet!
Funny story I can't believe I forgot to share: Leaving for Hawaii from Denver, instead of going through a normal metal detector, we went through one of those new scanner machines...and they held me for 5 minutes until they were able to identify the metal in my face. Seriously. I'm laughing about it now, but I was a bit peeved at the time.
Surgeon update: Everything looks fine, bite wise, but my chin and bottom lip are still tingly. Dr. N wants me to start taking the Neurontin again, and this time we're going to up the dosage a little. I won't see him again until after I get my braces off, which leads me to my next tidbit...
Ortho update: I have a debracing date!!!!!! Since I won't be home again until Christmas Break, it is still a long way off, but here's the scoop! She wants to do a final check on everything December 13 and then the braces will come off on December 27!!!!!!!!!!!!! All that's left to do is get my back teeth to meet, because everything else looks great! So, I have new bands to wear: boxes on my back teeth. 4 1/2 months!!!!!!
That's all for now, I'll keep everyone updated on how my nerve is healing up!
<3 Stefane
Funny story I can't believe I forgot to share: Leaving for Hawaii from Denver, instead of going through a normal metal detector, we went through one of those new scanner machines...and they held me for 5 minutes until they were able to identify the metal in my face. Seriously. I'm laughing about it now, but I was a bit peeved at the time.
Surgeon update: Everything looks fine, bite wise, but my chin and bottom lip are still tingly. Dr. N wants me to start taking the Neurontin again, and this time we're going to up the dosage a little. I won't see him again until after I get my braces off, which leads me to my next tidbit...
Ortho update: I have a debracing date!!!!!! Since I won't be home again until Christmas Break, it is still a long way off, but here's the scoop! She wants to do a final check on everything December 13 and then the braces will come off on December 27!!!!!!!!!!!!! All that's left to do is get my back teeth to meet, because everything else looks great! So, I have new bands to wear: boxes on my back teeth. 4 1/2 months!!!!!!
That's all for now, I'll keep everyone updated on how my nerve is healing up!
<3 Stefane
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Quick Update
Hello all!
I'm working at a camp this summer (no internet) and it's my first day off, so I thought that I should write a 6 month update (6 MONTHS!!!!!!).
I went to the orthodontist before I came up to camp, and if I wasn't going to be here all summer (aka if I spent the summer in Colorado) I would likely have my braces off in August...but since she won't see me until August and I'll only be home for a week that wonderful day will have to be postponed (maybe until winter break...darn it!). On a happier note, I only have to wear my rubber bands at night now, which is really nice since I'm so busy all day I would never remember to put them back in! So my muscles are a bit more tired now, since they don't have the rubber bands holding my bite during the day, but it's never painful, just a little sore sometimes.
I stopped taking the Nurontin that Dr. N prescribed for me. After a few days at camp I realized that I needed to take allergy medicine (I have about 50 million bug bites which all swell like crazy! And my eyes were watering and I was sneezing all the time). I took both for one day...I was slightly loopy. So I stopped taking the Nerontin.
Other than that, things are going well! Hope everyone is having a great summer!
Much Love,
Stefane
I'm working at a camp this summer (no internet) and it's my first day off, so I thought that I should write a 6 month update (6 MONTHS!!!!!!).
I went to the orthodontist before I came up to camp, and if I wasn't going to be here all summer (aka if I spent the summer in Colorado) I would likely have my braces off in August...but since she won't see me until August and I'll only be home for a week that wonderful day will have to be postponed (maybe until winter break...darn it!). On a happier note, I only have to wear my rubber bands at night now, which is really nice since I'm so busy all day I would never remember to put them back in! So my muscles are a bit more tired now, since they don't have the rubber bands holding my bite during the day, but it's never painful, just a little sore sometimes.
I stopped taking the Nurontin that Dr. N prescribed for me. After a few days at camp I realized that I needed to take allergy medicine (I have about 50 million bug bites which all swell like crazy! And my eyes were watering and I was sneezing all the time). I took both for one day...I was slightly loopy. So I stopped taking the Nerontin.
Other than that, things are going well! Hope everyone is having a great summer!
Much Love,
Stefane
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Scar Tissue
As I mentioned in my post after my teeth cleaning, I had one little cavity. I got that little cavity filled today...and the scar tissue from the surgery was a bit of a problem. Since the cavity was on one of my bottom back teeth, the novicane had to be injected right around the incision. So, my dentist had trouble getting the needle where he needed it to go. That, plus the nerve issues I'm still having, led to THREE novicane injections before I was finally numb. I've probably mentioned before that I hate needles, and it was painful! My poor dentist felt so bad, because on the third one the pain shot down into my chin and lip and I basically started crying.
Now that I'm starting to get the feeling back, I can feel the tightness in my jaw I always had after dental work/novicane, but it's even worse. I popped a couple of Ibuprofen and laid down with that side of my face on an ice pack, which seems to have helped a lot.
I'm packing so that I can leave for Hawaii in the morning (yay!!!!), but I wanted to share the troubles to scar tissue with all of you.
<3 Stefane
Now that I'm starting to get the feeling back, I can feel the tightness in my jaw I always had after dental work/novicane, but it's even worse. I popped a couple of Ibuprofen and laid down with that side of my face on an ice pack, which seems to have helped a lot.
I'm packing so that I can leave for Hawaii in the morning (yay!!!!), but I wanted to share the troubles to scar tissue with all of you.
<3 Stefane
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
5 Month Pictures!
Here are a couple of pictures taken last weekend. There aren't any of my profile, but I'm really happy with how my bite and profile look!
Hope everyone is doing well! I can't believe that it has been almost 6 months since my surgery...time sure does fly.
<3 Stefane
Hope everyone is doing well! I can't believe that it has been almost 6 months since my surgery...time sure does fly.
<3 Stefane
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Quick Note
So, I'm working at a summer camp, June through August. On our application they asked if we played a musical instrument. I play the flute, so I marked yes, not even thinking about the fact that I haven't played since before my surgery. When they sent me all my paperwork, it said to bring my musical instrument with me in June.
Now that I'm home I decided to pull out my flute and see how everything feels...it is so much different playing with a normal bite! I played for so many years with an underbite, it feels strange to play with my new bite. I had to play simple melodies over and over again, trying to get the notes right: even though my fingers were correct, I was out of tune! My chin and lower lip being numb is really not helping either, after 10 minutes it was really hurting, so I had to stop.
That's all for now, but I'll post pictures later this week or early next week, since I haven't posted any in awhile.
<3 Stefane
Now that I'm home I decided to pull out my flute and see how everything feels...it is so much different playing with a normal bite! I played for so many years with an underbite, it feels strange to play with my new bite. I had to play simple melodies over and over again, trying to get the notes right: even though my fingers were correct, I was out of tune! My chin and lower lip being numb is really not helping either, after 10 minutes it was really hurting, so I had to stop.
That's all for now, but I'll post pictures later this week or early next week, since I haven't posted any in awhile.
<3 Stefane
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
*sigh*
So, the scary teeth cleaning is over! But first I went to see my OS...
Dr. N is really happy about my bite, and about my opening. I'm back to what my max opening was before the surgery, at 50 mm. I told him about the issues I've been having with the nerves in my chin and bottom lip. It has really been bugging me lately: when it's windy or cold out, or when I rub my chin (wash my face...), it gets really painful. He told me that there are a couple of medications we could try that would help with the nerve pain. So, I decided to try Neurontin for a month and see if it helps at all. Since I'm trying this medication, he wants to see me again in June (before I go back to Michigan).
The teeth cleaning was painful, not all the time, but when she hit certain areas... I'm just really glad that it's over with! I do have one cavity, way in the back, where I couldn't brush because of the splint. Overall it wasn't too bad.
Alright, I'm falling asleep, so I'd better go to bed!
<3 Stefane
Dr. N is really happy about my bite, and about my opening. I'm back to what my max opening was before the surgery, at 50 mm. I told him about the issues I've been having with the nerves in my chin and bottom lip. It has really been bugging me lately: when it's windy or cold out, or when I rub my chin (wash my face...), it gets really painful. He told me that there are a couple of medications we could try that would help with the nerve pain. So, I decided to try Neurontin for a month and see if it helps at all. Since I'm trying this medication, he wants to see me again in June (before I go back to Michigan).
The teeth cleaning was painful, not all the time, but when she hit certain areas... I'm just really glad that it's over with! I do have one cavity, way in the back, where I couldn't brush because of the splint. Overall it wasn't too bad.
Alright, I'm falling asleep, so I'd better go to bed!
<3 Stefane
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Ow, Ow, Ow!!
Happy Summer everyone!
I'm on break already, and I saw my orthodontist yesterday. She says that everything is looking good, and we just have to finish up the detail work! She'd like to get the braces off before I go back to school in August, but only if everything is perfect. I totally agree with her, and it's not that big of a deal for me to have them until October, or even Thanksgiving.
I have new bands...boxes. OW, OW, OW!!! They're not on my back teeth, but closer to the front, and they are quite painful right now! I know the pain will go away in a couple of days... I'm also worried about how the elastics are going to affect my opening. When I took them off this morning everything felt tight and I wasn't able to open my mouth as much as I have been able to. Since I see my OS on Tuesday morning and he wants me opening to 38mm, this might be a bit of an issue.
Other than that, everything is going well! I'm home for another 3 weeks, then we're going to Hawaii, then I'm going back to Michigan to work at a camp!
<3 Stefane
I'm on break already, and I saw my orthodontist yesterday. She says that everything is looking good, and we just have to finish up the detail work! She'd like to get the braces off before I go back to school in August, but only if everything is perfect. I totally agree with her, and it's not that big of a deal for me to have them until October, or even Thanksgiving.
I have new bands...boxes. OW, OW, OW!!! They're not on my back teeth, but closer to the front, and they are quite painful right now! I know the pain will go away in a couple of days... I'm also worried about how the elastics are going to affect my opening. When I took them off this morning everything felt tight and I wasn't able to open my mouth as much as I have been able to. Since I see my OS on Tuesday morning and he wants me opening to 38mm, this might be a bit of an issue.
Other than that, everything is going well! I'm home for another 3 weeks, then we're going to Hawaii, then I'm going back to Michigan to work at a camp!
<3 Stefane
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Hello All,
I can't believe that it's already been more than 4 months since my surgery! I haven't written in awhile, just because there's really not much to say...I am still at school, so I haven't seen my ortho or my OS since spring break. Everything is feeling fine, except my chin. It is still just tingly, and I'm getting tired of it! I want full feeling back! Most of the time it's just an annoyance, but sometimes when I'm outside for long periods of time, it starts to hurt...
I still have a gap on the right side where they expanded my top jaw. The rubber bands (or band, since it's only one) I have still is slowly closing the gap, but it's still pretty big.
This is my last week of classes, then I have finals, then I'll be heading home! I see my ortho and my OS sometime the week after next...and I'm getting my teeth cleaned. I'm really worried about the teeth cleaning part. My top gums are still numb-ish, and my bottom gums and teeth are still hypersensitive sometimes, so I'm worried that it's going to hurt. I know, I know, I survived double jaw surgery, this shouldn't scare me...but it does.
Well, that's all for now. I'll post in a couple of weeks after my appointments!
<3 Stefane
I can't believe that it's already been more than 4 months since my surgery! I haven't written in awhile, just because there's really not much to say...I am still at school, so I haven't seen my ortho or my OS since spring break. Everything is feeling fine, except my chin. It is still just tingly, and I'm getting tired of it! I want full feeling back! Most of the time it's just an annoyance, but sometimes when I'm outside for long periods of time, it starts to hurt...
I still have a gap on the right side where they expanded my top jaw. The rubber bands (or band, since it's only one) I have still is slowly closing the gap, but it's still pretty big.
This is my last week of classes, then I have finals, then I'll be heading home! I see my ortho and my OS sometime the week after next...and I'm getting my teeth cleaned. I'm really worried about the teeth cleaning part. My top gums are still numb-ish, and my bottom gums and teeth are still hypersensitive sometimes, so I'm worried that it's going to hurt. I know, I know, I survived double jaw surgery, this shouldn't scare me...but it does.
Well, that's all for now. I'll post in a couple of weeks after my appointments!
<3 Stefane
Monday, March 22, 2010
Back to my old self!
I've been feeling better and better since my surgery, but this past weekend I truly felt like I was completely back to normal.
Saturday afternoon I was speaking at a conference held at my University, and I (of course...) procrastinated on writing my speech. That's not really a good thing, since I was supposed to speak for 30 minutes, lol! So, Friday night I was up really late working on it...I finished at 2 am and was still wide awake! I actually stayed awake for another hour, watching tv until I felt tired. That is the kind of energy I was used to having before this surgery, and this was really the first time I felt that I had it back :)
I'm also eating completely normally now: I was eating carrots yesterday and was amazed by the fact that I could bite off a piece of carrot with my front teeth...I've never been able to do that! My friends just laugh and shake their heads when I get excited about stuff like that...
Much Love,
<3 Stefane
Saturday afternoon I was speaking at a conference held at my University, and I (of course...) procrastinated on writing my speech. That's not really a good thing, since I was supposed to speak for 30 minutes, lol! So, Friday night I was up really late working on it...I finished at 2 am and was still wide awake! I actually stayed awake for another hour, watching tv until I felt tired. That is the kind of energy I was used to having before this surgery, and this was really the first time I felt that I had it back :)
I'm also eating completely normally now: I was eating carrots yesterday and was amazed by the fact that I could bite off a piece of carrot with my front teeth...I've never been able to do that! My friends just laugh and shake their heads when I get excited about stuff like that...
Much Love,
<3 Stefane
Friday, March 12, 2010
Week 12: Haircut time!
It seems like everyone else gets a new hair cut after surgery, and today it was my turn!
These are the first pictures that have been taken where I think my smile looks normal! I guess my muscles are healing nicely...if only the nerves in my chin would heal that quickly! :)
<3 Stefane
These are the first pictures that have been taken where I think my smile looks normal! I guess my muscles are healing nicely...if only the nerves in my chin would heal that quickly! :)
<3 Stefane
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Closing in on 12 weeks!
Wow, it's hard to believe that my surgery was almost 3 months ago!
I was home last week, saw the orthodontist and Dr. N and everything is fine! There are no signs of infection in those stitches and they should completely dissolve in another 3 weeks or so...I've been cleared for most physical activity, but I'm still not allowed to do anything where I could possibly get hit in the face, for obvious reasons!
I'm pretty much eating everything now, though I'm being super careful with sticky and chewy foods! I'm getting better at chewing on the left side of my mouth...it was pretty painful at first, after having chewed solely on my right teeth for this many years :)
This weekend I'm going to get to see a friend who hasn't seen me since the surgery, and I can't wait for her reaction! Everyone else saw me for the first time less that a month afterward (and I was still pretty swollen!), so it's nice to have someone who will see me for the first time this far out! I have friends who are still astonished by the change, just this afternoon one of them commented on my cheekbones, and my friend Ann has mentioned a couple of times that she can't believe the difference in my facial structure.
My chin is still pretty numb, though it is tingly now. I'm having the same reaction to cold that Kelly's (http://kellysjawsurgery.blogspot.com/) having...whenever something cold touches the right side of my lip it feels like it travels in a line down my chin. At first I thought stuff was dripping out of my mouth, but then I realized that it was just the cold. It's weird and annoying, but the feeling is definitely coming back!
That's it for now, I'm getting my hair cut on Friday, so I'll post pictures then!
<3 Stefane
P.S. Kelly, I tried to comment on your latest post, but it wasn't working :(
I was home last week, saw the orthodontist and Dr. N and everything is fine! There are no signs of infection in those stitches and they should completely dissolve in another 3 weeks or so...I've been cleared for most physical activity, but I'm still not allowed to do anything where I could possibly get hit in the face, for obvious reasons!
I'm pretty much eating everything now, though I'm being super careful with sticky and chewy foods! I'm getting better at chewing on the left side of my mouth...it was pretty painful at first, after having chewed solely on my right teeth for this many years :)
This weekend I'm going to get to see a friend who hasn't seen me since the surgery, and I can't wait for her reaction! Everyone else saw me for the first time less that a month afterward (and I was still pretty swollen!), so it's nice to have someone who will see me for the first time this far out! I have friends who are still astonished by the change, just this afternoon one of them commented on my cheekbones, and my friend Ann has mentioned a couple of times that she can't believe the difference in my facial structure.
My chin is still pretty numb, though it is tingly now. I'm having the same reaction to cold that Kelly's (http://kellysjawsurgery.blogspot.com/) having...whenever something cold touches the right side of my lip it feels like it travels in a line down my chin. At first I thought stuff was dripping out of my mouth, but then I realized that it was just the cold. It's weird and annoying, but the feeling is definitely coming back!
That's it for now, I'm getting my hair cut on Friday, so I'll post pictures then!
<3 Stefane
P.S. Kelly, I tried to comment on your latest post, but it wasn't working :(
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Infection???
So, 3 1/2 weeks ago when I saw Dr. N he was concerned about 2 inflamed areas, one on each side of my nose. He though that the two stitches up there were infected and put me on antibiotics. I finished the antibiotics last Sunday (almost 2 weeks ago) and the areas were still inflamed and painful to the touch. I called the office and Dr. N prescribed me another round of antibiotics. I finished those on Thursday night...and the areas are still inflamed and swollen. I'm worried that it's something serious...
I'm going home for spring break next week, so I'll see Dr. N a week from Tuesday. However, I don't know what to do in the meantime. There's not much that can be done when I'm in Michigan and he's in Colorado.
I'm going home for spring break next week, so I'll see Dr. N a week from Tuesday. However, I don't know what to do in the meantime. There's not much that can be done when I'm in Michigan and he's in Colorado.
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