As you may have inferred from my previous post, as of this past Friday I am now free of both skeletal wires which (if you didn't know) were going into my gums at the front of my upper and lower jaws. Now, they may not have hurt while they were in, but the removal........OUCH. Not only did the 7ish numbing shots burn/sting/pinch/kill my gums, but I could STILL feel when she (yes, she -- it was a girl resident this time........OH, SAD OCCASION!) finagled the lower one out. Imagine someone stirring the inside of your gums up with a fork. Yeah. Removal of the top one, however, didn't hurt as much since some of that gum tissue is still numb from surgery - fine by me! My other grandma went with me this time and she actually had to turn away from my chair while they carried out the removal - LOL I thought she was going to pass out! Apparently I didn't inherit my strong stomach from her.
So once my gums were all bloody and skeletal wire-free AND my lips looked like they'd received some heavy-duty botox injections, I got to see my surgeon. My bite still looks great and I actually remembered to ask him about measurements. My top jaw was moved forward 5 millimeters and lower was moved back about 4 millimeters, which means there was almost an entire centimeter of discrepancy to begin with! I'll never understand how I functioned like that.
And here is the fabulous news. The phrase I had been waiting to hear since the July 31st, 2011 (the day before surgery.) I have official surgeon-recommended permission to resume a normal diet now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)
Hearing those words was like hearing angels sing, I kid you not. I had anticipated having to wait another couple of weeks before I'd be given permission for that. So after the appointment, we celebrated with a meal at Cracker Barrel - meatloaf (I see you turning your nose up, but CB has the best meatloaf in the entire universe), biscuits, baked apples, dumplins, and green beans. DELISH! And since I was back in my home town, we of course saw 80 billion people we knew there. Such aspects of small-town life I am definitely already missing.
I am still wearing elastics, but it's a new configuration that isn't anywhere near as tight as the old one. Small steps!!!!! (Seems to be my motto throughout this process. haha) Also, now that I am eating like a human being again, pudding has gone back to being the most disgusting item in my fridge. I don't know if I'll ever finish my last 6 cups.
I also posted a new video a few days ago, so check it out here: Double Jaw Surgery: 37 Days Post-Op
Thank you for the nice feedback if you've been one of the contributors. :) Every encouraging comment means a lot!
Peyton
Showing posts with label liquid diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liquid diet. Show all posts
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Thirty-Seven Days Post-op! Hospital Bill Breakdown + Profile Shots.
HELLO!
Two more days until skeletal wire removal...oh yeaaaaah. As I said before, that will be the final major step performed by the surgeon in this whole process. Then I get to see my lovely orthodontist again and HOPEFULLY hear some fabulous news regarding removal of my braces within the next several months. Fingers crossed!
And I'm actually feeling a bit guilty about how experimental I've been with food over the past few days...BUT IT FEELS FINE! No pain when I chew, only a little tenderness if I try to bite clear through anything with my front teeth (which I therefore have NOT been doing!) I figure as long as I'm not in pain and my bite doesn't seem to be affected, I should be broadening my culinary horizons as quickly as I please. After all, it has been 37 days. Whew.
For the purpose of financially educating anyone out there who may need this surgery in the future, I will now include an outline of the cost of my specific surgery, copied straight from the bill we received in the mail.
Hospital/Clinic Bill Breakdown (EXCLUDING Physician Charges):
Inpatient Services 08/01/11 to 08/03/11
Summary of Charges
Procedure Room ------------------------------------------- $23,903.00
Anesthesia, Materials, & Serv. -------------------------- $7,694.00
Radiology --------------------------------------------------- $391.00
Pharmacy ---------------------------------------------------- $5,130.59
Laboratory --------------------------------------------------- $70.00
Central Supplies -------------------------------------------- $2,455.00
Respiratory Therapy --------------------------------------- $1,026.00
Total Charges ----------------------------------------------- $48, 616.59
*Estimated Insurance Coverage ------------------------- $48,616.59
Amount Now Due From You --------------------------- $0.00
Now, the whole billing/insurance thing confuses me greatly but if you'll notice, the above amounts don't even include physician charges. I don't know why. Probably because there would be an uproar over the massive amount of money the physician receives for such a procedure. (BUT HELLO - THEY DESERVE EVERY PENNY!) That is complete speculation obviously. What I do know is we did have to pay the deductible on our insurance plan so I suppose that went toward paying the physician charges...? Maybe. And don't forget that you also have to pay for braces and wisdom teeth extraction (had that done summer of 2010) for a procedure like this, and that can cost upwards of $6,000 - usually not covered by most dental or medical insurance plans. In order to receive maximum insurance coverage from your provider, you have to send them the information as well as reasoning regarding why the procedure is medically necessary as opposed to being purely cosmetic. Waiting for approval can take around 3 months, and you're not supposed to start ANY treatment (not even braces!) until you receive approval. In our case, it took about 2 months to hear back.
Another weird little factoid that occurred to me recently: I had my surgery exactly one year to the very day after my braces were put on, and it was totally not planned out that way; just occurred by chance. How odd.
So many of the other jaw surgery bloggers I've followed mention the numbness lasting quite a while afterward, and I am pleasantly surprised by how little I've had. My upper gums are still numb, but nowhere on my face or lips has been numb in quite a while. I didn't really even have much facial numbness the DAY AFTER surgery. My lips were never numb or gigantic at all and I remember that being a huge complaint from fellow orthognathic surgery patients. Even my swelling was very minimal compared to the majority of cases I've seen online. After all of my research, I was expecting to come out of the hospital with lips the size of watermelons and bruises all over my face, but neither were the case. I think my surgeon just has actual superhero powers/capabilities or something..... :) Haha...really though. He is meticulous, meticulous, meticulous about everything, so I really shouldn't be surprised by how physically problem-free my recovery has been.
Another thing that has been bothering me is the fact that people refer to being wired shut as an antiquated form of recovery since elastics can pretty much do the same job. Well...that is NOT the case. As much as I despised it at the time, I fully understand why my surgeon still wires patients shut for the first 3 weeks, especially patients like me who had one jaw split into multiple sections. It really is the most stable way to keep the jaws immobilized in order to encourage optimal healing. And if I'm gonna dedicate 6+ solid hours of my life standing over a patient on an operating table, meticulously sawing away at their face then bolting it back together, I'd be darned to not take every precaution afterward to make sure nothing screwed up the results.
Plus, if I had been forced to mess with 8+ elastics during that exhausting time period immediately following surgery, I would've gone NUTS! Dealing with 2-3 at the front of my mouth right now is plenty. Was being wired shut and eating through a rubber tube miserable? Absolutely. Would I go through it again without changing a single thing? NO DOUBT. You truly don't understand how much more satisfied I am with my facial structure now that I've been able to see it in proper proportions. I don't have to worry about smiling/talking/laughing with someone looking at my ugly profile from the side. It's pretty incredible.
One thing I've noticed about myself is that I now study and mentally critique the teeth/jaws/facial arrangement of every single person I encounter. I can point out even the smallest discrepancies - too much of an overbite, too much gum showing, sunken-in cheeks, asymmetrical chins, open bites, slight crookedness of the teeth - everything! I hate being that way, but I really can't help it. I've conditioned myself to spot these things after analyzing and criticizing my own for sooooo long. For years, I've planned on going to medical school after I finish my undergraduate degree, but after this experience I am seriously considering dental school instead so that I can possibly go into oral and maxillofacial surgery. I've already researched the (post-dental school) oral surgery program my university offers, and as daunting as the academic journey may be, I feel this weird inner exuberance when I contemplate being able to help other people the way Dr. McKenna has helped me.
Plus, how cool would it be to have an oral surgeon who has undergone orthognathic surgery herself?! Talk about empathy.
Now for some pictures:
Definitely looking forward to not having to wear the elastic bands at all - which will hopefully be next week? I'm not 100% sure. And I've been forgetting to ask Dr. McKenna about how many millimeters he moved each jaw, so I'm sorry to the person who asked! I will remember this Friday, I promise! I believe it was along the lines of 7 mm forward on the upper jaw and 3 or 4 mm back on the lower jaw, but don't hold me to that.
Also, if you haven't watched my most recent video (25 days post-op), you can check it out here: Double Jaw Surgery: 25 Days Post-Op. Keep in mind that was 12 days ago! I'll probably post another update video within the next week.
LOVING LIFE,
Peyton
Two more days until skeletal wire removal...oh yeaaaaah. As I said before, that will be the final major step performed by the surgeon in this whole process. Then I get to see my lovely orthodontist again and HOPEFULLY hear some fabulous news regarding removal of my braces within the next several months. Fingers crossed!
And I'm actually feeling a bit guilty about how experimental I've been with food over the past few days...BUT IT FEELS FINE! No pain when I chew, only a little tenderness if I try to bite clear through anything with my front teeth (which I therefore have NOT been doing!) I figure as long as I'm not in pain and my bite doesn't seem to be affected, I should be broadening my culinary horizons as quickly as I please. After all, it has been 37 days. Whew.
For the purpose of financially educating anyone out there who may need this surgery in the future, I will now include an outline of the cost of my specific surgery, copied straight from the bill we received in the mail.
Hospital/Clinic Bill Breakdown (EXCLUDING Physician Charges):
Inpatient Services 08/01/11 to 08/03/11
Summary of Charges
Surgical Stepdown 2 Days ------------------------------- $6,000.00
Recovery Room -------------------------------------------- $1,947.00Procedure Room ------------------------------------------- $23,903.00
Anesthesia, Materials, & Serv. -------------------------- $7,694.00
Radiology --------------------------------------------------- $391.00
Pharmacy ---------------------------------------------------- $5,130.59
Laboratory --------------------------------------------------- $70.00
Central Supplies -------------------------------------------- $2,455.00
Respiratory Therapy --------------------------------------- $1,026.00
Total Charges ----------------------------------------------- $48, 616.59
*Estimated Insurance Coverage ------------------------- $48,616.59
Amount Now Due From You --------------------------- $0.00
Now, the whole billing/insurance thing confuses me greatly but if you'll notice, the above amounts don't even include physician charges. I don't know why. Probably because there would be an uproar over the massive amount of money the physician receives for such a procedure. (BUT HELLO - THEY DESERVE EVERY PENNY!) That is complete speculation obviously. What I do know is we did have to pay the deductible on our insurance plan so I suppose that went toward paying the physician charges...? Maybe. And don't forget that you also have to pay for braces and wisdom teeth extraction (had that done summer of 2010) for a procedure like this, and that can cost upwards of $6,000 - usually not covered by most dental or medical insurance plans. In order to receive maximum insurance coverage from your provider, you have to send them the information as well as reasoning regarding why the procedure is medically necessary as opposed to being purely cosmetic. Waiting for approval can take around 3 months, and you're not supposed to start ANY treatment (not even braces!) until you receive approval. In our case, it took about 2 months to hear back.
Another weird little factoid that occurred to me recently: I had my surgery exactly one year to the very day after my braces were put on, and it was totally not planned out that way; just occurred by chance. How odd.
So many of the other jaw surgery bloggers I've followed mention the numbness lasting quite a while afterward, and I am pleasantly surprised by how little I've had. My upper gums are still numb, but nowhere on my face or lips has been numb in quite a while. I didn't really even have much facial numbness the DAY AFTER surgery. My lips were never numb or gigantic at all and I remember that being a huge complaint from fellow orthognathic surgery patients. Even my swelling was very minimal compared to the majority of cases I've seen online. After all of my research, I was expecting to come out of the hospital with lips the size of watermelons and bruises all over my face, but neither were the case. I think my surgeon just has actual superhero powers/capabilities or something..... :) Haha...really though. He is meticulous, meticulous, meticulous about everything, so I really shouldn't be surprised by how physically problem-free my recovery has been.
Another thing that has been bothering me is the fact that people refer to being wired shut as an antiquated form of recovery since elastics can pretty much do the same job. Well...that is NOT the case. As much as I despised it at the time, I fully understand why my surgeon still wires patients shut for the first 3 weeks, especially patients like me who had one jaw split into multiple sections. It really is the most stable way to keep the jaws immobilized in order to encourage optimal healing. And if I'm gonna dedicate 6+ solid hours of my life standing over a patient on an operating table, meticulously sawing away at their face then bolting it back together, I'd be darned to not take every precaution afterward to make sure nothing screwed up the results.
Plus, if I had been forced to mess with 8+ elastics during that exhausting time period immediately following surgery, I would've gone NUTS! Dealing with 2-3 at the front of my mouth right now is plenty. Was being wired shut and eating through a rubber tube miserable? Absolutely. Would I go through it again without changing a single thing? NO DOUBT. You truly don't understand how much more satisfied I am with my facial structure now that I've been able to see it in proper proportions. I don't have to worry about smiling/talking/laughing with someone looking at my ugly profile from the side. It's pretty incredible.
One thing I've noticed about myself is that I now study and mentally critique the teeth/jaws/facial arrangement of every single person I encounter. I can point out even the smallest discrepancies - too much of an overbite, too much gum showing, sunken-in cheeks, asymmetrical chins, open bites, slight crookedness of the teeth - everything! I hate being that way, but I really can't help it. I've conditioned myself to spot these things after analyzing and criticizing my own for sooooo long. For years, I've planned on going to medical school after I finish my undergraduate degree, but after this experience I am seriously considering dental school instead so that I can possibly go into oral and maxillofacial surgery. I've already researched the (post-dental school) oral surgery program my university offers, and as daunting as the academic journey may be, I feel this weird inner exuberance when I contemplate being able to help other people the way Dr. McKenna has helped me.
Plus, how cool would it be to have an oral surgeon who has undergone orthognathic surgery herself?! Talk about empathy.
Now for some pictures:
 |
| I really did not like my face from this angle before, but now I love it! |
 |
| Teeth shot, sans elastics. |
Definitely looking forward to not having to wear the elastic bands at all - which will hopefully be next week? I'm not 100% sure. And I've been forgetting to ask Dr. McKenna about how many millimeters he moved each jaw, so I'm sorry to the person who asked! I will remember this Friday, I promise! I believe it was along the lines of 7 mm forward on the upper jaw and 3 or 4 mm back on the lower jaw, but don't hold me to that.
Also, if you haven't watched my most recent video (25 days post-op), you can check it out here: Double Jaw Surgery: 25 Days Post-Op. Keep in mind that was 12 days ago! I'll probably post another update video within the next week.
LOVING LIFE,
Peyton
Monday, August 22, 2011
3 Weeks Post-Op! First Day of College Classes...
Today marks exactly 3 weeks since surgery! On one hand it seems like I was just in the hospital yesterday, and on the other it seems like these have been the longest 3 weeks of my life. I may not survive if I'm ever forced to be on a liquid diet again for any period of time throughout the rest of my existence. Pudding now seems like the most glorious treat on earth now that I'm actually allowed to use a spoon to eat. I've also tried a few things that would usually require light chewing but I just swallow it all instead: scrambled eggs, oatmeal, thick ice cream, and non-blended Spaghettios. Letting chocolate melt in my mouth is pretty satisfying as well. Feeling full is definitely no longer an issue.
My first day going to class as an official college student really could not have been more comfortably picturesque: 72 degrees, no humidity, light breeze, sun shining. Our campus is beautiful as well, so my time on campus always feels like something out of a movie. As worried as I am about my course load and being stuck studying 24/7, being here already feels so natural in a way I can't explain.
Splint removal in less than 2 days! I CAN NOT WAIT. Once it is gone, I will finally be able to see exactly how my teeth fit together--basically the entire reason I had the surgery. Expect a nice smiling-with-teeth-and-no-wires-or-splint-or-elastics picture Wednesday night! Opening my mouth is still really difficult, but Dr. McKenna said he would start me on some jaw exercises at our next appointment. I'm just really ready to chew and be 100% human again.
That's all for now! Just couldn't go without posting on the 3-week anniversary. Here's to 3 more weeks and hopefully being able to at least chew pasta and pizza by then.
Freshly new & hopeful college student,
Peyton
My first day going to class as an official college student really could not have been more comfortably picturesque: 72 degrees, no humidity, light breeze, sun shining. Our campus is beautiful as well, so my time on campus always feels like something out of a movie. As worried as I am about my course load and being stuck studying 24/7, being here already feels so natural in a way I can't explain.
Splint removal in less than 2 days! I CAN NOT WAIT. Once it is gone, I will finally be able to see exactly how my teeth fit together--basically the entire reason I had the surgery. Expect a nice smiling-with-teeth-and-no-wires-or-splint-or-elastics picture Wednesday night! Opening my mouth is still really difficult, but Dr. McKenna said he would start me on some jaw exercises at our next appointment. I'm just really ready to chew and be 100% human again.
That's all for now! Just couldn't go without posting on the 3-week anniversary. Here's to 3 more weeks and hopefully being able to at least chew pasta and pizza by then.
 |
| I like how my lips look in this. haha |
Freshly new & hopeful college student,
Peyton
Friday, August 12, 2011
11 Days Post-Op: Favorite Recipe & My Grill
 |
| Still have some swelling that needs to go down, but I feel like this is a big improvement from my last blog picture. |
 |
| Metal smiles rock the world. PS - the wiring makes smiling with my teeth so awkward. |
Hello all. Nothing new has really occurred over the past couple of days (except for the appointment with my surgeon - more on that later), hence the lack of blog updates. I did actually go back to my old high school to visit some of my favorite teachers today and say some final farewells before I make the big move to my new apartment for college next WEDNESDAY!!!!! I must say, I'll never grow tired of the shocked/fascinated look on people's faces when they see me for the first time in person since the surgery. Nobody realized exactly how drastically it was going to change my facial structure, and now I think they all better understand why I had been looking forward to it for such a long time.
Tip for fellow jaw surgery patients: do not make the same mistake I did yesterday and overestimate your ability to lift heavy things and carry out physical activities so soon after surgery. We don't have diets with any real substance yet, but it's easy to assume you can do all the things you're used to if you're feeling dandy like I was. That didn't last long when I tried to start cleaning, packing up my room, and lifting objects that normally wouldn't be a big deal. I overworked myself and it felt awful for a while afterward, but thankfully my grandma was there along the way and made the process more manageable as I become exceedingly weary. Just remember to take it easy on yourself.
I've hit some road blocks in the food department here recently as well, and have accordingly lost another pound. Grand total is about 7 1/2 pounds lost now, which is still not quite as terrible as I had expected. BUT today I tried out a new recipe I found online, and it has renewed my desire to eat again and explore new options. I wanted to share it on here in case any of you are or will be in the same situation:
Enchilada Soup
1 can refried beans
1 can enchilada sauce
1 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. ground cumin (or more - I added more)
sour cream (optional - I forgot to add it to mine, but it was still amazing)
Blend refried beans with enchilada sauce. Pour into sauce pan with chicken broth and heat gently. Add cheese & cumin and stir. Simple!
I found it somewhere online and didn't bookmark it. So credit goes to whoever created this delectable dish. If you are craving Mexican food during your oral entrapment, this is the perfect way to satisfy that craving.
I also thought some of you might like to see what my teeth look like, so here's a nice & large, unflattering picture of mah grill.
Still wired shut with that lovely splint in between my top and bottom jaws. Even so, I can already tell my teeth are going to line up perfectly once the splint is removed
I'm typing this in the kitchen right now and my sister just pulled a pizza out of the oven. Cruelty. Though I must say I'm becoming more and more immune to the sting of watching others eat solid food in my presence. I'm actually afraid I might forget how to even chew once this is all over and I'm free. The thought of biting into and chewing certain foods like chips, peanuts, apples, and carrots is beginning to scare me slightly. I can't imagine being able to handle that kind of friction anytime soon. :(
I HAVE THRILLING NEWS THOUGH! My surgeon, the nicest and most caring individual on the face of the earth, has agreed to unwire me next Friday, August 19th - one week from today! This is a few days earlier than he usually unwires patients, and I am forever grateful that I won't be wired shut for my first day of class on August 22nd. I will still be rubber-banded shut and may have to keep my splint for a while longer, but it will definitely be a step up from feeling like I have a bear trap in my mouth.
***iPhone app recommendation for any incoming college students who are worried about keeping track of their schedule: iStudiez Pro ($2.99). I just bought it for myself a few days ago and am honestly blown away by how thorough and organized it seems to be. You can input every small detail of your entire schedule as well as all assignments and due dates. I'm very excited to put this to work throughout my first semester of college!
I've also been to see 2 movies during my short period of recovery - Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Crazy, Stupid, Love. - both I really enjoyed even with the aroma of buttery movie theater popcorn surrounding and taunting me. Don't let being wired shut keep you from joining the outside world every now and then. It's not healthy to stay cooped up in a house 24//7. I was given "official" permission to drive again 2 days ago, so I made my first outing last night to Zaxby's (sad face here due to the torture of smelling their chicken without being able to tear into it myself) and a late movie. Second outing today was to my old high school which, as I mentioned before, was incredibly bittersweet. I miss those simple days. I'm on my AP Calculus teacher's Hall of Fame now for passing the college board exam! :) The starred nameplates are those of us who scored fives. :)
 |
| I blacked out all the names except mine - didn't want anyone mad at me for sharing their names on a blog like this. |
Guess that's all I have for now. More updates to come - especially after I move in. My room right now is a WRECK as I'm in the midst of packing. Oh what a life!
Thankful to have music getting me through this mess,
Peyton
PS - I posted a new video a few days ago on my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/purplescheerchic if anyone wants to check it out.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
6 Days Pre-Op: Surgery Details & My Thoughts At This Point
So today I had my final pre-operative appointment at the hospital. This was the major one (required for any surgical procedure) during which they drew blood for testing and made sure I am in perfect health for surgery. Another purpose was to discuss any past problems with anesthesia in order to prevent further complications with the surgery. The only time I've ever been sedated before was for wisdom teeth extraction last year, and the side effects of the anesthesia then were inconsolable crying FOR NO REASON from the moment I woke up all through the car ride home. Strangely enough, I have no recollection of this and can only recall being surprisingly relieved upon first awakening. Nevertheless, my mom and I both are hoping the anesthetics do not trigger the same reaction this time. I don't imagine crying would even be comfortable this time though with all the bandages and ice packs I'm going to have cocooning my swollen face...
Just in case anyone reading is unfamiliar with exactly what sorts of adjustments and maneuvers my surgeon will be executing throughout the operation (which is predicted to last around 5 hours--YIKES!--), I'm going to present a brief overview:
Surgeon: Dr. Samuel McKenna, DDS, MD ... super cool dude. Makes me feel totally at ease when I'm around him. He also has some beautiful male residents working alongside him right now. Not that I've taken notice or anything.
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Time: 10 am CST on Monday, August 1st, 2011
Procedures:
1. Le Fort 1 Osteotomy: Incision is made along the gums inside the upper lip. The maxilla is then moved forward and secured with plates and screws. In my case, the maxilla will be split into 3 parts in order to correct its width. I'm not 100% clear on the specifics of this; I just know the back of my upper jaw is wider than the front and it needs to be corrected in order to create a perfect bite.
2. Sagittal Split Mandibular Osteotomy: Incisions are made on both sides at the back of the mandible (lower jaw,) allowing for the removal of bone in order to set back the mandible.
This 45 second video clearly provides a general demonstration of how it all works:
My top concerns at this point:
1. Since the surgery is scheduled to last longer than 3 hours, I am required to have a urinary catheter inserted. As petty as it may seem to worry about something so routine and non-problematic, especially considering my entire mouth is being ripped open, spliced, and screwed shut, it is by far what I am most paranoid about. I just hope it's done in a private manner, because HELLOOO. My surgeon has those insanely gorgeous residents working under him currently and I'm sure they will all be observing...and how mortifying would that be...right?! But the nurse practitioner from my pre-op appointment informed me that it's inserted while I'm sedated. So maybe it will work like date rape and I will hardly remember a thing about it. Fingers crossed.
2. Having my family see me as a blimp-head afterward as well as being able to breathe with all the swelling. If you've never bothered to look up photos of people after having orthognathic surgery...just don't. Please. Though I may end up posting pictures of myself if I can vanquish my vanity for the purpose of personal expression and the thorough documentation of my journey through this blog. Or maybe I will be so doped up that I won't even care. We shall see.
3. Liquid diet afterward will last at least 3 weeks. I'm a food girl too, so this is just devastating to ponder. Naturally, most people also lose weight throughout this process, though I'm pretty sure my mom is more concerned about this than I am. Today when I was weighed at the appointment, she actually said (as she stood over my shoulder at the scale), "OH! You don't have much to lose. You haven't weighed that little in a long time." And let me tell you, this is inaccurate. I've weighed approximately what I weigh now (around 122 pounds - somewhat average for my 5'5 height) for quite a while. So apparently she's saying I look bigger than I am. Thanks, Mom. Losing 10ish pounds would not kill me (though many patients lose even more,) but I really don't want to lose muscle mass -- and apparently that will be first to go. You just wait, I'll be down in the floor doing crunches with my ice pack still tied around my head. Hahahah kidding...maybe.
4. Missing The Bachelorette finale on Monday night. OH COME ON. I'm allowed to be completely truthful on here. JP for the win!
OKAY so this is already longer than I had anticipated. Next post will discuss all I have to look forward to after the surgery! I promise it will be less technical and more expressive than this one.
Slightly nauseated and overwhelmed,
Peyton
Just in case anyone reading is unfamiliar with exactly what sorts of adjustments and maneuvers my surgeon will be executing throughout the operation (which is predicted to last around 5 hours--YIKES!--), I'm going to present a brief overview:
Surgeon: Dr. Samuel McKenna, DDS, MD ... super cool dude. Makes me feel totally at ease when I'm around him. He also has some beautiful male residents working alongside him right now. Not that I've taken notice or anything.
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Time: 10 am CST on Monday, August 1st, 2011
Procedures:
1. Le Fort 1 Osteotomy: Incision is made along the gums inside the upper lip. The maxilla is then moved forward and secured with plates and screws. In my case, the maxilla will be split into 3 parts in order to correct its width. I'm not 100% clear on the specifics of this; I just know the back of my upper jaw is wider than the front and it needs to be corrected in order to create a perfect bite.
2. Sagittal Split Mandibular Osteotomy: Incisions are made on both sides at the back of the mandible (lower jaw,) allowing for the removal of bone in order to set back the mandible.
This 45 second video clearly provides a general demonstration of how it all works:
My top concerns at this point:
1. Since the surgery is scheduled to last longer than 3 hours, I am required to have a urinary catheter inserted. As petty as it may seem to worry about something so routine and non-problematic, especially considering my entire mouth is being ripped open, spliced, and screwed shut, it is by far what I am most paranoid about. I just hope it's done in a private manner, because HELLOOO. My surgeon has those insanely gorgeous residents working under him currently and I'm sure they will all be observing...and how mortifying would that be...right?! But the nurse practitioner from my pre-op appointment informed me that it's inserted while I'm sedated. So maybe it will work like date rape and I will hardly remember a thing about it. Fingers crossed.
2. Having my family see me as a blimp-head afterward as well as being able to breathe with all the swelling. If you've never bothered to look up photos of people after having orthognathic surgery...just don't. Please. Though I may end up posting pictures of myself if I can vanquish my vanity for the purpose of personal expression and the thorough documentation of my journey through this blog. Or maybe I will be so doped up that I won't even care. We shall see.
3. Liquid diet afterward will last at least 3 weeks. I'm a food girl too, so this is just devastating to ponder. Naturally, most people also lose weight throughout this process, though I'm pretty sure my mom is more concerned about this than I am. Today when I was weighed at the appointment, she actually said (as she stood over my shoulder at the scale), "OH! You don't have much to lose. You haven't weighed that little in a long time." And let me tell you, this is inaccurate. I've weighed approximately what I weigh now (around 122 pounds - somewhat average for my 5'5 height) for quite a while. So apparently she's saying I look bigger than I am. Thanks, Mom. Losing 10ish pounds would not kill me (though many patients lose even more,) but I really don't want to lose muscle mass -- and apparently that will be first to go. You just wait, I'll be down in the floor doing crunches with my ice pack still tied around my head. Hahahah kidding...maybe.
4. Missing The Bachelorette finale on Monday night. OH COME ON. I'm allowed to be completely truthful on here. JP for the win!
OKAY so this is already longer than I had anticipated. Next post will discuss all I have to look forward to after the surgery! I promise it will be less technical and more expressive than this one.
Slightly nauseated and overwhelmed,
Peyton
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