Almost FOUR Years Post-Op: Now A College Grad & Future PharmD

I have no idea why I feel inclined to post again on this blog, but here I am.  It might be helpful for people to see how my face has changed since my last post a couple of years ago, because I believe it has.  I graduated from college with my Bachelor's degree last week and will be starting pharmacy school in August. CRAZY. It's easy to forget about the drama of the jaw surgery this far down the road, but every time I decide to look back on my old videos and posts, the emotions all come flooding back.  Four years ago, I was prepping for this life-changing surgery and about to start college with my jaws wired shut?!  I still can't wrap my mind around it now.  And in what seemed like the blink of an eye, I now have my degree and am prepping for another life-changing transition...this time into professional school.

So just as a reminder, here is how I looked before surgery (I'm on the right, sister Camdyn on the left):

And a few more cringeworthy old ones:

And here I am now!  Four years, jaw surgery, and the discovery of brow products can work wonders in a person's life:

         

Also here's an awkward picture of me from graduation. I'm saying, "Thank you," in response to his "Congratulations," so that's why I wasn't perfectly prepared for the photo. Oh well!  I'll get it right next time when I am at last Dr. Peyton... :)

Honestly the only thing on my mind at this point was, "DO. NOT. TRIP. ON. STAGE."

And another (courtesy of Camdyn):

Big shout-out to this incredible lady and all she has done for me over the past twenty-two years, especially concerning my braces and surgery.  Words in general are an understatement for the love I harbor for my amazing mother.

Looking back now, I regret deciding not to blog all throughout my four undergraduate years, because it seems like it would be so enjoyable to read through those posts now.  Here's to hoping I can get back to regular posting now that a new chapter is opening in my life.  Right now the main concern is figuring out where exactly I'm going to be living in less than a month and a half.  Apartment hunting is a NIGHTMARE...can I get an amen?!

Thank you again for reading, and I will always enjoy answering any questions you may have about jaw surgery, preparation, recovery, or heck even the pharmacy school application process!

Take care!

Peyton

Braces Free for 5 Months Now!

It's been a long time since I've updated here, but I wanted to make one final jaw update post with proof of my finalized smile!  Here is the final vlog I uploaded a few months ago. :) And feel free to contact me on here, YouTube, or Twitter @peyton_michelle with any questions!  Thank you all for reading.

24 Days Post-Op: MY SPLINT IS GONE!

Let's take a look at my BEFORE-surgery smiling face:

Bleh

And as promised, the glorious smiling-with-teeth after splint removal picture:

Just braces - no extra contraptions! Except the hooks for the elastics.

And a close-up:

Flattering view, I know.

Being rid of that horrid splint brings me indescribable joy! I can now fit my teeth together and feel exactly what it's like to have a proper bite. It seems like I should be saying it feels fabulous/amazing/incredible and so much more comfortable, but truthfully it just feels plain strange right now. Biting down and feeling actual contact in the front just doesn't quite seem right...yet. It's something I'll have to adjust to over time. I do obviously love the way it looks as well as the idea of someday (in the near future hopefully!) being able to bite into a cheeseburger and actually create a perfect bite mark. Oh the glory.

I am, however, still in 3 elastic bands all the time aside from meals, snacks, and Photo Booth pictures. Weirdly enough, they give me a sense of security -  like nothing will screw up my bite or the healing process while they're in; so I don't completely hate them. My speech is 95% understandable most of the time when I wear them so they don't restrict me from conversations, which is helpful for me, being a brand new college student and all. People have been surprisingly accepting of it and not visibly bothered by my speech - even when I had that hideous splint still in. Plus it makes for an excellent conversation-starter, ironically enough. Still no chewing in the eating department, but I'm not sure I would even feel comfortable attempting to chew if they told me I could. Everything still seems so fragile - as if one wrong move on my part at this point could screw up the years of preparation and execution behind this smile.

Even when my bands are off, speaking is still a strain almost because of the newness of this bite. I've never had teeth that touch like they're supposed to, obviously, so I'm having to relearn how to produce certain sounds. I feel like I need speech therapy.

I can tell just by feeling around there is still some orthodontic work that needs to be done, especially since the surgery involved my upper jaw being split into 3 pieces and consequently the wire of my braces being cut in 2 places to allow for the rearrangement. I'm praying the work left to be carried out is minimal though and maybe I'll be out of these braces in early 2012! We shall see.

I'm actually going to try to make a quick video tomorrow with my bands off so the YouTube world can see how much progress I've made. No more using note cards to talk, that's for sure!

As much of a hassle as it is to drive down to Nashville for appointments especially now that I'm in college and living even further away than I was before, I have to say I don't mind making that trek once a week one bit if it means I get to enjoy the double eye candy. I always feel so creepy talking about that on here, but seriously. I can't even describe it adequately so you'll just have to take my word. My mom agrees wholeheartedly.
It's the little things in life, truly.

Growing happier each and every day,
Peyton

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.

I like how my lips look in this. haha

Freshly new & hopeful college student,
Peyton