Day 3

I spent today taking things a bit easier, has a couple naps and tried to talk a bit less to avoid the clicking feeling on the right.  I will definitely be asking about this at my follow up with the surgeon on Tuesday.

Swelling is starting to come down and the bruising is travelling down into my neck now.  My neck is getting stiff I think from avoiding movement and being overprotective.

Pain is still not bad other than the occasional clicking sensation which I'm trying to avoid. 

Brushing my teeth as much as possible but nowhere near the 100 times a day the surgeon recommends, this seems excessive to me...I think I'm at 10 times (after I eat or drink anything) and also rinsing often with salt water.

Numbness, no change...still numb/tingly on the right.

I left the house today, first to sit outside on the deck in the sun, 15 degrees C here which is quite warm for this time of year :)  Also went for a drive with the family to pick up a smoothie then back home again, but hey I got out!

I think tomorrow I will attempt make-up again...I look pretty sleepy in this one!

Day 2

Spent the day at home with my mom and daughter. She helped out with girlie while I worked on eating. Tried some blended chicken noodle soup and crackers surprisingly good. Also made up some chicken in the slow cooker and food processed yo add to other foods like soup. Had some tasty mashed potatoes and gravy with chicken or supper. I think I talked too much though as feeling some weird clicking on the right side. I'll have to take it easier tomorrow.

Just a short post today.  Feeling better after a shower.

Day 1

Slept on and off through the night between vital checks every two hours and other roomates being up as well. My pain has been well controlled at 2/10 with little use of the PCA overnight.

I had oatmeal, jello and milk for breakfast. Attempted the coffee but they put protein powder in it...yuck don't mess with coffee!

I saw the resident this morning who added one more elastic on the left side.  My bite is better but definitely not perfect, still more orthodontic work to be done which I knew. I think my breathing is better too.  

Got discharged around 11:00 then hubby drove us home, I slept most of the way home.  He also picked up my T3s and antibiotics (and some flowers too).  My mom is staying for a bit longer to help out. Hubby has to work tomorrow and girlie may go to daycare...we'll see. Had a couple protein shakes and soup a couple times, chocolate milk and lots of water too. Tomorrow I'm going to cook up and purée some chicken to add to my soups.

Pain is still pretty good only about 2/10. Only needed 2 1/2 T3 today.

Swelling is up a little bit (more on the right) and starting to see some bruising now. I have been massaging my neck to help with the swelling with my Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) training this should help the swelling and bruising resolve a bit quicker. Still using ice packs too.  My awesome friend delivered me so hospital ice from where I work :)

Numbness is improved my tongue and left lower lip feel normal already and the lower right side is tingly.  Not bad for day 1.

Ready for bed now, planning to sleep on our reclining sofa to keep my head elevated.

 Breakfast at the hospital

 At home Thursday night

 Right profile

Left profile

Day 0- Mar 28/12

I made it! Everything went as planned mandibular BSSO only, no genioplasty.

My day started out with a nice long relaxing bath (uninterrupted too!), then packed up and watched hubby eat a tasty looking continental breakfast.  Then we were off to the hospital to get admitted.  Saying bye to Paul was the hardest part as he looked so worried and was tearing up, made me cry too :')

Went into the OR around noon, remember them strapping me in and putting on a mask. After that I woke up in recovery rather calm and still sleepy. Finally got moved up to the floor around 3pm and slept on and off for the rest of the day. Had a couple brief visits from hubby, my inlaws and a friend but was really to sleepy still. Around 7pm I attempted to eat some soup, pudding and juice and managed a bit of each then started to feel a bit nauseous so quit while I was ahead. I even managed not to be sick despite the vomit fest going on around me all night long with two of my other roomates.

Pain has been not bad 2-4/10. PCA hydromorph for pain and Maxeran for nausea were my friends. I also got Prednisone for swelling and a few doses of prophylactic IV antibiotics to prevent infection.   
Swelling is defintely there (I think my cheeks look like Quagmire from family guy.... Giggity giggity).

Numbness my lower lip and tongue was completely numb post op but has already started to tingle.

Elastics on both sides from lower molars to upper canines at front, 3 or 4 on each side. 


Preop brave face:

Post op:

And for those who are curious about my "last supper"
...We went to Tony Romas for steak and ribs (yes I had both), loaded baked potato, steamed broccoli and strawberry new york cheesecake for dessert. SO GOOD :D Hunger Games movie was awesome too.

Wow this post got long...day 1 to come later!

See you on the other side!!!

Well, tomorrow is the BIG day and also my one year in braces anniversary!!  

Hubby and I are staying in a hotel tonight while grandma stays at home with our daughter (2 hours away). We're headed out on a date night for dinner and then going to see the Hunger Games after :) Should be a nice distraction from surgery tomorrow.  I still haven't decided what my last real dinner will be...something crunchy/chewy for sure!!!

Hopefully I'll be able to sleep tonight. Off to the hospital for 9:15 in the morning, surgery at 11:00...yikes, this is really happening!  Can't wait to get it over with.  Send good vibes my way!!  

Probably won't be able to update for a couple days. 

See you on the other side...

Chandra  

  

Pre-op profile pictures...4 days to go!!!

Here are my latest profile pictures, I tried to photoshop out some shadows.

The first picture in each is my natural bite,  the second picture in each is posturing my lower jaw forward without smiling and the third for side views is posturing forward with smiling to simulate the surgical advancement. I have pretty much decided not to have the genioplasty (90% sure) unless he feels it is absolutely necessary as I am happy with how my chin looks from the front now and still want to look like me post-op though I realize the genio will improve my profile more I don't want to end up with a "big" chin.

 RIGHT

LEFT

4 days until surgery!!!

Food suggestions???

I haven been stocking up on a few things like soup, juices, puddings, Ensure for the fun post-op diet.  I see the dietician next week who will likely suggest other things to...

I have also started a multivitamin and hi-potency vitamin B supplement also bought some benefibre to mix in with liquids.  I still need to pick up some protein powder too.

What were your favorite "foods" post-op?  Any suggestions are appreciated :D

2 weeks until surgery!!!

Sorry I have been MIA for a bit but have been very busy the last few weeks. Finding time to blog with a toddler is tricky! We had an awesome two week vacation in Mexico which was great distraction from my upcoming surgery. I also indulged in great food the whole time without any guilt about the 5 lbs I gained which I'm trying to keep on for surgery.

I saw my OD on Friday and had my impressions done for the surgeon, new x-ray taken and surgical hooks are now in place! Only 2 on the top and 4 on the bottom. I thought they would be uncomfortable but I really don't notice them unless I'm eating because more food gets stuck and they're a bit harder to clean around, otherwise not bad at all.

The gap is still there but slowly closing, no power chains until after surgery now :(

Here are my latest pics...

The front tooth on the left (your right) is angled in a bit and looks worse on camera

More posts to come in the next few days. 2 weeks until the big day!!!