Well I'm still here and this treatment is still not finished!
I turned up to see the restorative dentist on 17th May for what we both thought was my last, final ever piece of work to be done.
Mr Restorative Dentist prepped the implant area, and then positioned the final crown in place and said nothing except 'Fay, do you want to have a look in the mirror'.
So look in the mirror I did and the crown was the wrong colour. It was a bit dark. In comparison to my natural tooth colour, this crown looked like it had been dunked in a cup of tea and stained brown.
Apparently my teeth are lighter than the average.
Restorative dentist wasn't too happy especially since at my last appointment he got someone from the lab to come and take a photo of my teeth so they could get the final crown right.
I was a bit nervous that I was thinking it was too dark and maybe it was just the light but the restorative dentist agreed with me that it was too dark. If I had liked it, he would have went ahead with it and I'm sure if it was just the light, he'd have said no I think it's ok.
So temporary crown put back in place.
He had also built up the bottom of my top central incisor and implant crown because my central incisor had got chipped from my braces.
These bits broke but rather than faff about fixing it this time, he's going to wait to the end and build them back up again once the final crown is in place. I now have central incisors that are a wee bit too short and certainly straight across the bottom rather than rounded.
So. When will this end?
Well, the next available appointment was 20th June.
So we're talking a total of 8 years and 31 days.
Wednesday, 25 May 2016
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
It's Been A While...
And I'm still not done!
Implant surgery went well. Had IV sedation for both parts.
Part one was to get the abutment screwed into my gum and covered up ready for the bone to heal round it. Part two was to open up the gum and expose the abutment.
I now have a temporary implant crown on. That was weird seeing them wrench it in place.
This temporary crown has a screw in the front of it so it's filled in with white tooth stuff to look like it hasn't got a hole in it.
I have my final impressions done on 12th April. Impressions with the restorative dentist are crazy super dooper impressions. They add extra stuff to them so they get a more precise finish. But my goodness, I thought they were going to yank all my teeth out with taking out the impression plate!
Also had the bottom of my right central incisor built up cause it was chipped with my braces.
Final implant crown is due on the 17th May with a review appointment in June. He (restorative dentist) even mentioned the 'd' word!
By the time my final implant tooth goes in, it will have been 7 years and 355 days since my braces first went on!
SEVEN YEARS AND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE DAYS!
Here's a few pics of me and my fabulous teeth! The pic with me in the white blouse and burgundy coat was taken on the day I got my temporary implant crown in...first photo in nearly 8 years with no visible metal on my teeth!
Implant surgery went well. Had IV sedation for both parts.
Part one was to get the abutment screwed into my gum and covered up ready for the bone to heal round it. Part two was to open up the gum and expose the abutment.
I now have a temporary implant crown on. That was weird seeing them wrench it in place.
This temporary crown has a screw in the front of it so it's filled in with white tooth stuff to look like it hasn't got a hole in it.
I have my final impressions done on 12th April. Impressions with the restorative dentist are crazy super dooper impressions. They add extra stuff to them so they get a more precise finish. But my goodness, I thought they were going to yank all my teeth out with taking out the impression plate!
Also had the bottom of my right central incisor built up cause it was chipped with my braces.
Final implant crown is due on the 17th May with a review appointment in June. He (restorative dentist) even mentioned the 'd' word!
By the time my final implant tooth goes in, it will have been 7 years and 355 days since my braces first went on!
SEVEN YEARS AND THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE DAYS!
Here's a few pics of me and my fabulous teeth! The pic with me in the white blouse and burgundy coat was taken on the day I got my temporary implant crown in...first photo in nearly 8 years with no visible metal on my teeth!
Sunday, 21 June 2015
Penultimate Day Tomorrow
Tomorrow (Monday 22nd June 2015), is the penultimate day for this whole braces, jaw surgery and implant adventure. Thank you to everyone who has read and/or commented on my blog thus far. I hope it has helped at least 1 person who may be on a journey even just partly like mine.
So, we passed the 7 yrs since the braces went on mark on 27th May.
I am now almost 10 months post BSSO.
In respect to my BSSO surgery, I can now eat an apple in 'normal' time, not like the 15 minutes it took me a few months ago. I can now eat pretty much anything, dried banana chips are probably the most difficult thing now but nuts, etc are all fine.
I will say though, I have had a LOT of jaw pain on the right hand side. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason to it, there's no specific time it hurts, the pain just begins round about my tempromandibular joint and spreads upwards. It's very much the same jaw pain I had post surgery, the feeling like someone is smacking me in the side of the face. And it's been accompanied with increased tinnitus. I've pretty much had to take painkillers on a daily basis. Although I did start going to see an osteopath and I can highly recommend that if you are reading this and having similar pain, try an osteopath. Initially, I didn't really know what an osteopath did or if they would be able to do anything for my jaw pain but I knew the hospital wasn't going to do anything about it, so I went with an open mind and if it worked great, if it didn't, well at least I tried it. And I can say, that after 4 or 5 treatments, the pain and tinnitus was definitely reduced. Unfortunately, I can't see my osteopath at the moment due to having had surgery for my bone anchored hearing aid and the pain has come back but I'm hoping to go back to see my osteopath as soon as I can.
Now, back to teeth.
I was at the dentist on Thursday for the first of my fillings. The restorative dentist was going to do them, but then the date I was given clashed with the date for my bone anchored hearing aid surgery so I ended up having the fillings scheduled with my dentist.
On Thursday, I got my inlaws to take me, given my history of fainting after getting a local anaesthetic.
I also mentioned a problem I was having with my lower left premolar (was giving me pain when I bit into food). So I got a small xray which showed there was nothing wrong with the premolar (possibly still not liking feeling too mobile after the braces) but the xray revealed that I have root resorption in the first molar next to that premolar. The root is pretty much half the length it should be. Good news though is that it is not giving me any bother so we need do nothing more than keep an eye on it.
Then came the filling and then came the violent shakes. I reacted to the adrenaline in the local anaesthetic. Dear Lord! Took an hour and 15 minutes for the shaking to stop! I have the other 2 fillings to get on 6th July and the dentist has told me she will try me with a local anaesthetic without adrenaline. At least I didn't faint. I'm not sure what is better, fainting or shaking. Didn't feel too great the next day, I'm definitely not one of these people who can get a filling done and then just go back to work afterwards.
And now, today, we are just about 12 hours away from the first part of my surgery for my implant. I'm to check in at 8.45am tomorrow. No breakfast and I'm guessing I'll see a return of the jaw surgery diet for the next few days :( That, I am not looking forward to.
I am getting IV sedation and have to tell them to give me local anaesthetic minus adrenaline.
I am nervous, although not as bad as before my jaw surgery. I have blocked the rest of my diary for this week and I *WILL* take time to recover....well, for the week anyway :)
After 7 years, we're nearly at the finish line!
So, we passed the 7 yrs since the braces went on mark on 27th May.
I am now almost 10 months post BSSO.
In respect to my BSSO surgery, I can now eat an apple in 'normal' time, not like the 15 minutes it took me a few months ago. I can now eat pretty much anything, dried banana chips are probably the most difficult thing now but nuts, etc are all fine.
I will say though, I have had a LOT of jaw pain on the right hand side. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme nor reason to it, there's no specific time it hurts, the pain just begins round about my tempromandibular joint and spreads upwards. It's very much the same jaw pain I had post surgery, the feeling like someone is smacking me in the side of the face. And it's been accompanied with increased tinnitus. I've pretty much had to take painkillers on a daily basis. Although I did start going to see an osteopath and I can highly recommend that if you are reading this and having similar pain, try an osteopath. Initially, I didn't really know what an osteopath did or if they would be able to do anything for my jaw pain but I knew the hospital wasn't going to do anything about it, so I went with an open mind and if it worked great, if it didn't, well at least I tried it. And I can say, that after 4 or 5 treatments, the pain and tinnitus was definitely reduced. Unfortunately, I can't see my osteopath at the moment due to having had surgery for my bone anchored hearing aid and the pain has come back but I'm hoping to go back to see my osteopath as soon as I can.
Now, back to teeth.
I was at the dentist on Thursday for the first of my fillings. The restorative dentist was going to do them, but then the date I was given clashed with the date for my bone anchored hearing aid surgery so I ended up having the fillings scheduled with my dentist.
On Thursday, I got my inlaws to take me, given my history of fainting after getting a local anaesthetic.
I also mentioned a problem I was having with my lower left premolar (was giving me pain when I bit into food). So I got a small xray which showed there was nothing wrong with the premolar (possibly still not liking feeling too mobile after the braces) but the xray revealed that I have root resorption in the first molar next to that premolar. The root is pretty much half the length it should be. Good news though is that it is not giving me any bother so we need do nothing more than keep an eye on it.
Then came the filling and then came the violent shakes. I reacted to the adrenaline in the local anaesthetic. Dear Lord! Took an hour and 15 minutes for the shaking to stop! I have the other 2 fillings to get on 6th July and the dentist has told me she will try me with a local anaesthetic without adrenaline. At least I didn't faint. I'm not sure what is better, fainting or shaking. Didn't feel too great the next day, I'm definitely not one of these people who can get a filling done and then just go back to work afterwards.
And now, today, we are just about 12 hours away from the first part of my surgery for my implant. I'm to check in at 8.45am tomorrow. No breakfast and I'm guessing I'll see a return of the jaw surgery diet for the next few days :( That, I am not looking forward to.
I am getting IV sedation and have to tell them to give me local anaesthetic minus adrenaline.
I am nervous, although not as bad as before my jaw surgery. I have blocked the rest of my diary for this week and I *WILL* take time to recover....well, for the week anyway :)
After 7 years, we're nearly at the finish line!
Wednesday, 25 March 2015
The Dental Saga Continues
So after my visit to the restorative dentist, I then went to my regular dentist for my regular 6 month check up.
My dentist tells me I have enamel loss in 3 teeth...the 2 back molars and a premolar.
She said she could fill them, it would take 15 minutes but she wanted to see what the restorative dentist said.
Now, I'm beginning to wonder, was all this worth it? Was all the braces and surgery worth it to restore one tooth when recovery from surgery was hard, it took its toll on my physical and mental health and NOW, all my teeth are wobbly and I'm facing 4 or 5 fillings?
Fast forward to yesterday, 24th March 2015 and I'm back at the restorative dentist to get, what I thought, was the second filling.
Poor man, I had a list of questions and stuff to cover.
First up, my teeth are still wobbly. That's been 5 weeks since I had my braces off and if anything, I think my top central incisor is more wobbly.
He tells me not to worry too much about it, they have the backup plan of implanting it need be (and actually that will give a better aesthetic finish if they have to do a double implant). He explained that my roots are definitely shorter than they were before I started treatment.
Second, I tell him about the enamel loss my dentist picked up. He wondered why my dentist didn't just fill them but then I explained that she wanted to know what he said first.
So then he thought I could just go to the dentist and get them filled because, understandly, that is basic dentistry and he was concerned with restorative. Fair enough.
Then he looks through my notes and sees that my dentist is out of town and decides that instead of me having to travel to get the fillings done, he'll do them instead.
Third, I ask if there is anything they can do about my top central incisor and top right lateral incisor which have been chipped with the brackets of my braces.
That he could fix! So that was a case of taking out what looked like a burr with a disc on it and he just gently filed the tooth. It's now a bit squint but maybe only I am noticing that. But it looks better than it did.
Fourth, I ask if there is anything in my notes about max fax seeing my 6 months post op. I could swear when I saw them immediately post op that they had said they would see me 6 months post op. I remember at the time thinking 'oh my goodness, I've just had this big op and you don't want to see me for 6 months...that's ages away!'. But with it being so close to my surgery, by now, I wasn't sure if I had remembered that right.
The dental nurse didn't seem too happy that I had asked, and was totally like 'you need to phone max fax yourself'. Fair enough, I can easily phone (if someone will give me the number) but I'm not sure if they said 6 months or not. That was all I was really looking for. I wasn't asking them to DO anything about it, other than check my notes.
Cue a conversation with receptionist and still not really any clearer on that topic.
Finally, I asked if I would be allowed to go to my GP to get some diazepam or something to help calm me down before my implant. Considering how I was after the local anaesthetic for one filling, I'm really not looking forward to spending 90 minutes in the chair for the implant.
I have always had a fear of the dentist and it's only been in the past couple of years that I've been able to go to the dentist for a checkup without fainting. Give me an injection and I'm always in a heap on the floor.
So on discussion with the restorative dentist, having seen what I was like after he did the filling last month, he said he did wonder if I should get something.
He thinks I'm an ideal candidate for IV sedation. He's doing a course in it at the moment.
He will discuss this with his senior and will let me know when I go back for my 3 fillings.
He took impressions so they can make guides (or something) for when I get my implant done and for making me a blown denture. A blown denture will be like my retainer but will be better for the healing process after the first stage of implant. He didn't do the filling I was expecting.
Now some pics
My dentist tells me I have enamel loss in 3 teeth...the 2 back molars and a premolar.
She said she could fill them, it would take 15 minutes but she wanted to see what the restorative dentist said.
Now, I'm beginning to wonder, was all this worth it? Was all the braces and surgery worth it to restore one tooth when recovery from surgery was hard, it took its toll on my physical and mental health and NOW, all my teeth are wobbly and I'm facing 4 or 5 fillings?
Fast forward to yesterday, 24th March 2015 and I'm back at the restorative dentist to get, what I thought, was the second filling.
Poor man, I had a list of questions and stuff to cover.
First up, my teeth are still wobbly. That's been 5 weeks since I had my braces off and if anything, I think my top central incisor is more wobbly.
He tells me not to worry too much about it, they have the backup plan of implanting it need be (and actually that will give a better aesthetic finish if they have to do a double implant). He explained that my roots are definitely shorter than they were before I started treatment.
Second, I tell him about the enamel loss my dentist picked up. He wondered why my dentist didn't just fill them but then I explained that she wanted to know what he said first.
So then he thought I could just go to the dentist and get them filled because, understandly, that is basic dentistry and he was concerned with restorative. Fair enough.
Then he looks through my notes and sees that my dentist is out of town and decides that instead of me having to travel to get the fillings done, he'll do them instead.
Third, I ask if there is anything they can do about my top central incisor and top right lateral incisor which have been chipped with the brackets of my braces.
That he could fix! So that was a case of taking out what looked like a burr with a disc on it and he just gently filed the tooth. It's now a bit squint but maybe only I am noticing that. But it looks better than it did.
Fourth, I ask if there is anything in my notes about max fax seeing my 6 months post op. I could swear when I saw them immediately post op that they had said they would see me 6 months post op. I remember at the time thinking 'oh my goodness, I've just had this big op and you don't want to see me for 6 months...that's ages away!'. But with it being so close to my surgery, by now, I wasn't sure if I had remembered that right.
The dental nurse didn't seem too happy that I had asked, and was totally like 'you need to phone max fax yourself'. Fair enough, I can easily phone (if someone will give me the number) but I'm not sure if they said 6 months or not. That was all I was really looking for. I wasn't asking them to DO anything about it, other than check my notes.
Cue a conversation with receptionist and still not really any clearer on that topic.
Finally, I asked if I would be allowed to go to my GP to get some diazepam or something to help calm me down before my implant. Considering how I was after the local anaesthetic for one filling, I'm really not looking forward to spending 90 minutes in the chair for the implant.
I have always had a fear of the dentist and it's only been in the past couple of years that I've been able to go to the dentist for a checkup without fainting. Give me an injection and I'm always in a heap on the floor.
So on discussion with the restorative dentist, having seen what I was like after he did the filling last month, he said he did wonder if I should get something.
He thinks I'm an ideal candidate for IV sedation. He's doing a course in it at the moment.
He will discuss this with his senior and will let me know when I go back for my 3 fillings.
He took impressions so they can make guides (or something) for when I get my implant done and for making me a blown denture. A blown denture will be like my retainer but will be better for the healing process after the first stage of implant. He didn't do the filling I was expecting.
Now some pics
The Green Seats
On the 19th February 2015 I had, what I thought, was an appointment with the hygienist.
Great stuff! My teeth can get a really good clean now my braces are off.
I was disappointed that I had some staining on my teeth, the teeth that had the big metal rings that anchored the braces on. I was keen to have this staining removed.
So I was super excited because I was getting to sit in the green seats today instead of in the orange seats. Green seats are for restorative dentistry, orange are for ortho.
I was called in and to my surprise I was seeing the restorative dentist instead.
I got a full teeth health check. No gum disease, surrounding tissue healthy.
He wobbled every tooth individually, most are wobbly, some are grade 1, others grade 2.
Wobbly teeth can be a sign of root resorption. My ortho said on Monday my teeth were wobbly due to being in heavy elastics for so long. Restorative dentist hmmmed.
He said that if my top central incisor remains wobbly, then they will take it out and do a double implant instead.
Then he explained the procedure for getting my implant done.
It will be 90 minutes in the chair, under a local anaesthetic. They will cut my gum, place the screw and then stitch it up and allow it to heal. Then I'll go back at a later date to have the tooth part fitted.
I'm really not looking forward to this. I had hoped this would be a general anaesthetic job.
Then I had 3 x-rays done.
I have 2 caries on the bottom molars where the anchor metal bands of my braces were.
Restorative dentist decided to fill one of them there and then. I really don't do well with local anaesthetics. By the time he was finished, I was shaking, likely with the effects of the adrenaline in the local anaesthetic. I had to phone my husband at work to come and take me home.
I was told to come back for the other filling.
Spent the rest of the day feeling quite sorry for myself. I had managed to reach the age of 37 with only 1 filling and now here I was with another one and another one to come.
Apparently it is common for there to be caries in the back molars after braces because you can't clean those teeth properly with the metal anchor rings on.
But still...
Implant date is set for 3rd June 2015
Great stuff! My teeth can get a really good clean now my braces are off.
I was disappointed that I had some staining on my teeth, the teeth that had the big metal rings that anchored the braces on. I was keen to have this staining removed.
So I was super excited because I was getting to sit in the green seats today instead of in the orange seats. Green seats are for restorative dentistry, orange are for ortho.
I was called in and to my surprise I was seeing the restorative dentist instead.
I got a full teeth health check. No gum disease, surrounding tissue healthy.
He wobbled every tooth individually, most are wobbly, some are grade 1, others grade 2.
Wobbly teeth can be a sign of root resorption. My ortho said on Monday my teeth were wobbly due to being in heavy elastics for so long. Restorative dentist hmmmed.
He said that if my top central incisor remains wobbly, then they will take it out and do a double implant instead.
Then he explained the procedure for getting my implant done.
It will be 90 minutes in the chair, under a local anaesthetic. They will cut my gum, place the screw and then stitch it up and allow it to heal. Then I'll go back at a later date to have the tooth part fitted.
I'm really not looking forward to this. I had hoped this would be a general anaesthetic job.
Then I had 3 x-rays done.
I have 2 caries on the bottom molars where the anchor metal bands of my braces were.
Restorative dentist decided to fill one of them there and then. I really don't do well with local anaesthetics. By the time he was finished, I was shaking, likely with the effects of the adrenaline in the local anaesthetic. I had to phone my husband at work to come and take me home.
I was told to come back for the other filling.
Spent the rest of the day feeling quite sorry for myself. I had managed to reach the age of 37 with only 1 filling and now here I was with another one and another one to come.
Apparently it is common for there to be caries in the back molars after braces because you can't clean those teeth properly with the metal anchor rings on.
But still...
Implant date is set for 3rd June 2015
De-Bracing Day!
De-bracing day was 16th February 2015.
That was 6 years, 8 months and 20 days in braces.
I woke up at 6.45am REALLY nervous! Is there anyone in this world who gets more nervous than excited about getting their braces off?
My husband dropped me off at the orthodontist and I while I was sat in the waiting area, I could feel myself shaking!
What if when I got my braces off, I'd be left with little white squares on my teeth from where the brackets had been on for so long.
What if my teeth moved really quickly in the wrong direction whilst waiting for my retainers?
It's not like we can just make an adjustment or change the configuration of the elastics.
What if my jaw moves?
What about my false tooth on my retainer...I'll have to take it out for eating and that will mean no eating in public until I get my implant done.
As I was sat in the waiting area, my orthodontist came in...late as usual...and then I heard her tell the receptionist that she had a cold so if any patients didn't want to be treated, then to reschedule their appointments.
I know I've picked up lots of things since my surgery but there was no way I was rescheduling my appointment so I said I'd take the germs.
It took about 20 minutes to get the braces off. Was ok actually, even the dreaded burr wasn't too bad.
It felt really weird though! And my teeth looked HUGE!
I admit I did burst into tears when I saw my bare teeth in the mirror!
After that I went home and didn't really know what to do with myself except for look in the mirror 20 million times :)
I had bought an apple. A nice red shiny apple. I'd not eaten an apple for nearly 7 years.
Except my teeth were wobbly so I only manage to eat a little bit of it before envisioning my teeth coming out in the apple.
Back to ortho in the late afternoon to get my retainers.
At this point I told the ortho that my teeth were wobbly. She said it was just because I had been in heavy elastics for so long and that they should settle.
I got a Hawley retainer with my false tooth attached for the top. The good news was I could keep it in 24/7, that meant I don't have to take it out when eating!
I got an Essix retainer for the bottom.
I had a good few days where my teeth just really ached with the retainers and all I wanted to do was take them out to get a rest. But I persevered. I didn't really struggle with lisping or gagging with them in, actually just sleeping with them in overnight really helped in that respect I think.
Both retainers in full time for 2 weeks. I can take the lower retainer out for eating.
Then move to both retainers in from just after 6pm to next morning.
Now the pics!
That was 6 years, 8 months and 20 days in braces.
I woke up at 6.45am REALLY nervous! Is there anyone in this world who gets more nervous than excited about getting their braces off?
My husband dropped me off at the orthodontist and I while I was sat in the waiting area, I could feel myself shaking!
What if when I got my braces off, I'd be left with little white squares on my teeth from where the brackets had been on for so long.
What if my teeth moved really quickly in the wrong direction whilst waiting for my retainers?
It's not like we can just make an adjustment or change the configuration of the elastics.
What if my jaw moves?
What about my false tooth on my retainer...I'll have to take it out for eating and that will mean no eating in public until I get my implant done.
As I was sat in the waiting area, my orthodontist came in...late as usual...and then I heard her tell the receptionist that she had a cold so if any patients didn't want to be treated, then to reschedule their appointments.
I know I've picked up lots of things since my surgery but there was no way I was rescheduling my appointment so I said I'd take the germs.
It took about 20 minutes to get the braces off. Was ok actually, even the dreaded burr wasn't too bad.
It felt really weird though! And my teeth looked HUGE!
I admit I did burst into tears when I saw my bare teeth in the mirror!
After that I went home and didn't really know what to do with myself except for look in the mirror 20 million times :)
I had bought an apple. A nice red shiny apple. I'd not eaten an apple for nearly 7 years.
Except my teeth were wobbly so I only manage to eat a little bit of it before envisioning my teeth coming out in the apple.
Back to ortho in the late afternoon to get my retainers.
At this point I told the ortho that my teeth were wobbly. She said it was just because I had been in heavy elastics for so long and that they should settle.
I got a Hawley retainer with my false tooth attached for the top. The good news was I could keep it in 24/7, that meant I don't have to take it out when eating!
I got an Essix retainer for the bottom.
I had a good few days where my teeth just really ached with the retainers and all I wanted to do was take them out to get a rest. But I persevered. I didn't really struggle with lisping or gagging with them in, actually just sleeping with them in overnight really helped in that respect I think.
Both retainers in full time for 2 weeks. I can take the lower retainer out for eating.
Then move to both retainers in from just after 6pm to next morning.
Now the pics!
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Reverse Polarity of the Elastics
Yesterday I had an emergency trip to ortho. Last week, I was keeping a super close eye on my teeth and could see my top midline creeping ever so slowly towards the right. But on Friday I saw gaps! Gaps when I bite together, diagonally between top and bottom either side of my left canine.
Argh! Debanding is next week! No, no no no no.
There's no way I'm having my braces off and having to look in the mirror and be annoyed by gaps.
It's taken so long to get to this point, it should be as close to perfect as possible.
So back to ortho who wasn't really convinced but there was no way I was not having her do something about them.
But the solution was simple. Change the direction of the elastics on the left.
Teeth have mow moved back to where they were. Midline back in the correct place. Gaps almost fully closed again. Happy Fay :)
I'll admit, I am nervous about getting my braces off. Nothing to hold my teeth or jaws in place. I'm having heebie jeebies that I'll get my braces off in the morning and then by the time I get my retainers in the afternoon, my teeth and jaws will have moved all over the place!
Fingers crossed!
Argh! Debanding is next week! No, no no no no.
There's no way I'm having my braces off and having to look in the mirror and be annoyed by gaps.
It's taken so long to get to this point, it should be as close to perfect as possible.
So back to ortho who wasn't really convinced but there was no way I was not having her do something about them.
But the solution was simple. Change the direction of the elastics on the left.
Teeth have mow moved back to where they were. Midline back in the correct place. Gaps almost fully closed again. Happy Fay :)
I'll admit, I am nervous about getting my braces off. Nothing to hold my teeth or jaws in place. I'm having heebie jeebies that I'll get my braces off in the morning and then by the time I get my retainers in the afternoon, my teeth and jaws will have moved all over the place!
Fingers crossed!
Friday, 30 January 2015
DEBRACING DATE HERE WE COME!!
Yesterday I had an orthodontist appointment,. I had an inkling this might be my last appointment and that she would be saying, next time we deband. But didn't want to get my hopes up too much.
But yesterday, 6 years, 8 months and 2 days since I first got my braces on and started this very very long journey, she said those magic words...debanding!
I only got a retie yesterday on the top and a slight adjustment to the wire at the bottom because my gum is bit red and sore near the back left molar where the incision site was.
She told me that I could cautiously go from wearing my elastics (blue on the right and orange on the left) 24/7 to only wearing them at night. But I'd need to keep a close eye on my teeth for any signs of movement. But rather than risk it, I'm just going to keep wearing them 24/7 and put up with the blue elastics and their continual snapping. It's only for a few weeks more.
Previously, I have only ever chosen 1 or 2 colours of ligs but in honour of my last adjustment, I chose a rainbow! They are super pretty!
Jaw wise, I've been feeling my area of altered sensation quite a lot this week. It could well be because the weather is freezing. Or maybe I'm eating lots. Or both. I attempted a snickers (cut up into slices) last week but the nuts were a no no, they just rolled around my mouth. It's odd isn't it, it's not like my teeth have lost their sharpness to eat nuts. But the jaw muscles say nope.
I'm looking forward to warmer weather when I won't have to wear my scarf out.
I will get a Hawley retainer with a pontic for the top and an Essix retainer for the bottom.
Debracing date is 16th February 2015 at 9am!!!!!
Picture time!
My pretty rainbows! There *is* a pot of gold at the end of these ones!
(And don't my teeth and bite look really good too?)
Serious face
Side Profiles
But yesterday, 6 years, 8 months and 2 days since I first got my braces on and started this very very long journey, she said those magic words...debanding!
I only got a retie yesterday on the top and a slight adjustment to the wire at the bottom because my gum is bit red and sore near the back left molar where the incision site was.
She told me that I could cautiously go from wearing my elastics (blue on the right and orange on the left) 24/7 to only wearing them at night. But I'd need to keep a close eye on my teeth for any signs of movement. But rather than risk it, I'm just going to keep wearing them 24/7 and put up with the blue elastics and their continual snapping. It's only for a few weeks more.
Previously, I have only ever chosen 1 or 2 colours of ligs but in honour of my last adjustment, I chose a rainbow! They are super pretty!
Jaw wise, I've been feeling my area of altered sensation quite a lot this week. It could well be because the weather is freezing. Or maybe I'm eating lots. Or both. I attempted a snickers (cut up into slices) last week but the nuts were a no no, they just rolled around my mouth. It's odd isn't it, it's not like my teeth have lost their sharpness to eat nuts. But the jaw muscles say nope.
I'm looking forward to warmer weather when I won't have to wear my scarf out.
I will get a Hawley retainer with a pontic for the top and an Essix retainer for the bottom.
Debracing date is 16th February 2015 at 9am!!!!!
Picture time!
My pretty rainbows! There *is* a pot of gold at the end of these ones!
(And don't my teeth and bite look really good too?)
Serious face
Smiley Face
Wednesday, 14 January 2015
18 Weeks and 5 Days
Wow that took a wee while to count back on the calender to see how long it has been post-op.
Last night, I was looking through photos on my phone and ended up looking at all the photos I have taken since 4th September.
I must admit, now, now I am a little shocked when I look at my post op pictures from the first 2 weeks or so. I didn't think at the time that I was that bad, but looking at them now, I'm like crikey moses! How swollen and bruised was I? It was a little bit amazing to look at them and compare with what I look like now.
And at the same time, I said to my husband last night, it feels really odd because it feels like the whole thing just didn't happen. Aside from not being able to eat certain things like pork and nuts, I'm back to a normal diet. Yes things do take a wee while longer to eat (pizza, a baked potato and coleslaw took me 1 hour to eat the other night) but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
And I can say that I still have the same area of numbness, although I think the better description would be altered sensation; I can feel touch, just not sharpness or pain, it feels odd when I touch it, I still feel like I have food down my chin when I don't but I don't notice it most of the time, usually after eating something challenging or when it is cold.
I now have to wear a big fluffy scarf when i go out, no snow here as yet but it is cold and my jaw certainly feels it more than it used to.
So, where are we with teeth and bite and so on.
Well *whispers* I think we might just actually be close to debracing!!
I knew the ortho I saw on my first post op visit was lying when he said braces off in 4 months LOL! But we're not too far off that now.
I had an appointment with my orthodontist last Thursday. The gap on the left that arose with my teeth shifting wilst my false tooth was out post op, has closed.
The gap on the right (actually the exact same gap between the exact same teeth as the left) is also closing. I got a re-tie with new coloured ligs (hot pink and pink for valentine's day) and e-link put on top left and right to make these final closures.
With the pain I've felt top right, I can already see that gap is closed.
Back to see the orthodontist in 2 weeks time and I think she's going to say we're done!
Of course, we won't be entirely finished, there will still be tooth restoration to do.
Part of me is actually a bit worried, how will I cope with no orthodontist appointments after nearly 7 years! and the other part of me is excited to see what kind of retainers I'll get, what my teeth really look like with no metal in the way and to be able to eat an apple for the first time in 7 years!
Last night, I was looking through photos on my phone and ended up looking at all the photos I have taken since 4th September.
I must admit, now, now I am a little shocked when I look at my post op pictures from the first 2 weeks or so. I didn't think at the time that I was that bad, but looking at them now, I'm like crikey moses! How swollen and bruised was I? It was a little bit amazing to look at them and compare with what I look like now.
And at the same time, I said to my husband last night, it feels really odd because it feels like the whole thing just didn't happen. Aside from not being able to eat certain things like pork and nuts, I'm back to a normal diet. Yes things do take a wee while longer to eat (pizza, a baked potato and coleslaw took me 1 hour to eat the other night) but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
And I can say that I still have the same area of numbness, although I think the better description would be altered sensation; I can feel touch, just not sharpness or pain, it feels odd when I touch it, I still feel like I have food down my chin when I don't but I don't notice it most of the time, usually after eating something challenging or when it is cold.
I now have to wear a big fluffy scarf when i go out, no snow here as yet but it is cold and my jaw certainly feels it more than it used to.
So, where are we with teeth and bite and so on.
Well *whispers* I think we might just actually be close to debracing!!
I knew the ortho I saw on my first post op visit was lying when he said braces off in 4 months LOL! But we're not too far off that now.
I had an appointment with my orthodontist last Thursday. The gap on the left that arose with my teeth shifting wilst my false tooth was out post op, has closed.
The gap on the right (actually the exact same gap between the exact same teeth as the left) is also closing. I got a re-tie with new coloured ligs (hot pink and pink for valentine's day) and e-link put on top left and right to make these final closures.
With the pain I've felt top right, I can already see that gap is closed.
Back to see the orthodontist in 2 weeks time and I think she's going to say we're done!
Of course, we won't be entirely finished, there will still be tooth restoration to do.
Part of me is actually a bit worried, how will I cope with no orthodontist appointments after nearly 7 years! and the other part of me is excited to see what kind of retainers I'll get, what my teeth really look like with no metal in the way and to be able to eat an apple for the first time in 7 years!
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate today. I hope you had a lovely day :)
I managed to eat entire Christmas dinner from prawn cocktail for starters (although lettuce was a bit tricky), to full Christmas turkey with all the trimmings (albeit a slow trek through the plate) and 3 puddings (1 piece of cheesecake and 2 bowls of trifle (trifle is my favourite pudding ever!)).
Of course, there had to be the bag of nuts that I can't eat, but my hubby will enjoy eating them for me.
Definitely still need a napkin when eating, it's a funny thing, it's almost like my nerves have went inside out, I eat something and instead of feeling it inside my mouth, I feel it on the outside. So I feel like I have food running down/stuck to my chin but don't. That's on the right hand side where the numbest area is.
Putting on lipstick this morning was kinda weird.
I'll be 16 weeks post surgery tomorrow so here's a photo update since I've not done one for a while.
I managed to eat entire Christmas dinner from prawn cocktail for starters (although lettuce was a bit tricky), to full Christmas turkey with all the trimmings (albeit a slow trek through the plate) and 3 puddings (1 piece of cheesecake and 2 bowls of trifle (trifle is my favourite pudding ever!)).
Of course, there had to be the bag of nuts that I can't eat, but my hubby will enjoy eating them for me.
Definitely still need a napkin when eating, it's a funny thing, it's almost like my nerves have went inside out, I eat something and instead of feeling it inside my mouth, I feel it on the outside. So I feel like I have food running down/stuck to my chin but don't. That's on the right hand side where the numbest area is.
Putting on lipstick this morning was kinda weird.
I'll be 16 weeks post surgery tomorrow so here's a photo update since I've not done one for a while.
Sunday, 21 December 2014
15 Weeks...I think
There was a time when I said to my husband, 'I wonder when I'll stop counting the time since my surgery'.
Well that time has come. I'm fairly sure I'm something like 15 weeks and 2 days post surgery now, but I have to stop and think about it, work it out.
I was supposed to have an appointment with my orthodontist on Thursday but the appointment got rescheduled because my orthodontist was off sick. Have never, in the past 6 years seen her off sick so she must've been really sick.
I did say to the receptionist that I was to be seen soon because my teeth are moving quickly post surgery but I haven't got my next appointment now until 8th January. Well, I'm just the patient so I can't make receptionists give me faster appointments. Although I could bet if the dental nurse was there, they'd find something sooner.
Just got to hope that my teeth behave themselves over the next few weeks.
That will also mean that my braces will NOT be off 4 months after surgery. Why am I not surprised??
Nothing to report really.
I am getting fed up of food getting stuck in my braces (one of the perks of the jaw surgery diet, nothing stuck!) and I am finding that food sticks between my teeth and my gums at the sides on the bottom and I can't feel it.
The area where the bone was sticking out is reduced to a small lump; it is slowly healing itself.
Food wise I have found most things ok although I am taking longer to eat now. I feel like I have eaten absolutely HEAPS in the past 3 weeks but the bathroom scales are telling me that i am maintaining my weight at 10st 6lbs (146lbs) so I can't be doing too badly. Plus my clothes are still too big for me. If I can mantain over Christmas then I think I'll need to go and buy some new trousers/jeans at least because I'm running on 2 pairs of jeans to wear.
I ate pizza for the first time the other night; had naad bread pizza as I figured that would be easier to eat than proper pizza dough base. That went ok except I couldn't eat the crust bits.
Have tried beef and been ok although was sore after the first time.
Have tried pork and that just is a no go, my jaws just refuse to work on pork.
Almost back to normal diet.
Still not attempted anything crunchy or hard like crackers or crisps. But then most of the food that falls into the hard or crunchy category are foods that I shouldn't be eating anyway :)
I can now eat a banana properly! Satsumas are good too.
I have had a couple of nights where I think I've either been clenching or grinding my teeth and have woken up with achey jaws.
I was also sat watching TV the other night and ran my hand over my jaw (still tend to do that as well as touch the numb area) and got a bit of a shock, it felt like something was missing! I think what it was was that some swelling has gone down again on the right hand side.
Coming up to Christmas now. I most certainly will be able to eat Christmas dinner!! Will likely have to skip the nuts and the crisps and so on but that's ok.
I have had 2 lots of laryngitis and 2 ear infections since my surgery so I'm pretty run down. I have also had major mood crashes. I have read online that a drop in mood can occur after jaw surgery, well mine certainly did. Just trying to work my way back to 'normal' again.
And a funny, it's only taken 3 weeks, but now I am fed up eating toast for breakfast!! :D :D
Well that time has come. I'm fairly sure I'm something like 15 weeks and 2 days post surgery now, but I have to stop and think about it, work it out.
I was supposed to have an appointment with my orthodontist on Thursday but the appointment got rescheduled because my orthodontist was off sick. Have never, in the past 6 years seen her off sick so she must've been really sick.
I did say to the receptionist that I was to be seen soon because my teeth are moving quickly post surgery but I haven't got my next appointment now until 8th January. Well, I'm just the patient so I can't make receptionists give me faster appointments. Although I could bet if the dental nurse was there, they'd find something sooner.
Just got to hope that my teeth behave themselves over the next few weeks.
That will also mean that my braces will NOT be off 4 months after surgery. Why am I not surprised??
Nothing to report really.
I am getting fed up of food getting stuck in my braces (one of the perks of the jaw surgery diet, nothing stuck!) and I am finding that food sticks between my teeth and my gums at the sides on the bottom and I can't feel it.
The area where the bone was sticking out is reduced to a small lump; it is slowly healing itself.
Food wise I have found most things ok although I am taking longer to eat now. I feel like I have eaten absolutely HEAPS in the past 3 weeks but the bathroom scales are telling me that i am maintaining my weight at 10st 6lbs (146lbs) so I can't be doing too badly. Plus my clothes are still too big for me. If I can mantain over Christmas then I think I'll need to go and buy some new trousers/jeans at least because I'm running on 2 pairs of jeans to wear.
I ate pizza for the first time the other night; had naad bread pizza as I figured that would be easier to eat than proper pizza dough base. That went ok except I couldn't eat the crust bits.
Have tried beef and been ok although was sore after the first time.
Have tried pork and that just is a no go, my jaws just refuse to work on pork.
Almost back to normal diet.
Still not attempted anything crunchy or hard like crackers or crisps. But then most of the food that falls into the hard or crunchy category are foods that I shouldn't be eating anyway :)
I can now eat a banana properly! Satsumas are good too.
I have had a couple of nights where I think I've either been clenching or grinding my teeth and have woken up with achey jaws.
I was also sat watching TV the other night and ran my hand over my jaw (still tend to do that as well as touch the numb area) and got a bit of a shock, it felt like something was missing! I think what it was was that some swelling has gone down again on the right hand side.
Coming up to Christmas now. I most certainly will be able to eat Christmas dinner!! Will likely have to skip the nuts and the crisps and so on but that's ok.
I have had 2 lots of laryngitis and 2 ear infections since my surgery so I'm pretty run down. I have also had major mood crashes. I have read online that a drop in mood can occur after jaw surgery, well mine certainly did. Just trying to work my way back to 'normal' again.
And a funny, it's only taken 3 weeks, but now I am fed up eating toast for breakfast!! :D :D
Saturday, 29 November 2014
12 Weeks Post Op - RELIEF!
I had my latest ortho visit on Thursday.
The max fax surgeon was actually in to see me at my appointment today. Was SO nice to walk in and see him when I was worried out my mind about this bone sticking out my gum. By this time I had prepared for going back into hospital, left my husband a set of instructions and phone numbers for work and other appointments, instructed him what stuff to pack in a hospital bag if need be, etc etc.
The max fax surgeon who saw me, is not the one who actually did my surgery but is the one who came to see me post-op in hospital the whole weekend and last saw me when I was at Day 2 Post op. He is just such a nice man...I wish I could take him home with me :)
Anyway, in his lovely calm way, he looked in my mouth and confirmed that it was indeed bone sticking out of my gum.
With a few twiddles of some tweezers he took that bone out! Apparently it was a fragment of bone that had decided it wasn't going to be a part of my new face and was working it's way out. It was quite a big fragment for being a fragment.
I must have looked a right muppet because I then proceeded to burst into tears with relief!
I also explained to him about my squint mouth, but I wonder if it's something that is only going to be noticeable either to me or to others when I am tired or ill because he said he didn't see it.
He checked my numbness levels and I could feel him touch my lip and chin on the right hand side so feeling is coming back, even if it is painful.
Next it was my ortho's turn. I showed her the gap I wasn't happy with but I don't think she's going to do much about it; she said that it is likely to only be noticeable to me. But really, all this hard work, don't we want as near damn perfect teeth as possible??
So I got elink for that gap and elink for the gap on the other side she is working to close. The molar that she put powerchain on, is quite mobile and she didn't want to do anything to it so that the wound from where the bone was removed, could heal.
No powerchain today and red and green ligs for Christmas.
She has given me a new configuration of elastics...the most fierce looking yet.
Moved to blue elastics on the right and remain with orange elastics on the left. Now over 2 hooks at the top and 2 hooks at the bottom on each side...kind of like a square/rhombus style shape.
I also had to get an xray done, I presume to check that everything was ok after having this bone fragment removed.
Then I was given the green light to eat a normal diet again! Instructed not to eat anything that could break my braces, no chewy meat or crusty bread.
Came home and had (oven cook) battered fish, oven chips and peas. Not really my ideal choice of a first 'proper' meal but that was what we had. Took a wee while to eat it, especially the chips and I must say I suffered for it in the evening; I was sore! But I guess it's just a workout for my jaw now.
As well as being sore I had a lot of nerve stuff going on. Best way I can describe it is cobwebs, a heap of cobwebs on your face, tingly, itchy, feeling weird and just not pleasant.
Took some paracetamol and codeine and with being hugely tired (relief after the stress I think) I was in bed and asleep by 9.30pm.
Friday I had TOAST! I had TOAST! I had toast for breakfast..OMG so good!
Went out for lunch with my best friend to celebrate the fact I wasn't in hospital having bone removed and that I can eat normally again. Took a long time to chose a meal because I didn't know what I would be able to eat and what i wouldn't and didn't want to pay money for food and find I couldn't eat it.
I chose risotto with chicken, prawns and chorizo. Managed the chicken and prawns but not the chorizo. Took a while to eat it too but that's ok.
Supper was curry and rice but this time I could have the chicken and the naan breads :)
Today I had a bacon sandwich for breakfast, yum yum! I was never a big lover of bacon before but it has tasted really nice now.
Lunch was a fried cheese sandwich...O.M.G. probably THE BEST thing I have eaten in the past 3 months!!
Supper was spaghetti meatballs, but I think I would've managed that last week anyway.
But it is SO NICE to be eating normally again! I made it through 12 weeks of liquid and soft-chew diet!
And this week I can go back to planning meals for the coming week and cooking nice things and enjoying meals the same as the rest of the family.
Still going to have soup for lunch tomorrow LOL but that is because it is cold, dark, grey and wet outside now and soup seems appropriate.
I am going to allow myself to indulge in food this weekend and then from Monday get back to eating sensibly again so I don't pile on all the weight I have lost. I have went up from 10st 4 to 10st 8 and would quite like to stay at this weight now. Saying that, Christmas is just round the corner!
Next ortho visit is in 3 weeks time.
Selfie pic time!
The max fax surgeon was actually in to see me at my appointment today. Was SO nice to walk in and see him when I was worried out my mind about this bone sticking out my gum. By this time I had prepared for going back into hospital, left my husband a set of instructions and phone numbers for work and other appointments, instructed him what stuff to pack in a hospital bag if need be, etc etc.
The max fax surgeon who saw me, is not the one who actually did my surgery but is the one who came to see me post-op in hospital the whole weekend and last saw me when I was at Day 2 Post op. He is just such a nice man...I wish I could take him home with me :)
Anyway, in his lovely calm way, he looked in my mouth and confirmed that it was indeed bone sticking out of my gum.
With a few twiddles of some tweezers he took that bone out! Apparently it was a fragment of bone that had decided it wasn't going to be a part of my new face and was working it's way out. It was quite a big fragment for being a fragment.
I must have looked a right muppet because I then proceeded to burst into tears with relief!
I also explained to him about my squint mouth, but I wonder if it's something that is only going to be noticeable either to me or to others when I am tired or ill because he said he didn't see it.
He checked my numbness levels and I could feel him touch my lip and chin on the right hand side so feeling is coming back, even if it is painful.
Next it was my ortho's turn. I showed her the gap I wasn't happy with but I don't think she's going to do much about it; she said that it is likely to only be noticeable to me. But really, all this hard work, don't we want as near damn perfect teeth as possible??
So I got elink for that gap and elink for the gap on the other side she is working to close. The molar that she put powerchain on, is quite mobile and she didn't want to do anything to it so that the wound from where the bone was removed, could heal.
No powerchain today and red and green ligs for Christmas.
She has given me a new configuration of elastics...the most fierce looking yet.
Moved to blue elastics on the right and remain with orange elastics on the left. Now over 2 hooks at the top and 2 hooks at the bottom on each side...kind of like a square/rhombus style shape.
I also had to get an xray done, I presume to check that everything was ok after having this bone fragment removed.
Then I was given the green light to eat a normal diet again! Instructed not to eat anything that could break my braces, no chewy meat or crusty bread.
Came home and had (oven cook) battered fish, oven chips and peas. Not really my ideal choice of a first 'proper' meal but that was what we had. Took a wee while to eat it, especially the chips and I must say I suffered for it in the evening; I was sore! But I guess it's just a workout for my jaw now.
As well as being sore I had a lot of nerve stuff going on. Best way I can describe it is cobwebs, a heap of cobwebs on your face, tingly, itchy, feeling weird and just not pleasant.
Took some paracetamol and codeine and with being hugely tired (relief after the stress I think) I was in bed and asleep by 9.30pm.
Friday I had TOAST! I had TOAST! I had toast for breakfast..OMG so good!
Went out for lunch with my best friend to celebrate the fact I wasn't in hospital having bone removed and that I can eat normally again. Took a long time to chose a meal because I didn't know what I would be able to eat and what i wouldn't and didn't want to pay money for food and find I couldn't eat it.
I chose risotto with chicken, prawns and chorizo. Managed the chicken and prawns but not the chorizo. Took a while to eat it too but that's ok.
Supper was curry and rice but this time I could have the chicken and the naan breads :)
Today I had a bacon sandwich for breakfast, yum yum! I was never a big lover of bacon before but it has tasted really nice now.
Lunch was a fried cheese sandwich...O.M.G. probably THE BEST thing I have eaten in the past 3 months!!
Supper was spaghetti meatballs, but I think I would've managed that last week anyway.
But it is SO NICE to be eating normally again! I made it through 12 weeks of liquid and soft-chew diet!
And this week I can go back to planning meals for the coming week and cooking nice things and enjoying meals the same as the rest of the family.
Still going to have soup for lunch tomorrow LOL but that is because it is cold, dark, grey and wet outside now and soup seems appropriate.
I am going to allow myself to indulge in food this weekend and then from Monday get back to eating sensibly again so I don't pile on all the weight I have lost. I have went up from 10st 4 to 10st 8 and would quite like to stay at this weight now. Saying that, Christmas is just round the corner!
Next ortho visit is in 3 weeks time.
Selfie pic time!
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Look Away If Your Squeamish Warning
If you are squeamish, don't look at this blog entry.
I managed to take a good photo of this lump and what looks like bone sticking out.
To give an idea of where in my mouth it is, it is where the incision site is on the left hand side. So what looks like bone, is sticking out between my gum and my cheek. And on further looking today, I can see another bit that looks like bone too :(
Now I am worried that I'm going to have to go back into theatre to have this fixed. Can't seem to find anything online about it other than malunion of bone fragments is a complication of this surgery.
Two photos, one shows the 'bone' sticking out better and the other shows this new area of what looks like bone appearing at the back.
I managed to take a good photo of this lump and what looks like bone sticking out.
To give an idea of where in my mouth it is, it is where the incision site is on the left hand side. So what looks like bone, is sticking out between my gum and my cheek. And on further looking today, I can see another bit that looks like bone too :(
Now I am worried that I'm going to have to go back into theatre to have this fixed. Can't seem to find anything online about it other than malunion of bone fragments is a complication of this surgery.
Two photos, one shows the 'bone' sticking out better and the other shows this new area of what looks like bone appearing at the back.
Sunday, 23 November 2014
11 Weeks and 2 Days
Hmmmmm....
I think my orthodontist may have her work cut out for her on Thursday. Another hour in the chair of torture for me perhaps?
That red lump on the inside of my cheek, between my cheek and my gum, where the wound would have been...on further poking about at it, there appears to be a fragment of bone sticking out. Well it looks like bone. I'm hoping it's something silly like some rice, but it's definitely hard and won't move if I pull on it (gently) with tweezers.
That pain in my jaw on the right hand side where it feels like someone is punching me in the face....the penny dropped today and that could well be neuralgia.
Great!
The rest of my list includes:
my squint mouth (the top lip goes one way and the bottom goes another)
my lopsided mouth, it is still dropping on the right hand side
my midlines; they didn't meet after surgery but that was ok because that's how they wanted it. Now my midlines have came together and are making themselves go the other way unmatched.
a couple of gaps still to close
one gap that has appeared that I'm really not happy with
my lower furthest molar on the left which the ortho attached powerchain to to bring it forward a bit so it was more useful to me, hasn't come forward but has twisted round instead.
Today, I ate chicken for the first time since before my surgery. It was nice, juicy, soft roast chicken and it went down just fine :)
Good to know, that unless the above list means a trip into hospital for things to be fixed, I'm on track for eating a full Christmas dinner!
Photo time! Couldn't decide whether to use pic 1 or pic 2 for the serious face photo so used both. Pic 1 is a nice pic but pic 2 shows how my mouth is drooping.
I think my orthodontist may have her work cut out for her on Thursday. Another hour in the chair of torture for me perhaps?
That red lump on the inside of my cheek, between my cheek and my gum, where the wound would have been...on further poking about at it, there appears to be a fragment of bone sticking out. Well it looks like bone. I'm hoping it's something silly like some rice, but it's definitely hard and won't move if I pull on it (gently) with tweezers.
That pain in my jaw on the right hand side where it feels like someone is punching me in the face....the penny dropped today and that could well be neuralgia.
Great!
The rest of my list includes:
my squint mouth (the top lip goes one way and the bottom goes another)
my lopsided mouth, it is still dropping on the right hand side
my midlines; they didn't meet after surgery but that was ok because that's how they wanted it. Now my midlines have came together and are making themselves go the other way unmatched.
a couple of gaps still to close
one gap that has appeared that I'm really not happy with
my lower furthest molar on the left which the ortho attached powerchain to to bring it forward a bit so it was more useful to me, hasn't come forward but has twisted round instead.
Today, I ate chicken for the first time since before my surgery. It was nice, juicy, soft roast chicken and it went down just fine :)
Good to know, that unless the above list means a trip into hospital for things to be fixed, I'm on track for eating a full Christmas dinner!
Photo time! Couldn't decide whether to use pic 1 or pic 2 for the serious face photo so used both. Pic 1 is a nice pic but pic 2 shows how my mouth is drooping.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Day 75 - Pain No Happiness
For the past 3 days I've been in pain.
It comes and goes.
For example, today I have been awake since 7am and up since 7.30am. I've been fine. Eaten a pancake and had a cup of tea for breakfast.
Now, at 9.50am, it feels like someone has come and punched me in the jaw on the right hand side. It is a deep pain. Definitely bone pain rather than nerve pain. Almost like the kind of pain you get with toothache.
Have taken painkillers which should help put it away.
Yesterday the same thing happened, pain arrived late morning, took painkillers and then it came back later afternoon and then nothing until this morning.
If it's not my jaw, then the only other thing I can think it could be is another ear infection. But I don't want to go to the doctors and have them tell me that my ear is fine, it's referred pain from my jaw (had this happen already).
So painkillers and we stick it out until my appointment with the orthodontist next week.
I also have developed a lump on the left side, between the cheek and my gum. It's quite red and getting bigger. I tried to get a photo of it this morning but this is a case where I really need a medical photographer to take a picture because I can't get a photo that shows what I see with my own eyes.
I have a worry that food may have become trapped and skin growing round it.
But it will have to be looked at.
It comes and goes.
For example, today I have been awake since 7am and up since 7.30am. I've been fine. Eaten a pancake and had a cup of tea for breakfast.
Now, at 9.50am, it feels like someone has come and punched me in the jaw on the right hand side. It is a deep pain. Definitely bone pain rather than nerve pain. Almost like the kind of pain you get with toothache.
Have taken painkillers which should help put it away.
Yesterday the same thing happened, pain arrived late morning, took painkillers and then it came back later afternoon and then nothing until this morning.
If it's not my jaw, then the only other thing I can think it could be is another ear infection. But I don't want to go to the doctors and have them tell me that my ear is fine, it's referred pain from my jaw (had this happen already).
So painkillers and we stick it out until my appointment with the orthodontist next week.
I also have developed a lump on the left side, between the cheek and my gum. It's quite red and getting bigger. I tried to get a photo of it this morning but this is a case where I really need a medical photographer to take a picture because I can't get a photo that shows what I see with my own eyes.
I have a worry that food may have become trapped and skin growing round it.
But it will have to be looked at.
Monday, 17 November 2014
Day 73 - Pain & Happiness
When I got up this morning I was really sore on my right hand side. Took painkillers which helped until late afternoon when the pain hit again. Weird.
Also, where my wounds are healing, on the left where the cheek meets the gums, a wee lumpy bit has formed. I'm guessing it is just the wound area healing but it is annoying because it feels like I have food stuck between my gum and my cheek.
Went to the cinema yesterday to see The Imitation Game...SUPERB film!
First time at the cinema since surgery and for a girl who can't not have popcorn when she goes to the cinema, it was kinda hard to make do with a hot chocolate.
Today went out for lunch to celebrate my daughter getting her braces off. Her teeth look beautiful. Whether she will wear her retainers though is another matter.
I ordered an egg sandwich, white bread, no salad.
My food arrived, I piled all the crisps on to my daughter's ate cause I can't eat them.
Then I went to cut the crusts off the bread and realised this was not an egg sandwich, it was brie and rocket.
So went back with sandwich, reiterated egg sandwich, white bread, no salad.
Back came an egg sandwich, white bread and a bigger pile of crisps lol!
Attempted the coleslaw, tried the move it about your mouth and swallow whole technique until I choked on the 3rd forkful. Then I stopped :-)
This week is the first week since my surgery that I really miss chocolate, actual chocolate not just the taste.
But happiness has come a wee bit.
How to eat milk chocolate digestives on a soft chew diet?
Dunk your milk chocolate digestive in a hot cup of tea!
Fit fine :-)
Also, where my wounds are healing, on the left where the cheek meets the gums, a wee lumpy bit has formed. I'm guessing it is just the wound area healing but it is annoying because it feels like I have food stuck between my gum and my cheek.
Went to the cinema yesterday to see The Imitation Game...SUPERB film!
First time at the cinema since surgery and for a girl who can't not have popcorn when she goes to the cinema, it was kinda hard to make do with a hot chocolate.
Today went out for lunch to celebrate my daughter getting her braces off. Her teeth look beautiful. Whether she will wear her retainers though is another matter.
I ordered an egg sandwich, white bread, no salad.
My food arrived, I piled all the crisps on to my daughter's ate cause I can't eat them.
Then I went to cut the crusts off the bread and realised this was not an egg sandwich, it was brie and rocket.
So went back with sandwich, reiterated egg sandwich, white bread, no salad.
Back came an egg sandwich, white bread and a bigger pile of crisps lol!
Attempted the coleslaw, tried the move it about your mouth and swallow whole technique until I choked on the 3rd forkful. Then I stopped :-)
This week is the first week since my surgery that I really miss chocolate, actual chocolate not just the taste.
But happiness has come a wee bit.
How to eat milk chocolate digestives on a soft chew diet?
Dunk your milk chocolate digestive in a hot cup of tea!
Fit fine :-)
Friday, 14 November 2014
10 Weeks Post Op Today!
Today I have reached the 10 weeks mark!
*Still* on the soft chew diet. My ortho did say that it would be around the 10 - 12 week mark that the bone would be healed but I'll wait until the 12 week mark I think before I start on something harder than soft chew.
I attempted a wee bit of soft crust on a sandwich last week and oh dear, my jaw did not like that at all. In fact, since, it's felt like something's not right, when I bite down, the jaw feels soft and squidgy and whilst I still had my numb area, I didn't particularly notice it before, but now I do.
But I don't know if this feeling that something isn't right is related to my actual jaw bone healing and having been squished with a crust or if it's to do with numbness and feeling coming back. I shall ask the ortho when I see her on the 27th November.
This week I went out for a meal for the first time since my surgery. Me and my husband went out to celebrate our wedding anniversary (14 years, the man deserves a medal!). Ended up going to an Italian and I chose basically sausage pasta bake. But struggled with it because the sausage was really quite firm. I was going to choose what my husband had (cannelloni made with minced chicken) but it said on the menu it was wrapped in breadcrumbs so I thought I wouldn't manage it. Turns out there were a few breadcrumbs sprinkled on top and the rest would've been much easier to eat than my meal. Oh well.
Cheesecake went down all right though :)
Here's a pic of me at 9 weeks and 5 days after having been to the hairdressers for the first time since my surgery.
Oh! Note of advice, if your hairdresser is on the rough side and yanks your hair to dry it, don't go to the hairdressers until your jaw can cope with it. My hairdresser was off sick when I went for my appointment and I got another hairdresser instead. Oh my goodness, she had long nails (felt them when she washed my hair!) and a sharp red comb (I'm surprised I did not have red scratches across my scalp and down my neck) and she pulled my hair with all her might, yanking my head backwards, when trying to straighten it. I felt like a bobblehead! No way on this earth would my jaw have coped with that even just a couple of weeks ago.
*Still* on the soft chew diet. My ortho did say that it would be around the 10 - 12 week mark that the bone would be healed but I'll wait until the 12 week mark I think before I start on something harder than soft chew.
I attempted a wee bit of soft crust on a sandwich last week and oh dear, my jaw did not like that at all. In fact, since, it's felt like something's not right, when I bite down, the jaw feels soft and squidgy and whilst I still had my numb area, I didn't particularly notice it before, but now I do.
But I don't know if this feeling that something isn't right is related to my actual jaw bone healing and having been squished with a crust or if it's to do with numbness and feeling coming back. I shall ask the ortho when I see her on the 27th November.
This week I went out for a meal for the first time since my surgery. Me and my husband went out to celebrate our wedding anniversary (14 years, the man deserves a medal!). Ended up going to an Italian and I chose basically sausage pasta bake. But struggled with it because the sausage was really quite firm. I was going to choose what my husband had (cannelloni made with minced chicken) but it said on the menu it was wrapped in breadcrumbs so I thought I wouldn't manage it. Turns out there were a few breadcrumbs sprinkled on top and the rest would've been much easier to eat than my meal. Oh well.
Cheesecake went down all right though :)
Here's a pic of me at 9 weeks and 5 days after having been to the hairdressers for the first time since my surgery.
Oh! Note of advice, if your hairdresser is on the rough side and yanks your hair to dry it, don't go to the hairdressers until your jaw can cope with it. My hairdresser was off sick when I went for my appointment and I got another hairdresser instead. Oh my goodness, she had long nails (felt them when she washed my hair!) and a sharp red comb (I'm surprised I did not have red scratches across my scalp and down my neck) and she pulled my hair with all her might, yanking my head backwards, when trying to straighten it. I felt like a bobblehead! No way on this earth would my jaw have coped with that even just a couple of weeks ago.
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Day 61 - I've Got A Feeling...Wooohoooo!
Sing it like the Blackeyed Peas yeah!
I ate a couple of grapes yesterday and realised that grapes don't come under the category of soft chew. One grape and the numbness feeling was setting in, 2 grapes and it was like eh no, not happening, this is not comfortable.
But this morning, I've woken up and I've got lots of tinging and cobwebby feelings in my chin and on touching my chin and lower lip, it just feels ewwwww, not pleasant. I initially wondered if I was feeling particularly numb today but then wondered, is it a case that I'm feeling less numb and feeling is coming back?
Then I kissed my husband goodbye as he left for work and oh! I can feel more of a kiss, I could feel it!
So had a wee poke about whilst looking in the mirror and I could say that my area of numbness has shrunk to this:
And funny enough, the bit where my mouth looks as if it is drooping down, is the numbest part. I wonder if once all feeling returns, if my mouth won't look quite so lopsided.
Diet wise I'm still on the soft chew diet but I feel like I'm almost back to normal eating just minus the meat, crusty bread and hard crunchy stuff like crisps (not that I really need to be eating crisps anyway). Or maybe it just feels normal because I've been eating no-chew or soft chew for almost 9 weeks now.
Pain wise, I'm only taking paracetamol as and when I need it, usually if the weather is really cold. This is a big improvement because there was a time when I felt like I was never going to have to stop taking pain meds!
Oh and hoovering is a challenge. I've hoovered like 1 or 2 rooms at a time but at the weekend I attempted to hoover the whole house and had to stop and rest half way through because my jaw felt so heavy that it was going to drop off.
I now have an ear infection (to be expected after my chest infection and laryngitis) so need to take pain meds for that instead.
Didn't get either of the 2 jobs I interviewed for last week, so still job hunting. Hopefully something will come up.
I ate a couple of grapes yesterday and realised that grapes don't come under the category of soft chew. One grape and the numbness feeling was setting in, 2 grapes and it was like eh no, not happening, this is not comfortable.
But this morning, I've woken up and I've got lots of tinging and cobwebby feelings in my chin and on touching my chin and lower lip, it just feels ewwwww, not pleasant. I initially wondered if I was feeling particularly numb today but then wondered, is it a case that I'm feeling less numb and feeling is coming back?
Then I kissed my husband goodbye as he left for work and oh! I can feel more of a kiss, I could feel it!
So had a wee poke about whilst looking in the mirror and I could say that my area of numbness has shrunk to this:
Diet wise I'm still on the soft chew diet but I feel like I'm almost back to normal eating just minus the meat, crusty bread and hard crunchy stuff like crisps (not that I really need to be eating crisps anyway). Or maybe it just feels normal because I've been eating no-chew or soft chew for almost 9 weeks now.
Pain wise, I'm only taking paracetamol as and when I need it, usually if the weather is really cold. This is a big improvement because there was a time when I felt like I was never going to have to stop taking pain meds!
Oh and hoovering is a challenge. I've hoovered like 1 or 2 rooms at a time but at the weekend I attempted to hoover the whole house and had to stop and rest half way through because my jaw felt so heavy that it was going to drop off.
I now have an ear infection (to be expected after my chest infection and laryngitis) so need to take pain meds for that instead.
Didn't get either of the 2 jobs I interviewed for last week, so still job hunting. Hopefully something will come up.
Thursday, 30 October 2014
A Video of BSSO - Not For The Squeamish or Faint Hearted.
I was supposed to be working today but it got cancelled so pottering about online I decided to look for a YouTube video of a BSSO surgery, just to get an idea of what I had done.
I would not have been able to watch this prior to surgery, I'm not squeamish or faint hearted but it would've been too close to home and freaked me out. On the other hand, if I had watched this video maybe in the first few days after surgery, I might have went a little bit easier on myself in terms of recovery. I would've been kinda to myself.
This video shows mandibular advancement so different to my mandibular setback but I don't imagine it was too different aside from the mandible being put in the opposite direction. I must admit, I did have a Oh No! moment when I watched them moving the 'free' jaw.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td9Hx6N1YiY
Today is now day 55 post op.
My jaw ached yesterday A LOT! I wonder if it was because of how much I talked on day 54...I had a job interview and then an appointment and it all involved a lot of talking.
I also ate my first sweetie since before my op...I chose a single size Milkyway. And boy it wasn't as easy as it looked or as easy to eat as it was before surgery. End result, I managed to eat it but the effort it required just took away the enjoyment of it.
Maybe that's not such a bad thing :)
Breakfast: pancake with butter and jam
Lunch: cheese and onion chutney sandwich and a yoghurt
Super: fish, mashed potato and peas followed by semolina and jam
I hold my hands up now and say I do not clean my teeth after every meal. Twice a day is suffice for me and if anyone has a problem with that, tough. My hygienist is always amazed at how clean my teeth are and I only have 2 fillings (one of which is due to a tooth being broke by a brandy snap).
So last night, thing got amorous with my hubby, as they do. Second time post-surgery and it still feels weird, although granted not as weird as the first time. He is scared of hurting me and kissing for me is just lopsided due to numbness on the right. I took out my elastics because they were twanging when I was kissing ROFL!
And then before I went to sleep, I went to put new elastics in and found a pea in my mouth, just on the bottom near the back molars! Hadn't felt it and it must've been stuck there since supper time. Ooops!
Moral of the story, check your numb mouth for foreign objects before commencing in any lip action.
I would not have been able to watch this prior to surgery, I'm not squeamish or faint hearted but it would've been too close to home and freaked me out. On the other hand, if I had watched this video maybe in the first few days after surgery, I might have went a little bit easier on myself in terms of recovery. I would've been kinda to myself.
This video shows mandibular advancement so different to my mandibular setback but I don't imagine it was too different aside from the mandible being put in the opposite direction. I must admit, I did have a Oh No! moment when I watched them moving the 'free' jaw.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td9Hx6N1YiY
Today is now day 55 post op.
My jaw ached yesterday A LOT! I wonder if it was because of how much I talked on day 54...I had a job interview and then an appointment and it all involved a lot of talking.
I also ate my first sweetie since before my op...I chose a single size Milkyway. And boy it wasn't as easy as it looked or as easy to eat as it was before surgery. End result, I managed to eat it but the effort it required just took away the enjoyment of it.
Maybe that's not such a bad thing :)
Breakfast: pancake with butter and jam
Lunch: cheese and onion chutney sandwich and a yoghurt
Super: fish, mashed potato and peas followed by semolina and jam
I hold my hands up now and say I do not clean my teeth after every meal. Twice a day is suffice for me and if anyone has a problem with that, tough. My hygienist is always amazed at how clean my teeth are and I only have 2 fillings (one of which is due to a tooth being broke by a brandy snap).
So last night, thing got amorous with my hubby, as they do. Second time post-surgery and it still feels weird, although granted not as weird as the first time. He is scared of hurting me and kissing for me is just lopsided due to numbness on the right. I took out my elastics because they were twanging when I was kissing ROFL!
And then before I went to sleep, I went to put new elastics in and found a pea in my mouth, just on the bottom near the back molars! Hadn't felt it and it must've been stuck there since supper time. Ooops!
Moral of the story, check your numb mouth for foreign objects before commencing in any lip action.
Monday, 27 October 2014
Day 52 - 6 Years 5 Months of Braces!
I'm bored today. Husband has went back to work and kids have went back to school after being off on holiday for the past 2 weeks.
I've cleaned the bathroom, dusted, hoovered and mopped the kitchen floor (that was taking it a bit too far really, head was sore after that idea) and now twiddling my thumbs so thought I'd take some pictures because I haven't put any pictures up on here for a wee while.
Excuse the startled surprised look on my face in photo 1...and the hair...I need a haircut!
You can definitely see how my mouth is asymmetrical now. But I think this is just how I'm going to look now rather than it being anything to do with an infection or whatnot. Unless there is still swelling going on that i don't know about.
In my bite picture you can see that my midlines now match!!! (plus you can see my super cool orange and black ligs...of all the colours I've had over the past 6 years and 5 months, orange and black have been my favourite)
And just for fun, I thought I'd look back at my pre-braces photo and compare it with today's:
I've cleaned the bathroom, dusted, hoovered and mopped the kitchen floor (that was taking it a bit too far really, head was sore after that idea) and now twiddling my thumbs so thought I'd take some pictures because I haven't put any pictures up on here for a wee while.
Excuse the startled surprised look on my face in photo 1...and the hair...I need a haircut!
You can definitely see how my mouth is asymmetrical now. But I think this is just how I'm going to look now rather than it being anything to do with an infection or whatnot. Unless there is still swelling going on that i don't know about.
In my bite picture you can see that my midlines now match!!! (plus you can see my super cool orange and black ligs...of all the colours I've had over the past 6 years and 5 months, orange and black have been my favourite)
And just for fun, I thought I'd look back at my pre-braces photo and compare it with today's:
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