Jaw Surgery Journey with Sammi

 I said goodbye to my bite guard of 4.5 years today and hello to my bottom braces. As I am excited to say goodbye to my faithful friend (the bite guard), I am nothing but in pain and frustrated with bottom braces and it has only been 6 hours.  I have been delaying posting this post and the last because I am not in the best of moods given the last 24 hours. But, with that said I have been open, honest, and transparent with everyone on the blog and will continue to be. I do not want anyone to think that this process has been easy, comforting, exciting, or joyous because it has not. Yes, it is my choice to have this surgery, but I did not ask for the issues and reasons that are causing me to have this surgery. Bottom line is that if I do not have the surgery my upper and lower jaw will continue to grow further apart, and I would have to stay in my bite splint. Insurance still is a pain. Even though my surgeon has been  authorized as in network, insurance still puts up a figh...

 Today I went to see my surgeon for the final pre-surgery consultation and it is official, I am having upper and lower jaw surgery.  What does this mean?  Surgery is 4 hours instead of 2 hours I will have little metal brackets in my upper and lower gum area (forever) Recovery is the same Lower jaw is being shift from left to right and moved forward Upper jaw is being sliced, widened, and then cut into three pieces and moved forward (I realize this sounds ridiculous, but this is whats happening) This is the best video I can find about what is happening. The video starts by showing the airway, but by the end of the clip you see what is going to be happening to my jaw. There are also a few other details that aren't the same, like my chin isn't being moved and the upper jaw is being sliced into three pieces on top of cut all the way through.

Last week really took a toll on me. The two appointments I had gave me more information about my surgery (which I shared in those posts), which is good and bad. It is good so that I know the information, but bad in the fact that I had to process it all. I am glad I chose to share my blog last week (which was the plan all along) because I have been so grateful and surprised with the amount of support and relatable stories. My close friend pointed out that even though my surgery appointments and braces have all taken place in the past 6-9 months, my jaw journey has been ongoing for much longer. So, it is A LOT to process and take in each day because what seemed SO FAR AWAY at one point is closely approaching. Tomorrow I go to the dentist, which is the first appointment since my braces have been put on. Takes me back down memory lane of going to the dentist in middle school when I had braces the first time.....so nostalgic haha I hope everyone has an enjoyable week!

I am overwhelmed with the responses I have received from my blog and very happy that everyone has been so thoughtful and supportive. I promise to keep everyone as up to date as necessary.    Today, I went to the orthodontist for an impromptu appointment due to issues I am having with one of my teeth. To catch those up who have not necessarily read all my posts,  on my left side of my mouth on my top teeth I have a double coil in place because the teeth were not separating as quickly at the doctor would have liked.  With that, my second tooth on the left (from the front) is not only now separated properly, but FLIPPED OUTWARD. That''s correct, my tooth is flipped out towards my upper lip. ( Yes, I am a little dramatic, but who isn't)    When I saw my surgeon on Monday he also thought this was not okay and called the Orthodontist. Dr. Rathburn said it would be okay, but I still wanted to make sure I saw her sooner rather than later.   Now that I hav...

I had my second to last appointment prior to surgery today and it was approximately 2 hours long. I had to get a CT scan taken of my jaw and molds taken of my upper and lower teeth. They had to redo the top mold three times and the bottom mold twice.....it was painful and exhausting, but we made it! Plaster is all over me and my clothes, but I am accepting it as part of the jaw surgery package deal.    Surgery Updates: 1. I have to get a COVID test the day before my surgery   2. No family member or friend is allowed with me at the hospital before, during, or after surgery. (It will be a lonely night at the hospital)   3. Week 1= liquids, Week 2= soft foods (i.e. eggs)   4. My mouth will not be wired shut at any point   5. I will have a clear splint wired to my upper teeth for 4-6 weeks (this was a new fun fact for me today)   I was also given a lovely book today on recipes for after surgery. Fun is just around the corner!     I also wanted to...