Last Visit with the Surgeon

The first resident came in- took some photos- and them got all the stuff ready for the rest of the process. The first things they do is measure every aspect of your mouth- open close big smile, small smile, etc etc.  Then another more senior resident came in to do the measurements again to be sure they matched.. All spot on.

Mike the resident that will be assisting in the surgery came in to say hello and introduce himself and I asked him a few questions- I made sure she would be keeping an eye on my nose...we don't want it to get too wide.  He said the surgery would be about 7 hours with the chin implant..I asked about the vitamin c etc and he said I don’t really need them- just eat a healthy diet for the next two weeks... So I am not one to break with instructions - so I have stopped all of my over the counter supplements...I am taking a Emergen-C daily - which is 1000MG vitamin C- And will try to figure out how to get some Zinc naturally and I have started eating pineapple daily...- hopefully still getting all the benefits of those supplements that help with healing - inflammation etc.

The did some mold and had me bite into some hard clay...if you have ever had a mold done - gettign it off is quite uncomfortable and especially with braces- None broke and all the lugs are still on but two are a little loose.  I will need to call the ortho about hat.

Dr Taub came in and did the measurements again- again all right on except one- the width of my nose..again one I am most concerned about- When he measured it - I said it would be ok if it was a little narrower...he he he ..

He said a lot of work goes on now behind the scenes- they do a computerized surgery to make a surgical plan- decide how much everything needs to be moved etc- them him and the other will Skye and review it together.

So now i just wait- 8 days until surgery...

Pre-Admission Testing..

Yesterday as a very long day.

I started my day with a nice breakfast downtown.  My first appointment was at 1010 at per-admission testing.  They tell you to expect to be there 2-3 hours..99% of it is just sitting and waiting.

I arrived at 10:00.  They took me back to a room at about 10:50 and got me registered- insurance etc etc.  I waited almost an hour for the next person, the nurse practitioner, to arrive.  She does a review of your medial history- medications, physical exam.

As we reviewed my medication she instructed me to stop anything over the counter I was taking- well I had just started taking- extra Vitamin C- Zinc and Bromelain to help with my healing. When she told me to stop- she said 'Does that make sense"  and I said well no it does not at all since the reason I am taking them is to help my healing process....She said that it was really a standard instruction they gave everyone and that I should check with my surgeon to see what he says.

Anesthesia was next..  He came in about 20 minutes after the nurse practitioner left.  He does a quick exam and asks a few questions. He said based on my mouth opening and I am not really sure what else he see some challenges and that they may have to start while I am awake...I assured him this was not the case last time.  He said he would go back and check my post-surgery records to see.  I can just imagine it is not pleasant.

Then the nurse came in to take some blood...which I assume she does all day every day.. can you believe she missed on the first try and the proceeded to wiggle the needle around!  She got it on the 2nd try- but the bruise she left is HUGE...

Next off to the surgeon’s office.  This was another three hours or measurements- molds pictures - xrays etc.

Lugs are in place...OUCH...

Last week was a first..two trips to the orthodontist in one day.  On Thursday the 15th I went to see Dr Tunjay at 1130 am.  He removed my wires...and put a new one in- which he then marked with a sharpie..yes very high tech..for the placement of the lugs..then took the wire back out

I came back to work without a wire at all, which felt kind of strange...but with the clear braces on the top it was almost like I didn't have braces..

I returned to the Dr at 330 PM.  He put the new wires back in with all of the lugs now attached.  I understand it took him about an hour to attached them all to the wire.  Once the wire was in then there was some adjusting twisting turning..who knows what else he was doing...I did hear him explain to a girl training that the lugs need to be tucked in so that they don’t catch on the surgeons gloves during surgery and tear his glove..which would cause him to have to leave surgery and rescrub.

So for the past 4 days I have been trying to get used to them..very uncomfortable..tearing up my mouth etc etc..I am using wax and brace relief..which helps a little....I have to try to talk as little as possible as that is when they rub the most.. 

2 Of my brackets did break off while he was placing the new wire..Top left very back tooth and bottom right very back tooth...he seemed ok with leaving them without a bracket for now.

I have to say at this point my teeth look great..  Very straight and all where they are supposed to be...

This weeks I visit Dr Tunjay for one last check so he can be sure I am all set for surgery...

Then Thursday I will have all of my pre- admission testing done and them my visit to the surgeon for mold measurements etc etc...A fun day I am sure!

I have place a "Last supper" with a group of friends for Thursday night at a restaurant I love since it may be a while before I can eat like that again

26 Days Until Surgery!

I am now at the point where I am counting the days until surgery!  Time really does fly.

Another visit to the other last week.  New Sure Smile wires..I think titanium, stainless steel something..whatever they are made of they are tearing up my mouth so I am back to wearing wax again..  When Dr Tunjay was putting the new wires in teh other day he asked if he was hurtign me..and i said well in comparison to other visitis this is a piece of cake....but yes it did hurt a little.

I asked what is the time from for getting braces off after surgery .  Lori says she has seen as soon as 6 week but usually a few months.

I have another visit next week to get my lugs placed...

Preparing for Surgery

I have been reading a lot of blogs, chat groups etc trying to get all the info to be fully prepared for my surgery.

A few things I already have on hand:

Paw-Paw lip ointment- recommended by lots of people in my chat groups!
Eye covers and ear plugs for the Hospital so I can try to get some rest
Note pad and pen for the hospital to communicate
Comfy clothes for the hospital and for home
A Humidifier
dental tweezers to help place band when needed - Amazon  - OdontoMed2011 Dental College Tweezer Serrated 6" College Plier
Face exfoliator - recommend by another surgery patient...that it feels really good after surgery- I bought Natural Aqua gel Cure Exfoliator - Amazon
Baby toothbrush
Plastic Ketchup bottles - To help with liquids
Saline spray
lots of qtips
Lots of wash cloths- I hear they are needed for the excessive drooling....


I am also working on loading up my book library and my Netflix and Prime library
 

I have done some research on what supplements will help with the healing process.

I will begin taking Vitamin c- 1000 MG a day, Zinc 30 MG per day and Bromelain( this is the nutrient that is in Pineapple- it has anti inflammatory properties)   I am already taking the Vitamin C and will start the Zinc and the Bromelain about 2 weeks before surgery-  I also have all of them in liquid form for after surgery. Of course I will review all of this with the Dr and the Anesthesiologist

In the next few weeks I am going to test out some shakes and count some calories to be sure I am getting enough calories during the time I am banded shut and strictly on liquids - could be 2-4 weeks.

 I am scheduled for my pre-surgey testing and my visit with the surgeon on Dec 22nd.  Pre-surgery testing should take about 3 hours- That is about how long it took last time-  I meet with the Nurses, Anesthesiologist get an EKG etc etc and ensure I am all ready for surgery.  I will them go from the appt right to meet with Dr Taub for molds measurements etc etc...I have Not seen Dr Taub since Aug back when I still had a gap!

I will also be getting a cleaning this week with my regular dentist-  I thought it would be a good idea to have a professional cleaning done prior to surgery

Surgery Date is set!

So last week( Oct 31st to be exact)  I was sitting on the couch-  somehow fixing my shirt and I guess pulling pretty hard and my hand slipped and my knuckle made direct contact with my front tooth.  I could immediately tell that it had moved since until that point it had been pretty straight  and now was quite twisted.  I immediately took some Tylenol.  I had an ortho appt the next day so knew it would be taken care of.

I walked into the office and immediately told the staff what I had done...they pulled up the last xrays and could definitely tell that I had moved my tooth.  As you know this is nothing for Dr Tunjay..He just pulled it right back into place...

We did place new Sure Smile wires and we decided on my surgery date.  Dr Tunjay says I will be ready and I can move forward with January 4th as my surgery date.

I will see Dr Tunjay 3 more time before surgery for two wire changes and to have the wires with the lug nuts places..the lug nuts are what the surgeon used to move things around in surgery and also what the bands are attached to after surgery to keep everything in place and healing properly.

I will do a better job keeping up moving forward now that we are getting in the thick of it..

I am loading up my Netflix library so If you have any recommendations send them my way!

I found the perfect tee-shirt to wear during my time at home...