Day 15

My lips feel like they are on fire. Is that normal? Any suggestions anyone? I am willing to try anything at this point. I have been using vaseline but it doesn't seem to be helping much. I'm just hoping they are hurting because the feeling is trying to come back. I thought I was starting to look normal, but I guess as soon as I open my mouth and try to talk people start wondering.... because the cashier at target asked me if I had gotten my braces tightened today.... I was like unfortunately no, I just had jaw surgery. Then she proceeds to start asking me a million questions about it. So of course I am now really insecure about talking when I go out into public. Stupid splint. 


My grandparents came into town today to see me. They couldn't believe how different I look. Even though I honestly don't think I look that much different other than my chin. They also told me I look younger.... I'm not sure whether I should take that as a compliment or not. 

Day 14

Well I am now 2 weeks post-op. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. I am going to the beach this weekend and I can't wait! I am still on a soft food diet and I am getting pretty tired of it. I go back to see my OS on July 11th and I hope he will take my splint out, because once it comes out I think life will start feeling like its getting back to normal. I also start back classes next Wednesday. So my summer is pretty much over =( 

Day 13

Nothing really to post about today so here are some pictures from today. I think the swelling has gone down a little bit. 
I am just so ready to go to the beach and get out of this house. 

Day 12

Today I went and saw my OS. He was so pleased with how I am doing. I no longer have to wear my rubber bands 24/7. He said I can leave them off for a few hours a day and start working the stiffness out of my jaw. I broke down and bought a waterpik. My mouth just got so unbearable that I had to try something else and it did wonders! My mouth feels so much cleaner. 


Once again I am feeling that swelling is at a halt. It is getting quite frustrating. I can see and feel where I am still swollen and I would like for it to go away. 

Day 11

I don't have much to update on today. Other than I go and see my OS tomorrow. Today was a pretty good day. I have managed to gain one pound back. Oh yeah, my dad smoked a boston butt for dinner and I wanted some so bad so my step mom threw some in the food processor with some bbq sauce and it was delish. Today was the first time that I've been able to eat so much that I was actually full.

Day 10

I feel like my swelling increased a little bit today from yesterday. It might have something to do with the fact that I've been pretty busy today and haven't been resting like I should be. I am just so tired of sitting in bed, doing nothing. So I cleaned like crazy. I have some errands to run tomorrow to get ready for the beach then hopefully I can just rest some more. 

Day 9

I didn't get around to doing a post last night, because I had a wedding to go to. 

But yesterday was a really good day! I got my hair done and it made me feel so much better! I am leaving for the beach in a week and I can't wait! I see my OS on Monday and I am very anxious to see what he says about me. Not much to say about yesterday. It was a good day and it seems everyday gets easier. 

Day 8

Today is day 8! It was a pretty good day! I can't believe how much my swelling has gone down in the past 2 days!! I'm starting to have serious issues with my splint and I don't know that I'm going to be able to make it a few more weeks. Every time I swallow it pinches the back of my mouth. I don't know if it has always done it and I just couldn't feel it because I was numb or if my numbness is gone and I can feel it now. I am going to try and deal with it until Monday when I see my OS. But as you can imagine it makes eating way more uncomfortable than it already is.


I am still having trouble holding back my laughing, but my step mom is a nurse and she said the mouth heals extremely fast so that makes me assume that my incisions are probably healed by now but the idea of one of my stitches breaking just doesn't make me feel too good.


My dad is so funny because every day he is just so amazed at how I look. He just finds the whole process fascinating.    


I am going to get my hair cut and highlighted tomorrow and I can't wait! 

Day 7

So today I am one week post op! It is so crazy that the time is flying by so fast! Today was such a good day! I woke up to notice that my swelling had significantly gone down.

I am starting to get concerned with the sharpness of my chin. I hope it is just swollen still and my jawline will start to show soon, and it will soften. I don't know how much longer I can deal with the splint in my mouth. It is getting on my last nerve. Tonight at dinner with my family I started laughing, but I got scared I was going to pop one of my stitches! Has anyone else had this problem? 

And this might sound weird but I am afraid to yawn because I don't want to hurt my jaw.....

My stepmom and I are going to get our hair done on friday and I absolutely can't wait! I feel like my hair has gotten so thin! 

I have currently lost about 9 lbs. :(

Day 6

Today was kind of a blah day. A lot of the numbness is starting to go away so I'm starting to feel more pain around my incisions. I'm scared to open my mouth too much because I don't want to mess anything up. I guess I'm probably just being paranoid about it. I'm getting pretty depressed about just hanging out around the house for the next week and a half. But on a good note we leave for the beach July 2nd. 

I need to get my optimistic attitude back that I've had for the past few days. I feel like my swelling isn't going down and maybe I just feel that way because I look at my face so often, but everyone else seems to notice it.  

My boyfriend leaves to go on a work trip about 4 hours away this weekend, and he will be gone for a week. :( so i'm not really looking forward to not having him here next week. I just need to get rid of this crappy attitude. 

Day 5!

Sorry I didn't get around to making a post yesterday so I will just do one this morning and one later tonight. Yesterday was a good day. It seems like each day gets better and better. I went and saw my OS yesterday, and he was so impressed with how I was doing. He said that I'm doing better than 99% of people who go through this. He took my chin bandage off and I must say, even though my face is very swollen I am very happy with how everything looks so far. 


Last night my boyfriend came and picked me up and took me to have dinner with his family. I'm not very comfortable going out in public yet and its still very hard to talk. So I was hoping we would just hangout at his house, but nope they wanted to go out to eat. So I had to go and sit there and watch everybody eat. But I know I needed to get out of the house. 


I didn't realize how much energy I used trying to talk! Talking just wears me out and my jaw starts hurting. So hopefully today I can just lay low and rest my jaw. 


As you can see the bruising is starting to set in.
My family and I are going to the beach in about a week and a half and I'm hoping that I will look almost normal. I will be about 2 and a half weeks post op when we go. 

Day 4

Today was a very good day! I finally got my appetite back so I was able to eat more. I had lots of visitors so needless to say I am very exhausted, because I didn't get to take my nap! 

Tomorrow I go and see my OS! I get to get my chin bandage off! I'm tired of food getting all over it when I eat and it is so hard to keep clean. I never would have expected that I would be feeling this good so soon after surgery! 

 I'll tell ya that I am sick off taking liquid tylenol, it tastes absolutely disgusting! 

Also, I think I've got this sleeping thing figured out finally! I got a decent night of sleep last night and I hope I'll get another one tonight! So goodnight!

Day 3

Today is Saturday and I had my surgery on Wednesday. I am feeling pretty good, just really stiff and sore. I haven't taken any of my loratab since I got home on Thursday. I got my rubberbands taken off yesterday, now I only have to wear 3. I am still extremely swollen. But my family says that it keeps getting better. I think yesterday I reached the peak of my swelling so hopefully it will start going down now. 

I got back to my OS on Monday to get some bandages removed. 

I am still keeping ice on my face just because it helps make it feel better. I have noticed that my neck muscles are really sore and I guess it must have something to do with having to sleep sitting up (which is really uncomfortable by the way). I will try and add some pictures later when I can. Right now i'm just going to rest. 


Weigh: Day of surgery 126.2 lbs
Current weight: 121 lbs


This are the pictures that I took tonight after I got out of the shower. 
I have noticed that I've been a little more unsteady today and I think it has something to do with the swelling throwing my equilibrium off. But as you can see the swelling has started to go down a little bit, but not too much. 

Day 2

I had surgery on Wednesday. Today is Friday the 17th at 1:26 in the morning and I got home from the hospital on thursday evening about 7:45. I am extremely uncomfortable. I feel like there is nothing I can do to get comfortable. I have to sleep sitting up because of my nose. 


Luckily at 7:30 a.m I will be getting the rubberbands off my teeth. I have been pretty lucky that my doctor has been so impressed with my recovery. I am not extremely swollen yet, but he said that the worst swelling would come Friday and or Saturday so I guess I'm prepared for it. But I am so thankful that I don't have to wait until monday to get my bands off anymore! I seriously have the best doctor in the world! If I can just make it 6 more hours I will be a super happy girl!! I haven't been wearing my ice like im suppose to because it makes my head hurt and it  makes trying to go to sleep even more difficult that it already is.


Oh and not to mention I have this extremely painful tape thing on my chin because of my genioplasty. ouchies. I hope it comes off tomorrow too! Well ill post pics when i can get some. So goodnight for now. 


These are some pictures from friday night. Sorry for the color issues my camera was having problems.

The Big Day!

So tomorrow is the big day!! I have to be at the hospital at 4:30 and my surgery is at 7. I am the first case of the day and my surgery should last about 3 hours. I am feeling very nervous and excited too! 
I have been waiting for forever for this surgery and now it's finally here! I will be in the hospital until Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, depending on how I'm feeling. So my next post probably won't be until Friday afternoon.


I had my pre-op appointment today with my OS. He basically just explained what he is going to be doing. He will be rotating the back of my top jaw up and moving my bottom jaw forward just a little bit. He will also be doing a genioplasty and a septoplasty. 
He showed me the models of my teeth and he said that my OD has done a great job at setting my teeth up for surgery and that they will almost be perfectly aligned where they need to be when he gets done moving my jaws! Which is great news!! 


I know that I have a pretty hard recovery ahead of me but I can't wait to see the outcome! and I know that it will all be worth it! 

1 week before my surgery

My name is Molly and I am from Alabama. I found out last August that I would need to have surgery to fix my bite. I have lots of headaches and TMJ problems. I have had my braces on since September of 2010. My surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday June 15th 2011. I had braces the first time when I was about 14. I had them for about 2 years. It fixed my bite for awhile but unfortunately it was not a permanent fix. Therefore, now I have to have surgery to fix it.


This week before surgery I went and had my teeth cleaned and got all my final blood work done and my orthodontist put my surgical hooks on. I must say they are a pain. They are rubbing my mouth raw. I got on Thursday, June 14 for my last pre-op appointment. This is where the oral surgeon, Dr. Kahn, will show me a computer image of what I should look like after surgery! I can't wait to see it! 


I am feeling lots of emotions about my upcoming surgery. I am excited, nervous, anxious and scared. Here are a couple of pictures before surgery, sorry I am looking a little rough I have no make up on. I am having a Le Fort I osteotomy, septoplasty and a genioplasty. If you have any questions feel free to ask! I will try and update as much as possible.