RECAP: SURGERY DAY

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the lack of posts, I only got discharged from hospital at about 6pm last night.

I'm now day 4 post-op but i'll make another post about the three days following surgery.

So, where to begin? My stay in hospital began on the 28th (last Thursday). I checked into my ward and was sent straight to the maxillofacial department (max-fax from here on) to meet with my surgeon. To be honest I got upset as soon as I saw the wards full of people in hospital beds - I was completely overwhelmed with everything that was happening. Anyway, I saw my surgeon and he completely reassured me, for some reason when I see him he always cheers me up! He checked that my wafer fitted (it did) and sent me on my way. Why I had to stay in hospital that night I have no idea. I got no sleep and my last chewable meal was a hospital chicken dinner - absolutely disgusting!

The next morning was surgery day. My dad came in at 9am with my mam following shortly after. I was told my operation was scheduled for 11.50am. However, my surgeon had decided I would be put straight into high dependency (aka HDU - a step below ICU) after the op for one night as he'd been working around my airway to make sure I was being checked on constantly (you get one nurse to every two patients). We waited and waited (and waited!) and 11.50 came and went and I remember not being nervous at all - I just wanted the bloody thing done with! Finally, a ward nurse came over at about 1pm and said a bed was ready for me in HDU and that I could get ready for theatre. I stripped off, gowned up and I was ready to go!

The surgeon had told my parents the op should only take about two hours. Instead, it took four. Apparently people with amelogenesis imperfecta can also have 'rubbery bones' which are more difficult to fracture. My mam and dad didn't actually get to see me until 7pm so they were relieved to finally see me!

I don't remember much after waking up to be honest. The first thing I remember is being wheeled down a corridor, then nothing until I was picked up and moved to the HDU bed from my stretcher. Then nothing until I threw up a load of blood down myself (attractive). I was completely gone - look at my eyes on this photo!

This was about 2/3 hours post-op when I had all kinds of wires and tubes sticking out of me. My mouth looked like dracula at one point but they gave me this suction tube which I could use to get all the goop out of my mouth!

I'm alive!

All went well

Awful day yesterday though :(

Detailed post coming when I leave hospital on Monday

Thanks for all the support

Beth x

Surgery day!

Hope everyone's done well!

I cant't believe it but today is FINALLY my day! I've been waiting for this day for about 3 years and by tonight I'll be POST-OP! wahoooooo :)

Wish me luck!!!! And I'll see you on the other side ;)

T-3 days!

Today I got my surgical hooks fitted! I HATE them it's like having braces for the first time all over again (ulcer city)

This is truly the worst photo of me ever :') but it's the only one I got and now I'm just heading off to bed!

In other news my mam got me some new sets of pjs and slippers for the hospital as well as a washkit containing miniatures of all the essentials :)

I still can't believe I'm having my surgery on Friday! I'm being admitted to my ward on Thursday afternoon so my guess is the operation is first thing the next morning. So exciting/nerve wracking!

Pre-surgery appointments and PRE OP PHOTOS

I've met with my surgeon twice in the past month for my final appointments before I'm admitted to hospital. The first appointment was with two assistants who asked me all the general health questions and stuff as well as taking some blood. They also sent me for several x-rays and took impressions of my bite. The impressions are so the surgical technician can make my wafers that will be fitted while my operation takes place.

The second appointment was with my surgeon and every time I meet this guy I feel more and more at ease. He talked me through exactly what will happen next month and estimates the operation will only take 2 and a half to 3 hours! He said that the surgery will fix my bite at the front but will probably open it back up at the sides, but assured me this isn't a problem as it can be fixed with orthodontics later.

I'm so excited for my surgery now and just want it over with. I've had my braces on for 25 months already with little to no progress in my teeth movement for the past 6!

Here are my pre-op photos (just taken by myself, I'll be posting the official hospital ones as soon as I get my hands on them!)

Dates and some more info

I went to the orthodontist yesterday. My mam came with me as she had a lot of questions (her main concern being how much time she needs to take off work).

I have two appointments with my surgeon, one on the 23rd of this month and one on the 3rd October. This is to determine exactly how my jaw will be moved during the operation. I also need to be measured and fitted for wafers which will guide my surgeon as to the position of my teeth during surgery.

I also have a final pre-surgery appointment with my ortho to fit surgical hooks onto my braces, and this is on the 26th November. I'm being admitted to hospital two days later, stopping overnight on the 28th ready for my operation on the 29th.

After my op i'll need tlc for 10 days minimum (as estimated by my ortho). However, he thinks i'll bounce back rather quickly which I hope is the case! I'm missing the last four weeks of university before Christmas but should be able to return in January. He also said he can start doing orthodontist work again six weeks after the operation.

My orthodontist estimates about 6 months in braces post surgery. During my recovery period I'll also be seeing my prosthodontics dentist who will be fitting me with a shiny new set of veneers once the braces are off. I'm going to Florida on the 23rd June next year so I think i'll be pushing for this whole episode to be done and dusted with by then!

SURGERY DATE

I have a date. I actually HAVE A DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In typical fashion though it's at the worst time... the day before my 21st birthday.

I got an out of the blue phone call yesterday morning from a nurse at the hospital saying the 29th November was my surgery date. She also explained that due to the waiting list if I don't take this date I have to wait until at least after the New Year and that it could be months away. I rang my mam and dad and they both think I should go for it. So thats what I'm doing!
I'm still in shock. I thought this thing would never get booked. I have an appointment with my ortho on Thursday so I'll write another post with dates of my PRE-SURGERY APPOINTMENTS!!!!!!!

There is a light at the end of the tunnel guys, just hang in there!

79 days until surgery!