Surgical Wires On!!!

Last week my surgical wires were put on! I have an appointment with my surgeon next week to go over things and probably make my splint? I don't really know haha I just can't believe this surgery is almost happening!

I'm heading off the grad school at the end of August and everyone keeps asking if I'm excited, but honestly I can't think of being excited until this surgery is done. It's literally the only thing on my mind. Just a little over a month and I will officially be in post op!

Since my surgical wires are on, my teeth can't move anymore until after the surgery. So, that means no more painful bands or zing strings or whatever they're called to move my bottom teeth together! The gaps aren't completely closed but my orthodontist is happy with the overbite he created and think it's in a great position to get the best possible results for surgery. The gaps can be completely closed post-op.

So now I am just focusing on being as healthy as possible before surgery. I've been careful with what I eat and have been trying to exercise. I just got back from vacation, so I think this week I'll be more committed to a vegan diet and going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week. I plan on asking my surgeon about any supplements I can take (such as bromelain) when I have my appointment next week.

Here some current pictures. I'm still self conscious about having top braces. I know it's silly and I'll just have to get over it. Until then, I've been trying to practice the art of the toothless smile (resulting in some laugh worthy pictures). 

Updates upon Updates

So, it has been awhile....

I'm sure as most of you have felt, I got to the point where I was like: I don't care when surgery is, just tell me a date and I"ll show up. I was so frustrated and it felt that this surgery was never going to actually happen.

BUT..I got a surgery date!! It is not without complications, of course. However, long story short, I took off this year since graduating college to get surgery. Yet, things haven't gone according to plan and pre-op has taken much longer than expected. But instead of making this time a complete waste, I applied to graduate school and got into both schools I applied to! So, starting this September, I will be in an intensive one year graduate program, 8 hours away from home. While I'm so excited, it does make things a bit complicated.

Surgery is set for July 22nd, 2013. This gives me a limited time to recover. Originally I was supposed to have surgery March 15th, giving me plenty of time to recover, but now I'll be right in the middle of things. I am slightly worried, but I have been following other blogs closely for advice. Bromelain and a  vegan diet seem like a smart idea!

So in addition to weekly adjustments on my lower teeth, I finally got braces on my upper teeth. I'll give more of an update soon! If anyone has ANY information on quick recovery tips please share!

Little Update

I haven't updated in a while because there hasn't been much to update on. It's just been a lot of waiting and waiting for these teeth to move. I still don't have a surgery date. The surgery obviously didn't happen in March like it was supposed to, and then we were thinking May, and now it seems June is a possibility. I just wish it would happen already so I can move on with my life.

I know everything has to be perfect to get the best results possible. I don't want to rush anything and do the surgery too soon, we are talking about a major change in my appearance after all! But it needs to happen soon because now I have places to go! I got into both of the grad schools I applied to and I officially decided on one, so now I'll be moving to Boston end of August/beginning of September! I was really hoping to not have braces when I left, but now I'm just hoping the surgery will be done by then. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to see.

I've been going to the orthodontist every week. Here's some pictures of my teeth. The ones on the left are either from the December or January while the ones on the left, I took the other day. I don't really know if my gaps are supposed to be closing completely but I do know that my overbite is supposed to be getting worse pre-surgery. As you can see, I went a little wild and got blue rubber bands!

 

 

The Horror of Side Profiles

So, like I've said many times before, right now I am in the process of moving my lower jaw back to make my overbite even worse. Then, come surgery, they will push it out so I'll have a normal lower jaw. I don't know all the medical terminology and everything, but my orthodontist and surgeon have discussed this a lot and decided this is the way to do it in order for me to get the best possible results.

It's been a slow process, but I've been dealing with it. Yet, it's getting harder because I can actually start to see how bad my overbite is becoming. I know this is technically a good thing, because it means all the orthodontic work is doing what it's supposed to do. However, it's difficult to see my lack of chin and poor side profile go from bad to worse. I have been self conscious about my side profile my entire life so seeing it get even worse is taking a toll on me. I'll be feeling perfectly content with the way I look and then I'll catch a glimpse of my side profile in a mirror or something and just feel terrible. I know it will all be worth it in the end and I am completely aware that I sound shallow and superficial, but I guess I just needed to rant about my frustrations.

Oh, and to make matters even worse, my surgeon and orthodontist now do not think my teeth will be ready for surgery on March 15th. They now think I may have to wait until May. I was so upset when I found out because for so long March 15th just seemed like this finishing line that I was getting closer and closer to reaching, and now, I don't know exactly when the surgery will be. I think the not knowing is the worst part of it all.

Here's some recent photos. I can't even handle my side profile, it's so bad haha

I was just getting ready to go outside, hence the giant scarf. From the front and smiling, I think I look like a relatively normal human being. But then I see my side view and lack of chin, and I'm just like wtf.

But enough negativity for now! I'm just been having a couple of rough weeks but I know it will all be worth it and by this time next year, hopefully I'll be healthy, happy, and a lot more confident!

Moving the rest of my teeth back

So I finally got a different wire to move my front bottom teeth back..and oh my god, I am in so much pain right now. I know this is nothing compared to the actual surgery pain, but I'm tempted to steal one of my puppy's teething toys! Hopefully the pain will go away soon. I'll definitely be eating some frozen yogurt today..I don't know what else I'll be able to chew

Photo Update

I am really procrastinating from studying. Here's some photos I just took. I really think my teeth moved from the last time I took photos!

So happy the top braces are not on yet. They will probably go on late January/early February

2013: A Year of Big Changes

Happy New Year everyone! 

When I first found out that my surgery would probably be in March 2013, it felt like that was a million years away. Now it seems like it's just around the corner! I cannot believe that I've had my lower braces on since June. It really has gone by quickly. After months of preparing and stress and anxiety, I'm actually starting to get giddy that I'll be having the surgery soon. It's scheduled for March 15th, but there's still a chance it might need to be later. I've been going to my orthodontist every 10-14 days, but because of the holidays, my next appointment isn't until January 17th. Hopefully by then my teeth will be where my orthodontist wants them to be and we can confirm the March 15th surgery date.

I feel like my life has been at a stand still for the last couple months. I graduated college in May and after much discussion with my parents they thought it would be best for me to come home, take some time off, and focus on getting this surgery. So, instead of staying in New York and getting a job immediately after graduation (like I always envisioned I'd do), I had to come home to Maryland and rethink what I was going to do. It was really difficult, especially when all my college friends were getting their first jobs and apartment hunting and I had to come home. In the beginning of the process, it was really unclear when I would be ready for surgery. At first, they thought I might be able to get it in July, but then it changed to March, and even now it's still not set in stone. So I came home looking to do something really flexible since I never knew exactly when I would have to take time after to recover from the surgery. So now I'm taking MBA classes at a local college, but I'm hoping to transfer somewhere else after the surgery because I want a program more specialized in what I got my undergraduate degree in. I'm going through the grueling application process now and taking the GRE for the second time on Friday (the GRE's are awful! I wish they were not a requirement). Once I'm done with the GREs and have all my applications in, I am going to feel so relieved. Hopefully then I can get a part time job and just wait for my surgery to happen!

I am really looking forward to this year. 2012 was stressful and just filled with so much uncertainty regarding this surgery. I think 2013 is going to be my best year yet!