Bracket Fixed!

I went to see my ortho today to get my loose bracket fixed. He was able to get the bracket reglued to the tooth without removing my archwire entirely. That was good news because I wasn't able to open my mouth wide so it would have been difficult to get the archwire out, especially from my back teeth. My ortho also replaced the bracket with one with a hook. I feel much better now that the bracket is fixed so I can put on the elastics on the hooks.

My ortho thinks he can resume orthodontic work in 2 weeks (6 weeks post-op). He needs to check with the OS first though. Hope I can get a little less swollen by then so I can resume orthodontic procedures. Anything to expedite the process is always welcomed.

A bit improvement since I got unwired last Friday. I can open my mouth a bit wider now and can brush my teeth without feeling much discomfort and "tiredness." I have been eating solid foods such as noodles. I still need to eat my meal with liquids so they can go down my throat easier. I can blend things up without having to strain. It truly opens up a lot of possibilities in terms of diet and food. I try to exercise my mouth a bit so I can gain some muscles. I hope to be able to chew soon...even if it's on soft foods. One day at a time!

Unwired!

I went to see my OS yesterday to get my wires out. My jaws have been wired together ever since my surgery so I was a bit nervous about how my jaws would hold up together without the wires. As much as I hated to be wired shut, I have grown to be dependent on them. They have given me assurance that they will hold up my jaws correctly.

The wires were clipped off and my plastic splint removed. The process took over 2 minutes and was pain-free. Feeling after wired removed: WEIRD. It's really hard to describe it, but to finally feel my front teeth touch each other on their own after some 31 years was just ODD. My jaws were sore and tender. The OS gave me a toothbrush and mouth wash to clean my teeth. I was anxious to finally brush the insides of my teeth, but to my surprise, I couldn't do it! I was unable to open my mouth more than say maybe 5 mm. I tried to stick the toothbrush into my mouth, but I could barely fit it in without feeling pain (that's how wide I could open my mouth). I did the best I could with the brushing but probably didn't do a very good job. The incision areas inside began to hurt. My jaws felt tired and weak.

My ortho didn't put many hooks on my teeth so there was a limited choice of where the guiding elastics could go. My OS had to put the elastics on my surgical hooks (which were on my canines). However, my lower left hook was attached to a loose bracket! I didn't even know I had a loose bracket and didn't know when it actually came off. But I still have to use that hook regardless. I quickly made an emergency appointment with my orthodontist for next week. But because of the holidays, I won't be able to go until next Thursday, Dec 28.

I tried to eat some well cut-up soup noodles at a Vietnamese restaurant the same day. Possible, but of course with lots of difficulty. I eventually gave up because it took a long time. I ended up drinking a bottle of Chocolate Milk instead. I was able to eat mashed potatoes with lots of gravy at night. For the most part, I am able to get the food inside my mouth, but can't get the food down my throat without pushing it down with some sort of liquid. It's still tough to eat. A bit better than being on a liquid diet since I get to eat foods with a little more substance. But it's still a challenge. My jaws and the incision areas remain sore and "tired."

My speech has improved dramatically. It's still not 100% but at least people understand me now! I am able to speak without people giving me a puzzled look.

I've posted my before and after pictures below!


5 days before Surgery (front) 18 days affter Surgery (front)


5 days before Surgery (right) 18 days affter Surgery (right)

Do I look different?? I am still a bit swollen on the cheeks so I look like I still have my baby fat!

Happy Holidays!

Last Day Wired

OMG! Today is my last day being wired! I get my wires cut tomorrow! I thought this day will never come. Finally, I can:

1. Eat regular foods!
2. Lick my lips
3. Yawn
4. Sneeze
5. Scrape my tongue
6. Blow
7. Suck through a straw
8. Whistle
9. Talk!

Never knew that there are so many little things one can't do when teeth are wired together. Little things people often take for granted. But hopefully, by tomorrow, I should be able to do all of these things...I'll be happy if I can do 1/2 of these.

Unfortunately, being unwired doesn't mean that I'm all "healed." Some parts of my face are still stiff and can't move. I have no feeling to my upper lip and left sinus area. Still swollen and numb after 20 days. I can't even smile like I used to anymore...

Promise to post some before and after pictures next time...

18 days post-op

A slab of juicy prime rib...

This looks mighty good after 2-1/2 weeks of liquid diet.... I can't wait until I get unwired this coming Friday! I know I still can't eat this just yet, but still...

18 days post-op. I wish I had better news to report, but I feel the same as I did 7-8 days ago. There hasn't been much improvements these past few days. I am still swollen in the same area. I wonder how long it is going to take to fully recover?

Post-Op appointments

Yesterday, I went to get my post-op X-rays and check-up with my Oral Surgeon. The difference between the before and after X-rays is quite significant. Left X-ray is Before, and Right is After .















Procedure done: Move my lower jaw back, upper jaw forward and tilted to fit better with my lower teeth.

My surgeon said that everything looks good. I felt a lump on the left side of my sinus area (near my nose). Although it is still a bit swollen in that area, I could feel a solid lump when I press on it. The OS confirmed that it might be one of the metal plates. (You can see it on the After X-ray). Right now, you can't really tell because my face is swollen. So I asked the OS if the metal plate will stick out after the swelling is gone? He said he doesn't know, but I should just let everything heal first. And after 6 months if it still bothers me, I can have it removed. I can't imagine having to go through another procedure! The OS said it's something that can be done in-office, and simple. But still!! I don't want to go through anything anymore!

The other thing that I am concerned about is the very end of my jaw. There is a sharp bone there, and I think after all the swelling is gone, my bone is going to be more pronounced.

Today is the 12th day and I haven't seen much improvement for the past 3 days. I'm worried that I won't be any better.... hope not! So I will get unwired on Friday, December 22! Exactly 3 weeks (21 days) of being wired shut. Perfect timing before Christmas! I have abot 10 more days... oh, I can't wait!

A Few of my Favorite Things

Now being 9 days post-op, I've compiled a list of a few of my favorite things that helped me survive these first 9 days (in no particular order):

1. Syringes
There is some controversy about the use of syringes. Some people say don't use it because the pressure of the liquid can in fact hurt the incisions. Just don't push the syringe down so fast!! Duh!! I think using syringes during the first couple of days work like wonder. They are small so you don't have to open your mouth too wide. Plus, there is complete control over the amount of liquid the syringe expenses. Therefore, minimizing the likelihood of spills and choking. I love this thing! It really saved me!

2. Ice Packs
These things, as annoying and awkward as they are, work. They help reduce swelling. They also help maintain my head position when I sleep. With swollen cheeks, just imagine what would happen if my head fell to the left or right during my sleep. Ouch!

3. Nasal Sprays
I think back the number of times that I thought I would die because I couldn't breathe and then with a few sprays, my nasal passages clear up instantenously. There is blood clogs inside the nose and because the sinuses were impacted during the surgery, there will be congestion. I remember having a few panic attacks when I can't seem to get enough air through my nose. These things work!! I also bought Ocean's Spray, which is a saline-based solution, non-medicated, which allows frequent use.

4. My laptop
Boy, if I don't die of pain first, I would have die of bordem if I don't have my laptop! I depend on this machine every hour during my awake hours. Whether it is used to blog, or to chat, or to browse the internet, I love my laptop!!

5. Camera
It's always like to document your progress and see the improvements day to day. I have pictures of myself every day since surgery. It's nice to know that I've come a long way!!

1 week Post-Op

1 week has passed. I feel better now. I think my case falls under the "better than normal" category. There is relatively no pain on the incisions anymore. I've stopped taking liquid Tylenol since yesterday because one, I don't need it, and second, the medication causes constipation. I'm still using the ice packs at night and about 2 hours during the day. The swelling is still there especially in the upper lip and cheeks areas, as well as my chin and neck areas. It feels very tight and stiff. My lower lip and jaw are much better. I can move my lower lip to talk (or slur) but the upper lip area is still a challenge. Some parts of my face are turning yellow which is a sign that the swelling is going away, slowly.

I've been eating watery porridge and potato soups my mom made. They hold my hunger down for about 2 hours. I've been drinking 1 bottle of Ensure every other day, and those lasts about 3 hours. I lost about 5 lbs so far, I think. My scale is not the best so I don't even know if it weighs correctly. I have 2 more weeks so I hope I get more variety. So far, these 2 items work for me. I'm not even worrying about nutritional value at this point. I just don't want my stomach to growl.

I can clean my teeth a bit better now. I use the non-alcoholic mouthwash and a child toothbrush. I can stick the toothbrush inside my mouth. Rinsing can be a challenge. I spend at least 10-15 minutes brushing my teeth and rinsing every time I do it.

I didn't use any of the zip-n-squeeze bags that I bought. They're now just sitting around collecting dust. I have been able to drink through the commuter cups and/or through spoons. The first few days, I drank through a syringe.

I am still very anxious to see how my face will "settle" and what I would look like after everything is said and done?!

4 days Post-operation!

Sorry it actually took me so long to post... the past few days have been kinda wacky for me as I have been recovering from surgery. I'll try to write down as much details as I can...

The days leading to the big day were kinda blurry to me -- I just remember being really damn busy at work. I had so much to finish up and projects just keep up popping up out of nowhere. I brought my laptop home over the Thanksgiving weekend and then every night thereafter. I worked until 10 or 11 at night and then just crashed sleeping with very tired eyes. The next day it was the same. On hindsight, this was probably best for me. Being super-duper busy at work helped keep my mind off the surgery. Not thinking about it helped reduce the anxiety and nervousness.

I needed to be at the hospital at 7:30am on Friday, December 1. My husband and I left the house around 6:30. Traffic was light and we got to Oakland Kaiser around 7:15am. I felt a bit nervous and anxious because my stomach felt pressured. But overall, I was relatively calm. My heart rate was normal and I don't remember having any panic attacks. We waited in this room for about 1/2 hour. Other patients are there, but it seemed like everyone has different surgeries to be done. One girl came in with her family and I knew that she would have the same surgery as me because she has a big lower jaw and she had braces on. They called me around 7:45 and made me sign some forms and gave me a wristband. We waited some more in the room. Then they called us into another private waiting room and I changed into one of those hospital gowns. I was cold so they gave me a warm blanket. More waiting and then another nurse came me to take me into another room for the IV. Like always, the nurse was unable to get through with one arm, so they had to do it the second time on the other arm. Although I'm not typically afraid of needles, the IV hurts. I wouldn have flipped if she couldn't get it in the 2nd time around. I went back to the same room after she was done and it was a little more waiting. Then another nurse came in with some pills and a cup of liquid that I need to take prior to surgery. There were 5 pills or so, all different sizes and color. The liquid was sour like Sweet Tarts but didn't really bother me as much, since I was so thristy and could use some fluids. Then the anethesiologist came in and gave us a low-down of the procedure including risks and what to expect. I asked about whether I will vomit afterwards and she said most likely I will, due to my body type and me being female. She left to get the surgery room ready and another 15 minutes passed. During this time, I was quite amazed at myself for being so calm. I don't even recall thinking about anything at all. I just know I need to do what I need to do. The anethesiologist came in and walked me through the halls. I said good bye to my husband. I went in the operating room and sat on the bed. The room was really cold but they warmed up the bed for me, as well as the blankets. It felt good. A couple of nurses came up and introduced themselves to me. I don't remember their names. The group took turns asking me what type of music I liked and where I worked, and what did my husband do... while hooking me up with the machines. I felt asleep afterwards....

I woke up in the recovery room. I don't know what time it was though... it must have been around noon. Nurses come by every so often to take my temperature, my pulse rate, and my blood pressure. I remember complaining about my sore throat. I have these ice packs around my cheeks and an oxygen mask on that made me feel really cold. Everytime I see a nurse or a different one, I complained about my sore throat. They just acknowledged it but do anything about it. The recovery room had quite a lot of people in there, not just medical personnel, but other patients. The guy next to me was talking really loudly so he must have some other surgery than the one I had! I felt very woozy and felt in and out of sleep. I couldn't sleep for long because nurses will come by and I was prepared to have them move me to my regular room. They finally did that around 2pm. I was wheeled up to the 8th floor. I got a private room, a small one, but private nevertheless. I again complained about my sore throat and motioned to the nurse that I wanted to take the oxygen mask off. But he said no, I can't. I finally saw my husband for the first time in the room post-surgery. He told me he spoke to the doctor and the surgery was very successful and lasted only 2 hours. Again, I was in and out of sleep. It's frustrating because I keep on waking up every 15 minutes. If I had been that sleepy, I should have sleep throughout but I didn't. I also worried that if I slept now, then how would I be able to sleep at night? But I couldn't help it all that much. I was drowsy. I think it was around 6pm when I finally felt less drowsy. I got up to use the restroom with help. I had a lot of secretions from my mouth, which had some blood in it. The secretions were basically very thick saliva. We finally were told about the catherer that can suck up all the saliva. This was the best thing ever. Too bad we couldn't take it home. I used the bathroom every 3-4 hours. Although I didn't drink anything, they had a lot of fluids going into my IV. They also injected a lot of medication through the IV, including antiabiotics, anti-flammatory, anti-swelling, and pain medications. They brought in some apple juice and jello for dinner and I drank some apple juice through a syringe. The apple juice gave me more saliva and mucus.

A couple of things that I was very grateful for: (1) I didn't vomit at all. I didn't even feel nausea which is really a blessing. I wouldn't know how to deal with it and knowing myself and my body, that was the one that I was fearful of, and (2), the nose congestation wasn't as bad. I was worried about that because if I can't breathe, I panic, which makes everything worse. Breathing through the mouth will be difficult. So for these 2 things, or the lack of them, kept me relatively stable. I slept and then woke up every hour on the hour. The nurses are again in and out of the room checking the vital signs and changing the ice packs. The night felt long because I keep on waking up and couldn't sleep much. I drank some more apple juice towards the morning. The nurse said I must be hydrated on my own before they can discharge me from the hospital.

I was discharged the next morning at 11am. My husband retrieved all my medications from the discharge pharmacy and drove me home. I don't remember much about the past 2 days just because it was pretty much the same. Woke up, ate, watched TV, went online, watched TV, ate, etc. The swelling hasn't really gone down yet. The pain is somewhat gone today because I didn't feel the need to take Tylenol during the day. I take it at night to help with the sleeping. Nasal congestion is still a problem. I can breathe through my noses for the most part, but there are times when I get a little bit congested and then I panic. I take very deep breaths, but it doesn't seem to help. The nasal sprays then come in handy. Food intake is still a problem for me. I don't think I have enough proteins and nutrients. I drink a lot of soups, but I'm not sure what they all equate to, in terms of nutruitional value. Today is Tuesday, and my 4th day since the surgery. I think I might be considered one of the lucky few. It hasn't been all that bad. There are problems here and there, but at least I can do most of the stuff by now. I took a shower yesterday and it felt good and refreshing. Right now, I need to start walking more, but I'm still afraid of breathing problems.

I think I'll be pleased with my results eventually...although it's hard to tell right now because my face is so swollen. My profile, for one, is night and day. My face is a lot shorter now than before. I had a pretty long face before. So I look different. Very different. The first time I looked into the mirror post-surgery, I didn't really recognize myself! So for me, it was dramatic, and that was what the doctor told me. The change is instantaneous. Years of braces wouldn't have nearly produced these same results, even impossible. So I'm glad I did this. I just can't wait until all the recovery is done, so I can at least "enjoy" the benefits. I still have about 6-9 months of braces, so I'm not completely done yet....

The ticker is ticking...

So the ticker says that there is exactly 7 days until my surgery. The countdown is surreal. I can't believe that 1 week from today around this time, I will be in the hospital done with my surgery, probably feeling miserable. I spent some time yesterday doing more research on jaw surgery. Quite a lot of people have posted their pictures up on the internet. The pictures kinda made everything real. Some people had it really easy -- by the 10th day, they've already resorted back to their normal looks. Some had it bad - with black eyes and bruises all over. I hope I won't fall under the "bad" group's statistic.

My family celebrated Thanksgiving today (1 day later than the official date). While it was nice to have everyone gather around to eat the feast, I can't help but think about this being the last big feast I will have before my surgery... then I will be down to a liquid diet for the next few weeks. Speaking of liquid diet, I went to Rite Aid today and bought a pack of Ensure and a pack of Boost. I bought one of each because I don't know which tastes better. I hope they taste decent, period. I will be drinking those for a while. In addition to the liquid foods, I went to Target last weekend to get stuff for post-surgery. I bought some children toothbrushes and non-alcoholic mouthwash. These are some of the things the hospital recommended. I feel very unready. I'm sure there are things that I need and I don't have.

Less than a month

I don't know if the surgery thing has or has not really settled in my brain yet. I told everyone at work, friends and family that I will undergo corrective jaw surgery in December. It's quite hard to detail everything, but for the most part, we've tried to make it into jokes so there is less anxiety. I will be out of the office for 6 weeks, which takes me away through Jan 15, 2007. I am a bit worried about things at work without my presence, but there's really nothing I can do at that point. I don't know when will I be "well" enough to even worry about work.

I received my packet of information from Kaiser 2 weeks ago. I must say that the Maxillofacial Surgery office is actually quite efficient. I've also got the doc to sign off on my 6-week medical leave within 1 day. That was nice. Now I have to get X-rays done. There was a lot of information in that packet, which had a lot of "what to expect" info. I think it scared me quite a bit. I really don't know how my body will handle everything. I am most worried about vomiting, which they say will happen, and of course the food and everything else. I'm trying not to think about it too much, and I think it has been working for the most part. I have a lot of stuff going on at work, including a business trip in 1 week, which is taking my mind off the surgery. But I know, as I get closer to the date for my leave, work will suddenly explode and I will be in a bind to finish things before I go. Whatever, I'll try not to worry about it now!

December 1, 2006

There is something new on my weblog's header. That is, there is a countdown ticker to my surgery date. It is (drumroll, please) Friday, December 1, 2006. I don't think the surgery date has really sunk in yet because I haven't started to get anxiety or panic attacks. Couldn't believe that there is something solid and that, after 31 years, this is really going to happen.

Continuing from my previous post, after speaking to my ortho, he confirmed that I am now ready for surgery. I then consequently scheduled an appointment and went in for a consultation with my surgeon at Kaiser today. I brought in my models, which looked OK, but my teeth are still not really aligned. The surgeon looked at my model and then talked to me a little bit about the surgery. I will have to get both upper and lower surgery, which means 1 night hospital stay. My teeth will be wired shut for 15-21 days, and I won't be able to talk nor eat. Liquid diets only. I can't lift anything more than 5 lbs. It sounded really serious, but all this time, the surgeon spoke of the surgery as something really casual ... kinda like "oh, you'll do fine," or "get over it." Of course, he's not going to be the one dealing with the pain and recovery afterwards!

The nurse then came in and asked if Friday, December 1 is OK. If not, the date will have to be pushed out until next year. So I said Ok, December 1 it is. She also worked out some pre-surgurical appointments for me, which is the Tuesday of the same week, November 28. This day will be comprised of 3 appointments for me, which includes (1) physical examinations, blood work, etc, (2) a class about after-surgery care, and (3) consultation with the surgeon. It will be a whole-day event.

So I will out of the office for 6 weeks, probably working from work the last 2 weeks. I'll be very bored at home I think, especially if I can't eat anything so I'll be very physically weak. I don't want to think about it too much, but it is a very BIG deal! I think when the time comes closer, I will get anxiety attacks! Wish me lukck!!

10th adjustment

Today's appointment was not really an adjustment per se, but I don't know how to name it any other way. I did my molds again today. I had someone else (not the same gal as before) so the molds were done in 1 shot. I still kinda barfed a little, but since I had nothing in my stomach, nothing came out. I hate doing molds. The nurse assistant put the same wires back on but new power chains. They're the metallic silver color ones.

I unexpectedly received a voicemail on my cell phone today and it was my orthodontist. His office number was blocked so I don't know when the message was left or when he called. I think it was probably late in the day. Anyhow, he told me that the models I did today look great and that we can move forward with planning the surgery date. I have to call him tomorrow to find out the details... since by the time I retrieved the voicemail, it was around past 8pm.

It's just so funny that I was thinking on the bus today (before I received the ortho's message) that how would I be just after the surgery. Will I be able to eat? to sleep? I was thinking that I would end up barfing if they have anything sticking inside my throat post-surgery. And if I had IV, will they stick the tube through my nose?! How would that feel? I would barely be able to eat anything, so my weight will drop like mad. How would my clothes fit? All these thoughts raced through my head and I don't know if I am beginning to get scared now?! I wanted the surgery so bad -- just to get it over with. So I'm ready but am I beginning to worry now? I think when the day comes, it will just hit me and I will freak out!!

1 year anniversary

It has been exactly 1 year to the day I had my braces put on. I wish that I would at least be on my way to surgery, but I don't even have a date yet. The lack of the date is by far, the most annoying thing that is bothering me right now. My teeth has straightened out considerably but still, with no surgery date in the horizon, I feel like I still have a long way to go.

Here is how my teeth looks like now:

September 17, 2006

Here I have silver power chains on, both upper and lower. It looks a bit odd with my upper white ceramic brackets but it works wonder against stains. I don't have to deal with yellow stained ligs anymore. I can't possibly give up coffee! I'm due for a visit to the ortho this coming Tuesday where I will do another mold. Hopefully, I won't hurl this time.

8th and 9th adjustments

Sorry that I have not been diligent on posting, just because I have been in a shitty mood after the past 2 adjustments. I went in for my 8th adjustment on Aug 1st. As you might remember, I had my molds done on the previous appointment.

The appointment already started on a very bad note, because I had to wait 30 minutes past my scheduled appointment time. Even after I had been called into the office, I had to wait another 15 minutes while the ortho pranced around the office, servicing multiple patients. Apparently, they were short-staffed, but why the hell did he even schedule the appointments so tight?! I grew impatient, but felt even more angry when my ortho told me that he is still studying my molds! Three whole weeks since I had my molds done. What the hell have he been doing for the past three weeks?! I had a very annoyed face and he sensed it right away. He then tried to cover his slack by saying that my teeth are not aligned at the very end and he needs to widen my upper teeth so they can fit better with my lower teeth. He then did some adjustments to the wire and put them back on. I told him that I was very disappointed that I am not ready to have surgery...at least to the point where I can call Kaiser for a surgery date. Why did he not freakin' realize that my upper jaw needs to be widen 3 weeks ago?! Or the previous 6 weeks ago? I begin to notice that my ortho is a money-grubber. He's super-nice to people when they come in for the initial visit. And once he wheeled new patients in, he spends like 2 seconds with them during the appointment. That's what's happening to me.

So, three weeks later, I went in for my 9th appointment on August 22. No wait this time, but no good news either. He looked at my teeth again for 2 seconds and did some manual adjustments to the wire before putting them back in. Not a single peep on my surgery or when the hell will I be ready! For the most part, I just want to freakin' plan a date. Kaiser needs about 6 months... what I don't want, is to have the ortho tell me one day that I am ready, but I have to wait for Kaiser for availability. That would suck so bad!! I know that's what's going to happen too! I will so pissed off!!

Next in store for me: Wait another 4 weeks, then get new molds done. Wait, wait, wait. I hate that word. I hate waiting. And great, another set of molds. Another potential barf session....
10th appointment: September 19, 2006.

7th adjustment

I had my 7th adjustment this past Tuesday, Jul 11, bright and early at 8am. This time the only thing that I had to do was to take molds of my teeth. I can tell that the nurse assistant is new and inexperienced because it seems like she didn't know what she's doing. And of course I was right because I ended up doing 3 molds for my upper teeth!! She screwed up once already and when the ortho examined the 2nd mold, he told her to do it again, for the 3rd time!! The tray filled with gunk stuck all the way inside my throat made me hurl. I basically barfed, but because I didn't eat anything before I came, I had nothing to throw up. So I guess it was a good thing that I went with an empty stomach! I was very annoyed and frustrated. She could see it in my face. She kept apologizing, but I didn't acknowledge my forgiveness. I felt that the whole situation would have been prevented had she been more experienced.

After the molds, I had the same wires put back on. I chose to put silver ligs on my upper brackets this time since I am so sick and tired of the clear ones staining yellow. Power chains again. No change from last time. So a few hours after I left the office, I felt discomfort on my lower right wall of my mouth. I checked it out and it was the end of the wire poking at me. Dang! That stupid nurse didn't clip the wire off! I don't have time to go back to the office! I'll see if I can toughen it up and just bear with it, then I can save myself another trip back to the ortho's. Next time, if I get her again, I will request that someone else help me.

Ortho said after he analyzes the molds, he can tell me whether I am ready for surgery yet . I hope the answer comes back as YES!!! I will be so damn disappointed if he tells me that I need more time. :(

Next appointment: August 1, 2006

6th adjustment

Went to the ortho yesterday and had new wires put in. According to the nurse assistant, this is the thickest wire. She seems very excited and happy when she said that, so I guess I should be happy too. She also mentioned that my teeth are pretty straight now. So good news there. I have power chains put on this time, which I think is used to close up any gaps between my teeth. And there is one gap on my left upper side that I really wanted closed! Food constantly get stuck there and it's so difficult to get them out! So I'm glad that it is being closed. Ortho told me that the next time I go in, he will take molds of my teeth. Since my 2 jaws are so far out, he can not foresee how my teeth are going to fit without doing a model. Then, only after that, will he determine whether I am ready for surgery or not. I cross my fingers that the answer comes back as Yes! But I won't know that until next time or a week or so thereafter.

It's been a long while since I felt soreness in my teeth after an adjustment. Like I mentioned before, I feel so little after previous adjustments that I begin to wonder if there is something wrong with me. I guess this new wire and power chain are both kicking in. My teeth are actually quite sore and I had trouble eating yesterday night and today. I resorted to eating softer foods today just to make sure I don't worsen the situation. I think by tomorrow or the day after, I should be fine. I also have a nasty sore on the corner of my upper right lip which is hurting everytime I talk or eat. There's this white dot, most likely infected with bacteria, that hurts when I rub on it. Haven't posted a picture for a while, so here is my most recent status (May 23, 2006):


Next adjustment: July 11, 2006

Awkwardness

I bumped into a friend that I haven't seen in ages, at least not since I got my braces. It was a weird feeling because I've had the braces for so long already and actually forgot that there are actually some people I know that haven't seen me with braces yet. I was natural until I noticed her noticing my braces. Then it dawned on me that she hadn't seen me in braces before. She didn't make any comments so I didn't bring anything up either. It would have been better if I had seen her after my whole surgery deal, then I wouldn't look so weird. Remember that my jaw is protruding more than before, so it's awkward. Plus I have braces on. Yuck.

5th adjustment

I think I lost track of how many adjustments I did already. The last one I went to was on April18, 2006. I just came back from a business trip and it was the practically one of the first things I did. It was disgusting that my ligs were all yellow (too much coffee). Not much went on during this visit. The ortho said that the wire I current have on hasn't "expressed itself fully" yet. In other words, the wire hasn't straightened out completely yet. Dang it. So I have to use the same wire, and just had the ligs replaced to add more tension. I told him why don't I feel any pressure anymore, not that I like to feel pain but at least it gives me the impression that the braces are actually doing something. The othro said that I don't feel anything because I'm used to it already... he used some kind of analogy like exercising. The first few things you exercise, you will feel sore but after you do it enough times, you don't feel the pain anymore. I get it, but it just feels better when you know that the braces are "at work."

The ortho still has not given me any "prompts" on when I should contact Kaiser for my surgery date. This is driving me insane because it means that I'm not ready. If there is any delays on my surgery because of scheduling issues (hospital too full, or no more appointment times), I will go ballistic on my ortho. I don't want any more delays of any sort. My ortho did mention that on my next visit (May 23) I will put on my surgerical wires, wires that I will wear to the surgery with... so we'll see. He also mentioned that I will not be wearing any rubberbands until after surgery because he needs to see how the surgery affects the overall bite and then he can come up with the treatment. Ok, so everything's under control!

The 6th month mark

I've reached by 6th month mark. I am getting mighty anxious and impatient with the whole process. I've been feeling worse lately, partially because I'm going on a 2-week long business trip, meeting with these unknown strangers, trying to have meetings with top senior executives without being too embarrassed with my braces. Everyone will be staring at me, and probably making internal comments to themselves as to why a 30-yr old would have braces so late?! I guess it's OK in the office because everyone around me are generally nice people and they know me. They know who I am and can see pass the braces. But for complete strangers, it is a little unforgiving. They will simply judge me on how I look and how ridiculous I look.

Another friend of mine announced she has a baby on the way. This is the 7th announcement of the same sort within the past couple of months. Now what does babies have to do with anything to my teeth and braces? Well, one of the biggest sacrifices for me when I first decided to get braces was to delay having a baby. My husband and I agreed that if I were to get braces and go through surgery, that we would wait until everything is over before starting a family. Because we know what having braces would entail, and most importantly, what surgery would entail. I would be kept "under" during the 5-hour operation and rely on liquid foods thereafter. Obvious indications that being pregnant during this time is not a very good idea at all. So we made the choice. But these recent baby announcements among my friends make me feel like I am missing out. I should be getting a baby by now... I am afterall turning 31 this year. I'm not young anymore. I am just depressed as to why my braces and surgery can't be done quicker?! My next adjustment is not until April 20. It seems such a long time away since my previous adjustment was in February. I am getting antsy. I wonder when should I set up my surgery date. WHEN?!

My profile has gone from bad to worse. My lower lips are sticking out so much they don't touch with my upper lip anymore. I have to forcibly make them touch and remind myself to close my mouth. It is not a pleasant sight. I am damn ugly! When will this end?! Why do I have to be born with such big jaws!?!

4th adjustment

Sorry I haven't been writing as often. It's just because there isn't a whole lot to write about. Nothing has really changed between then and now. I went for my 4th adjustment today. My ortho wasn't in the office due to an elective surgery he had to do -- he did have another ortho to substitute. The new ortho didn't talk to me at all -- just checked my teeth and that was about it.
I got another new wire in today. I don't feel much difference. It's of course a little tighter, but nothing unbearable. The nurse assistant told me that I have to get my teeth aligned and then undergo "major bite correction." in her exact words. I think my teeth is already pretty much aligned but then again, I don't really know for sure. I do notice that recently my lower teeth is really protruding out. They used to curl inwards but now they are 90 degrees to my jaw (where they should be). I guess this is what the ortho told me before... I will actually look "worse" than how I started off. You don't notice it unless you see my profile. I have to use a little energy and be mentally aware to make my upper and lower lips meet.

I wonder when they will start correcting my bite. I am thinking the use of the rubber bands? Anyways, I took another picture of my teeth today to share with you. No next adjustment date yet, since my ortho is not there. They'll call me to schedule.

February 17, 2006

3rd adjustment

Just did my 3rd adjustment today. My archwire didn't get changed. I just got my ligs changed so they can re-apply pressure to force my wire to work more efficiently. The old ones have been sretched and no longer work as good. Besides, they are yellow and gross. In the process of getting my ligs changed, they found out that the bracket on my upper left canine was loose. I didn't even notice before.. so they had to repair it. They took the bracket out of my tooth. While I waited for the ortho to reapply, I stared at that one tooth. It looked naked but smooth. My tongue ran over the tooth and it was a nice feeling not having a bracket over it. But that was short-lived. The ortho came and glued the bracket back on.

The ortho told me that my teeth are progressing nicely -- especially the bottom teeth. That was good to hear. He also told me that I am on schedule to be ready for surgery in September of this year. Of course, September is not the firm date just because it all depends on the surgeon's schedule. I hope it will be in the November timeframe just so I can combine my leave of absence with holidays. Then it wouldn't be that noticeable that I'm taking so many weeks off. The best is around December when everyone is away, offices close, and there is nothing to do. Oh well, that's still so far away...

Next Adjustment: February 17, 2006

Anxious and Paranoid

I can't wait until my next adjustment, which is scheduled to be this Friday. It's not like I can't wait to get sores or numb teeth again... it's just I can't wait until I see more progress with my teeth. I am getting so impatient. I wish the ortho can fast-track me and just give me the maximum treatment my teeth can possibly take. I think I can handle it.

One thing I came into realization lately is that my braces are not so temporary. It's not like bad lipstick you put on. You can wipe it out if you don't like the color. With braces, you can't take it out. You can't say -- oh, I need to take a picture, so I will take out the braces temporarily so I can get a better smile. It just doesn't work that way.

I am also getting paranoid of my braces lately -- more so now than when I first got them. I feel like people are noticing them more. Maybe because my ligs are so yellow now with coffee stains that all my teeth appear yellow. I'm conscious of that. And that may be why I am so anxious for the next adjustment. I am wondering if I should go bold and try a different lig color? A color that is still subtle but stain-proof. The bone color ligs I got were a little better than the other one when it comes to staining, but they still stain with coffee.

braces off

The barista at one of the smaller coffee chain stores I patronize each morning has braces. Or should I said "had" braces? Just so you know, I usually notice when I see adults with braces because it seems like we have a common bond. So I noticed that this particular barista has braces. She has all metal too. But today, when I saw her, I noticed her pearly whites. No more braces. Just straight teeth. Wow. So envious of her. She must be so happy that her braces are finally off. I can only imagine when mine will be off. No, I can't imagine, because it's so far away. I'm still so early in my progress. I don't even have rubber bands on yet and it's not even 4 months yet. I still have a very long way to go. *sigh*

Happy New Year! Happy 2006!

Having posted for a while, so just thought it would be great to start off the year with a new entry. Since my last visit to the ortho's office, I didn't notice any major changes to my teeth or its alignment. I am almost thinking that the archwire I currently have on is not doing its job. Maybe the ortho should switch me to a even thicker wire so I can speed up the process. I think my teeth can take it. I'll feel a little pain here and there, but I'd rather have that than to prolong the braces period. According to the ticker, I've already been braced for 3-1/2 months already. According to my oral surgeon, I should be setting up my surgery date 6 months prior to the actual surgery. And since my ortho said I would need about 1 year of braces before surgery, that would mean that I should start planning out the surgery date in 3 months or so. If all goes well and according to plan, I think my surgery would be sometime in the Fall of 2006. Can't wait until everything is over!!