Surgeon Visit this Week

I went to my orthodontist on June 21st which I once again expected them to say I was ready for surgery…but not yet. But, I do have a slight change in procedure. I was told my next visit was to be with my surgeon towards the end of July and then come back to the orthodontist right before surgery for surgery hooks.
After my visit with my ortho, I waited a couple of day and called my surgeon to see if I could get in mid July to discuss the billions of questions I have. It seems to me that the most important part of this whole process comes down to the surgery and you don’t get very much face time with the surgeon as you do with the orthodontists. Anyway, my appointment with my surgeon is this Wednesday. I am looking forward to seeing him and discussing the final procedures of my surgery. I believe that I am right on the door step of surgery and if I think too much about the process I get kind of nervous. I really hope I can get into that surgery room and not run out of the hospital with my ass hanging out of a hospital gown.
I took some pictures of my bite tonight, but none of the picture look very good, blurry etc. But, here is one that is so, so.

Sleep Study Update

So, updates on my sleep study. It took forever for the doctor to actual get back to me after the sleep study. At the end of the day the determination was that I did not have sleep apnea. I guess that is good to know and have behind me.
My surgery keeps being pushed out further and further. All my teeth are in good shape except two molars in the back top on each side. I really thought that when I went to my orthodontist May 10th he would have said that I was ready to go see the oral surgeon, but no. Same story with the molars, and he is being picky (which is just fine with me). The best guess now is July/August, I really didn’t want to spend a hot summer with my face swollen but it is what it is. My insurance company will not pay for anything, so it will be all out of pocket for me. That sucks, but I am beyond that any more. I have been saving and will take a loan out on my 401K plan for what I am short of.
Right now I don’t feel too anxious about my surgery and hopefully it stays that way. I actually really just want to be done with it and begin the recovery process. I do get a little worried about being 42 and how my recovery will be, but I feel healthy and young. I don’t really know how the hell time has passed so fast. I keep telling myself that I am very young!
Next appointment with the orthodontist is June 21…I am guessing that at this appointment he will refer me to the surgeon. Surgery will be at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, which every tells me is an excellent hospital. That makes me feel very comfortable.
That’s it for now.
Brent

Sleep study results

Wednesday I participated in a sleep study and what a weird experience. I showed up at 8:30 p.m. in my pj's on a cold night. I didn't bring anything except a book to read and a "woobie" my wife made me take because she was worried that the pillows wouldn't be comfy or have proper neck support!

When I get to the door of the Lab, the buzzer to call the technician was broken with a note that say "call this number for assistance." I thought to myself, what about those people that don't have cell phones to make this call? Well, anyway I did and after I made the call a tech came down and got me. At first, I was the only schmuck standing at the door waiting to sleep in some strange room, and I felt some comfort that I was the only person there and didn't have to hang out with other sleep study patients. But... just as I stood waiting for Ms. Tech to come down, it seems as though the building was being rushed by a bunch of grumpy older men missing the buffet line at Sizzler. So, there I stand in my pj's amongst my "new sleep study peers." Yikes... what have I got myself into??? The sleep study is on the 2nd floor and rather than taking the steps (like I prefer) I was then herded into the smallest elevator I have seen in some time - destined for the unknown. I was unsure if I would be bunking with my new friends and seconding guessing the bean burrito I had for lunch.

Fortunately, these guys had been there before, so check in for them was very rapid, as I sat in the lobby area waiting for my turn. My turn to check in, and was asked to step forward for a photo, why I don't know but at least I wasn't finger printed.

After that, I was escorted into the sleep suite and with great anticipation I schlepped behind Ms. Tech to my room. To my surprise, the two grumpy weren't in there wearing their white tank tops sitting in bunk beds or a community of cots.

Instead, I had a very nice room...here is the picture:


Phew, so far, so good...I can hang here for a night. The room was like a hotel suite - really nice private bath, TV and cable - I thought for a minute I was on vacation. Ms. Tech told me she had to run off and deal with another patient and that I had about 45 minutes to hang and relax. I turned on the tube and played with the "sleep by number" bed and checked out the room. The main living had video cameras but the bathroom was "camera free." When my turn came up, I was called to get plugged in. I guess this was the part I was really wondering about - Ms. Tech hands me a couple of long wires and instructed me to snake them through my pj's down to my feet and then sit down. About 30 minutes later I look like this:


This picture is actually of me first thing in the morning. Once I was rigged like this, I was shuttled back to my space and told that this is where it started. I asked if I could read or watch tv and they said no, because they study was beginning now. Door shut, lights off, I laid in bed with all these wires hanging out. Fortunately for me, I took some Unisome just before arriving and that helped me get to sleep. Through out the night, Ms. Tech would come in and "re-wire" me after my thrashing about pulled certain connections off. All in all it was really easy to do, I was actually able to get about 5 hours sleep. I asked in the morning if I had stopped breathing and she said a couple of time. Results won't be available for probably another week.

More to come.
Cheers,
Brent

Getting closer!

Okay, saw the ortho today and May looks like the month for my surgery. They took moulds and changed out the top wire (bigger) and kept that same wire on the bottom. He said that I was in the "zone" for surgery, but wanted to take moulds to see how the molars in the back are affecting my bite. My molars still need to move, I figure that by April they will be in ship shape! It was cool that the moulds were completed in the same visit so he was able to see how things are fitting. I asked him if he could determine how many millimeter forward and backward the jaws would be moved and he guessed 10 mm (ish) I am kinda freaking out about that much movement, but I am also trying to remember that he was just guessing and the real word will come from the surgeon! Next Wednesday is my sleep study...I check in at 8:30 pm and get out (assuming I sleep) at 7:00 am. That ought to be fairly strange in all ways, but I am game - what the heck.

Anyway, I will post after the sleep study...

Cheers,
Brent

Blogcation

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I have been seriously AOL, but for good reason. I have taken on new duties at work and my focus has been there.
Let see, the last time I went to my ortho not much happened....got a larger wire on the lower teeth, but still with the same wire size on the top now for several month. My back molars are pretty tweaked out so they are taking their own sweet time to fall into place. I asked at the time if he thought that surgery would be in May and he said that until my teeth get a little straighter he could not really make that predictions. Although, I will say the since that appoint my back molars have come a long way and I am hoping to get more clarity on my next appt Feb 8th. May will mark the one year mark of being in braces...time does fly! I am not completely tired of futzing around with braces, but there are day like today that they are driving me nuts! The inside of my mouth is being rubbed raw on one side. Also, the more I get clearer about the frustrations about my bite, the more I actually look forward to getting this surgery done to fix it!! It will be the weirdest thing experience to be able to bite through food! I am still very excited about the new surgeon I am working with. Haven't had the sleep study yet, but went to my family doctor just recently to get the referral. That should be rather interesting!
Thanks Tara for checking in!!
I will post after my Feb 8th appt, I am hoping to get more clarity on when the surgery will be.

News and Changes!

So, went to the orthodontics last week and he said I was still on track for May'ish. They tried to change out the top wire to a larger one, but after getting it stuck and having to cut is out the remainder - they came to the conclusion that I needed to stay with the same guage. I was excited about the notion of getting the upgraded wire...because I equate that with faster progress.

While I was there, I spoke with treatment coordinator (Shelley) about the surgeon I have and how it seems to be rediculous to get help and coordinaiton from the hospital for quotes on the surgery package I need. During our conversation, we both decided that we should shift surgeons and go back to the guy the I originally worked with. In the beginning, I was hestitant to go back to the same guy in fear that he would throw some kind of temper tantrum about me never follow through 20 years ago. Well, today I went and visited him, and I am so excited about working with him again. I could not get the comfort level everone speaks about with they bring up their surgeon with the other guy. Both me and my wife went today to see my new surgeon and we both walked out of his office very pleased. So, that is my very exciting news today to announce my new surgeon Dr. Feldman out of Seattle. And he also provides a "surgery package" and has options for financing the surgery! The last surgeon's staff essentially said that coordinating with the hospital was my job and I could not get any help at all from them.
So, next step for me - wait for results from new cast. Also, Dr. Feldman wants me to go take a sleep study to see what extent my open bite is causing apena. Sounds silly, me picking my underwear out of my ass on camera with a bunch of probes in my head! (I make me laugh). But I got to do what I got to do, more later!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement!

Cheers for now!
Brent

Tardy Update

Wow, time flies and I have been wacky busy! Lots of very exciting things going on at work that have been grabbing my attention lately (all good)!

Teeth, well I go see the ortho this Wednesday and as you can see in the fabulous picture in the last post the bottom teeth are really whacked out, but they have adjusted further inward lately (but still looks weird). The last appointment the orthodontist inserted the large wire into the very back molars, and the flossing is freaking frustrating. All is good because I signed up for this program, but what is interesting is that when I had braces back in my 20's they didn't put brackets on the last molars. I know this because I still have the molds for my teeth from back then and they don't have brackets. It is fun to to compare my progress today to what I had done previously.

Insurance issues are dead. I can't say this enough...insurance companies that exclude this from coverage across the nation SUCK! That being said, I am on to plan b, saving money, and/or getting loans!

I have been checking in with the community, I can't believe how fast Shaye's teeth are moving and it looks like January/February for you! Shout out to Makay, Elisha, Mandy, Sarah, Alexis, June and Stephanie! All your blogs are so wonderful and I enjoy the community and knowledge I gain from them!!

That's it for now. I will post after my orthodontist appointment on Wednesday.

Cheers,
Brent