Records Appointment

So, T-minus and counting. Last week I got my "surgery hook" in. Not a big deal, and yes they only added one hook - as it turns out I have had the kind of braces with hooks on it already so no big deal to add one more.

Also, today signed the scary hospital consent form which basically said almost anything could happen during this surgery....I am glad I got that out of the way.

Here is a picture my wife took during the appointment of me getting measurments for the jaw movement etc...

I was asked to place this mid-evil contraption in my ears while I bit down on wax to locate my bite and the doctor tightened it snugly to my head and took measurements. Very interesting...

And, finally more models today...the models they take at the orthodontist office are so much easier because they flavor that yucky crap...and at the surgeons office they use funky, stinky stuff that almost makes me gag! Glad that too is over!

Really, next stop surgery August 8th at 9:15! I go in and out of anxiety, but I am very confident in my surgeon, AND the hospital I am staying at! I am so looking forward to being beyond the surgery part!

More to come...

Surgery Date

I got a call Monday by my orthodontist's office to have me come in and take some x-rays and models of my teeth for my upcoming visit with the surgeon on Wednesday. So I did, but Wednesday's appointment with the surgeon was very surprising to me...
The date of my surgery has been set for August 8th at 9:15 am…OMG I am very happy to have this in sight. The morning of the procedure, we will check into Swedish Hospital at 7:00 am and will hang out in some kind of private Living room type environment, where I will have your initial consultation with the Anesthesiologist. I told my surgeon that I didn’t want to be “wheeled” into the surgery room “awake” and he said that there is no “rolling” into the surgery room any more and that I will be walking in there…ug and ouch.. At least I have 3 weeks to process this new image…
Surprisingly he also said the surgery will last 2 – 2 ½ hours, which was a huge surprise to me. Every blog I have read seem to mention very lengthy procedures. Of course, after surgery I will be sent to the “recovery” before being taken back to your room and I will spend one night at Swedish.
Also surprising, no splint after surgery, the splint will be used during your surgery but it will be removed once the procedure is finished.
The primary source of movement will happen in the upper jaw/palate. my lower jaw will be pushed back – but very little. No bone movement or plasty will happen in your chin.
And, no catheter – thank God…I was not looking forward to this event..even though I would be out like a light.
I will go back to see my orthodontist 10 – 14 days before the procedure, for new photos, x-rays and models, and then a couple of days before the procedure I will go back to the orthodontist for surgery hooks.

Kind of excited...and not freaking out yet...

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.