Days 2 & 3: Let the swelling begin!

Day 2 & 3

Overall pain: 3

Discomfort: 5

Swelling: Much Worse

Weight loss: 6 lbs

I would say that yesterday was the worst day so far. The swelling has started to peak so my face just felt so heavy and the inside of my mouth was so swollen it was hard to eat, drink, or talk. 

Katie and Neil brought me home yesterday and Dexter got to meet our kitten Alezae. After getting home I slept most of the afternoon and it's been much the same today. I have very little energy and I'll be in the middle of watching tv or reading and just fall asleep. So I can't complain about not sleeping since I'm even sleeping in long clips throughout the night.

Food wise - I feel like I'm eating a lot but that might just be because of how long it takes to eat. I can eat from a baby spoon or drink from a cup but since I can't open my mouth very wide it's quite the process. I've lost 6 lbs since Monday and I can expect to lose 14 more. Yikes!

Kathleen made potato soup last night and that's the best thing I've had so far! It's my favorite soup so I don't mind eating it and it's filling. I'm still trying to drink two ensures a day and a lot of water. 

The pain still isn't bad, it's mostly just in my joints and near my ears. The numbness of my lip and chin is starting to get annoying. It's like when the dentist gives you those shots, except that it doesn't wear off and to tingles all the time. 

That's pretty much it as far as any changes. Just more swelling and a lot of sleeping!

1 Day Post-Op

Day 1

Overall pain: 2

Discomfort: 4

Swelling: Has increased 

Weight loss: N/A

I was released from the hospital this morning after breakfast. Katie and Dex came to get me, which was very exciting since I got to leave AND they're my two favorite people! We picked up my medications and some more food. I brought a lot of liquid type foods with me but since I'm able to get a spoon in my mouth I wanted food that was a little more filling. 

I got to see Dr. Parker and Dr. Ochs this morning before I left. He was happy with how things looked and said my back teeth with start to touch again as the swelling goes down. Swelling is pretty bad today, but it still hasn't peaked. I'm not in very much pain today. My face just feels really heavy from the swelling. 

I've been pretty tired and felt weak earlier today but then I ate a lot of food for lunch and dinner and have a little more energy. I only slept about two hours last night, and took two long naps today. I'm hoping that tonight I get a little more sleep since it will be quieter. 

Overall, all is well though! 

I'm here for the big show....

Day 0

Overall pain: 3 

Discomfort: 3

Swelling: Not bad yet

Weight loss: N/A

The big day was today! We arrived at the hospital at 5:00AM. My Aunt Penny and cousin Santana were my escorts and I love them for it! When we arrived here, at UPMC Mercy, check in was pretty quick and very organized. The staff Is great and very nice. The worst part of the whole day was honestly the nasal spray they basically flushed my sinuses with. It tasted horrible and was just an unpleasant experience. During the questionnaire part they found out that I box and my coolness factory Immediately went up with the male nurses and anesthesia team. I think they think some bohemtiah woman broke my jaw in a fight and that's why I'm here. In reality, it's just poor generics! 

When they wheeled me into pre-op Dr.Parker was sitting there waiting for me with the mold of my new bite. It was cute. I asked him what he was still doing here since he graduated Friday and is now a real surgeon and he laughed and said he had some things to finish up. I'm glad though, since I've been working with him through most of this, that he could be there. Dr.Ochs popped in as well to see my before I went lights out.

I woke up in recovery and was in and out of consciousness for a while. My worst pain was, and still is in my joints and my calf muscles. I must have clenched them for the entire hour and a half of the surgery. Weird! They gave me a pain killer twice in reocovery and that helped a lot. Now that I'm on a regular med schedule it's all under control. I'm mostly experiencing discomfit and numbness. My top lip is fine but everything below it is numb. I'm okay with that since it means I can't feel the broken bones or incision sites. 

I spent about 3 hours in recovery while they waited for a room to become available. It didn't bother me, but may have made it really boring for the Wolfe pack. Once I was in my room they gave me water and juice that I tried to drink with the syringes. What a pain! It's very tedious but I was thirsty so I got it down. 

Penny and Tana were allowed to come up then and I was able to spend some time with them before they left. Kathleen and Kier also came to visit and I enjoyed seeing them. I'm talking okay but it does hurt to talk since my joints are so sore. 

Penny and Tana left to beat the traffic and Leen and Kier took my stuff over to the Wagley's since I'll be staying with them a few days while I recover. I have the best friends and family anyone could ask for! 

Dr. Parker stopped back in before dinner to check on me. He said I'm doing really well and was glad I was getting fluids in. He said the surgery went great and was happy with how my stitches looked and how my bite was fitting. Most of my swelling is on the inside for now so I can't close my mouth the whole way. He offered to let me go home tonight but I would much rather stay and be monitored for the evening just in case. 

Dinner was thickened chicken broth, vanilla pudding, orange sherbet, chocolate milk, and two juices. I was never so happy to have chocolate milk and sherbet. I gave up on the syringes after 5 minutes and used the spoon the best I could. I only made a slight mess! 

For having my lower jaw broken in two places I feel pretty good. I know the swelling is going to peak over the next two days and the pain may worsen as I get feeling back, but I'm tolerating it pretty well for now.

Thank you to eveyone that messaged me today! Love you all and thanks for the support! The hardest part is over! 

This is Happening.

It's officially the morning of my surgery! I spent the weekend finishing up shopping and eating everything I can think of that I will miss for the next 6 weeks! 

My surgery is scheduled for 7:30 AM. I have to be at the hospital at 5:00 AM so we're leaving at 3:00 AM. Thank goodness I took a nap today! The surgery should take about 2-3 hours and I'll spend one night in the hospital if all goes well. 

I've been nervous at different times all week but I think I'm mostly over it now. When I get to the hospital that will probably be a different story though! Now I'm just nervous about whether or not I'll have pain and how I'll react to the anesthesia. I really don't want to throw up after surgery. I'm going to ask for the nausea sticker so that doesn't happen. 

I'm going to attempt to take another nap now before we leave. My next post will be after surgery. Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and gifts. I couldn't ask for better friends, co-workers, and family! 

Surgical Hooks

I received good news last week! Dr. Parker called and told me that they had done the surgery planning and decided only the lower jaw needed to be done! I was beyond excited since this means a less intense surgery and a slightly easier recovery.

Today I went to the orthodontist to have my surgical hooks put on. They're not too bad other than they stick out, food really gets stuck in them, and one keeps jabbing into my gums when I eat. Also, one fell off when I brushed my teeth after lunch so I'll have to go have it put back on before the 22nd.

(Surgical hooks added to the wire)

I have a huge list of things to get done before my surgery. I'm trying to do any cleaning and work I need to since I won't be able to do some of those things for a while. I need to finish shopping for post-surgery things and get the rest of my liquid diet foods. I'm enjoying my last week and a half of boxing. Well, maybe not enjoying it, but I'm still going! I've also been eating anything I can think of that I'll miss for 6 weeks. Texas Roadhouse is the last thing on my list. 

23 Days Away!

I had my pre-surgery appointment at the University of Pittsburgh Dental School today with Dr. Ochs and his Chief Resident, Dr. Parker. Neil went with me again, (Thanks for lending me Neil again Katie!) which was great because any time I didn't have an answer to something I just looked at Neil. The appointment took about 2 hours. It started with the paper work describing the surgery and everything that could possibly go wrong. That was fun. Then I met with Dr. Parker and he explained the surgery to me, shaved down one of my upper canines so that it would fit in place after the surgery, took measurements of my bite, two sets of alginate impressions, a wax bite impression, and a plastic bite impression.

Next we took the "before" surgery photos of my mouth and front and side profile. Then Dr. Parker put these dots (see photo below) on my face for the CBCT scan. He put the wax mold back in my mouth and I had to sit very still for 50 seconds while the machine worked it's magic.

I think the CBCT scan is the coolest part of this process. With the CBCT scan they are able to make a 3D rendering of my skull. They then do digital versions of the surgery to practice the movements of the jaws and find the best alignment for function and aesthetics. A copy of the scan is sent out to a company that 3D prints the jaw bones so that they are able to bend the brackets that will hold everything in place prior to the surgery. Amazing!

Dr. Ochs came back in at the end of the appointment to answer questions and look things over. I was lost in dental jargon here, but he checked my bite, said a lot of fancy things, handed me a mirror and asked how I felt about the way my upper jaw looked. I was confused because I wasn't sure what he was after but basically where he was going with it was that he may NOT have to do the upper jaw. He said they will do two surgery plans: one for both jaws, and one for just the lower jaw. If it looks like the movement to the upper jaw won't be very significant then he will just bring the lower jaw forward. He said he doesn't like putting his patients through more pain if the end result isn't significant. He was happy with the work my Orthodontist had done since he was able to bring my front teeth down and create a good arch. Prior to braces my overjet was 11 mm which is pretty big. I think it's 7mm now if I remember right. 

When he first saw me he thought I would definitely need both jaws re-aligned since it was so severe. I've mentally prepared for having both jaws done but if we can just do one I'll be ecstatic! The LeFort 1 osteotomy is pretty invasive. They have to cut into your sinus region and you can't blow your nose for a long time or you can cause a bad bleed.  The recovery is a lot slower for double jaw surgery too. My friend just had a similar surgery involving the lower jaw and not the upper and is doing great! She is my hero right now! :) 

I should know in a week or two what plan they decide on. I'm fine with either, but will be praying for just the  lower jaw (BSSO-Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy) so I can be back on my feet sooner. Cross your fingers for me! Thanks for reading!

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We have a date!

After a week of frequent voicemail checking and a lot pacing, the Patient Coordinator for Dr. Ochs finally called and set the date for surgery! June 22nd! It's just far enough away that I'm not a hot mess but close enough that I know it's a real thing now. Exactly a year ago this week I had my initial consult in Pittsburgh. I remember leaving the hospital feeling very overwhelmed and mortified. I'm happy to report I no longer feel overwhelmed or mortified (but still anxious). On a scale of Jaw Surgery to SCUBA diving, I would much rather have this surgery done than attempt SCUBA again! 

I'll be getting another call either tomorrow or in two weeks to schedule the pre-op visit to take x-rays, molds, and the 3D Cone Beam CT to prepare for surgery. They'll actually use the 3D model to do a digital version of the surgery, as well as make all of the plates and screws that will fit almost perfectly to my jaw bones. Isn't technology cool?!

I have some questions that I want to ask when I get a chance, but it probably won't be until this visit. 

Will I be banded shut? I've read blogs from some awesome ladies that went to the same Doctor as me and they were not banded shut. At my initial visit he said I would likely have to be banded shut. 

How long is the recovery? I know I can expect to be off work 2-3 weeks and it takes 6 weeks for the bones to set, but when I will I feel like a normal human being again? When can I go to the gym again? Lift heavy things? Go to boxing class? etc. I read in other blogs and articles that full recovery is 6-12 months. AHH! 

What kind of food can I have? Will I be able to breathe? What if I throw up? Will I regain feeling in my face? How much pain am I going to be in?... Just to name a few a more!

In the mean time, I've started on my shopping list. I've purchased Ensure for taste testing purposes and so far so good. I need to review some other blogs to come up with the rest of the items to purchase. I also need to come up with a list of everything to do before June 22nd since I think summer 2015 is going to be a bust physically. I will miss 6 AM boxing classes the most (believe it or not Rob!). I wanted to run a Spartan Race this October and there's a good chance I won't be physically capable by then, so I could potentially run the May race in Ohio now. I've heard that I can expect to lose 18% of my body weight and unfortunately a lot of the muscle mass I've gained over the last year. That is probably the most depressing part since I worked so hard to get back in shape. So realistically, running a grueling race in October is out of the question, and I probably can't go back to boxing until November or December. I'll cross that bridge when I get there though! For now, I'm just happy to have an actual date. 

Stay tuned!