Countdown to chomping down!

PEOPLE! In 7 days exactly I will be finding out the news on a new diet from my surgeon! I'm praying that he allows me to begin chewing! Its been a long 5 weeks with no chewing, I will say, and I am very ready to get back into my normal eating! Its actually flown by considering how miserable Ive been with seeing everyone around me eating normal yummy foods!
My last visit to the surgeon was a very positive one. He was going on and on about how great I looked just 3 weeks after surgery! He even had a family come in who's son had just had the same exact surgery the day before... They were worried about his recovery so Dr. Bolding had them come in a talk to me a bit about my process.  I guess our "before" x-rays were very close to identical as far as our jaw and bite.  They were shocked to see how well I was already doing and I reassured them that their son would be just fine.. the first few days seem rough but it DOES get much better quickly.  That was nice to know that Dr. Bolding felt so confident in the way I was looking at that time.  He said my x-rays were looking good and everything seemed to be healing just right.
I didn't really have much to ask him about, as I knew that I would still have three more weeks to go on the no-chew diet.  I only asked him about a small rash that I had developed under my chin along my neck and jaw line.  He informed me that it was just from swelling; as the skin becomes swollen and fluid develops under the skin, the oil glands are forced to stretch out and that might irritate the skin.  That was gone, though, just a matter of days after that visit! Other than that I was good to go! I made my appointment for exactly three weeks from that which will be on the 28th (next Thursday).
As far as my healing goes, I have been feeling great! Really the only thing is just the tightness of my teeth from wearing the bands, and not being able to open very wide (about an inch).  Ive been able to go out and spend lots of time with friends, and even go to class and work.  I'm back to my normal daily activities which is awesome! I think a lot of people thought this surgery would take more of a toll on my life but I really only was out of commission for about the first 4 days, then I slowly began to do more things!
Here are some pictures from my life since the surgery!

Out with my friends! (About 2 weeks after surgery!) (I'm in the middle with the swollen face!)

Royals game! (2 weeks after surgery!) (To the left of the adorable baby!)

Brothers of the Sun Concert!! (A little over three weeks since surgery! (Far right!)

Best friend! (4 weeks since surgery!)

Week 5 since surgery! Swelling pretty well gone I think!

 
This whole process has been a lot but I'm so glad that the surgery part is over! I'm just anxious now to get my braces off and be done with it all! :) Well I will write again soon once I see my surgeon again!
DONT FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE BLOG for more info and to see me! 
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBDAILEY10?feature=mhee

Day dreamin

I know I just posted a ridiculously long post today, BUT, I was thinking and I need to write this down:

Due to the vast hunger going on inside my body the past 6 days, I have thought up a list of the foods that I will definitely be devouring as soon as I am able. Now, some of these foods I rarely even ate when I could, but let me tell you- You never know how much you love something until its gone :)

• Fried pickles
• Bacon Cheeseburgers
• Fried Chicken
• Kettle cooked chips (that's thanks to my family who is continuously munching on those in my ear)
• Lasagna (MY FAVORITE)
• Cookies, cake, ect.
• Corn dogs
• French fries... preferably McDonalds... oh salty salty goodness..
• Buffalo wings- its crazy how many commercials are out for these by the way
• Salad with lots of crunchy veggies 

Now I'm sure this list will expand widely in the next 5 or 6 weeks but this is a nice start!

After surgery update!

WELL Its been awhile since I've made a new blog post! I guess it has just been super busy, plus I started a YouTube video blog as well, so I have made newer posts on that.
I had my surgery last Wednesday (the 16th)!! It went well and everything turned out great.  My surgeon is located in Springdale, AR, which is about 3 hours away. So my parents and I went down the day before for my Pre-op appointment.  During this appointment the nurse just informed us of what to expect and what to do for after the surgery.  The doc made some last minute measurements so that night he could do a "trial-run" of my surgery to make sure all was ready and precise.  That made me feel so confident in him! After that appointment, my parents and I went out to a nice dinner (this would be my last).  I had a great steak, baked potato, shrimp, salad...hmmm my mouth is watering RIGHT NOW.

Last supper :(

The next day I woke up very nervous about my surgery, but ready to get it over with.  However, my surgery was not until 2pm so that meant no eating, or drinking (not even water) the whole day. We arrived at the surgical center around 1:15, but they were a bit delayed so I did not get taken back until around 2:15.  I entered a room and was presented with a lovely surgical gown.  I put it on and then waited for a nurse to come in to wrap my hair.  They did this so that during the surgery, my hair would be out of the way and would not interfere with the surgery.

Right before surgery with my hair wrapped up!

Next, the anesthesiologist came in to talk with my parents and I about what exactly he would do and how he was going to take great care of me.  At this point, I was very ready to just get it over with.  In the next couple minutes, Dr. Boldings nurse, Whitney, came and got me and took me back to the operating room.  I laid down on the table/bed thing, and they started my IV.  They did something else that was very interesting to me. When they started the IV, they took a couple vials of blood that, during the surgery, they would spin down to its richest form.  Then when the surgery was near completed, they would use that blood to place back into my jaw areas.  This promotes better healing and reduces after-surgery swelling!  How neat! :)

So then the anesthesiologist said he was going to give me a little cocktail. And some cocktail it was! I remember starting to cough for whatever reason and then the whole room began to twirl and spin... and that was it.

Until I woke up...  Oh man.

Not the greatest feeling ever.  I was so sick... Throwing up blood. Actually spraying blood because of course, I could not open my mouth.  It was the worst I think I've ever felt.  Sorry to scare any one reading this prior to surgery-- This may not happen to you! It was just my reaction to the drugs, I believe.  So after sitting there for however long just thinking about what all just happened, they finally told me I could go up to my suite where I would stay the night.  They wheeled me up and got me into my bed.  For whatever reason, I decided to call a few friends (they tried their best to understand me).  Then I was out again.

The next morning I started off with a yummy Ensure drink and some meds! The doc came to visit me and then we were headed home.  I slept pretty much the whole way home.  And that's it really.  I've had some difficulties since surgery;

• Nausea: because of not eating very much, swallowing a lot of blood as well
• Bloody nose/coughing up blood
• Sleeping through the night, getting comfortable
• HEADACHE- My temple area hasn't really stopped pounding since surgery.. I'm guessing from all the trauma my face has gone through :)
• boredom- although I have had some nice visitors come to see me which was so GREAT 
• Hunger! This one is probably the worst...

Other than all that, things have been getting better! Ive been feeling better with each day which is nice! My swelling is starting to go down, as well.  Ill post back again soon with any new updates! Thanks for reading!

Here are some before/after pictures throughout the process so far!

Side profile

Side profile

front view... ugh never again!

Sorry its gruesome! Right after surgery!

Side profile after surgery!

Looking good :) ha!

One side of stitches (starting to bruise as well!)

Not thrilled about this food!

Right before surgery compared to day after surgery! Its crazy!

Also forgot to link up this with my YouTube account for those interested in following it as well!
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBDAILEY10/videos

Oh maaaan! I got a surgery date! :)

This right here was how excited I was today at my appointment with my surgeon BECAUSE...(drum roll please!)...I got a surgery date! Yes, yes, it's true- May 16th... approximately 1 month from now! Words can't describe how happy I am that it's working out this nicely! I got super lucky because my surgeon is to be leaving for Israel (yeah must be nice being a Dr and traveling the world ha) on the 19th! SO for me to be able to get the date that I wanted is really amazing! I am supposed to be seeing my orthodontist on May 1st, to get my surgical hooks in place and get everything squared away. Hopefully that same day I can have my pre-op appointment with my surgeon as well, but they said his nurse would call me later to get that set up! Its so relieving to actually have a date... knowing that this is actually moving along. :) I'm very lucky for everything.
I will post again soon- hopefully start my video blog process; although I'm still nervous about that part! :)

All smiles!..Shiny, metal smiles :)

YAYYYY whoooo hoooo yippie! Yes, this is pure excitement over my ortho visit this past Thursday. They informed me that I looked wonderful and I am ready for surgery. He said he would get a letter sent to my surgeon telling him that they believe I am ready for surgery for this summer.  He also said I could go ahead and call him to set up another consultation in order for Dr. Bolding (my surgeon out of Springdale AR) to assess my bite to confirm that I am ready, and to look at available dates for this summer that I could do the surgery!

Luckily, Dr. Boldings nurse called me back right away and I am scheduled to have my consultation April 10th.  I'm so very excited to hear all this good news.  I am hoping that continues because I would ABSOLUTELY love for a date towards the middle/end of May.  I know that is so very soon but because of my school schedule, that would be the perfect time to fit it in.

Both of this images show how my bite has changed throughout the last 7 months.  This is my actual bite when I close my teeth together.

My bite the day I got my braces (August 23rd,2012)

My current bite (March 24th, 2012)

It feels like this is all happening so fast right now, and I'm thankful for that. My bite has just gotten so much worse (as you can see in the pictures ^) and not only is it terrible looking, its also uncomfortable to eat, talk, and even sleep. Having this surgery is changing much more than just my appearance.  It's going to change my daily life.  I think that is something that people tend to forget when I tell them about my plans for surgery.  Everyone is quick to say "I cannot believe you're going to go through that," or "You don't need to do that, you look fine already" or "I would never go through that."  But they do not understand my issues that I deal with stemming from this jaw problem.  Yes, my underbite has always bothered me from an appearance standpoint, but in the past two and a half years it has become a deeper concern than just my appearance. That is why I look forward to this surgery.
Well, hopefully in the end of the next two weeks I will find out my surgery date. I will post again then!
Thanks for reading,
Britt

Anxiously waiting!

Hello all!

3 days until my next ortho appointment! So excited for it because they are supposed to be making new x-rays and new molds, to see how close I am to surgery-ready! I'm hoping for a positive visit.. I am envisioning that I will get there, they will do the x-rays and molds and tell me they think I'll be ready by the beginning of the summer. Of course that will be up to my surgeon, I know, but I'm praying for that to be the news. I can dream right?! 

Speaking of dreams, still having these teeth dreams. Last nights consisted of me having my surgery but the surgeon forgot to wire me shut, so when I got home I tried to eat and my lower jaw fell off... ha I'm not real sure about these...

Another quick thing- I have posted a video similar to this one before, but I've found one that goes into a little more detail than the first one! (It's in Spanish but you get the gist.)

Dbl jaw surgery

I will post again after my visit, if I'm in a good mood :) 

Crossing my fingers!
Britt

Bad dream!!!

Hi Friends!
Today I am suffering from a migraine so I came home from work early and was going to try to sleep it away. But during my nap, instead of sleeping blissfully, I had an awful dream regarding my teeth. Yes, my teeth, because only someone that is going through or has gone through this traumatic experience will have dreams or nightmares about their teeth ;).
It all started as a regular ol' dream; the ones you cant really explain. Then it got crazy. I was at home taking a nap, coincidentally, and when I awoke I realized that my bottom wire had came loose. I went to the bathroom and it just fell out. So I called my dentist in a panic because it was already about 5:00 pm and I was worried that they wouldn't be able to get me in.  Thankfully, there was someone there and they told me to go ahead and come in.  I get there and it was not my normal dentist but some man and woman that immediately started getting to work on me.  They grabbed syringes and say they have to give me some drugs so I wont feel any pain. I begin to freak a little because its only a WIRE! Then, for whatever reason they start to put in a power chain, which I haven't had and I start kicking a screaming! That's really all from the dream that I can explain, but I will just say it was very strange.  It isn't the first dream I have had about my teeth/braces. I had one a couple weeks ago in which my whole set of teeth, top and bottom, came out as a whole, from my mouth. Yeah, pretty weird.
According to many google searches, my dreams about teeth have other meanings. I feel financially unstable.  Hm... yep, got it. :)

Well I guess I can say at least they haven't really fallen out, and within HOPEFULLY at the least 6 months, I will have a beautiful set of choppers.

Ill post soon!

Tears of joy

Well, I'm spending my Friday evening searching YouTube vids on dbl jaw surgery.  I don't know if it gets much better, right? It was going great until I stumbled upon a particular video.  Not only did I sob through the whole thing, but it really made me think about my own situation.  The clip is from a show called "Life Changers" with host Dr. Drew (whom I loveee!). He has people on his show and listens to their specific situation, then helps them out with whatever endeavors they are going through.  The particular one I was watching was about a young girl in serious need of double jaw surgery.  Her insurance was not willing to pay and her parents could not begin to afford this almost $50,000 surgery. Dr. Drew and his connections surprised her, agreeing to take care of the whole process including the braces! Her story really got to me.  I felt her sadness because I, too, feel like I'm always being gawked at because of my underbite. Eating is hard and the jaw pain is worse.  So amazing that she is getting her surgery and braces done.  It makes me sad to think that there are people out there that need this process, but yet cannot afford it or their insurance wont cover it.  There are people in serious need of medical/orthodontic work that have to go without.  I thank GOD that I am fortunate enough to be starting my jaw surgery process.
Here are some links to the YouTube clips!

Unaffordable Surgery & Family Heartbreak

She Needs Surgery & Cant Afford it

A Dream Becomes a Reality

Vent shesh

Hey friends! Just got back from my latest ortho visit! And I would just like to say, that I am so utterly sick and tired of this mouth full of metal.  Every visit to the ortho I have such a positive outlook, and every time I leave it feels like a waste of time.  I know I know, it takes time.  But I just am so eager to hear my ortho say "Well Brittany, you're surgery ready!" But noooo, its just "Welp, see ya in a couple months!" BLEH!
Enough of the venting, and more to the details.  Today at my ortho visit, they applied a thicker wire and gave me stronger rubber bands.  He said I am progressing just as I should and everything looks great.  My next visit will consist of getting new pano images and then they will be moving some brackets around to different spots on my teeth.  That's about all that has changed with my teeth! Boorrrinnggg.
Oh, and let me tell you... having braces while at 21 is so awesome (hint of sarcasm).  Out at the bar the other night and a man approaches me- "Do you have BRACES!?" Obviously all I can say is "Well, yes I have braces." Then he proceeds to inform me of how "cute and adorable" I am with my braces. NOT exactly the attention I want to be getting ha! I wanted to say "Well you just wait mister! Because when I get these off I will be smokin' hot!" lol too far?
For some comic relief: I can imagine these are the looks that some may have given in response to my appearance with these disgusting braces and my awful bite...

whaaaaaa?!

oh my gooshhhh!

AHHHHHH!

Because those snapshots depict me so fabulously, I'll throw this one in too :)

Well that's all for now!