A year and a half later....

..and I still love my teeth and smile! I haven't had any issues to speak of, except that I still have the 'tingly' feeling in the middle of my bottom lip and my chin. Some of that feeling may never come back, but honestly I don't care at all. So happy that I went through this. If anyone out there has questions about the process or just wants to chat about it, let me know!

All done

Well kids, I did it....I got the braces, I suffered the endless hassles of picking at my teeth, feeling uncomfortable in professional settings, getting carded every time I wanted a drink since I looked like a 15 year old, etc etc...and now it's all over. A few notes:

• Getting the braces off did not hurt at all- it felt kind of like I was getting my teeth cleaned. Might have helped that I took a Tylenol 3 in advance, but who knows


• I did get the 'my teeth are huge and slimy' feeling for a day or two- didn't last long at all


• I am shocked at how many people I've seen since getting them off that haven't seemed to notice. It's very surprising


• I still don't have full feeling in my lower lip and chin (due to the surgery), but I do have more feeling than I did a month or two ago....I haven't given up hope that I will get all feeling back


• If I had to do it all over again, I would- no question. The pain and annoyance were not even the hardest part- it was the cost of the surgery that was the biggest pill to swallow

So that's that....I really do hope that this blog helps others who may look into having orthognathic surgery at some point! Below are my final two pictures:

5 Months, 6 days Post Op

Hola! I know, I know...it's been a REALLY long time since I've written a proper blog regarding my surgery/braces. Why so long, you may ask? Mainly because I haven't had ANY updates! Since my last post I've had zero changes. There are a few things that I still can't eat- for example, I still can't bite into a solid apple and eat it that way (I'm scared to try) and I still can't eat taffy or anything chewy like that due to the braces (not the jaw recovery). I still have numbness in my lower lip and chin area. I'm still told that this is normal, but in all reality I'm terrified that the feeling will never come back. My teeth are straight and my jaw is working just fine. My bite feels perfect to me...as perfect as it's ever been, anyway.

I had an orthodontist appointment last week. I had my fingers crossed when I went into the office, hoping that I would at least get the "Braces Off" date and/or be able to stop wearing these dang rubber bands! My lips and gums are SO irritated (still) from the rubber bands- they are NOT fun. In order to get the bands where they are suppose to go, I have to open my mouth as wide as possible and stretch one end of the rubber band back to the very top back tooth...while keeping enough slack in the rubber band to zig zag up several teeth. I hope that makes sense. Anyway, when I do that, the rubber band cuts into the very corners of my mouth! Seriously, I have tons of tiny, itty bitty cuts on the corners of my mouth...OUCH.



So I ended up getting good news and bad news. Bad news first- I have to keep wearing the rubber bands. The bands are keeping my bite where it is suppose to be...and they help my jaw learn where it's suppose to be when it's 'resting.' Good news- I only have to wear them for one more week because MY BRACES ARE COMING OFF NEXT MONDAY!! Whoot whoot! I almost cried in the office during my appointment because I was so excited. I knew I was getting close, but I didn't know I was this close! I'm so excited! I'm nervous, mainly because my teeth are still uber sensitive and I'm not sure how much the braces coming off is going hurt, but I can handle anything at this point....I'm ready.

So next Monday at 9am I will go into Dr. Smith's office to have my braces taken off. The Doc is then going to put a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth (behind them to keep them in place- it won't show) and I'll have a regular retainer to wear at night on my top teeth. I can't even imagine what my teeth are going to feel like without all this metal! Seriously...I've forgotten. I'll have some 'after' shots taken at the orthodontist right after they finish up. Then, I'll have to schedule a follow-up with my surgeon so that he can do my 'after' pics as well. I'm curious to put all the pics side by side to see what it looks like....I'll share, don't worry.

I guess what I'm most excited about is NOT being paranoid about my teeth anymore. I've NEVER felt that way. Forever I was constantly hiding my teeth so that no one would notice how crooked they were. Then, when I got braces, I was always paranoid that I had something in my teeth or that I looked like a 15 year old. I've never been comfortable just smiling...ever. I'm thrilled at the thought of just not thinking about my teeth anymore and just living with them! It will definitely make me more willing to smile in pictures...and will make me much more comfortable giving presentations and what-not. Dang, I'm excited.

So yes, that's my big news. One more week, baby. I've already scheduled a cleaning and whitening for the following weeks (couldn't in til June, though). Below is how happy I am right now. =)

5 Months Post-Op

This is just a tease- will be updating everyone this weekend sometime....I have news!

3 Months and 2 Weeks post-op

Hello hello....I know, it's been a while. Today marks my three months and two weeks post- surgery date. Does it seem like it's been that long to you? Sure does to me...life with braces tends to crawl by. I do have a few updates, though:

1. As far as my jaw goes, I can eat whatever I want. I can chew as well as anyone I suppose
2. The muscles around my mouth are still adjusting to my face's new 'layout.' When I chew something really chewy...like gum..I still have difficulty keeping my mouth shut while I chew. It's weird and makes me choose very carefully what I will eat in front of people


3. I still do not have feeling in my lower lip/chin area. There is a constant tingling, so I guess that means it's healing, but it's really driving me crazy. I can't wait til it feels normal again. How long will that take? Could be a few more months...could be never. Only time will tell. If my feeling never comes back it's going to be really depressing.


4. My teeth are looking great- straight as straight can be, I suppose. Went to the orthodontist for a check up yesterday and was told I might be braceless by June.


5. Did I mention that I CRIED during my ortho appointment? Seriously. 12 year old girls can get braces and be just fine, but I ended up tearing up? It was so embarrassing. The lady that was changing out my wire was having a lot of difficulty and kept putting a lot of pressure on me....and I guess my teeth are just uber sensitive post surgery, cause it made me cry. I was so embarrassed. The lady felt really bad about it, but I don't feel bad about her feeling bad. I've had most of the ladies in that office mess with my braces, and she was by far the worst as far as trying to make sure I wasn't in pain. For a second, I honestly thought she was going to break my jaw. I'm not kidding.


6. So yesterday I got out of my thicker wire and into a smaller one...my last wire before I have none! This wire doesn't hurt or anything, so that's good.


7. The worst part about yesterday is that Dr. Smith put me in 'ostrich' rubber bands. For those of you who haven't had braces, the bands now have animal names...I think so that people will remember what they are in? Who knows. Anyway, ostrich rubber bands are really long and really skinny so that they can connect several teeth at a time. On each side of my mouth, I have to start the band on the back, top tooth and zig zag it (connect to lower one, the up and over, then the one under that, then up and over, etc etc) across like 8-9 teeth. By the time I get both bands on, my jaw might as well be wired shut. I can't even open it wide enough to get in an advil! My back molars need to turn up and connect with my top teeth a little different...that's what the ostrich bands are suppose to accomplish. THEY HURT LIKE HELL...and I have to wear them all the time (except meals) for the next two months. I'm sooo not excited. I kept waking up in pain last night, and when I woke up this morning I wanted to cry. It felt like I had pushed my teeth together as hard as possible all night long. Again, I don't know how little kids do this! I feel like such a wuss!


8. So, I do the bands...keep cleaning well...and go back to the ortho in May. I'm suppose to get my 'braces off' date at that appointment...I can't wait. I'm going to have a huge party when this is all over with. =)

10 1/2 Weeks Post-Op

Great news- my surgeon doesn't want to see me again until my braces are off! He told me that I'm healing perfectly, that I can try to eat whatever I would like, and that there is nothing more he can do....except take my 'after' photos once my braces are off. =) He also told me to tell my orthodontist that he thinks I'll be good to go to get my braces off in April or May opposed to June or July. I can't wait to tell Dr. Smith and see if he'll be willing to 'de-brace' me sooner than originally planned- I HOPE SO!

Since I am able to eat so many things now, I've already started gaining some of the weight that I lost this past year back. I have dedicated this week to a 'do-over' week and am getting back on track with eating better so that I can maintain the weight loss I have had over the past year...will keep you posted.

Besides that news, I have nothing new to report. My next Ortho appt isn't until mid-March.

I am definitely setting up a personal blog- hoping that it will be up and running by the end of this week. In personal news, I had a b-day last week (the big 2-8) and was blessed to get to hang out with some great people. It's taken me several years to really realize how blessed I am when it comes to friends, but man do I realize it now!

Chris was very sweet to me for my b-day and V-day....I am truly spoiled rotten. Chris actually makes me a homemade V-day card every single year, and this year the card was just precious. Not only was it really sweet, but the card was really pretty technical and he put lots of thought and work into it. See the card below- it's a pop up! I would tell you what the bottom of the card says so that you know how sweet it is....but I think Chris would probably kill me. Sorry.

Hope all is well!

Exactly 9 Weeks Post-Op

This post isn't going to be too fancy or witty- I'm in a hotel room in Texas (again) watching LOST and I'm on a commercial break. Yes, now you understand my priorities. =) So today marks 9 weeks since my surgery date- does it seem like it's only been 9 weeks to you? Seems like a lot longer to me, that's for sure. You might be wondering why I haven't posted about a surgical follow-up recently....that's because I haven't had one. I've been traveling 3 out of the last five weeks, so I had to move some appointments around. I was all set to go in last week, but then I got iced into my house for a few days and had to move my appointment yet again. Anyway, my new appointment is this Friday....but I don't really expect much more than a "looks good."

So I just realized that I have never posted about the surgial costs that I've endured by having this surgery. Most of my friends and family don't really care, but this blog is mostly for people having the surgery or considering the surgery....so it's something that should be covered. First of all, unless you get diagnosed with TMJ, this jaw is considered an elective surgery. This was very frustrating to me, considering my underbite had gottten so bad that I couldn't bite correctly and looked quite abnormal from the side. This surgery was definitely not 'elective' for me....or cosmetic. Getting braces was cosmetic for me...the surgery was to correct my bite. I don't understand why insurance companies can't see the difference. So, once I knew that my surgery was termed elective, I had two options from my insurance- have the surgery in the hospital or have the surgery in my surgeon's office as an out-patient. This was a troubling decision for me.

On one hand...having it in the hospital I would have been hooked up to an IV (and IV drugs) all night and would have had nurse's care for at least 24 hours. This was very appealing to me. It also would have helped give Chris a break for an extra day or two. This surgery had to have been hard on him as well (although he's never said so, has never complained and didn't seemed phased at all), and it would have been nice not to put him out. Being in the hospital was also appealing for my high-anxiety self...knowing people were there to help me if something went terribly wrong. On the other hand, my costs were much less doing it out-patient, I was surrounded by people who do this surgery all the time and are use to reactions, etc, and being home after the surgery was somewhat appealing to me as well.

Honestly, I wanted to have the surgery in the hospital- simply for the reassurance that I wouldn't be in pain and that I'd have emergency care a few steps away. In the end, however, the surgical costs were going to be a little over $10,000 more for having in the hospital, so I elected to do it outpatient. In the end, I ended up paying almost $20,000 out of pocket for the surgery. Shocking, isn't it? Trust me, I know. To think of all the things that one could do for all that money! If my teeth hadn't gotten as bad as they did, I never would have had the surgery simply based on the costs....but I didn't have a choice when it came down to it. How does one come up with this amount of money in just a couple of months? Sure, there are lots of options- cash in some of my 401k (and end up losing a lot more than $20k by cashing out), take out a personal loan, pay part of it and charge part of it....and whatever else you can think of. In the end, a true blessing from God is what got my surgery taken care of.

In Jr. High and High School I was very close to 2 girls. We spent almost every single weekend together...and in fact I spent probably 3-4 school nights with them each week. I grew up in the boonies and was very involved at school, so my parents were understanding about me wanting to stay 'in town.' Anyway, spending this much time with my friends was also spending this much time with their families. One of my friends in particular has quite phenominal parents- always very understanding, always supportive, always willing to let me hang out, etc. I really considered this friends' parents another set of my parents. Truth be told, in some ways, they were better parents to me than my own. These two folks will always be dear to my heart and I owe them so much for the way I am and the way I want to be. I love them. One thing about my other parents is that they use to not have too much as far as money/belongings go, but they worked very hard in their live...they paid their dues....they were smart and thrify and dedicated....and it paid off greatly for them. They are now blessed with great wealth- which they put to great use through charities, helping people, bettering their surroundings and so much more. Meeting them and being around them you would never know that they are so wealthy- it's inspiring how they are still the same people although their situation has completely changed.

Over the years, I have always gone to this set of parents for financial advice, loans (to fix cars, to buy a car in high school, etc....which I always paid back), a shoulder to cry on, a buddy to drink wine with, professional advice on my career....anything and everything. Of course I went to them about the surgery- there is no way I wanted to do something stupid (like put it on my credit card) if that would hurt me later and there was something smarter (like cashing out my 401k) for me to do. I did not go to them for a loan...and I never ever considered that....until I got a phone call one night and my other mother said something like "you know, we thought about what you should do, and we thought it would be silly of you to cash in your 401k or charge it on your credit card when we can just loan you the money." I, of course, started crying immediately. It was so caring...so giving....so thoughtful....SO MUCH. I've learned not to mix businesses/money with friends/family, and I figured it was just too much to accept. My other mother convinced me otherwise. She has told me over the years that God wouldn't have blessed her with her wealth if he didn't want her to do something with it- and she feels that if she can make peoples' lives easier/better/happier, then she can and will. She's amazing. So yes, she wrote me a check. And yes, I'm making hefty monthly payments and will pay her back as quickly as I can. It was such a blessing. And you know what? When I am settled...and when I don't have to worry about money anymore....and when I am able to...I am going to help someone else. I may not be able to write them a $20,000 check, but I will make a difference in their lives.

So that's that. As far as my progress goes, I'm doing great. I'm trying more and more foods and find that I can eat most things...just not in public. ;) For example, I can make a sandwich and eat it at home, but I would never eat a sandwich in public because it's just too messy. My problem is that I can't chew and keep my lips together. I can chew, yes...it's just that my mouth is wide open if I open my mouth more than a half-inch. This is not a pretty sight! My jaw is working fine, but my muscles around my jaw and my lips are still getting use to things. For example, I cannot make a 'fish face' anymore- you know, the one where you suck the corner of your lips in? When I try to do it, it looks like I'm trying to pucker. I can't pucker, either. Well I can, but it's not normal yet....looks strained. My top lip is really feeling now, but it is also still a little tingly from the nerve damage...I'm hoping this heals soon. My lower lip and chin don't have much feeling at all, but I can tell they are healing because of the itching and tingling all the time. Once I have all my feeling back I will feel like a normal person again....I'm going to ask the doc when to expect this to come back because I'm getting frustrated. I still can't normally kiss my hubby and feel it! Not fun!

Well, that's about it- let me know if you have any questions! The doc had originally said that I'd be 100% normal as far as my functionality goes (not including the nerve damage/feeling) at 12 weeks...which puts me near the end of February. I'm excited! Enjoy the pics below- I'm cheesin' out.

9 week front view: 9 week profile:
Look mom, three fingers! Not too far in, but there are three! YAY!