Well, not quite 3 hours, but today's orthodontist appointment was a LONG one. I started at 10:45 and didn't leave until almost 1. I got new records taken (pictures, xrays, measurements, etc) and new surgical molds done. The whole thing I went through with the molds right before surgery had to be redone today. I think because they are seriously looking at what is up and if I have to get bounced back to the surgeon. I guess that is a good thing. I'm glad they are looking at this from every angle. The xrays I got was this awesome new 3d machine. The xray looked so cool!! It can be rotated on all axis for a 3d view. I wish I could have just sat and played with it for a few minutes, but I had to jump back in the chair. I am going to try to get a copy to post, and hopefully I can get some software on my laptop to allow me to rotate it because it was just freaking cool to see. The plates and screws in my face were really pronounced on this 3d thing. Kinda weird to see all that hardware in my face. All of it looked like it was in the same position as my post op xrays, so I guess my theory of something loose or broken to cause this crooked jaw can be thrown out the window now.
I got some bottom brackets rebonded. Rebonding brackets always sucks, but it sucks more post op because those retractors they put in to hold your lips back get shoved in against fresh incision sites that just had stitches fall out, and you can't really open that wide still. Same with the molds-- was a little tough since I'm not opening all the way yet. And I was so afraid they would pull my jaw off my face when they went to take those mold trays out (those of you who have had impressions done will know what I'm talking about with the force of those trays coming out!), but they were super gentle and took their time with me and everything was fine. The measurements sucked. I didn't like what I heard for the most part. My overjet is at 3mm, which is the top end of normal. I know it definitely does not feel as big as what I had pre op, but I was shocked to hear 3mm. My top midline is off 2-3mm to the right, which coincidentally is how far my jaw is canted to the right. Pretty much the whole thing, midline and all, is just shifted over to the right in a bad way. He put the cant about 5 degrees (I think that is what he said-- I'll have to double check). I don't know how bad 5 degrees is, but I know it looks pretty bad. I think the only positive I heard in all the numbers was that I could open up to 33mm. I wasn't even trying super hard to crank open, but I think 33mm is pretty good for 6 weeks post op.
I think they are getting the molds mounted and he'll send all the new info up to my surgeon. I don't know how she'll look at the molds since she doesn't have them in hand. Maybe I'll take them up on my next follow up. I don't even have a follow up booked with her-- or my orthodontist for that matter-- until they look at all this new info and figure out what the plan is.
I've been trying to find more info on my situation. Been looking for blogs to see if anybody else has been in my shoes or at least similar to my shoes. I found this today and it gives me a little hope:
http://jackedupjaw.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
Speaking of looking at blogs-- I have a confession to make, and it's kind of along the same lines of the whole 'feeling bad about feeling bad' theme in my last post. I'm part of the blogosphere for all the jaw stuff. I'm also on some forum groups and facebook pages for all of it as well. I love reading other people's blogs about their journeys and hearing everybody's stuff on fb, but I just started getting a twinge of jealousy. I guess I can call it jealousy. I don't know how to describe it. I am still ecstatic for these people and everybody gushing about their awesome outcomes and perfect bites, but part of me just gets even more bummed. And I feel bad about feeling this way, but I guess this too is also normal/human. It's tough being in the minority on this one. Tough seeing everybody's stuff coming out the way I wanted mine to come out. And speaking of minority-- one of the assistants in the office today said in her 12 years there she has only seen one patient get bounced back to their surgeon. I like being different, but this is not the stand out group I wanted to be in this time.
I have to go in for pictures to update my records tomorrow. Maybe they'll have news on the molds and xrays, but I wouldn't expect to get any news on that realistically until next week. Here's to more waiting.......
I got some bottom brackets rebonded. Rebonding brackets always sucks, but it sucks more post op because those retractors they put in to hold your lips back get shoved in against fresh incision sites that just had stitches fall out, and you can't really open that wide still. Same with the molds-- was a little tough since I'm not opening all the way yet. And I was so afraid they would pull my jaw off my face when they went to take those mold trays out (those of you who have had impressions done will know what I'm talking about with the force of those trays coming out!), but they were super gentle and took their time with me and everything was fine. The measurements sucked. I didn't like what I heard for the most part. My overjet is at 3mm, which is the top end of normal. I know it definitely does not feel as big as what I had pre op, but I was shocked to hear 3mm. My top midline is off 2-3mm to the right, which coincidentally is how far my jaw is canted to the right. Pretty much the whole thing, midline and all, is just shifted over to the right in a bad way. He put the cant about 5 degrees (I think that is what he said-- I'll have to double check). I don't know how bad 5 degrees is, but I know it looks pretty bad. I think the only positive I heard in all the numbers was that I could open up to 33mm. I wasn't even trying super hard to crank open, but I think 33mm is pretty good for 6 weeks post op.
I think they are getting the molds mounted and he'll send all the new info up to my surgeon. I don't know how she'll look at the molds since she doesn't have them in hand. Maybe I'll take them up on my next follow up. I don't even have a follow up booked with her-- or my orthodontist for that matter-- until they look at all this new info and figure out what the plan is.
I've been trying to find more info on my situation. Been looking for blogs to see if anybody else has been in my shoes or at least similar to my shoes. I found this today and it gives me a little hope:
http://jackedupjaw.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
Speaking of looking at blogs-- I have a confession to make, and it's kind of along the same lines of the whole 'feeling bad about feeling bad' theme in my last post. I'm part of the blogosphere for all the jaw stuff. I'm also on some forum groups and facebook pages for all of it as well. I love reading other people's blogs about their journeys and hearing everybody's stuff on fb, but I just started getting a twinge of jealousy. I guess I can call it jealousy. I don't know how to describe it. I am still ecstatic for these people and everybody gushing about their awesome outcomes and perfect bites, but part of me just gets even more bummed. And I feel bad about feeling this way, but I guess this too is also normal/human. It's tough being in the minority on this one. Tough seeing everybody's stuff coming out the way I wanted mine to come out. And speaking of minority-- one of the assistants in the office today said in her 12 years there she has only seen one patient get bounced back to their surgeon. I like being different, but this is not the stand out group I wanted to be in this time.
I have to go in for pictures to update my records tomorrow. Maybe they'll have news on the molds and xrays, but I wouldn't expect to get any news on that realistically until next week. Here's to more waiting.......
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