Elastics are in!

When I went in today, Nicky the nurse commented "Ooo she can open now", when I answered how I was and she saw my teeth opening a bit as I spoke, hehe.

Mr S had a look at my teeth and how much I can open my mouth.

He then got some elastics and fitted them on the hooks (some on brackets, some on hooks attached for surgery).

These I find out are attached to bring my teeth together in a better bite as when my teeth are shut my teeth are not sitting right.

I was hoping the hooks attached for my surgery would be coming out as they were beginning to hurt my gums as my mouth was now free.

He then got a mirror and showed me how he had attached the elastics.

He put one elastic on each side of my mouth in a square shape, going over 4 hooks. Then doubled these up by placing another one on top.

He said I need to make sure I use the same hooks and change the elastics each time I eat, drink etc as they are latex and don't stay strong very long for the pressure needed.

He gave me 3 packs and drew a diagram on one of the packs. He said I may find it easier with tweezers first but should be able to use my fingers once I get used to it.

He said he can see my gum is loose on both sides of my mouth and it should tighten as my mouth loosens up and I can stretch the gum again.

I see him again in 2 weeks.

He asked about my vein and I told him Mr O said it's nothing to worry about.

When I got home, I had a look in my mirror and wrote down the exact location of each elastic on which hook etc. This helped me to find the right hooks easily.

My first elastic change after lunch took me 20 mins!

NB: Yeserday I went to see the doctor for a new sick note and found out my blood test results are fine.

Wires cut! (maxillofacial)

I was nervous going today as I had weird dreams about having my wires cut and not being able to shut my mouth as my jaw hung open, eek..

Mr O cut my wires today. There were 2 people observing, he showed them my teeth before in the fixed position then got wire cutters and had difficulty cutting the wires open then pulling them out.

It was a bit scary as he was going in with the cutters and I was opening my lips as wide as I could.

After the wires were cut and removed, he asked me to open and close. I could open and close my mouth a small amount. He said the stiffness will go away eventually.

He told me to clean my teeth before seeing Mr S as I have a build up of some gunk on my teeth.

I asked about my vein, telling him that Mr S said I should ask about it as the vein looks like it has a clot and he said it's nothing to worry about.

He said he'll see me again in 6 weeks.

As I came home I was thinking I need to remember my teeth are no longer wired up as I could feel I was still talking with my teeth shut.

I cleaned my teeth the best I could when I got home with a small brush I had. I couldn't clean my teeth very well though as my mouth is quite stiff so I couldn't clean the inside of my teeth. Oh well it all takes time!

Thoughtful Mr S

I went to this orthodontics appointment armed with questions.

Today there was an observer who Mr S was showing and explaining things to.

As Mr S had a look inside my mouth, he was showing the observer how my teeth are all wired together and explained that I had my lower jaw moved back and my upper jaw moved forward and down. He was showing my scar and as he was pressing it, it was causing me pain and he told the observer, that the area is still delicate.

Mr S said all is well and asked if I was hurting anywhere. I told him my left side was hurting on the inside at the back, he has a look and said he can see my gum is starting to gather up as it cannot be stretched and is sitting on my teeth. He said once I can stretch my mouth it will be fine.

I showed him my raised vein and he noted that it looks like a clot as the rest of the vein is no longer in use and my hand is getting blood through a different vein instead. I'd never noticed the vein wasn't being used before, weird!

He said to ask Mr O about it next week and to let him know what they say so he can chase it up for me. Aww how sweet of him! :o)

Mr S asked when my wires are cut. I said next weeks, so they are giving me an appointment on the Thurs to fit elastics in as they are fully booked for next Wed.

Healing well.. (maxillofacial)

At the Maxillofacial department today I got a quick check up to see how I am doing.

Mr O wasn't there today, I got introduced to a new guy today on the team. He had a look inside my mouth and said everything's fine and the stitches in my mouth are healing well.

They also asked to have a look at my hip, he said I don't need the dressings on and that it is healing up fine.

My Dad also told them that I fell down the stairs last week when I fainted after having a shower and they didn't seem worried.

I think my Dad wants someone to show concern as when I went to the doctor last week as an emergency, he said I was fine and just asked me to get some blood tests booked so they could check my cholesterol, blood sugar and whether i'm anaemic etc.

Wires will be cut in 2 weeks!

Bruising has gone!

My bruises on my arms have now more or less gone. The only bit which is still painful is the raised vein which hasn't settled down yet.

Today I went to see the nurse as I took the lil dressings off my hip and it looks like I have an infection as one bit looks yellowish.

The nurse said it is fine, I just need to cover it up with dressings to stop it from rubbing against my clothes.

Checkups galore and hip stitches taken out (maxillofacial)

Busy day today. Had to go for two appointments in different hospitals.

I had my orthodontic appointment in the morning with Mr S.
I went with my boyfriend to this app.

Mr S had a look around my mouth again and was generally pleased.
He said he won't go to cut the stitches near the back of my mouth as it would be a bit uncomfortable for me as my lips would be pulled around.

He asked me about the whole experience so far and said he'd like it if I wrote down all the good and bad things that have happened to me throughout my operation and stay in hospital. He said this will help future patients as the sheet they gave me are all from previous patients suggestions.

He then asked if I preferred having my lower jaw done in this way (ie cut, no plates used and wired shut for 6 weeks) compared to the other method.

I said I prefer this way as I was told the other way has a higher risk of losing feeling to lip, tongue, chin etc even though I wouldn't be wired up.

He said it's interesting as all the patients he has asked have preferred being wired-up.

I told him my hip stitches were coming out this afternoon.
He wants to see me again after his holiday, so they said two weeks, although the appointment I got is actually in three weeks!

So in the afternoon I went to see Mr O with my Dad.
I was nervous about this app because of my stitches being taken out even though I've been told by lots of people not to worry. I'm a worrier!

We got there and waited a while then got called in by the guy on the surgical team (whose name I really need to find out!)

Mr O asked how I was and had a look inside my mouth. He said the top of my mouth has healed up well where it was cut.

He then asked if it was okay for a young student dentist to have a look, I said sure and they showed the student how my teeth are all wired up and explained what they did.

Mr O then went out of the room and the guy from the surgical team and a nurse told me they were going to remove my stitches.

He put some alcohol on the dressing first to remove that without pulling my skin too much. Then cut the bead higher on my hip and pulled the rest out from the lower end. I made a face and the nurse asked if I was okay. I said "Yeah, I just thought it would hurt". It didn't hurt at all!

The guy told me he's not removing the lil dressing strips on my scar and said they'll come off when I have a shower etc.

Mr O then came back into the room and said my swelling was going down well but my upper swelling would take it's time.

My Dad commented on how we have been taking photos every day to see the swelling progress. Mr O said he'd like to see the progress from our photos, hehe.

I asked him about a lighter mark on the corner of my lip, he had a look and said it looks like pigmentation. I said some skin came off from there after the operation. He said it should go away, I also asked about a raised vein caused by the drip and he said that should go too.

Next app is in two weeks.

No more painkillers! (maxillofacial)

I went to see Mr O my surgeon.

He was pleased with my progress and had a quick look inside my mouth.
He said the stitches on my hip can come out next week. I made a face and my Dad commented that I've been very worried as I thought the stitches were coming out today.

Mr O said "It won't hurt, it'll be like a tickle, they'll just cut one bead and pull the rest through, even you can pull it if you like"
I was thinking, no thanks, lol.

He asked about my numbness and whether I've been having any feeling, I said now and again I get itches on my upper lip and pins and needles sometimes. He said that's good as it means I'm starting to get some feeling back.

The sooner, the better I say.. I'm finding it annoying as my nose still leaks and I can't feel it. I have to always have a tissue with me, hehe.

We asked for some new dressings for my hip as everytime I shower I need to change it as it gets wet. Next app is for next week.

NB: I have now stopped taking painkillers as I'm no longer in so much pain.