Orthodontia for wusses
Thank you thank you thank you Courtland for advising I take my naproxen BEFORE the first post-op orth appointment. Oh boy. I don’t know how they do it in that office. They are so nice and sweet and accommodating…and when you sit in the chair they inflict so much pain, and they remain nice and calm and sweet and they say “Oh, sorry if this hurts.” Are people who work in orthodontia secret sadists? “Ah, the tears are about to crest and pour down her face. My work here is done.”
So, yesterday was my first visit to the orthodontist since the Day of Surge. You know what they wanted me to do? Open my mouth. What’s up with that? And the words they kept repeating “A little wider”…those are NOT cool words. If looks could kill, I might be in jail right now…but I kept my eyes closed (as if I was hiding from the pain). I told them about all the good stuff that has come from the surgery (because you know they mostly hear the ow stuff all the time and that would drive me nuts). I told them I haven’t used the CPAP machine since the surgery. I showed off my new chin. I told them about my nightmares pre-surgery vs. “normal” dreams post-surgery. They looked excited and did a very good job of pretending they knew what I was talking about and that it mattered to them.
Now this may sound callous, and I know it mattered to them a little, but a lot of the time when people ask how you are doing, they are not looking for an involved answer. And even in your doctor’s office when they ask if you have noticed any major changes after your surgery, unless it’s a good story, they probably just want to hear a yes or no answer. That’s just my take on it. I really like everyone at Dr. Quo’s office. They are awesome and funny and I don’t think they want anyone to be in pain, but they know that the pain is for the greater good and someday you will flash a perfect toothy grin at them as you walk out of the office for the last time and everyone involved will know it was all worth it.
That being said: last night SUCKED. hehe. My appointment was in the morning and they told me it would be long because they may be repositioning brackets. I had no idea what that meant but it wouldn’t have prevented me from going to my appointment, so there I was in chair #4 with “a little wider” repeating over and over, and cheek spreaders were involved (I realise it’s a logical name, but when outside of the ortho’s office when you say they used cheek spreaders people look at you as if you’ve WAY overshared), and when they reposition brackets, what that means is they are going to cut off the brackets you have, SCRAPE the remaining cement off your teeth, and then SCRAPE the cement they missed the first time, and then SCRAPE the invisible cement…oh my Lord. The first tooth that encountered the cement scrape gave me such intense feedback I YELPED. Couldn’t help it. Didn’t even know it was coming. Just SCRAPE-YELP. Rinse. Repeat. 6 teeth. Front lower. And the right side of my mouth which has been kind of the problem child side anyhow, well, it is existing in a state of constant “Don’t touch me” pain…not pain killer pain…I’m maxed out on my naproxen doses…it’s really just the feeling that someone has corsetted the roots of my teeth and has roped them to the back of a dump truck and is slowly driving forward. Did I mention that I have been cemented in place, so the roots of my teeth, which are following the dump truck they have been tied to, are slowly migrating out of my face…just enough tension to make me a very pleasant person. Yeah. Don’t come over today.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Hey Shelby,
You just reminded me of something I didn’t even know to dread - the postop orthodontia. Sounds delightful. I guess I just thought that once the initial surgery pain was resolved that everything would be gravy. Oh well.
I know what you mean about those bottom front teeth being sensitive. They are the reason that I have just about quit drinking iced tea (beverage of choice) with ice. It is hard to enjoy a refreshing beverage when you are whincing in pain!
Hey, friendly reminder here, when are you going to post some more pre-op and recent pics? Inquiring minds are patiently waiting.
Anne
ps - you cracked me up with the cheek spreader comments. Funny visual in my mind.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Hi Shelby,
I found your blog on the sleepnet forum. You are hilarious! Anyway…I will be having Upper, lower, and genio done in May to correct my sleep apnea issues. I had palate expansion surgery last March and have been in full orthodontics for a year now.
Originally I was only going to be having (BSSO) lower jaw advancement, but due to the orthodontic change advancement would be at best 4mm, which is not going to fix my apnea, so now the plan has changed and we are going to do the full deal. Wish I could say I’m excited, and well I am in terms of getting rid of my apnea, but the surgery itself, and of course the very long recovery I’m not looking forward to.
Aside from you, is Summer the only one that has had a MMA? I have a lot of surgery buddies on my blog who have had this surgery done to correct occulusal, or facial dysharmony issues, but you are the only women I have found doing it for sleep apnea relief like myself.
I would love to chat with you about how far you were advanced etc. Have a great day!
Brandy
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Hey Brandy! Thanks for writing.
You are going to do fine. I completely understand your worries…I almost feel like I was luckier having done less research than more. I mean, I found the guys’ blogs on sleepnet and honestly couldn’t imagine what I might look like post surgery, so I kind of just chalked it up to “gaining a chin” and left it at that. You have a lovely face. I looked at your blog. What does your profile look like? I am going to put up pix asap of pre surgery and even pre braces profile. I have until now left the picture part of my blog in Courtland’s court (hehe) but he is kind of…um…very behind and that is overwhelming to him and so he falls more behind…which I completely understand becaise that has been my life up until now. How about you? Always falling behind? Then getting more tired and overwhelmed? The good results post surgery FAR outweigh the temporary bad part of recovery. I’ve believed that since the day I was diagnosed.
My surgery resulted in I think a 14mm advancement of my lower jaw and a few of my upper. Instead of simply coming forward with the jaws, my doc actually rotated my jaws forward and up. It’s weird seeing more of my chin than I’d even imagined possible, but day by day it gets a little easier.
To be honest, some days (only three times since surgery) I burst into tears when I look in the mirror because I think I look funny. I think to myself “If only I had appreciated what I looked like when I looked like that” because now that I look different I think I may have been kind of cute. And now I feel like a big frowning monster.
Note to self (And this is what I remind myself after I get upset or think about getting upset): my face is still numb so of course I’m going to be perma-frown when I’m not smiling. There is still swelling in my neck and lower jaw line so of course I am going to be doing my Droopy Dawg imitation while that is still there. And MOST IMPORTANTLY…I CAN BREATHE at night and not worry about dying like my grandpa did. It’s impossible to imagine how you will feel when you no longer have sleep apnea. Look forward to the wonders and amazement you will find when you are cured!
Good luck! Keep in touch!
Shelby
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:02 pm
You are definitely NOT a wuss!
And, while I always thought you were pretty cute before your surgery, what I’ve seen of your post-op pictures and new chin is very encouraging. Doubtless, it’ll take some getting used to. But I’m guessing you’re going to end up very happy with it.
Besides, alive is always cuter than dead. =)