10 day countdown

The title says it all (:

10 DAYS TO GO! I woke up today realizing I have one more Saturday left with my jaw like this. CRAZY! My Birthday was on the 29th of August, and I got my nails done...to say the least I've been avoiding blogging because I regret my decision of putting nails on. I also can't play my guitar, which kinda sucks. Honestly, I don't know why I continue to get them done, but I haven't for about 6 months...and I understand now why I didn't. Haha! Oh well, they look nice, and for some reason make me feel better when I look like crap so that's ALWAYS a plus (:

I have no updates thus far. Like I posted before, I just have 2 appointments this coming week..and that's it. No big news..but I will probably blog about my final appointments for whoever is interested.

As far as how I'm feeling goes.....I'm getting a bit anxious! It feels so far away still, but at the same time..its truly going to happen, and that kinda freaks me out! I definitely want this, and need this, but to say that I'm not nervous would be a lie.

My biggest worries are:
1) Permanent numbness
2) How much more needs to happen after surgery (Several adjustments, etc with orthodontics...and braces. Boo.)
3) Cosmetically looking acceptable in public (;

So that's it, really!

Found this. And it's pretty much perfect, so I thought I'd share (:

Bye (: I'll blog again soon
-Jess

Pics of before Lower Jaw Surgery!

Hey all (:

I just got all the pictures together that I took of my teeth before surgery (still have 2 weeks, so I'll probably post a last set right before I go in!) I just really appreciated seeing lots of pictures from other people when I was researching the surgery, so I wanted to post these for you! All of these have been taken within the last year, and are in order from oldest to newest. You'll see my bite change a bit, and my bottom teeth straighten. Hope these help!

These first two sets of pictures were right after I got braces put on my bottom teeth for the first time. I've had top braces twice (first time for straightening, second time for eye teeth surgery because they wouldn't come down), but never bottom braces because we knew my bite would get worse as my teeth straightened, so we waited until I was doing surgery for sure. (around Sept 2012)

Obviously I don't smile with my bottom teeth showing like this, because I look like a a creep, so I usually just smile with my top teeth and cover the bottoms. I smiled like this so you can see exactly what we're dealing with! Ya? Okay..glad you got it. Haha

You can see in the picture above that my teeth are starting to straighten on the bottom. Not sure exactly when this picture was taken, but it was probably a few months into bottom braces.

In the top pic my orthodontist created a space by shaving some of my bottom tooth off (may have done a couple teeth because of crowding), so that's why you see a gap forming. My cross bite is very noticeable in the 2nd picture!

 Again not exactly sure how far into the process these were taken (forgive me!) But you can see my normal smile on the top middle two pictures, and then all of my teeth on the outer two.

Also above, you will see on the outer two my bite with my teeth closed (totally natural, forcing my lips open), and the middle two with my lips closed (my jaw might be possibly open slightly because this is usually the most comfortable for me). Usually I don't bite down all the way because I try to cover the fact that I have an under bite..and those of you who have one know exactly what I'm talking about! At least...I think? (:

My bottom teeth are starting to get more straight, as you can see above. My bite along with it becomes worse as my teeth straighten..making me remember more and more that I do in fact have a severe under bite/cross bite!

Here's a front pic of me smiling without my bottom teeth, and then showing you guys what all of my teeth look like as well. My smile kinda looks crazy the more I look at it..haha! I kinda just go from day to day not thinking much about it, and now I'm realizing that it is a pretty gnarly bite! (;

The first picture is of my common smile (hidden bottom teeth), then I did one showing what my bite looks like from the side with my bottom teeth. As I laugh my smile becomes more like the 2nd and 4th..which makes me feel self conscious sometimes. The 3rd picture and 4th picture are the same as the other two-just on the Right side.

LAST ONE! Here's the one I took like today..August 27th, 2013! Approximately 2 weeks from surgery. Aka most current pictures yet! Lately its been harder to talk because of my bite. I also sing, and its been disappointing to have to try extra hard to make my words clear. I know I'll have to re-learn singing and all with my new bite, and I'm crossing my fingers it will be a positive change!

So that's all I have for now. I have 2 appointments next week, then surgery on Wednesday the 11th! So crazy..the hospital called me today, and it really IS happening! It hasn't seemed real up until just recently.

I'll keep you posted guys (: Talk to you soon!
-Jess
PS check out my YouTube channel if you want to watch my vlogs as well! Only 2 are uploaded so far, but I will upload more as I go along! Here's the link!  https://plus.google.com/109242249516228027984/videos/p/pub

3 weeks until surgery(old post)

Well, today I had a consultation with my surgeon Dr. Harris (Utah Surgical Arts)  about my lower jaw surgery. Surgery is OFFICIALLY happening on September 11th..so hopefully nothing crazy goes down while I'm in the hospital. That would be JUST my luck. But hey..Dr. Harris isn't a superstitious guy, so hopefully that will make all of the difference? (:For those who don't know, I have a cross bite under bite. To fix it, my orthodontist and surgeon got together (at Taco Amigo WITH my molds. Goodness, I wish I had a picture of that moment!) and consulted as they looked at my molds of my bite. Originally they felt my upper jaw was under grown, so they talked about moving my top jaw forward. Then, they realized the lower jaw had to be moved no matter what because of my cross bite. SOOO, they will be only moving  my lower jaw. My under bite cross bite will be corrected by being moved slightly to the right, then moved back. (about 5mm total)
 Dr. Harris said surgery will start sometime in the afternoon, but they will have me come in early that morning for whatever reason. I guess I'll be bringing a good book (; I'll probably have a heart attack waiting around, stewing over the fact that my jaw is about to change. If I don't surprisingly have a heart attack, they'll get me get all prepped and ready. From there, if all goes well, I won't remember a thing until I wake up. 2 surgeons actually do this surgery, so that helps me feel lots better about it all, besides the bill....I'll be in surgery for about 3 hours, give or take half an hour. During surgery they will insert a breathing tube so I can breathe (truly thoughtful on their part, if I do say so myself), and this will be taken out after I wake up (not sure who's brilliant idea it was to do it this way-I hear you're out of it anyways, so you don't remember-but still.) I will be awaken to feeling like a reborn baby orangutan, all swollen from surgery, but it won't peak until around the 3rd day (when I'll look like a GIANT orangutan). My mouth will be numb, my bite will be fixed, and I'll be one happy munchkin. So happy I will smile, and no one will tell..that, is happy. No but really, because I won't be able to express it!I will be in the hospital for a night, then I'll come home to my house. Liquids will be all I'll have for nutrition, and that will continue for several weeks. I'll do my best to get fat, but this surgery is known to have weight loss involved. Most likely my mouth will be rubber banded shut, but there's a chance I may have it wired, and/or a splint as well.Recovery is going to be tough, but I have been waiting for surgery for so long that I can't wait to have it over with. I want the misery, sadly, because that brings the joy that comes after it. I can't wait to wake up and feel my jaw actually BITE DOWN. To feel it in the right place, and know that I'll eventually have a chance to chew like normal people chew. It's amazing what they can do nowadays. And only for a small price! All I have to say is thank you insurance, for allowing me to have a surgery that will make my jaw function!Well, here's to the next 3 weeks! I'v'e gotta find something to do to pass time..-Jess