I have had an open bite most of my life. Where most people’s jawbones are straight across the front, mine curves up, rainbow shaped. As a result, my top and bottom front teeth have never touched. I can’t cut through food like most people when I eat. Sandwiches and pizzas are messy affairs. Since my teeth don’t cut through, the middle always pulls out.
I’ve remedies this by learning to tear my food versus bite it and the use my finger to press food against my teeth to cut through. Neither are particularly classy ways to eat. When I was younger, as a rule, I would not eat pizza or sandwiches on dates.
Corrective surgery was first suggested by my orthodontist when I was about 16, but it is a very expensive surgery simply to make me a more neat eater.
Later, at OCS, I developed a fairly severe case of TMJ which the physical therapist suspected had to do with my jaw layout. When I came on active duty after Law School, the first military dentist to look in my mouth suggested the surgery, but I didn’t want anything to delay my getting into – and graduating from – TBS.
So I suppose the third time’s a charm. My wisdom teeth coming in had made my teeth rather crooked (making the 2 years of braces in Jr high/high school a waste). The dentist told me that even though this is technically an elective surgery, the military would pay 100% because it is good practice for our surgeons who work on facial reconstruction for disfigured servicemembers.
The Oral Surgeon explained to me that it looked like one bone in my mouth stopped growing before the rest, resulting in the arch in my mouth and my open bite.
So, about a year ago, I started the two year process of correcting my bite. I got braces. Again. At 28. Big, ungainly, all metal, military issue (ie, cheapest available) braces. And my teeth got all nice and straight again.
And after a number of delays and amidst mountains of work I can’t really afford to leave, my final surgery date came upon us.
I was terrified. I can’t exaggerate my fears that I would not survive the general anesthesia or my concerns about brain damage. I wrote letters to my kids, and made my friends promise to help raise my kids if anything happened to me, and I wrote a new will (though I never got around to executing it).
Thankfully, though, I did survive. I had a little trouble coming out of the anesthesia. Not in a scary way, just in an “I’m going to sleep in the xray machine and while you try to get me dressed and basically not stay awake for more than 30 seconds.” Of course, being asleep beat the heck out of throwing up blood. Ick.
The rest of the night was ok; I slept through most of it, and this morning I felt better. My biggest complaint was the dried blood in my nose made it very hard to breathe, but Chris was able to fix that with some water in a nebulizer.
I am now on day 3 – supposedly the worst day for swelling, and my face certainly is huge. I’m on the fence about posting a pic, not because I look bad (though I do), but because it’s pretty gross.
Chris and my friend Dina (who drove all the way down from NYC) have done an amazing job taking care of me. You should see the chart Chris worked up to make sure I get all the right drugs at all the right times. And using that, Dina caught the fact that the pharmacy forgot to include my antibiotic.
They’ve both been up at all hours grinding up my pills and trying to mix them into liquids that might cover up the grossness. I have to “eat” everything through a syringe.
Chris made a delicious potato leek soup for me and french onion. He also made me smoothies using vegan “So Delicious” brand coconut milk keffir (amazing stuff, highly recommend). And apple sauce. He put all my cold mushes into one cooler with ice packs and all the warm into one with a hot bottle, all on my nightstand.
The pain hasn’t been nearly as bad as people said it would be, probably because Chris and Dina have been so great about my meds. The worst part is definitely difficulty breathing when my nose gets plugged and how cold the still numb parts of my face feel. I spend most of the day with my face wrapped in an ice wrap for swelling, but with a towel over my nose because it’s cold.
I can’t wait until I can talk again. I did not think my inability to speak would be as annoying as it it. I’ve been sending a lot of texts, but it gets frustrating for people sitting right next to me.
Overall, I’m very lucky to have come through this as well as I have and to have such wonderful people in my life to care for me. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the swelling to go down, the feeling to come back, and to learn to eat like other people do.
The doctor tells me there shouldn’t be much visual difference, which is good. Chris had me repeatedly get reassurances from the doc that I wouldn’t look any different. What can I say? He likes the way I look (pre-chipmunk).
Hi, I am going to have jaw surgery to correct an open bite myself. How long was the recovery period? I am wondering how much time off from work I should ask for.
Congratulations Earthworm! I just had my jaw surgery August 25 2014. I’m on week 5 now and majority of the swelling has gone down! ‘ve danced with the idea of joining the military before I had the surgery, I spoke to my doctor and he said to wait 6 months for healing before speaking to a recruiter. My question to is – Would I be able to serve in the military being that I’ve had corrective jaw surgery?
Thank you in advance and thank you for your service!!
My daughter will have this surgery (top and bottom jaw) later in the year (the surgeon explained the procedure to me for the first time today-she’s been in braces almost a year;he is ex-military). She is 26. How do I help? I will be there for the surgery and her first two weeks will be back at home with Mom and Dad.
Hi there, sorry for the delayed response!
I can’t think of much that would be helpful beforehand. My husband was a huge help afterward by keeping track of my medications for me. He made a grid schedule of which meds I was supposed to take at which times of day and even ground them up in a coffee grinder and mixed them with juice for me.
My biggest problem was trying to breathe with all the dried blood in my nose. My doc said there wasn’t much you could do about it other than keep using the nasal spray (hard to do when you can’t even get the nozzle where it needs to go!). I used my kid’s nebulizer with just water in it, which helped.
Lastly – and this was a big one for me – the doctor recommended drinking ensure or other meal replacement shakes, but did not warn me to stay away from dairy based shakes. Dairy makes mucus production worse. Get a good selection of vegan meal replacement shakes/powders. I had a really hard time getting enough protein to keep me feeling half way normal until I figured that one out. I liked Amazing Meal brand Vanilla Chai flavor, but there are several out there. Another friend recommended Arbonne vegan protein shakes, but they didn’t have them near us. As soon as I got rid of the dairy shakes and switched to vegan ones, I felt a million times better and stopped losing weight.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
I am taking Ritilan, pecrcoet and xanax. I am fine but I have a high tolerance to pain meds. due to having 11 surgeries, and I’m only 35. If your taking the phenergan due to nausea, it may be due to the mix of meds. in your stomach or the motrin, or taking them on an empty stomach. Ask your Dr. and he or she may be able to figure out whats making you sick and then you can get rid of the phenergan. It’s just a thought. Get a professionals opinion.Jennifer
Hey Amanda -so glad to hear everything went smoothly, I love reading your earthworm posts 😉 I remember when Nikki had to eat through a straw for so long, and saw your vegan point there. I use a great vegan, gluten free protein shake. If you that would be helpful to you at all in recovery let me know and i’ll mail some you. Cheers to a speedy recovery, keep the posts coming.
your faithful florida fan
heather
Hi honey! In Greece whenever someone is recovering from a procedure,or healing in anyway we wish him “iron”(for him to become). It sounds weird in English though. Well, “iron” and feel better soon. I guess you can’t wait to eat pizza again huh? Have a blessed equinox tomorrow!
Healings thoughts and lots of hugs!
– hey brother! I just ranlomdy came across a picture of your wife thru fb and saw something about this website. Didn’t even know you were having this done! Ryan and I were checking out your update Wow that’s intense! Hope you’re doing well- we’ll be checking back for those before/after pictures. Take it easy for a while!
I’m glad to hear that things went well. I knew they would. Hopefully, the rest of recovery is smooth and uneventful.