Questions!

Thanks so much for responding to my fears about the IV, and also for answering questions about implants. I found it very comforting that the IV catheter isn't a needle but a tube!

Now I have another question, dear friends. I'm going to my surgeon on Thursday morning for my pre-op appointment, and I'm starting to make a list of questions to ask him. Any suggestions?

Autologous Blood "Donation"

I "gave" blood on Friday. I feel funny saying that I gave it, because I'm really just keeping it for myself. Nothing charitable involved. Anyway, I've never given blood before, but was expecting the very worst, as I do not do well with blood tests/injections/etc. It's not so much that I'm afraid of blood or needles or anything, I just get a really gross "ewwwww there's a needle in my body" feeling. I know no one (okay, most people) likes this feeling, but it really freaks me out.

I went in Friday pretty calm. I filled out the form, and watched as they took my blood pressure, temperature, and pulse. I didn't even react when they pricked my finger to test my hemoglobin! When I sat in the chair, I started getting upset. My mom came and sat next to my and tried to distract me quite unsuccessfully. I cried the entire ten minutes the donation took from the moment they put the tourniquet on my arm to the moment they removed the needle. Not something I'm proud of, and it was definitely annoying to the technicians and the other patients. As soon as I was done, I felt fine. Not faint at all, and my arm isn't bruised.

I'm nervous about surgery at all, really. Pain I can deal with, vomiting sucks, but it happens. It's the IV that I'm worried about. I freaked out for the duration of a 10 minute blood donation. How am I going to be with an IV needle in my arm for hours or days? Anyone have this problem? Any recommendations or suggestions?

Mind Your Business!!

Preparations for surgery have been stepped into high gear! I was at the orthodontist on Wednesday, who poked around a bit and then confirmed that I'll definitely be ready for the 14th. When I got home from that appointment, there was a phone message from my dad on the counter, saying that "Denise from the insurance company needs to talk to Allison" and that I should do it as a conference call with both of my parents on the line. That kind of scared me -- I thought I was going to get quizzed about whether or not I really needed the surgery! First Denise confirmed that I consented to having my parents on the line (I just turned 18 and that was kind of exciting for me). Then she went through what had been approved for coverage (osteotomy, le forte, and 2-day hospital stay) and what hadn't (geneoplasty), as well as offering to answer any questions. While none of this was really news, it was nice to hear it again.

I've also been working out my leave of absence from my town's ambulance corps, which I volunteer for as an EMT. This has been mostly smooth sailing -- I was told by the captain that I simply needed to write a letter requesting a medical leave and stating the time and duration. In any case, I was chatting with my crew last week. "We'll miss you!" said one of my crewmates. "Is everything all right? Do you mind if I ask why you're going to be gone?" I didn't mind, and I told her. One of the other people who was there said something like, "How does your jaw effect you working on the ambulance corps?" When I told him that I needed a few weeks to recover and that I would be out of school as well, he responded with a slew of obnoxious and kind of stupid comments: "Why can't you just wait until the summer? How do you know they'll let you graduate on time?" and so on. They weren't curious questions. They were rude and accusatory questions. I got kind of overly defensive, telling him to "Mind your business!" repeatedly with some profanity mixed in. Then, of course, I made sure that I let the school know I'll be out, instead of waiting a few weeks as per the original plan. Because, you know, I really want to graduate on time.


Just one more thing. Question: how long do you think I'm going to have to take off from the ambulance corps? I do moderate lifting, but that's really the only strenuous activity. I think I'll request 2 months leave and see how it goes (and of course ask my doctor). Also, do you think it's realistic to be back in school 4 weeks after surgery?

Countdown

My first post of 2008! Yay, Happy New Year!

I got a beautiful little countdown clock to my (and Shontell's!) surgery. It's alllllllll the way down at the bottom. Keep scrolling down, keep scrolling..... there it is.

Mouth Wednesday: To Christmas what Black Friday is to Thanksgiving

It's 2:30pm, and I've already seen two doctors who asked me to "open wide" (ahhhh), "now, bite down" (*feeble attempt*). First, I saw my orthodontist, who changed a few rubber bands and sent me on my merry way. Next, I saw the surgeon.

It seems as though there was a bit of confusion in the communication between the orthodontist and the surgeon. Namely, the orthodontist was supposed to take and send impressions so that the surgeon could get a good idea of how close my teeth were to matching up. He didn't have any such thing, and therefore could tell me little (other than exclaim, "how do you eat!?" which was oddly assuring). His assistant took impressions.

Obviously, I've had impressions taken before, but never with braces. That was ohmygod nasty. There was the pink gunk in my braces, and the top one made me gag... ew. Those should be finished tomorrow, and the surgeon will give us a call to tell us how they look.

We also discussed dates. His first comment was, "so, you're looking to have the surgery this summer?" ummm, no. I've been planning February in my mind. It's the perfect time for me, really (other than last summer, but what's done is done...) I have a week-long school vacation the week of the 18th, and I would rather be out from school for 3 weeks than 4. Also, I will be in my second semester of senior year, so I won't have nearly as much work to do, and I'll be generally less stressed out. Also, the sooner the surgery is done, the less time I'll have to spend in braces in college. The surgeon said the surgery can probably be done in February whether or not I'm exactly ready, but I'm hoping I will be!

Before we left, my mom and I talked to the amazing woman at the front desk. She's been dealing with our insurance company, and she did a great job. She called the hospital and got me a tentative surgery date of Thursday, February 14th.... Valentine's Day! There was a little confusion about whether I'd be in the adult or pediatric OR (I turned 18 a few days ago) but it looks like I'll be in pedi. I think this is a mixed blessing. I'm betting on better care, but more noise in recovery.

Amazing Woman also passed over all the preoperative paperwork, which is completely overwhelming. I'm lucky that my mom is going to take care of most of it! I need a physical, blood tests, an appointment at the blood bank, and a pre-op consultation with my surgeon at the hospital. I'm getting really excited! Not nervous yet, but I'm sure I will be...


I hope everyone had a very wonderful and happy Christmas...

Sensitive Teeth?

I've noticed that my teeth have become quite sensitive in the... last two weeks I guess. Eating very cold foods hurts, as does using the Waterpik. Braces related? Why would this develop after months with them on? Has anyone else experienced this?

Just enough time for a bit of good news...

My upper and lower jaw surgeries have been approved by insurance!

I have an appointment to meet with the surgeon for the day after Christmas... just hours after my next orthodontist appointment!

Happy Hanukkah!