Visit to the Clinic

Had a visit to the clinic today to get a new upper retainer because my original one has holes in......whoops! The stuff used to make the mould i will never miss! Yuck! Whilst waiting for the retainer to be made i made the most of the sunshine and enjoyed a cuppa in the sun!

    When i went back to pick up the retainer i had to wait a will before i could see my surgeon about the plate being a pain! Turns out i also need the lower right plate taken out, meaning all the metal work in the right side of my jaws will be gone! Just have to wait for a surgery date.

  Whilst i was there a young girl and here mum was also at the clinic, and turns out she needs the same surgery. I was more than happy to talk to them, bless them and reassure them that it is well worth it! Good luck lovely!!! It will be over in a flash!

Picture update :-)

2 Years Post Double Jaw surgery!!!

So its been ages since i last posted, been so caught up completing my university degree, running races.....new PB for half marathon ...bang on 2 hours!!! whoop! and working full time.
               Its been two years since double jaw surgery!!!! Shocking. The time has flown by!

   So since i last posted, i still get some slight pain in my lower right jaw after running and when its really cold.   Doesn't really help that i work in the chilled department at work ha!
  People who i used to go to school with tell me that i look different, but don't know why....then i explain and they seem so shocked! haha!


I had a check up and the clinic today and expressed the pain issues i still have since the previous visit. My surgeon was not available, however my orthodontist suggested i come back to see him as well as get new retainers, as they have holes in! Also, i've been asked to be a case study! Geek! Why not? Already visited postgrad students in training before, might aswell. The department has helped me a great deal so it my chance to help. So i had more photography done and answered a few questions :)

Here are a few pics over the recent months :)

Smile :D

Strike a pose!

'We own the night' Race in London. 

Random, but i poured my heart a soul into this. Enjoy the title HAHA!

BEST picture taken at hospital medical photography haha!

Will keep you posted on my next visit to the clinic on the 9th July :) 

Check up :)

    Today i had an appointment to see my surgeon for a check up to see if everything is okay as its been 18 months since surgery!! Shocking how time just disappears.

  Well since my last post, my lower retainer cracked in November so i had to joy of having molds done for another one, and now the upper retainer has a chunk missing.....looks as though i've been grinding my teeth in my sleep.....or i just got hungry ha! Luckily i did not have to have another made as i was reassured it will be fine until my next appointment, thank goodness. Last time i had a new one made, i put the retainer in, it was so tight, felt like i was there for hours trying to get it off my teeth whilst pulling some bizarre faces.

   I still get a dull ache in my lower right jaw after running long distances, but i have no sign of infection which is good to know. Just hope its down to the cold weather haha.

  All in all was fine, and i have no areas of numbness at all! I only have one more appointment in June 2013 then i will be FREE!!! Whoop Whoop!

I love my teeth :D

Getting all festive, i had to have a picture with THE snowman from the John Lewis advert! Merry Christmas everyone :)

Day 494- Update

   So i haven't written on here in a while!!!! I was supposed to have an appointment on the 16th of August, but got cancelled on the morning of the appointment due to an emergency admission. I haven't since received a rescheduled appointment.

    Since having the plate removed its mainly been fine, however when i moved back to university at the end of September it started to become quite painful again! Do not understand why, and ached for a few days. I put it down to running as after every long run it seemed to start to ache. It hasn't happened lately and i've been running a lot more, so maybe its due to the sudden changes in temperature? Who knows.

Ran my 4th Half Marathon last weekend in Coventry........NEW PERSONAL BEST :) 2 hours, 8 minutes :)

Was so chuffed!!!

Good luck to those waiting to have surgery :)

   

Day 419- Two weeks post plate removal :)

  So today marks two weeks since i had my upper, right jaw plate and screws removed! How time flies!

The swelling has completely disappeared but the stitches still haven't gone, and it really feels like i have a bit of food stuck there, but its just the stitches haha!

  So since the last post, i no longer have to take any pain killers whoop whoop! It feels so good not to have the ache in my jaw that i had prior to surgery! I'm also eating everything now haha!

   I took advantage of my time off and went cycling, running and a trip to the zoo where i went on a zip wire which was terrifying but AMAZING!!!

This was taken a few days ago, and my smile is still a bit lazy haha!

The tiniest bit of swelling there, but not visible anymore.

Zipwire! Terrifying, but ill do it again!

Out with a few of the girls, with a less swollen face this time round haha!

New hair!!! Loads Chopped off! 

This is really random, but i think its really cute. This is the ball pit we got our little dogs haha! They LOVE it!

Day 412- Biking in Thetford Forest :)

   Today i really have noticed that my face is coming down. The puffy area is taking its time to subside and can still be slightly painful inside my mouth. My stitches are still in place.....not one of them has fallen out yet. I'm still taking painkillers, but only paracetamol, tramadol just makes me tired.

   Whilst the weather is still okay, we decided to go cycling in Thetford forest along the trails.Its was brilliant, got covered in mud from going through muddy puddles haha! and it poured it down!

   My next appointment at the orthodontist is on the 16th August....i think.

Still got a lazy smile.

Still slightly puffy, but not much.

Day 411- Badminton :D

    I woke up today in a little bit of pain......maybe due to too much singing whilst i was out last night.....my bad!
   Today me and my mum fancied getting out of the house to play badminton. What a cracking game! Definitely getting in the spirit of the Olympics.

   Last night felt so good to go out. The pictures show that my face was still a tiny bit swollen...but that will not stop me haha! Today the swelling is much the same as yesterday. My lovely cousin saw me after i was walking out of the sports centre and laughed at my weird face! Thanks a bunch haha!

Smile getting there. Still feel puffy.

Chubby cheek.

Cheeky grin :)

Last nights photos. :D

Getting there :D WHOOP WHOOP!

Day 410- Going out......looking like a chipmunk. Well. On one side.

    Saturday :D Must of been a busy day at work as there desperate for me to come back.....probably could now, but I'm still taking tramadol which makes me so sleepy....don't think i should be dealing with money....and I'm quite enjoying time off in the sun :).

    I stayed at home today helping out in the garden, painting our new fence.....and getting a tan :)

My face is still slightly swollen, its not hugely visible, but to me it feels big. Smiling is still not natural, as you'll see from the photos, my smile is half asleep haha!

I'm off out down the town with the girls tonight to chill out.

Lazy grin :)

Chipmunk cheek!

Cheeky (lazy) smile.

Day 409- Chilled out day

   Today my face has come down a lot since yesterday! Almost back to normal woooooooooooo!!!! :D

  My friends mum came over to see me and she got me some chocolate buttons NOM!!!! Bless her, she knows how to cheer me up :)

  The pain eased off today and i went 8 hours without needing to take any painkillers, thinking i wouldn't need them as much, but now it is quite painful. :/ I was able to actually see the stitches today as my face has been so swollen and painful, i couldn't lift up my lip haha! Smiling is still odd, one side off my face is asleep!

  From not really eating as much as I'm used to, I've been feeling really tired but still determined to keep running and cycling.....obviously not overdoing it.

Looking a lot less swollen compared to yesterday.

Still got a small area of swelling, only visible from profile view. 

Day 408- Fat face goes to the seaside :)

   So today when i woke up, i was still very swollen and in a bit of pain, but painkillers soon sorted that out. To get out of the house, i went to the beach with the parents. A perfect excuse to get chips and ice cream :) Haha!

   I had a fab day, shopping and going on a few rides.......probably shouldn't of.....my bad as i tasted a bit of blood....NICE! not lol. Partly because i cant not smile and laugh and i think it keep ripping where I've had stitches........whoopsy. My face has been coming down over the course of the day! YAAAAYYY!!

Still looking large! 

Fat eye! haha!

Day 407- Fat Face.....GROWING!!!

   A bit of a shock this morning when i looked in the mirror.....my face has swollen even more!!! It has caused my right eye to shrink and look really puffy as though I've been rubbing that eye LOL!!! Taking my retainer out is a mission, trying not to touch any of the stitches!!! Ahhhh!

   Today turned out to be a lovely hot day, and decided to take the dogs to Nene Park for a walk. It was so hot but the doggies loved it! I had a few odd looks from people.....but it just looks like I've been in a punch up! Smiling looks hilarious, as one side doesn't move, so I'm sorta half smiling!

Lol the right side of my face just bulges out!! ( Your left)

You can see the swelling and my eye puffing out! CHUBS! haha!

Day 406- Fat Face Returns......

    I had the most pants night sleep ever! I woke up at 3am because my jaw was so painful. I had to get up and take some painkillers and attempt at getting back to sleep.....which failed. I was so tired, but felt so wide awake! My face has definitely swelled up quite a lot overnight, as i can feel my right eye seems to be slightly smaller because of the puffyness. Looking very attractive right now.

   To take my mind off of it, my mum took me to the coast to enjoy the sunshine and have a bit of a bike ride along sea. I'm so glad i got out of the house because the weather has been so lovely....definitely makes a change.  A little bike ride turned out to be 18 miles.......whoopsy! But i felt fine, i kept up with taking painkillers and filled up on milkshakes and a few chips.....again!

   By time we got home, i was so tired and the site of plate removal seemed to be aching slightly. I have to admit that i think this time round is quite painful but still bearable, whereas the original surgery didn't really cause any pain at all. Would of thought it to be the other way round.

Picture Update

Taken early this morning. Doesn't look too bad.

Taken later on in the evening. You can see a big puffy cheek on my right (your left). Looks like a slight bruise trying to appear underneath my eye.

My Fat Face :) LOL! 

Hopefully tomorrow the swelling subsides rather than increases. 

Day 405- Post second surgery!

   Mum took me to my day surgery appointment for 11.30. It was such a sunny day, so glad i didn't miss all the sunshine.

   When i arrived, i had my height and weight done as well as go through details of allergies, medication, reaction to anaesthetic etc. The nurse was lovely bless her. The same surgeon i had for the original surgery then came to see me, to talk through the procedure and allow me to ask any questions. I was more concerned about when i could go running again LOL! Turns out i can go for a short jog as early as Wednesday! SO HAPPY!! He asked whether the pain in my jaw had become any worse or had any weird taste in my mouth. The frequency of it being painful was becoming more regular, but that is probably due to me working in the chillers at work.....my bad.

   The anaesthetist then popped to see me to ask how i was before when being put to sleep. I was a little bit sick before.....but I'm sure that was due to swallowing tea and blood. Not gonna lie, i LOVE my tea :). He asked me to take my blue asthma inhaler before today's procedure to open up my airways.

   After waiting just under an hour or so, the nurse gave me my lovely hospital gown haha! to get changed into. I could not for the life of me tie the strings up at the back. Bless the young nurse who helped me haha! She told me never to cut my hair short because she loved my long hair haha! I had to tape my belly bar just to be safe.

  Me and mum were in the waiting room until about 13.50 watching the news and cooking shows...... don't even know why because i was absolutely starving!!! What a muppet! Then i walked to the theatre. The was a bed waiting for me in the centre of the room, with about 6 or 7 staff! Blimey. My surgeon asked me to say what I'm having done, and if I'm okay. I was quite calm. I think after last years surgery, i trust my surgeon. The anaesthetist sorted out my canular in my left hand, whilst having an oxygen mask on my face.....and that's the last thing i remember.

   I woke up back on the ward i was originally in when i arrived with mum next to me.I felt something in my mouth. turned out to be cotton wool, soaked up the blood from the incision. My surgeon popped round to see me and took the cotton wool out of my mouth. He then showed me the plate and screws. It turns out there was definitely an infection there, and i remembered the plate being slightly out of shape. Might of been due to the way it was taken out, cant really remember..... the drugs made me feel like i was drunk haha! I don't need to see him for another year, unless there are any other problems. I cant thank him enough for what he has done.

   I had my canular removed and was able to get dressed......slowly. It was only 14.50! All done and awake within an hour! Awesome. I was given Tramadol to take home with me, but i didn't want to have any until i has at least eaten something...... don't fancy being sick. Before we left, i had a cup of tea.....through a straw because on side of my face is numb and beginning to swell slightly, and we were off home.

You can see the swelling is beginning to show (my right side) on the left side of the picture.

Trying to crack a smile, but half my face is asleep haha!

   We popped into Tesco, and i didn't feel too bad, just a bit hungry haha! So i got some Muller rices and milkshakes to have. Once i was home, my brother had come home with a chippy! I was well chuffed i managed so have a small plate of chips.......took me a while haha!

   Hopefully i sleep well!

Day 405 Second surgery today!!!!

So today is the day im having my upper right jaw plate and screws removed ahhhhhhh! Should be a walk in the park compared to the original surgery!

      Ill keep you updated :)

Day 370- PLATE REMOVAL SURGERY DATE!

    Today i received a phone call for my plate removal surgery! Yaaayy! and i only inquired about it a few days ago :D

                                                           23RD JULY 2012!

Luckily it does not clash with my spinning instructor course on the 21st and 22nd of July! Phew!

Is it really sad that i would like to keep them after they take them out? Haha!

Day 365- ONE YEAR POST OP!!!

                               WOW!!  Its been a whole year already! How time really does fly!

I really have got used to my new bite now.....but sometimes through habit i still find myself using a knife and fork for foods such as pizza and wraps! Ill remember.....eventually! Haha!

I have a few areas that are still numb, in the roof of my mouth and gums and sometimes when i just brush my fingers over my chin i feel a nerve i think haha! I'm so glad i done it, and had a fantastic orthodontist, surgeon and team of nurses and receptionists at the clinic, that always helped when i had a question or was worried about something.


Pictures throughout the process.

ONE YEAR!!!!

Good luck to anyone waiting for surgery as well as those who are recovering! Its worth it in the end. 

Day 364 Phone call to the clinic

    I phoned up the clinic today to inquire about when i'm having the plate and screws removed from my  top right upper jaw as i had not heard anything since April. It turns out i am on the waiting list, however due to a virus outbreak the process has been delayed slightly. Its just a waiting game now. On Friday and Saturday my face really ached, slightly more than usual and on two consecutive days, so i just hope it doesn't become more frequent.

Day 349 Exams, Running and waiting for plate removal

   So I'm still waiting for a date to have my top, right plate and screws removed but I'm so glad it wasn't during my second year university exams. It hasn't been aching as much as before, but maybe that's because I've been studying too hard haha!

   I'm SO glad that exams are over and i can finally relax a bit for the summer :) It was awful having one exam on the 15th but then three exams last week!!! So stressful and annoying as the weather has been gorgeous.

   As well as revising for exams, i was training for a half marathon for kidney cancer in my local area, which took place yesterday. 9am and it was so HOT!!! By 10am it was 25C!!!! I don't no how i managed to run in that heat, especially with some killer hills at the end of the course in 2 hours and 21 minutes. Not my fastest but still an achievement.

With my finishers certificate :)

Posing before we set off haha!

Such a well organised event, and loved running in the countryside :D 

Day 317 A visit to the clinic

    Today i visited the clinic, as i was lucky enough to get an appointment at such short notice. First of all, i saw a consultant which i saw in February who  already knew of my concern, about the pain in my upper right side of my jaw, but it has become more frequent.

   I had an x-ray taken to see if there is anything wrong inside, but the bone structure and wisdom teeth extractions have healed nicely. I saw my new orthodontist, due to my original ortho leaving who believed it is due to the plate on the right side. I was then able to see my surgeon who showed me my x-rays and felt the area where the plates are. He said there is no obvious sign of infection, but because it keeps causing me discomfort i can have it removed. My mum and him were trying to be funny saying i had a screw loose!! :O shocking haha! Always have a giggle at the hospital!

   So surgery number 2! Ahhhh! Well I've had the worst done, so this should be a walk in the park :)

Just got to wait for a surgery date......now on with exams revision!!!!!

Day 316 Upper Jaw pain!

   So today i phoned up the clinic to see if i could get an appointment tomorrow because the upper jaw pain i had before seems to becoming more frequent. My right side of my upper jaw seems to ache and cause some pain when i smile or even touch that part of my face. It might just be nothing, but I'm hopefully going to keep some assurance from the orthodontist tomorrow. Fingers crossed!