I have a date!!!!!!! an estimated date, but I have a date!!!!!! So bloody excited!
I had my 4th brace tightening on Tuesday and my wonderful Orthodontist told me that my teeth were ready! He said that he would write to Mr Harrop my surgeon and ask him to schedule me in for a May operation, but I've asked him to move it to a June operation as I'm on holiday end of May and I must have my holidays!
So a June surgery is on the cards! If all goes to plan I will be having surgery 13 months after having my braces on. I never thought it would be as quick as that, I don't think my Orthodontist did either but my little teeth have been on a mission.
I had some pictures taken after my tightening, I had a thicker wire on top no change on the bottom, my next appointment is in April, so hopefully I will find out some more about dates, measurements and the next steps etc, I really should ask more questions!
I went back to work after my appointment and started to tell the girls I work with the good news and then I just went a bit hysterical, I was laughing, crying, smiling, making no sense whatsoever. I just couldn't control myself, I was happy, excited, relieved, nervous and I think the years of emotion and problems and hurt just all came out. I just kept saying "I get a new face, I get a new face, I get a new face" and I will, I will get a new face.
I hope my new face solves a lot of problems and issues for me. I really hope it does and I hope I like it!
I'm all ready planning my "Goodbye Face" party and I think I'm going to introduce a soup and smoothie league table at work, so other people can get creating amazing soup and smoothie recipes for me! Some may say that's lazy I say it's enterprising, why not get everyone involved!
Aaaaaaaaaah! I'm having double jaw surgery in 4 months!!! It's actually happening! I'm so excited!!!
Happy weekend everyone! xxx
Friday, 8 February 2013
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
7 days till 4th brace tightening!
I never thought a brace tightening would be something that I actively look forward to having, I never thought I would be excited, or have it take over a whole page in my diary with exclamation marks and smiley faces and underlined. But they have, the naughty little things!
Some days I sit and think about how much my life has changed over the last 8 months, and how bloody obsessed I've become with teeth and braces and orthognathic surgery, and underbites and overbites and jaw surgery and generally looking at peoples mouths before their faces. Thanks to this wonderful world of jaw surgery blogs I know I'm not the only teeth obsessed freak out there! But who would of thought it hey, I'm sure my obsession will grow the closer I get to surgery but what will happen once I'm all done?
I am genuinely, 100% in awe of what these braces have done to my teeth in 8 months, look at the difference! I cant believe I was walking round with teeth like that! It is just incredible.
Some days I sit and think about how much my life has changed over the last 8 months, and how bloody obsessed I've become with teeth and braces and orthognathic surgery, and underbites and overbites and jaw surgery and generally looking at peoples mouths before their faces. Thanks to this wonderful world of jaw surgery blogs I know I'm not the only teeth obsessed freak out there! But who would of thought it hey, I'm sure my obsession will grow the closer I get to surgery but what will happen once I'm all done?
I am genuinely, 100% in awe of what these braces have done to my teeth in 8 months, look at the difference! I cant believe I was walking round with teeth like that! It is just incredible.
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| Pre Braces |
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| Day 1 of Braces |
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| 8 Months in Braces |
I will make some time tonight to take some more all round pictures of my teeth and my face 8 months in, but I am just amazed at the results all ready. If anyone is reading this and wondering whether to have surgery done or to have braces on to fix your teeth, DO IT!!!! Don't be scared, look at what 8 months in braces has done to me!
I haven't had surgery yet but I am so happy with how my teeth are, yes I have an underbite but look at how straight and in line and level they are! They are beautiful! I look at these pictures and at my teeth and think OMG how bloody good is my mouth going to look after surgery! I'm going to have nice teeth, I'll have the best teeth in Northamptonshire, I could be the mouth on the toothpaste adverts!
I'm hoping that the blob of glue in between my bottom front teeth has done it's job and can be removed next Tues. I would also like this next tightening to close up that little gap and just centre my teeth/midline but Mr O'Neil knows what he doing, I'll leave my teeth in his capable hands and just be patient.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Ooooops & Owwwwww!
Well first off Ooooops for not posting in aaaaages! Christmas was so busy and hectic for me both at work and at home so I thoroughly neglected my blog.
So my first Christmas with braces has been and gone and it was a lovely Christmas, full of fun, food and drink! My braces did however stop me from eating the following;
So my first Christmas with braces has been and gone and it was a lovely Christmas, full of fun, food and drink! My braces did however stop me from eating the following;
- Chocolate covered Brazil nuts
- Toblerone
- Gingerbread Biscuit/House
- Chestnuts
- Any nuts actually
- Hotel Chocolat slab of chocolate (varying flavours)
Most of the above isn't very good for the waistline anyway so It was probably a blessing in disguise but at the time, tres annoying! The more yummy things like chocolate I either broke up into bits or got my boyfriend to bite a bit off then give it to me, almost like a bird feeding their young, just without the regurgitating bit, my relationship moved to a new level right there!
On Christmas Eve I went out with my boyfriend and some friends and unfortunately there always has to be one dickhead in a crowd and as usual I met him. I was subjected to some lovely comments from a teenage boy about my chin whilst queuing at the bar. There was a plus side however, this little urchin's dad was also queuing next to me and gave his son a good wallop and sent him back to the table and apologised to me and offered to buy my round of drinks and a bottle of wine as way of an apology for his (and I quote) "stupid idiot of a son".
It was a nice gesture and I was glad that he pulled his son up about his actions but it did put a dampener on my evening. It gets tiring always having to brush off comments, to pick yourself up and try and make yourself feel better, ignore all the old comments and feelings that come rushing back, push down that feeling of wanting to just go home, get into bed and cry and put a smile back on your face. It's bloody tough and it really annoys me, why should I or anybody for that matter be made to feel like shit just because you look slightly different. It just makes me want this surgery to hurry up and happen, so I don't have to put up with comments, or worry about it before I go out, or hide instances like that from my boyfriend and friends to stop their night from being ruined too.
On that note how does everyone else deal with that? I'm always reluctant to tell my boyfriend then and there when someone has made a comment, he's not an angry or aggressive person but he would have to say something to defend me and I always worry about some sort of fight happening or him getting wound up and then his night is ruined too.
Prime example is the Christmas eve incident, I was out with my Boyfriend and about 6 other male friends of his, we'd all had a few drinks it wouldn't of ended well if I'd of said something. So I didn't, but he always knows something is wrong with me anyway, and he eventually got it out of me then said it upsets him when I don't tell him, he wants to help me but he cant when I keep it to myself. Complicated!
Anyway, on a more practical note I went for a cleaning last week, 1 word, Owwwwww! The dentist told me off for not cleaning between my teeth with interdental brushes morning noon and night every single day. Then I think as a way of making sure I do clean like that everyday, she took that scaler/drill thing to my teeth and gums like a mad woman. My word did it hurt when she got right in-between my two front teeth, I think that was the deal clincher, "make he cry then she will always use the teepee brushes!" I know I should, but to be perfectly honest some days I just cant be bothered. I brush, use my oral irrrigator and mouthwash twice a day, teepee brushes takes ages and its fiddly and there's like 5 different sizes and I'm either running late in the morning or I'm stupidly past my bedtime at night and I'm lazy.
Sorry teeth for not teepeeing you everyday, I will try and make more of an effort to do so in future.
Next tightening is 5th of Feb, not too long to go!!!!
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Christmas with braces
Yay it's December! It's the Christmas month, the month to eat too much, drink too much, spend too much and a chance for me and my bed to spend some quality time together.
In my usual winter fashion and much to the dismay of my friends I'm still walking round in open toe shoes, little ballet pumps, summer cardigans, and spring jackets. I am never prepared for the cold months clothes wise, I always loose gloves, I end up buying my winter coat in February and succumb to buying winter boots just before my feet get frost bite.
It's part disorganisation on my part (I'm always surprised by how cold it is from November onwards), part stupid impulse buys that don't go with anything but look really good in my wardrobe, and partly because during the Christmas holidays I live in my PJ's and only change if I have to go out somewhere nice.
One of my favourite things about Christmas time is all the yummy food and chocolates, but thanks to having braces this year I will have to politely decline on a few of my favourite chocolates and treats! Toblorone is a big no no, as is toffee and caramel sweets and chestnuts and other nuts. Booo to braces at Christmas, although it could be worse I could have my mouth wired shut after having had double jaw surgery. Now that would put a sad face on Christmas, and good luck to those that are in this situation!
Our Christmas decorations haven't gone up yet, but I have decorated my nails in a Christmas sparkle!
My braces are no longer hurting my teeth and I am happy to say I'm back on normal food, however they have turned their attention to chewing up the inside of my mouth, cheek and lips. Bring out the wax and bonjela, I've asked for them as stocking fillers this year, including brush heads, inter-dental brushes and floss. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a fresh set of Teepee brushes!
In my usual winter fashion and much to the dismay of my friends I'm still walking round in open toe shoes, little ballet pumps, summer cardigans, and spring jackets. I am never prepared for the cold months clothes wise, I always loose gloves, I end up buying my winter coat in February and succumb to buying winter boots just before my feet get frost bite.
It's part disorganisation on my part (I'm always surprised by how cold it is from November onwards), part stupid impulse buys that don't go with anything but look really good in my wardrobe, and partly because during the Christmas holidays I live in my PJ's and only change if I have to go out somewhere nice.
One of my favourite things about Christmas time is all the yummy food and chocolates, but thanks to having braces this year I will have to politely decline on a few of my favourite chocolates and treats! Toblorone is a big no no, as is toffee and caramel sweets and chestnuts and other nuts. Booo to braces at Christmas, although it could be worse I could have my mouth wired shut after having had double jaw surgery. Now that would put a sad face on Christmas, and good luck to those that are in this situation!
Our Christmas decorations haven't gone up yet, but I have decorated my nails in a Christmas sparkle!
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| Christmas Nails |
My braces are no longer hurting my teeth and I am happy to say I'm back on normal food, however they have turned their attention to chewing up the inside of my mouth, cheek and lips. Bring out the wax and bonjela, I've asked for them as stocking fillers this year, including brush heads, inter-dental brushes and floss. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a fresh set of Teepee brushes!
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
No Pain No Gain
No pain, no gain.
What a stupid saying! Who wants pain to gain something, just have no pain and gain things. I know, I know, it will make you appreciate it more, you will feel like you achieved something etc etc. Well I appreciate good things when there is little or no pain involved, I will appreciate my nice lovely teeth and bite when I have them, I promise.
The 3rd brace tightening went well by the way! I had my bottom wire changed for the first time, and had 2 new brackets fixed on my very back molars. I think that's the reason why I cried when I brushed my teeth this morning, my poor little teeth are being pushed, pulled and forced into a new position. I thought they were safe, and had escaped further adjusting, oh how wrong I was! I also had a strange bit of glue (maybe, not sure what it is) fixed onto my lower wire, bit odd, should of asked why it was there but I forgot by the time he had finished and I had my top wire tightened, not changed, so my top teeth are a bit tender too.
So I'm back on soup, yogurt and ice cream and sobbing while I brush my teeth.
Although I did have a funny moment this morning when I was brushing my teeth. I was in my really old skanky PJ's, hair everywhere all in a mess, panda eyes because I never take my make-up off properly (bad I know) looking like a right mess, sobbing away, with my toothbrush in my mouth gingerly brushing my teeth, doing the tense shoulder, squinty eyes and scrunched up face waiting for the pain to come as you brush your teeth thing. And I just looked up at the mirror and saw myself and burst out laughing, spraying toothpaste everywhere but it was just funny how one little 20 min appointment had reduced me to that. I need to man up before my operation!
And on that note my Orthodontist has given me a tentative, indication, I'm not promising anything, but possibly, maybe, you could be ready for surgery by May/June next year, maybe, things might change, and it depends on surgery slots, and that is a maybe but that could be when you have surgery. So I asked him about when to book a holiday, when should I start my MBA, when should i look for an intern to cover me at work while I'm off and he said something very wise;
So bravo Mr O'Neil for being a brilliant Orthodontist and for offering me very wise words. I will carry on as normal and surgery can bloody well fit in around me and my life. I have been flapping and worrying about what I have planned for 2013 and will my surgery impact on this, will it fall around this time, when I want to be doing that or going here etc and he is right. I'm just going to do whatever I want, because the last thing I want is to say I could of done that, or I should of gone there etc My stupid teeth and jaws have held me back enough over the years and there not going to stop me know.
So MBA here I come, another trip to Paris here I come, 2 week holiday abroad in some sunshine here I come and double jaw surgery, I'm coming for you to!
What a stupid saying! Who wants pain to gain something, just have no pain and gain things. I know, I know, it will make you appreciate it more, you will feel like you achieved something etc etc. Well I appreciate good things when there is little or no pain involved, I will appreciate my nice lovely teeth and bite when I have them, I promise.
The 3rd brace tightening went well by the way! I had my bottom wire changed for the first time, and had 2 new brackets fixed on my very back molars. I think that's the reason why I cried when I brushed my teeth this morning, my poor little teeth are being pushed, pulled and forced into a new position. I thought they were safe, and had escaped further adjusting, oh how wrong I was! I also had a strange bit of glue (maybe, not sure what it is) fixed onto my lower wire, bit odd, should of asked why it was there but I forgot by the time he had finished and I had my top wire tightened, not changed, so my top teeth are a bit tender too.
So I'm back on soup, yogurt and ice cream and sobbing while I brush my teeth.
Although I did have a funny moment this morning when I was brushing my teeth. I was in my really old skanky PJ's, hair everywhere all in a mess, panda eyes because I never take my make-up off properly (bad I know) looking like a right mess, sobbing away, with my toothbrush in my mouth gingerly brushing my teeth, doing the tense shoulder, squinty eyes and scrunched up face waiting for the pain to come as you brush your teeth thing. And I just looked up at the mirror and saw myself and burst out laughing, spraying toothpaste everywhere but it was just funny how one little 20 min appointment had reduced me to that. I need to man up before my operation!
And on that note my Orthodontist has given me a tentative, indication, I'm not promising anything, but possibly, maybe, you could be ready for surgery by May/June next year, maybe, things might change, and it depends on surgery slots, and that is a maybe but that could be when you have surgery. So I asked him about when to book a holiday, when should I start my MBA, when should i look for an intern to cover me at work while I'm off and he said something very wise;
"Just carry on your life as normal, book and do and plan things as you wish and we will work surgery around you, I don't want you to put something off because surgery will one day be here, just do it, your life is first, surgery is second."
So bravo Mr O'Neil for being a brilliant Orthodontist and for offering me very wise words. I will carry on as normal and surgery can bloody well fit in around me and my life. I have been flapping and worrying about what I have planned for 2013 and will my surgery impact on this, will it fall around this time, when I want to be doing that or going here etc and he is right. I'm just going to do whatever I want, because the last thing I want is to say I could of done that, or I should of gone there etc My stupid teeth and jaws have held me back enough over the years and there not going to stop me know.
So MBA here I come, another trip to Paris here I come, 2 week holiday abroad in some sunshine here I come and double jaw surgery, I'm coming for you to!
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
3rd Brace Tightening is Approaching
Only 6 days to go till I get my braces tightened! I'm excited, I look forward to my Ortho appointment each one is a step closer to getting my surgery. I keep trying to guess/predict how my teeth are lining up, are they ready for surgery? are they close? How much more do they have to move?
I'm becoming a bit obsessed I'm always looking at my teeth, examining slight movements, gaps that appear then close up, how my bite is sitting, how much of an underbite I have, analyse each time my braces start cutting up my lips and cheeks as a good thing - they are moving! I'm a teeth mad woman, I've even been caught at work with a ruler in my mouth trying to measure my underbite!? I need to get a grip!
Over the last few months I have witnessed many fellow Orthognathic Surgery Bloggers go through their surgery and come out on the other side happy. It has been a real pleasure and certainly an eye opener to be able to witness and follow individuals journeys through surgery and recovery and life after. I'm just getting a bit excited I guess about the prospect of me having a lovely bite, being able to eat and speak properly, not having jaw ache all the time, not worrying about pictures being taken, feeling horrible about my face, worrying if I'm going to be subjected to a nasty comment today and being able to bite into and through things!
So my constant assessing and obsessing over my teeth and any slight movement is just because I'm so excited to be normal and to be able to enjoy all the things that many people do everyday without a second thought. Upon reflection, maybe getting the ruler out at work was a tad bit too far, but at the time it was a really good idea! It didn't work anyway, the ruler was too big!
Here are some current pics of my lovely underbite! I've been in braces for over 5 months now and my teeth have moved so much. I'm gradually getting closer to being ready for my double jaw surgery to correct my underbite. I cant wait to get rid of it!
I'm becoming a bit obsessed I'm always looking at my teeth, examining slight movements, gaps that appear then close up, how my bite is sitting, how much of an underbite I have, analyse each time my braces start cutting up my lips and cheeks as a good thing - they are moving! I'm a teeth mad woman, I've even been caught at work with a ruler in my mouth trying to measure my underbite!? I need to get a grip!
Over the last few months I have witnessed many fellow Orthognathic Surgery Bloggers go through their surgery and come out on the other side happy. It has been a real pleasure and certainly an eye opener to be able to witness and follow individuals journeys through surgery and recovery and life after. I'm just getting a bit excited I guess about the prospect of me having a lovely bite, being able to eat and speak properly, not having jaw ache all the time, not worrying about pictures being taken, feeling horrible about my face, worrying if I'm going to be subjected to a nasty comment today and being able to bite into and through things!
So my constant assessing and obsessing over my teeth and any slight movement is just because I'm so excited to be normal and to be able to enjoy all the things that many people do everyday without a second thought. Upon reflection, maybe getting the ruler out at work was a tad bit too far, but at the time it was a really good idea! It didn't work anyway, the ruler was too big!
Here are some current pics of my lovely underbite! I've been in braces for over 5 months now and my teeth have moved so much. I'm gradually getting closer to being ready for my double jaw surgery to correct my underbite. I cant wait to get rid of it!
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| 5.5 Months in braces |
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| Straight teeth, top front teeth gap is closed, but bottom teeth have developed one? |
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| Please mind the underbite! |
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| I'm sure that gap between my two bottom teeth is there for a reason, I hope!? |
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
The Joys of Braces - Age Identity Crisis
Ahhhhh yes, the good old double take, puzzled look, confused brow, searching eyes for a clear indication of age. The braces do it every time, throws people of track, they assess your age, then you open your mouth and those little shiny brackets dazzle them and all of sudden your 16? No, 14? Ummm 18? 20? No, 15?
I was all of the above at some point, but now I'm a 24 year old with braces. It is surprising how many people struggle with age assessing me.
For example at a recent trip to my local contraception clinic I was discussing with a nurse how much easier the clinic is for me to get to and to be been seen by a nurse rather than trying to get in at my doctors. The Conversation went something like this;
The rest of the appointment was rather awkward to say the least, but it happens to a lot of people. Braces are just something that people associate with young people, children and teenagers, like grey hair with old people.
You rarely see or hear about adults with braces, particularly in the UK and braces are often portrayed in films, TV and other media as part of the nerdy/geeky teenager stereotype role (along with glasses and spots). Well not any more! Not while they are attached to my teeth!
I was all of the above at some point, but now I'm a 24 year old with braces. It is surprising how many people struggle with age assessing me.
For example at a recent trip to my local contraception clinic I was discussing with a nurse how much easier the clinic is for me to get to and to be been seen by a nurse rather than trying to get in at my doctors. The Conversation went something like this;
Nurse: "Yes it must be difficult trying to get an appointment outside of school, I don't suppose you can just leave a lesson can you."
Me : "School? I don't go to school."
Nurse: "Oh sorry, do you go to college then, a lot of young people I see prefer to go to colleges now rather than staying on at school"
Me: "No, I work full time, I'm 24, I finished school a while ago."
Nurse: "Oh god, sorry. I thought you were younger than that what with the..... you look younger than 24, I wish I looked so young!"
Me: "It's ok, you're not the first"
Nurse: "Oh yes look, here's your date of birth, 1988, yes 24"
The rest of the appointment was rather awkward to say the least, but it happens to a lot of people. Braces are just something that people associate with young people, children and teenagers, like grey hair with old people.
You rarely see or hear about adults with braces, particularly in the UK and braces are often portrayed in films, TV and other media as part of the nerdy/geeky teenager stereotype role (along with glasses and spots). Well not any more! Not while they are attached to my teeth!
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