Just A Few More Days

It seems like the 5 weeks since my original surgery date just flew by.  And now, here we are just a few days away.  It seems like I have nothing done.  With 4 kids there will always be plenty to keep us busy but the last few days I seem to be falling further and further behind.  I still haven't created a meal menu for my mom, I have 5 loads of laundry still to fold, the little ones' bedroom to clean (AGAIN!), grocery shopping for the next few weeks, a basketball game, a tornado, I mean kitchen, to clean, carpets to shampoo, sheets to wash.... the list goes on and on.  However, I did manage to clean out the car.  I don't want to come home in a dirty car. This is probably the first time in my life I wish I had a magic lamp to rub.  I could really use three free wishes. 

What I need to remember for my last day home (we're leaving Sunday) is how much I'm going to miss my little lovies:

Madison (8), our bright shining star who loves to read, draw and be a helper to those around her.

       

Cameron (7), our only boy, who loves sports, video games and torturing ALL the girls in his life!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

 Megan (5), the one with the sweet disposition, who loves playing dress up and house.  After her 3 month battle with pneumonia last year, we try not to take for granted all she brings to our lives.                               

Katelyn (4), the boss of the family. She gets her way more often than not, but she's cute, so we let her!

    

And last, but not least, Brad.  He's been with me through good times and bad. He's driven me countless times to and from the hospitals, dispensed liquid medication, refilled my ice packs and listened to my complaints.  Thanks honey for everything you do!

A day in Oakland

I had my pre-op in Oakland today.  I guess it wouldn't do me any good to say I went in and out of there just fine- because I didn't.  It was a stressful appointment, but it cleared up some of what the procedure will be like and the recovery.  For my benefit, the doc also drew the incision lines just so I would have an idea of what they might look like.

For the procedure- it will take about 7 hours.  I will be wired shut and will wake with a 50/50 chance of still being wired.  This depends on how "floppy" my new joints are at first.  Two incisions will be made (I'll show the pic of it below): one at the ear and one at the base of the jaw line (or the double chin area).  The ball and socket joints (or more accurately- what's left of them) will be cut out and the new fossa and condyle (ball and socket) implants will be inserted through the two incisions and drilled into the skull and the lower jaw bones.  Approximately 15 screws per side.  This in a nutshell takes about 7 hours.

Recovery will be painful at the incision sites and from the "massive" swelling.  When the doc uses words such as massive, brutal and horrendous, it kinda scares me. We're used to the swelling portion of the whole deal.  I swell up quite regularly in my cheeks and chin area especially when the pain is really bad (see pic below for the double/triple chin swelling I have today).  If I'm not wired, I will need to start working my mouth as much as possible even through the pain.  No pain, no gain- right?  Diet starts as liquid and increases from there.  Soup broth, ensure, runny milkshakes then on to scrambled eggs, oatmeal, real soup, etc.  Anyone want to join me on the "Let's lose 15 pounds Diet"?? I've said this before, and I'll say it again - I don't like liquid diets!

I went to pick up the kids from school after my appointment and Madison and Cameron thought my new face tatoo was awesome!  Megan didn't like it because it was scary and I don't think Katelyn ever noticed it.  Either way, it's going to be a lot more real in 12 days. 

Incision lines- will be a little longer on the lower portion but overall pretty close.  When measured these marks are 4 inches.  The real deal will be about 5 inches in total length - per side = 10 inces of incision.

Maddie was kind enough to take a "fat face" shot for me.  Then she offered to go start a hot bath for me- to see if it would help me feel better.  Love that girl!

Surgery #2 - The second Condylotomy

I found some pictures from my second surgery back in 2008.  This surgery was done in Santa Clara and was the second conylotomy.  The first being done in 2007.  The condylotomy procedure involved making two incisions on the inside of the mouth.  Through this incision a bone saw was used to break the jaw bones and then the mouth is wired shut for 6 six weeks.  During these six weeks you are on a liquid diet.  Which, I have to say is the worst form of torture, ever.  Thinking about doing this again is hard.  Everything you eat is pureed and liquified so that you can suck it up through a straw the size of a coffee stirring straw.  Anyway, this surgery had complications. A nerve was punctured in the face and I was told to give it a year to regain feeling.  After that year, still no feeling. The right side of my chin, the corresponding part inside the mouth, gums, teeth, etc and part of the right cheek still have no feeling and most likely ever will.  Please be advised these pictures are not pretty and were taken days after the surgery when the swelling started.



Don't you just love the baseball looking lump?




The full facial view




I don't need to say how painful this was.




Misery at it's finest.



As this current surgery will have greater risk of nerve damage and facial paralysis, I pray these pictures are the worst I will look.  No matter the outcome of the replacement, I have a team of peeps (my mom, dad and husband) who are under strict orders to take as many pics of the post-op recovery so that I can share my recovery with all of you. Don't you all feel so lucky?

The Adventure Is About To Begin

I've been encouraged by many people to start this blog so that other's can understand the struggles I have been going through and the adventure that is to come.  I have put off doing this for many reasons, first and foremost being - I am not a writer.  It is hard for me to put down on paper (or in this case, a blog) my thoughts and feelings without sounding like I'm complaining or whining.  Talking, no problem.  Writing, problem.

As most of you know, and for those that don't, I will be having a double joint jaw replacement on February 13th in Oakland.  The procedure could last anywhere from 8-12 hours and a night in the hospital.  The company that is making the custom-made titanium implants is located in Ventura, CA.  If you have time to look at their site and at the patient brochure to see what's involved, please do so as it's rather interesting reading  (www.tmjconcepts.com/patbro.html).

I've been experiencing jaw problems for the past 5 1/2 years.  I have had 9 surgeries which include arthroscopic, arthrocentises, 2 condylotomies, and flushing of the joints.  I've been through TMJ classes, physical therapy and a lot of pain.  What's been puzzling to my doctor is the fact that I show no signs of clenching or grinding of the teeth (probably because I don't), no signs of any other bone disorders, yet I have splintering of the jaw bones and hair-like materials present in the joint spaces.  Basically, my joints and disks are completely shot and there are no other alternatives to fixing them expect total joint replacement.

I am ready for this chapter of our lives to be done and the next to begin.  I am tired of the constant pain, headaches, neck and shoulder pain.  I'm tired of being too tired to do things with my kids.  I'm ready to start enjoying life again and eating regular food.  As the days pass and things get worse, I have a hard time imagining what the future will be like with no pain.  When it's a constant struggle just to function on a regular basis, I wonder if I'll remember how to function normally again?  This new chapter in our lives is about to begin and I for one can't wait to see how it turns out.