Pre-surgery

So lead up to jaw surgery.... I got my braces on mid July-2008. I wanted to have my surgery over the summer because I work and go to school at the same time and this was the best time to take a break. I had several meetings with the oral surgeon to take molds and go over my treatment plan. They originally thought they would have to move me 8-10 mm, but on the day of surgery, theyhad changed the plan to a 6 mm movement forward with a 6 mm sliding genio. Here's my post from Facebook from the night before surgery:

"As some of you already know, I'm having oral surgery at 7:30 AM at UK Hospital on Monday, May 11. I'm having a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy to correct the alignment of my bottom jaw so my teeth will meet properly. I was supposed to do this 16 years ago, but I wussed out. Better late than never, I suppose.

The surgery involves cutting through my jaw in several places, moving it around, and then reattaching it with titanium plates and screws. I asked for adamantium, but they were fresh out. :( The surgery will cause massive swelling and general pain and discomfort, most of which hopefully won't bother me because I'm getting good drugs for a few days at least. I will be off work for three weeks, the first of which I'll be on a liquid diet. Luckily, they don't wire your jaw shut anymore, at least not here, but I will have rubber bands holding my jaws together and a split. No gaff tape, though, so I'm not sure it's all going to hold....
Since this procedure is designed to move your jaw around, it's probably going to change the way I look, hopefully for the better, but you never know. I will post some pictures after I cease to look like the swamp thing. There's also a chance of permanent nerve damage, which I'm hoping to avoid because it would suck. I have an excellent surgeon, Dr Joseph Van Sickels, so I think my odds are good.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know what's up with me, since this is probably the most major thing I've done in years. I'm a little scared about it, but Nathan assures me that the nurses at UK are very good and that they will take good care of me. I've also got Josh looking after me when I get home, so I probably won't starve to death even though I won't be able to eat much. I will have lots of free time to post on FB in the next few weeks, if I'm coherent, so I'll write a follow up in a few days.

Be well and wish me luck!"

So that was me being optimistic and happy. Going to the hospital was a little scary, but Josh (my SO) came with me and that helped. All the nurses and staff were really nice and the doctors came to see me before the surgery to go over it one more time with me. Weirdest thing - I found out that I couldn't wear my underwear into the surgery room under my gown because the cauterizing gun they use might set the elastic on fire. Who knew? I also discovered that when they say they're going to bring you some "warm blankets" what they mean is "warmed" blankets. They felt like they'd just come out of the dryer - it was lovely.

I remember going into the surgery room and everything being fuzzy (no glasses). There were lots of lights and people and they asked me to scoot myself off the gurney and onto the very narrow operating table. That's about the last thing I remember, though. No counting or anything. I do vaguely remember waking up and not being able to breathe... but that's the next post.