April 30, 2010 1st day after Surgery

Came home around midday. Everything hurt and all I wanted to do was sleep. I came home and was drinking chicken broth through a syringe. Then lots of milk mixed with some fruit again through a syringe. I slept all day. Thank goodness for naseau meds cause the Lortab makes me sick. The face throbbed all day. Ice helped alot. I had ice on my face at all times, it took away the pain and helped with swelling. Sleeping sucked, I laid on a chair and 1/2 with an ottoman, my back does not like this.

April 29, 2010 SARPE Surgery day

I was nervous when I woke up, but got ready and was prepared. It took a bit for them to call me so it was nerve wrecking waiting. I met the anesthitiologist, who was hilarious and then talked to my surgeon. I kept telling him I did not want to look different as I got used to looking like me. I also told him to make sure he did not give me huge nostrils as I have seen on some people. He just laughed at me and said it was his concern too, then he said stop worrying. I really like him. He knows I do not want the 2nd or 3rd surgery, so he said we will find a way to make everything look great without them.
Surgery lasted like 2 hours, I woke up in ICU, they wanted to watch me closely because of being intubated. I was the only patient there so I got lots of attention. I woke up in lots of pain and had a hard time breathing. My mouth was super dry and no one could understand what I wanted. They had oxygen going which dried out my mouth more. They gave me lots of pain killers which helped me sleep. At one point the nurse was supposed to wake me up to give me more pain meds, but she was being nice and did not want to disrupt my sleep... it back fired. I woke up in severe pain and I was crying and hyperventilating because I hurt so bad. That was the worst of it that day. I was on top of pain meds after that. I also had a hard time urinating, I think my bladder was lazy, but they were very patient with me. I spent the night.

April 28, 2010 Braces and expander on

I have been wanting braces forever, but they always said I needed SARPE surgery so I always backed out. I figured I am not getting any younger, just turned 33 last month, so I am going for it. I had spacers put in a few weeks ago and they really hurt and eating was not fun!! I went to see the OS and he surprised me by saying I would be having SARPE surgery in a week, so not much time to prepare. I have a crossbite, small open bite, and a very small and high palate. So the week went by fast and now I am getting braces and my expander put in the night before surgery. At least it all happens at once. Not too bad except I can't talk and feel really stupid being an adult with braces while sitting in between a 12 and 16 year old.
I got home and decided to eat, turns out I am only eating potatoes the night before surgery. I am really nervous. I worry that I wont wake up from the anesthesia.... I know... silly, but a real concern. My family does not understand why I would go through all this trouble and pain for straight teeth. I have Lupus/ Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder (MCTD) so they worry this will exacerbate it. They all say I look fine and that my husband loves me just the way I am. They do not understand that this is something I have always wanted and could not afford. Now it is my time to do something for myself.