Jaw Journey Unveiled - Answers From My Surgeon

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Welcome. I'm here with me. So last time we spoke, we talked about how I was going to be going to Oregon to talk to my surgeon to go see the orthodontist, and just kind of see where everything is that. And here I am, with some information to share with everybody, as some of you may have seen on Instagram, and Tiktok, and I believe Facebook at this point, I started sharing stories on how I'm prepping for surgery. My plan for this is just to share the prep, and then surgeon have surgery day, and then bring you along the journey after that and start all over again, start calling it you know, post surgery. So I don't know if I'll be able to speak a lot. But we share a photo every day to kind of show you where I'm at. It is probably going to get a little gross that be weird about it, but it is surgery. And so the aftermath. It's not like you're gonna see, I'm not like showing you the surgery itself. But, you know, there's parts of it that are not pretty, not that it would be but just want to warn you for warn you that you know, that is why I'm trying to keep it kind of PGA I guess. So. Yeah, so we'll see what happens from there. But if you want to follow me to watch those, it is on Instagram, it's you could put at the BRI pod spelled like cheese, b r i e, or on Tik Tok, I couldn't get a Bri pod. So I have the underscore Bri underscore pod. And you can follow me and my daily prep. So, with that being said, let's talk about what happened with the surgeon. So first things first, I had every intention of bringing a list, I had a list of questions. Luckily, I can memorize my list. So I knew what I was going to ask. However, I was very sad to be going in there and not having the list. Because it's kind of a crazy start to the new year. So on the 31st, right. We were getting prepared to go to Oregon on the first I had three scheduled appointments for the second. And on the 31st. You know, we're realizing hey, we're gonna have to get going, you know, like, get everything prepared. And next thing you know, we can't find Jeremy's driver's license, which I was like, oh, gosh, this is gonna be horrible, because you're supposed to be there with me. Breaking out long story short, our son. He's so cute. He's 15 months old. And he's learning that you put things away. So he found Jeremy's wallet probably on our side table decks, the bed, and he put it away, except we put away in the bathroom, which is that the bottom drawer. And that bottom drawer has my hair products as my feminine products. So we didn't see for something thing to look in the bathroom. Secondly, not in that spot anyway, you know, it's in the bottom drawer. And it's mixed in with my feminine project products. So kind of funny how it all went about. But anyway, long story short, found the driver's license. So what this means that I get a little scared, because I was thinking, oh no. If this is the start to our year, what's it gonna be like when we get to Oregon everything. So now fast forward, back to surgeon's office. You can kind of see how you'd be a little freaked out. If you're a me of like, oh, no, I forgot my, you know, questions. But I was overwhelmed and stressed and anxious over this appointment the whole day. And I had already done two other appointments at the ortho. And she basically was like, we don't have to move any teeth at all. Now. You're at a place where you're ready for surgery. So that's scary, because now it's making me more real. So then when it gets to the surgeon, it's like it's gonna be even more real. So I was already all over the place. Mentally and emotionally. So when I got there, I'm freaking out because I don't have this list. But then I'm, you know, trying to remind myself okay, you're very good at remembering things. So Just remember what you wrote down? And luckily, I did. So I started asking the questions. And I know I kind of went in a circle here. But here we go. The first question was, I needed to know who is going to be on his team, like, who is basically going to be doing work on my mouth. And to go back for a second. I have been in, you know, I've had a couple of surgeries in my life, nothing too big. And I've also had my son. And the thing is, I've never been anyone that's against having somebody to come into, you know, the room with me. But I, like what I mean is I don't mind when students come in and watch everything. But in this case, it's such a serious surgery that I'm afraid to have any of that, like, what it was different with birth was like, Okay, people come in, and they watch, they leave, you do your thing. And this was like, I was just worried, you know, I just want the guy that I asked to do the surgery. So many of you that know the medical field know, there is a difference between a resident and a student. Had I not known this information prior to going in, I think I would have done what I didn't want to happen. And what I mean by that is that I didn't realize that there is a huge difference between resident and student, where a resident is a doctor that can actually do what's the you know, with the supervision of another surgeon, they can actually do some pieces of the surgery. So for example, what surgeon said, if we were to have a respite, the resident could make the first I think cut incision. And then at the end, he could still call me back. Knowing this, figuring out what a resident is versus a student, I just asked him, that's why I asked point blank, blank, like who's on your team? What did they do? What are their roles? And he mentioned that you keep, possibly could have arrested? And so I was like, Okay, well, what does that resident do? And that's where I just explained what? So I was like, here's the thing, I want you and you're allowed to do this, just in case you're ever getting surgery? And you're like, Oh, am I? Yes, you are, because you're paying for it. And because you know, at the end of the day, you went in for that person. So, I will not have I will not be having a resident helping with the surgery, I do not want that. And it's no offense to them. I know they need their practice. But this surgery is so serious to me. And even online reading about it being serious. I'm not willing to be that person. And it's, it's just not to be rude. It's just not for me. So, I let them know I do not want that. And they put that in their notes. And I also have to remind them dad, in case he forgets which I will not let him forget. So on surgery day, I will not have by resident, I will have obviously his other team members, which will be there to help him assist with giving them tools. You know, making sure I'm okay, making sure that bloods not going in my stomach, and so on and so forth. The second question that I asked, goes back to that question, which is, will you be pumping or vacuuming up blood for myself? Because one of the things I've read online, and I know surgeons and doctors and medical care, do not want to hear you say that, but how am I going to learn? I mean, I know I get asked questions too, but you know, I like to be in some form of prepared. So I asked, you know, will you be able to vacuum out the blood? They're like, yes, we have. There's like this little thing that goes down your throat a little bit and it catches blood and then it also they have to vacuum. So then the next question I had asked, I was going to ask him this list if I could talk to previous clients, but forget the list. So that's a one question I forgot but everything else I remembered. So the next question I asked, I had as you know, like, is there anti nausea medication

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that's being given after you know surgery? Because I know for myself and can we go under night come out of anesthesia. I always feel a little bit It noxious. So the worry that I had is that I'm gonna feel nauseous. And I'm not going to be able to say anything. And that scares me. So with that being said, I just kind of asked, you know, like, what do I need to do for that. Now they are going to prescribe me stuff for anti nausea. And they will give me stuffer and technology during surgery. But they said, there's nothing wrong with letting the SDGs anesthesiologist know this day up, and I'm supposed to hear from them soon, because of course, you have to go through their paperwork in things that they need. Because they're going to also tell me like what I can and cannot do before surgery. Now technically, I did get this information. But they also have to do it too. So eventually, we'll be hearing from the anesthesiologist. Just not yet. And so then, overall, with the doctor, I think it just went over a lot of my worries about pain, what's it going to feel like? What do I need to eat? What when you drink, I learned a really positive thing for me that for other people, but like, a lot of the stuff that I was reading was more both double jaw surgery versus lower. So a lot of the fears that I had felt Amr, because it's only one job happening. Because one of the things that I've read is that sometimes it's hard to breathe after surgery. And sometimes you end up puking blood, which this still could possibly happen, just not as bad if you were having the upper. Because, as you know, everything near the upper has through the respiratory system. So anything, you know, like thinking about if you had a bloody nose, it goes down to your throat. So that goes down to your stomach, and then you get sick. So some people have gone through that. And I was reading all this stuff, freaking myself out the gate, oh, my goodness, I am so scared, wouldn't be you know, so sick, and how man II worried about all these things. So the good news is that, because I'm having lower jaw surgery, it will not be as bad in that sense, where I shouldn't have a problem breathing. And I shouldn't have to worry too too much about what I read that were like horror stories. So then I asked, you know, basically what he expected of me, when do I get to chew again, and they do not want me to chew anything at all until I'm given that word like yes, you can chew now. So after I've surgery, the day after I go directly to their office, and we have like a kind of like a check out, check in to see how I'm doing. They look at my mouth. They talk about the bands, because after that second day, it will be me changing my bands out. There the first to change the bands out for me. Some of you may be wondering What do you mean the band. So before I even have surgery, I need to meet with my orthodontist, the week prior basically. And what she can do is she's going to take me into her office, she's going to put in these like, books, so that when I'm in surgery, first everything gets my teeth in place. But second, we they can bend my jaw where they want it to be placed. So the band's can almost like hold it together. That's at least how I interpreted it to be. So with that being said that very next day, they change them out for me, but then after that, I start to change them. And they say it's very easy to change these bands out. It's not anything crazy. And then another question I had is like, let's say I do get sick, you know? Well, I hurt myself, like I was afraid of different things in there. Like if you do get sick, whether you take out the band, or you don't take out the band, you can still get sick, the worst happens is that a band breaks. And if a band does break, you want to take out the other band on the opposite side. If it's not both, you know, or however many are in there. And that's because they don't want there to be a misalignment. So that part was nice to know. So I can at least tell myself if it happens like you're okay. They did say if we do get sick, it is possible to expect to see blood because, you know, it's possible that the blood didn't go like we said, Go down the throat and stomach and so on and so forth. They said it's less likely compared to having upper jaw surgery, but you Uh, when I'm in recovery, you know, they can handle everything that happens in surgery. But recovery is a different thing, because now I'm in New hands. And it depends on how they, you know, treat me if they have me up, sore, and so forth. So that was the information that I received as far as you know, the worries that I had. And then it just went down into a breakdown of what's to be expected. And it made me feel good that, you know, his head nurse is so thorough, and he even he is thorough, he didn't leave until I was done with my questions. And he even showed me a video on like, what is expected for my jaw to look like after, like, where it's at? And what's it supposed to look like once the teeth are finally aligned. So I really appreciate that they're so thorough, because I think it made a lot of the nervous this kind of calm, it doesn't mean that I am full blown cotton, because I'm scared. But I can sleep a little bit better. Because before I even went to this meeting, while I should say appointment, I was scared. And I did not know what I didn't know what to expect. So I feel like after talking to them, I feel a lot better. The other thing that I really appreciate it is I told the headers, I was like, I don't know if this is weird to ask. Because she told me that she would be next to me as everything is going down. As like, I don't know if this is where to ask. But is it possible, if you would hold my hand because one of the things that scares me, every time I go under, is the part where, you know, they you start to fall asleep, and everything starts go away. And the that lack of control, when I know it's horrible, that lack of control is where I'm like, This is my dad is red gone. You know, I can't hit save myself anymore. Not that it could prior but still, this is the thought process that I have. It's good, it's just nice to know that she'll be there the whole way through it, she's gonna be there, the day of surgery, she's there before surgery, she's dead the day after the surgery, she's there a week after and every follow up appointment after that. And then it's something that I, I feel I need. And I know it's I don't want to say weird, it's just it's nice to have someone you recognize going through this process, because it's so vulnerable. And it's so scary. That's talking about my support system, but talking about the team, that's actually, you know, doing it to have to have my orthodontist still with me the whole time to have the head nurse and the surgeon with me the whole way until I'm you know, free of infection. And if that happened or free of whatever ailments could happen after surgery that are there, that really means a lot to me, because in other cases, obviously, with this small things that I had done, it's felt like they that, you know, those health care provider or nurses were around, so I get like an attachment thing to them or I guess so that made me feel, I guess more comforted in the fact that she was willing to hold my hand. You know, because it's scary. And I am maybe 33 years old, but I'm not gonna sit here and be like, Oh, I totally an adult and I can handle it like I am. Yeah, I am okay with that. So I feel good about that as well. The next thing we talked about is the different things that he felt may be needed, or that have helped other patients during their recovery. And so I was going to actually go over the whole Amazon list with her that I created. But unfortunately unfortunately, my phone died literally when I went to go show or buy Amazon part of saved items. But again, I had a piece of paper and I remember anything I write down so you know, we discussed the different things that I should get some people that helped. And then the different things that people have talked about but doesn't mean it's had like any proof that it is helpful, which is the red light therapy

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and they don't mean that there isn't room out there in other terms I think was specifically to their office. So I have a list of things that I'm gonna get but I'm waiting until I get to Oregon because It seems kind of ridiculous for me to send all this stuff to myself right now. And then we drive over to Oregon, versus being in Oregon, and just having it shipped to where I'm going to be, and having it there makes the most sense. So we talked about the list. He talked about different ways of, you know, making, like, there's, I had a folder, and it has all the expectations of what's going to happen before surgery day after surgery, after surgery, booed ideas, all these things. And one of the things that we talked about was definitely having a syringe to drink and eat from a chemist syringe, because the way that it's shaped, and also, what she said to Esther, I was like, I've done a lot of research about the surgery. But it seems from talking to the doctor that I may have done more research on a double jaw surgery than a lower jaw. So from what you know, and from what you've seen, obviously, without worrying about going get somebody's HIPAA rights, but like, what advice can you give me and so she said that I have an advantage by not having the top be the upper jaw surgery, because that part will not be numb, the whole bottom jazz could be numb, my lip, my chin, my gums, everything is gonna be numb. And that's why they say that it's not necessarily that you'll feel a lot of pain, but you'll definitely feel comfortable. And so with that, she's saying that, what is a upside to this is having that syringe, I could use the top of my roof of my mouth for reference, because some people that have double jaw surgery, they actually have to look into a mirror to watch themselves drink, and then they have to drink a certain way because they accidentally choke on their water. Because you can't feel anything. So you're just trying to feed yourself, you know. So I'm very thankful that it's a lower alone, and that I'll have some things to my advantage. And I do feel bad for people to have to go through that. But in this case, you know, I'm glad to know that there will be referenced points for for me with eating and drinking and so on. They said that one of the biggest things is the first day I need to make sure this is surgery day that I try to drink as much as I can. Even though it's gonna be very difficult for me, but this is going to help prevent future issues of the week, they said your first day will basically determine what happens to you your second day. So if I don't drink any water, then I'm going to end up being more dehydrated. And then that creates all the issues from dehydration doesn't mean like it'd be the worst thing in the world. Not saying again that I want to be that way but it's just that that first day is really the key to what the second day the third day and so can be so I do plan on trying my best to just make it happen who just drink she did say that a lot of like, I think I mentioned this a little bit before but a lot of people that have had the surgery complain more so up the sore throat and the drawing. And she said thing is but the drilling you really really really want to keep on top of keeping your lips moisturized. So and they have like this little tub of oh my gosh, this happens over time. Lip Balm. They said keep up on that because if you don't, your lips get dry, they crack and now you've got that pain too. And even though you're numb it doesn't mean your mouth is not in some form of a pain like it you're gonna be uncomfortable and your lips are gonna go crazy so you know keep on top of yourself was basically what was said there. As far as the price goes I have to sleep on my back which is fine. I kind of started that the instant the very first time I had eyelash extensions was when we put on my back started and ever since then I guess my body just kind of conform to it even though I didn't have it felt like I had acts such as that man. At times, it's just the body's like, oh, okay, this is your life now. So I'm gonna be alright with that. But that's something that they said. But there's a, there's a point where when you're laying down, because of what they did with the jaw surgery, this is obviously packed up post now you're going to feel pressure if you're too far back. So that's why they suggest that you can either sleep with a bunch of pillows to keep you lifted. Or you can sleep on a recliner. And my goal is to sleep on a recliner. Just about off, because sometimes pillows, I just need that certain comfort in a recliner and kind of just get you there. So I plan to do that. And then she said, you'll know, and a lot of stuff, she said, your body's gonna know, like, when you eat, you're gonna know when you went too far. Obviously, they really don't want you to to, because that moves, the alignment of how they want your job. So you really can't you, it's just a matter of soft foods, movies, and liquids. And the other thing that they said was that, again, I cannot start soft foods necessarily until they give me the Go ahead, but I specifically cannot start soft foods that you have to chew, or any food that you have to chew until they say so. So overall, I thought it was a really good. Like appointment, it was two hours long. We had to pay the full price down my mouth that how much is gonna cost us luckily, because of all the things that I have to do is is medically a medical procedure. So a big portion of medical was taken care of. Otherwise, we probably wouldn't. I don't know if we continued to do it or not. And I think it's important to know it's not full blown cosmetic. Some people I think are wondering, why are you getting it. And it just goes back to if I would have stayed on the path that I was on, which was nothing. My five overbite and underbite. And the lower jaw is back. So if I would have continued with this, the teeth that were moving at the top on the overbite, they're moving out. And I thought like what time, the whole time, I thought they just stay in one spot. And that's it. But I could start to tell as I got older, that my teeth were actually flaring out more and more versus just staying where they were. So what they would have done is continued to flare, flare, flare, flare, flare, and finally, just in his position where they're loose bomb. Now, it's sad to say that would have happened, like right away. But it's not something I want to wake up to one day. And then the second thing is, they said that, you know, with moving this jaw, that'll help widen the area for me to breathe. And it's not to say I've ever felt like I can't breathe. But this he did say that I'm going to notice the big difference. So I'm curious to see what that's gonna feel like. Because when you're used to something your whole life, it's hard to think outside of that. So it will be new, just like but even though from an outsider's point of view, it may not be that may not be able to see the changes of what's happening. Because, you know, I guess unless you've like looked at me a lot, you may not notice. But some may people may know some things I had talked to surgeon about too, because first thing you said is your face will change. So like it wouldn't be like some new person. I didn't think that. But in one sense. For me, I will notice the change. And maybe some of you will tip is for me, I've lived with the with the overbite and underbite for so long in my life, that my side profiles can be completely different to me. And my front profile may not be as different, but it's gonna be more defined because the lip that is kind of hiding under the Overbite is actually going to come out and be in its rightful spot. And so there are things I think I'm going to notice that

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will be interesting, see, and again, I know that like that is cosmetic thinking in that manner. But you know, when you're getting it for medical, obviously the cosmetic is kind of like a part of it. But it doesn't mean that that's why I went for it. It's not because if I wanted to. I worked at the first time but it was suggested in the first time I just chose not to because I thought well why? Like I've lived with my teeth this long. Why bother changing them? What, what doesn't matter? And then then when they started to talk about the things that it could affect in the future, I was like, okay, yep, you got me, because that was the thing, I just, I didn't realize what the issues could be too. And I didn't realize some of the issues that I have, could be almost not fixed perfectly, but in a better place. So with that being said, I will be right back. Ironically, that was a phone call from the surgeon's office. And they were asking regarding, or they're letting me know that a resident will not be in the hospital at all that day, so good to know. And then we also had to discuss FMLA forms for my husband. So that has been a fun time, learning the different aspects of what you gotta do to get everything done and only have like, it sounds like, oh, girl, you have 29 days, like you're fine. No, we are, we have so much to do that feels a little days in in little time. And then on top of that work, like, I still work full time. And then you know, I have my son, and then my husband works full time. So it's still a lot and a little bit of time. So we're figuring it out. But overall, I was really happy about everything with the appointments. And now just kind of I think the unknown walking into the unknown. And so I do plan on taking you guys through the journey. throughout the journey on my stories, like I said, tick tock, just to keep you informed and in the loop. And I do still plan on having maybe a couple more podcast episodes before I actually am out. But I don't know if it'll be just on surgery, because of course, this channel is all about cutting back your power, and all aspects of life. And we've kind of been and then also, you've been along my own journey and story with what's going on with me, exclusively and personally. So I don't know if that's what will come out or if we'll have another guest before I go on to medical leave, basically. But that's basically what I'm up to, and what's been happening. So if you have any questions, definitely ask me shoot me a message. Write it on YouTube, wherever you want to answer you. I was gonna do this via video and have both video and audio. But because I'm sick, you don't need to stare at my sick face. I don't want to have to see it. It's ridiculous. I literally from lava blowing my nose. I feel like I've been crying for days. And then the funny part is add recently I had put on a filter on myself because you'll see in my stories that had a filter. I was trying to do kind of like one of the filters that are very natural, like close as close to natural as you can get. But because I'm sick, my eyes a little bit bloodshot looking. So it looks like I'm a high and I'm not against you. Yeah, I don't. And I'm talking about marijuana. Like if you're high on heroin, you know, I'm not really into those drugs, but I'm not against medicinal uses. But for me personally, I just can't my body rejects everything. It rejects alcohol, it rejects marijuana and rejects smoke. Not that that's not that. Smoke is kind of a normal thing to be allergic to, I think for most but anyway, the point is, is that my body rejects it off. So I just don't but you'd be looking at me being like, Are you sure though? You sure? It's like, No, I'm just, I'm religious. So I decided. Let's not even do the video. So that's that. Anyway, you know, I like to ramble. So with that. You are loved. You are worthy. You are cherished. And I probably slip next time. Bye