I had an appointment with my surgeon today.
Result: jaw moves = not good
X-ray: screws are almost off the sockets
Probably: NON UNION
Next step: Go get scan and talk about it afterwards.
Those are outline of what happened today.
I told the doctor about jaw movement. I told that I went to see him as soon as I found out that the jaw was crooked. But he said nothing he could do.
He asked me since when it moves. I didn't know. I noticed recently. Because I had sharp nerve pain.
He said that he wouldn't know BECAUSE HE HASN'T SEEN ME FOR A LONG TIME. IN FACT I DIDN'T GO TO GHE 6 MONTH FOLLOW UP.
Well, so?? He didn't help me. So I didn't go back. Why do I want to go back to just pay for office visit and spend hours waiting in the waiting room for 5 minutes talk about "how are you?"
Of course I didn't say that. But he wasn't helpful as I thought he would be.
Now this is new. But I could tell that he wasn't too happy. And I could tell that he didn't want to admit that he made a mistake. 'SOMETHING HAPPENED' mysteriously. yah right.
I think he messed that up. Otherwise, the jaw should shift in the first place. I thought for a long time that that's something I did. But probably that's not the reason. Maybe because he knew, he said to me that that's not something I did. Yes, something he did.
Anyway, what happened was happened. Too late.
Good thing that I asked my husband to come with me, and he did.
So the doctor brush me off too easily.
My husband remembered better about surgery situation, because I was sleep to half sleep plus couldn't talk. He mentioned that the doctor had to redo whole thing because my jaw bone was too soft or something. Then he remembered. I think.
But because we were talking randomly I forgot some of the questions that I wanted to ask.
He explained about NON UNION. Non union is some tissue grow in between bones before bones heal and connect together. So my case, it is likely the non union.
What he can do about it is to go in again to clean up. Reconnect the bones.
For that, I may have to take bone from some place else like hip bone. Ouch.
He said it's not like first jaw surgery. He won't move jaw. What he will do is to go in, clean things in between, take screws off, add bone or something to regenerate bones, and put jaws together and screws back in place. Possibly out patient. I doubt it, though.
I don't have to wear braces again, but I would need to wear something to stabilize my jaw and teeth.
I imagined something like retainer, but not sure about it.
Then I cannot move or shouldn't move my jaw for at least a few weeks.. I bet. One month and shifted, so I won't move a think if I had to go through this again. Probably can't eat, either. So liquid diet.
Well, we didn't get into that far today.
From X-ray, what we could see is that screws were coming off the sockets. There were space in between, and even just that can tell things are not where they should be.
My dentist and doctor both said "your bites are okay" but maybe bites are okay because jaw moves to the position every time when I bite. Then, if jaw got set, bite could be off??? That will be another nightmare.
I asked if I had to go though this again, my tilted jaw could be strait or not. Because if they redo the screws and redo the cut part connected each other, then should be straight, right? But doctor didn't want to say that. He said "maybe, but can't say."
I fels so unfair, and cried about we came out from doctor's office.
And we were sent to have a scan done, but for that costing us $275!
This shouldn't happen in the first place. Now not only we have to go through all the doctor's appointment and stuff, plus possible another surgery. And that surgery will cost us another $3500 deductible. I cannot say enough that's not fair.
And... I can't be sure if that will fix it either.
It may create more problems such us numbness, bite change, change in appearance.
If all goes well,
1. my jaw problem might be gone.. I will have a set jaw.
2. my jaw might be in the straight position where it should be.
3. future possible problem might be prevented.
But if it goes bad,
1. after spending another $4000 plus
2. my jaw still not stable
3. possible still crooked
4. have other complications such as numbness
5. hearing
6. nose problems
and again, I'm scared to have another surgery.
For the first one, I was determined to get it done. I believed that will make everything better.
But it didn't. I'm very doubtful now. What if something bad happened? There was a time that I couldn't breath because my throat was swollen and nurse wasn't around. I kicked and slapped anything everything around to make noise to get attention. I don't remember how that solved.. probably I passed out. I don't want to have that experience again. I thought I would die not be able to breath.
And for another surgery, of course I had to have nose tube. And the doctor who took that nose tube was so rough that my nose hurt for days. I think that's why I had bad nose breed for many times.
Maybe he tried to do it quick so I didn't have to feel uncomfortable and feel pain as the tube exited. But that was painful. Almost more painful than the surgery because I could feel it.
anyway
The scan went quickly. I was supposed to drop the CD off to the doctor's office, but didn't have time, and also wanted to make a copy and look at it, so brought home.
I'm not professional, so can't tell for sure what images mean, but I still could tell that there was a space between bones. In fact, I couldn't see bone in between.
Sigh.. sigh.. sigh..
No comments:
Post a Comment