Jaw Surgery - It is Official

I have known for two years now that I might need jaw surgery. I got scared and didn't purse it further. Finally, in big part to the insistence of my husband (I kept saying "IF I need surgery." My husband would say "WHEN you get surgery." I was pretty much just in denial.), I made an appointment with a surgeon and got a consultation. I think it took all of 60 seconds and just a bit of prodding around in my mouth before the surgeon told me surgery would be, "reasonable."

The surgeon, we will call him Dr. T, explained to me I had the option of of trying orthodontics, but it wouldn't be nearly as beneficial. He wasn't pushy at all. Just very matter of fact in sort of a friendly way actually. He then told me that if I were to go forward with surgery I would need to get pictures, x-rays, and models of my teeth. I looked at my husband, looked back and Dr. T and said let's do it now. I don't think the office was prepared for that at all! It took another two hours before we got out of there. Lots of waiting, they must have been squeezing us in between all the other appointments. I guess most people aren't so ready to move forward with surgery as soon as they find out, but I had been thinking this over for years and it took enough courage to get me in that office once I wasn't about to leave!

Most people who read this blog or know me in person are probably wondering why I need surgery. So, here is the most apparent reason I need surgery:

My teeth do not come together in the front! In both these photos I am biting down in the back. This makes it incredibly difficult and frustrating to eat a lot of normal foods like burgers, sandwiches, pizza. 

Biting down in the back and I can stick my tongue through my teeth. At least I don't have to worry about biting my tongue off. 

Dr. T first said I just needed lower jaw surgery. That was a relief! But then he went and looked at my charts and the x-rays, came back, asked me some questions about how I sleep, gave me a sleepiness quiz (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and then concluded that it is probable I have sleep apnea and would therefore need upper and lower jaw surgery. The purpose of moving the upper jaw as well would be to open up my airway. He prescribed me a sleep study to find out more. I have to get that done before we can do anything else. 

I hadn't considered sleep apnea before as a reason for my tiredness, but now it makes so much sense! I think I will write about that in another post. I am still very scared of all the risks involved with surgery, but I am also really excited that it may be able to help me with a lot more than just biting through foods. 

I guess that is it for now. I will keep up-dating about my experience. I like reading other people's experiences with jaw surgery, and I can't find very many that have the same problem as me. If you have any question please ask and I will do my best to answer them! Thanks for reading.