Hi Jacq10,

What a relief it was to read your message. You know, all the pictures I had been shown were of people who didn't have braces.....their mouths were wired shut in these horrendous manners. I don't even know if that type of wiring would even be done nowadays.....seems like braces would just naturally be put on to hold the wires until it was time to open your mouth again. Phew!!!! It really WAS a relief to read that the wires latch around her pre-existing braces. Yeah!!!

Next week she has an appointment with her orthodontist (which may actually take two appointments, we were told), and we were told it was to put new wires/brackets (??) on her teeth. I assume these will be strong since they will be used as the anchors for the jaw wiring.

We have all KINDS of appointments the following week....x-rays, impressions, education, general physical, etc, etc. That'll probably wear us out more than the actual rehabilitation from the surgery! Lol.

This is what they told us to expect. Let me know if you experienced any of it. Swollen face, of course (which they will keep applying hot and cold compresses to), no feeling in her lips or chin, stuffed nose (so we'll have the mist mask), plugged ears, pressure in the head, and pain in her mouth. She will only be able to sleep on her back and propped up, she will have a hard time swallowing (but it will get better with time), and when she chokes or coughs it is going to be very scary BUT it won't do any harm. If she really IS choking, we'll have the wire cutters to open her mouth. Yikes.

We're figuring she'll miss a week of school while in the hospital for 5 days, and then probably another 3 weeks while resting up. How much school did you miss, and were you able to stay alert in classes? She is an A/B student, so I can't imagine that they would fail her in any subject because she doesn't have the energy to concentrate as well.

Oh, and they said that after all the swelling and bruising is gone (which will take weeks, they said), that she will have nice pronounced cheekbones, a little chin, and a smaller face (because her jaw won't be open all the time, even though her lips are closed). I think she is gorgeous right now, and I can't imagine how pretty she is going to look. When she goes back for the new school year in September, no one will recognize her! Lol.

Thanks again for sharing your experience. It made me feel better.

God bless,
Sandy