Getting the process started...again

Getting the Process Started Again?

After close to a three-month wait, the peer review with the insurance company was done and I received approval for the CT scan.

 The front of the outpatient section of the Hospital

They decorated the hospital for Christmas! 

The scan was scheduled for 6:30am (11/23), so I needed to leave my house by 5:30am.  At that hour, I didn’t need to worry about Miami traffic.  Once I arrived at the hospital, I easily found a parking space and walked to the out patient registration desk.  I must admit that the people who work in this hospital are amazing, patient, funny, and kind.  I was taken to the CT room approximately 10 minutes after I completed the registration process.  The CT and splicing the images took close to 45 minutes. 

You know it's early when you're the only car in the parking garage!

The CT machine 

I then walked over to the main building to go to the OMS office for impressions.  I arrived at 8:45 (the office doesn’t open until nine) and the impressions were taken at 9:15.  I then paid, gave the head nurse my disc, and asked a few questions. 

These are not actually my impressions, but it will look similar.

From my understanding, this is when my journey actually begins.  The OMS office sends my disc into TMJ Concepts and they begin creating the replica of my skull and the actual implants.  They will also give the office a target date of when this process will be complete.  That’s when I will have a surgery date.  Crazy. 

I’m a blend of terrified and excited, stressed and relieved. 

I’m sitting here on Thanksgiving (11/24/16) knowing how blessed I am that I have been given this opportunity.  It’s an opportunity for a better quality of life and a return to normalcy.   I’m still in awe over the fact that the FDA chose me to receive the titanium implants.  I have much to be thankful for:

I am thankful for my family who has been with me every step of this long, exhausting process.  They have emotionally supported me when I am being pessimistic and when I am in pain.  Though they know my dietary needs, they do not scold me when I cheat (which is rare).  They will always be there for me and I know it.  Having a strong support system has been vital in this process.

I am thankful for my friends and coworkers, who have also been by my side through this process.  They are use to me poking at food and asking them questions about the “softness.”  They try to understand my limits.  They know that I am in pain even if it does not show and they are always there for me. 

I am thankful for my church family, who has been praying for me for quite some time now.  It’s wonderful to see the power of prayer at work.  They ask me about what is going on, text me to show support, and let me know if they have read anything that might be useful to my situation. 

I am thankful for Gato, my furbaby.  He is always by my side and sleeps next to me at night.  If I am having a rough day, he cuddles with me to make me feel better.  He is loving, happy, and content.  To me, he is more than a cat…he is my baby J

I am thankful for my career.  I absolutely love working with teenagers.  They are moody, funny, sarcastic, caring, and kind.  Just the other day, a senior I had last year came to visit me and she asked about my jaw.  She knew about it because she tried to give me candy that I couldn’t eat once.  When I gave her the good news, she literally was jumping up and down and hugging me.  She is exited that I will feel better and be able to eat normal food again.

I’m thankful for the surgeons, doctors, and nurses that are there to help me.  Without them, none of this would be possible.  I know that I have the best OMS in the country and am fully confident in the surgeon, his doctors, his nurses, and his staff. 

The doctor is well worth the wait!

I’m also thankful that I get an opportunity to volunteer with 100+ abandoned dogs of the Everglades.  This organization and the people who are in it are spectacular.  The work they do with abandoned, sick animals is outstanding. 

I am also thankful for finding TMJ Hope on Facebook.  The support group enabled me to find others who are on the same journey as I am.  Through this group, I have read informative blogs, found useful information, and most importantly, found others just like me.   I now email with a few people who have had the Total Joint Replacement surgery, and they help me understand the process and what to expect.  I know that less than 1% of the population will need TJR, so meeting others has been reassuring.

I am also thankful for traveling.  I have seen amazing places around the world and hope to continue to even more places. 

I could go on and on about all that I am thankful for.  Though this has been a long, arduous journey, I am praying that it will have a positive ending.  n

Venting :/

Let the frustration begin...

So approximately one month ago I was given the news that the FDA chose me for the titanium jaw implants.  I went to the OMS and he decided I needed an updated CT scan and dental impressions.  They wanted this done within two weeks so we could set up a surgery date.

Fast forward close to five weeks later and NOTHING!  After calling once a week for three weeks and being told that the head nurse would call me back (and she never did), I finally reached the insurance claim person.  Not only did they not even put in the initial claim (which is always denied), but they didn't even know I was waiting.  What?  You have got to be kidding me!  

She put the claim in, it was denied, and now I am waiting for the peer review to take place.  I am calling the office every day.  What does this mean for my surgery date?  I don't know.  I'm just frustrated and tired and angry about the situation.  

So really I have no update...which, in itself, is frustrating.

Surgeon Discussions

The roller coaster of emotions continue and I go through this process.  A unique blend of fear and excitement rests in the pit of my stomach. 

This week has been hectic.  Tuesday night was open house and I didn’t get home until close to 9pm.  Parent turn out was low because I teach juniors and seniors, yet everything went smoothly.

                               My classroom :) My open house power point is ready to go!

My desk 

Wednesday I left work five minutes early to go to Miami to see my surgeon.  They asked me to bring my patient folder with the surgery information, so I did.  It had been awhile since I even opened that folder.  In fact, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to need it again. 

Normally my surgeon is running 1-3 hours behind, so I came with a clipboard, a purple pen, and approximately 36 essays to grade.  This time he wasn’t running late :)  Well, 15 minutes but that doesn’t count.

I had a set of panoramic x-rays and pictures taken.  Then I went into the room and another surgeon was waiting for me.  He did an exam, asked questions, and reviewed my chart.  Then the head nurse came in and we all began discussing the surgery, what I need to do pre operative, and what doesn’t need to be done again.

                                                          Panaramic x-ray machine

Last year I had everything except my pre-op clearance done when we found out about my metal allergies.  I will not need another CTA (cat scan with contrast) or to visit the nueroradiologist again.  I will need an updated CT and impressions.  We need to know how much my jaw has shifted within a year and whether or not I will need braces.  Last year, I wasn’t going to need them but this year I might.

My surgeon arrived and we began discussing the surgery.  The metals testing stumped him, as I had no reaction to the patch test.  He suggested that I get tested again just to see the results.  This tests costs close to $600 and insurance doesn’t cover it, so I did not want to have it done again.  My main argument for not doing it was even if the test now shows I am not allergic to anything, how do we know this is right?  He agreed and we decided to go ahead using the titanium that the FDA approved me for.  Last year I had all my questions answered, but I did learn a few new details this time:

1)   Because the nueroradiologist puts the stints in the day before, I will have to stay in the hospital the night before the surgery.

2)   After I am put under, the surgeon will wire my jaw shut and in the position that he wants it.  If all goes well, I will be unwired by the time I wake up.

3)   The surgery takes 7-8 hours.

4)   I will have to take amoxicillin to prevent infection when I go to the dentist from here on out.

5)   Other than that, all the normal warnings were given.

                                              This is what my implants will look like.

TMJ concepts actually makes a replica of my skull and places the custom implants on it (don't worry, I will get a pic of it!)

As of right now I am waiting for my next set of doctor’s visits for the CT and the impressions. That will also be the day we pick a surgery date.   

So, until everything is set I am going to work on spending time with my family, my friends, and not stressing.  I will continue to participate in activities I love such as volunteering for 100+ Dogs of the Everglades and exercising.  I will update my blog as soon as I have more information.

UPDATES, UPDATES, UPDATES

This is the long overdue update.  Towards the end of the 2015/2016 school year my friend, Vanessa, and I planned a trip to Ireland.  I knew that I wasn’t having surgery, so there was nothing I could do about my jaw.  Before the vacation, I called the surgeons office and left a message for the head nurse because I needed muscle relaxers.  In addition, I sent her an email.  There was no response.  I took it as a hint that they were done treating me until there was something they could do. 

The vacation was amazing.  We drove through southern Ireland and stopped at all the places we planned to see.  The weather was always perfect for pictures and sightseeing.

Since getting the news last October that I am allergic to nickel and unable to get the implants, I have really tried to come to terms with the fact that this is the way I am always going to be.  It’s been rough, but I knew I had to except this fact.  My surgeon needed to fill out pages of paperwork and send it to the FDA.  Once that was complete I would be placed on a wait list for titanium implants.  The FDA only allows 5 titanium implants per year, so I knew I was probably 5 years from hearing anything. 

Some of my friends and family felt as though I needed to bother the doctor to get the paperwork done, but I refused.  I had to decide what was best for me, my mental health, and my jaw; therefore, I decided to relax and let go of stressing about surgery and the ifs.  I put it out of my mind, and realized that maybe God had another plan for me.  Maybe, while I was waiting, something better would come out.  Who knows?  Yes, I was still in pain and having problems, but I was just going to have to suck it up and wait.

August 15, 2016 was the first official day back to school with children.  This year I teach two twelfth grade honors classes and three junior regular classes.  I am also on the Professional Development Committee, which meets after school several times a month.  In addition, I’ve taken on being the 11^th grade Professional Learning Community leader.  Plus, I am the Criminal Justice club sponsor.  I’ve also decided to renew my National Boards, which is a huge pain in the butt!  This year I’ve signed up for quite a bit, yet I know that it is going to be my best year teaching high school yet. 

Well…sometimes things just don’t go as I planned.  On 8/17 I received a phone call from the head nurse.  Apparently she’s been trying to reach me.  I was one of the five people chosen for titanium implants!  I am excited, scared, and stunned all at once.  I could barely believe what I was hearing.  I made an appointment for 9/7/16 and will see what the next steps will be.  Depending on what decision is made, and when the surgery is set up, I might not be able to renew my boards.  That’s okay with me.  Right now I am working on not stressing and going with the flow. This has been a valuable lesson about timing and being patient.