of surgery and ortho

Started when I visited a TMJ specialist regarding my TMJ syndrome about 3 weeks ago. well, okay, it wasn't yet that but it could probably have been if I hadn't seeked treatment early, it's an abnormality to have your jaw click at least once a day for about two weeks (at that time). She had advised me to get some x-rays and other stuff done before she could go on with treatment, which consisted of having a splint (6-10 months) followed by ortho (at least 2 years). had to wait for another week for the release of the remaining results (photos and cast took 7 days). was able to contact another TMJ specialist (thanks to my tita's connections, she's a dentist kasi). decided to try out that TMJ specialist my tita referred us to last night cos she was nearer our place. with the TMJ problem, appointments had to be strictly followed otherwise it's back to zero daw and we'd have to start from scratch. then, the EVIL part begins..

the TMJ specialist, and some other dentist (a friend of hers as well) took a look at my x-ray and stuff, asked me questions, blahblahblah. final conclusion: I could skip the splint part (cos it's just for relaxing my jaw muscles which i no longer need since Dr. Nubla, my former TMJ specialist, had massaged 'em and they no longer bother me). Anyway, I could now move on instead to the second phase of treatment... ortho (aka braces). Sure, I had wanted braces as a kid (esp my mom, she had always wanted me to have 'em, so she's sooo excited now) BUT, c'mon! i don't wanna have grad pics with my "braces smile". they're cute but I don't wanna look into those photos and see those contraptions! and now, the sad part is... it's our capping in June.. plus, in two years time, I'm graduating from the BSN program... tho yeah, heck, i'd rather have that in my BSN grad pics than at my med school pics... haha!

Somehow, i was worried... but soon eased into the thought of it.... at least it'd help me in my diet (di ka daw makakakain eh haha). plus, kuya Beboy, a friend of mine, just had braces recently, and it did suit him very well. cute nga sa kanya eh. so, i thought: heck, if i was gonna be as cute as him, the pain would be worth it... haha! yeah, the pain and the torture from my friends... haha. ngayon pa lang inaasar na ako nina Ge-An and ate Chris eh, sila pa lang naman kasi may alam... sila ni Tabs (and Carlann's reaction? excited? haha... gusto rin niya eh).

So, anyway, there. I was excited to actually get braces so i was hoping: fine. sana braces na lang, wag na splint. Cos, I saw the splint on someone (yoko na sabihin kung sino at baka ma-offend pa), it doesn't look good. sure, it's transparent but it's noticeable. looks dirty or something. and the proof na it's not only me being praning: my friends agreed to that fact.

Anyway, my wish came true BUT there's a catch. Instead of having that splint, that part of the therapy was "replaced" by something else. I HAVE TO UNDERGO SURGERY. okay, not bad. surgery, sure... but no, it's DENTAL SURGERY. gasp. so, fine they're gonna just remove my 4 molars. my 3rd molars. no biggie. SARCASTICALLY SPEAKING. i love my babies. i don't want 'em removed. i took extra good care of 'em. it pains me. sniff.

I wanted to faint right then and there! i could feel weakness in my knees... then when i asked, they both reassured me it would be painless. i'd have anesthesia so there'd be numbness, and heaviness, which the brain could misinterpret for pain but other than that, it's not gonna hurt one bit daw. how about after operation? oh, after the operation, of course it's gonna hurt somehow. nanggigil talaga ako! THAT was the part I was worrying about! darn it.

Oh well, but there's no turning back now. I'm scheduled for surgery this Friday morning at 10AM... one week after would be removal of the stitches... and a few days later i think, would be the ortho.... which I'm finally excited for. just don't wanna think of the extraction.... err, surgery na lang. it's much more soothing to my ears.