Top and bottom jaw broken
A few years ago, to keep my teeth straight, the dentist recommended I had my jaw Re-aligned, as i had a slightly (but not overly stupidly) protruding bottom jaw.

several consultations later it was decided I would have my top jaw re-aligned aswell.

Basically they broke my bottom jaw, removed bone, pushed it back. Then removed my top jaw, pushed it forward and screwed it into place.

They then wired it together and secured it.

I woke, to find my face completely swollen, unable to eat or drink, and spluttering blood from the gaps in my Teeth braces.

As I was on Morphine, I got nauseous. Inevitably I started to puke the 1-2 pints of blood I had swallowed during the op, but I found I couldn't. There was no where for the puke to go. Instead it would seep out between the gaps in my mouth and at the back of the teeth, and would mostly back up and drain out of my nose. This takes alot longer than you may think. The urge to want to breath whilst liquid is draining from your nasal cavity was horrible.

I cannot begin to tell you the panic that took over me, I couldn't speak, for not only was my mouth wired shut, but my throat, mouth and face were swollen tight, so any noise I did was but a whisper of a moan. So when I felt an urge to be sick, I couldn’t call for help, beginning to be sick merely made the whisper come to an abrupt gloopy and smelly stop.

Now, at this point as I had choked a few times, I realised I either controlled the panic associated with puking, or I choked.

I remember a nurse sitting on the end of the bed for a fair few hours with a pair of pliers in his hand. It turns out - they kept these handy should things go badly wrong, they could release my jaw and allow me to breath.

After 2 days I was handed a mirror, What I saw looked much like a Picasso painting. As I looked closer - I noticed a small thread sticking out of either side of my mouth. Taped on either cheek.

It turns out this was a thread that went through my tongue and secured either side to stop me swallowing my tongue. This actually didn't hurt, but the removal did... because it got stuck inside my tongue.

It took two nurses to secure and pull it from my mouth.

Apart from those first 2 weeks it was plain sailing, apart from loosing a shed load of weight. About 20% of my body weight (I only weighed 10.5 stone before the op)

Teeth are pretty straight too.
(Dan dan dan They tik urh jerbs!!!, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 10:59, 6 replies)

!!!
Oh
My
God....

Clicking I-Like-This doesn't seem to be appropriate, but erm, you can have one anyway.

Genuine question, was it worth it?
(SpangoTheWonderBadger is brewing beer, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 11:16, closed)

I suppose so
my teeth are nice n straight.

But its an understatement to say i was underprepared for what i was in for.
(Dan dan dan They tik urh jerbs!!!, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 11:20, closed)

Well
rather you than me, as they say, at least you're happy with the results.
(SpangoTheWonderBadger is brewing beer, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 11:28, closed)

Ergh!!
At least your teeth are straight...?
(LakAttack, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 11:51, closed)

as someone else said clicking I like this seems so wrong, but just the thought of going through that would make me panic...
(heebiejeebus, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 12:03, closed)

I almost had this done
But didn't because I balked at the cost and instead had a less extensive alternative that was riskier but seems to be working out. After reading your story, I'm really, really, really, really glad I didn't get that done.
(FleetlordVT, Tue 3 Aug 2010, 12:49, closed)