a closer look: my double jaw surgery journey - the why.
“A closer look” is a new series where I hope this introvert can share things that bring me joy, my health and wellness journey or maybe a book that left an impression.
These peony’s were begging me to bring my camera out after it’s two month hiatus. I have them to thank for bringing my creative side out again during a simple neighborhood walk. :)
As I am currently in the thick of recovery, I thought I would take the time to share why I needed jaw surgery. Believe it or not, this journey started when I was three. I tripped over a giant tree root while running around my sister’s elementary school playground. Flash forward to when I was 13, my orthodontist (shout out to Dr. Anderson in Suffolk, VA!) mentioned my jaw was 2mm off and that he would leave my braces on an extra year to try to avoid jaw surgery when I was 30.
Two weeks before my 30th birthday, and now living in St. Louis, MO for seven years, I went to the dentist (highly recommend Dr. Tyler Crews at Webster Groves Dentist) because I was having tooth pain when eating on my right side. It was not sensitive to hot and cold but I still thought I should have it checked out. He shared that my top teeth were moving and it was causing my teeth to touch my back bottom right molar implant. Six months prior, he had shaved down my implant in the exact same spot for the same reason and said that I should not be coming in every six months to get my implant shaved down. This meant my teeth were moving quicker and he recommended that I should see an orthodontist. He referred me to Moshiri Orthodontics. I quickly learned they are one of the top ranked Orthodontics in St. Louis giving me peace of mind I was in good hands.
At that appointment, they started with x-ray’s and when I had my appointment with Dr. Maz Moshiri to review my case for the first time, he mentioned my jaw was now 4mm off and that if we put braces on without combining it with jaw surgery, my teeth would only stay in place for a short period of time because the structure/or base, my jaw, would not have a good foundation for my teeth to stay put.
This was a lot to take in when I went into the appointment assuming we’d just be discussing braces so I decided to take the information home and go back in a few days to not put myself in a pressure cooker situation and make a decision without much thought and consideration. I considered this forward motion for me as I am typically someone who loves to cross things off my list and just make a decision.
The timing was wild as it was two weeks before my childhood orthodontist told me I would most likely need jaw surgery. Two weeks before my 30th birthday. I’d say he was spot on. ;)
Dr. Maz did share that I could wait 10-15 years and other alternatives like retainers and devices but as time would go on, it would only get worse and the pain would increase. I made the decision that while I’m young, to move forward with doing it now as that would be favorable for recovery. He shared that he only works with one surgeon for jaw surgery patients who happened to also live in St. Louis. This surgeon is ranked number one in the country for double joint replacement jaw surgery which is what I’d needed to hear in the moment. :)
There are three typical reasons one needs jaw surgery:
trauma to the jaw (my case)
hormones
birth defect
So, after much thought, my husband, Aaron and I, decided it was a good time to do this after I met with my jaw surgeon, Dr. Reza Movahed and felt like I was again, in the best possible hands to go through something so life altering.
Flash forward to October 2020, and, the journey began with the braces going on. I would have my braces on for 10 months before surgery to get my teeth in the right position and then 10 months after, I would have surgery while the braces remained on. However, there was a surge in the pandemic and my surgery that was set for September 20, 2021, was put on hold on September 10 due to staffing issues at the hospital and I would wait until March 25, 2022 to get the green light.
The hardest part about the waiting was the anticipating undergoing something so intense and knowing that once it was done, the journey would still be very long so it just felt as if I was delaying the whole process. But, now that I’ve had the surgery, I can see on the other side that God was working on my heart to give me peace that only He can provide. The day of the surgery was like an out of body experience knowing what we had waited for over a year and a half was finally here but God was so present. He gave Aaron and I unity and peace that surpassed all understanding. Xanax also helped. ;)
I stayed in the hospital three nights, four days, and on the sixth day, during one of my daily appointments and cleanings to see my surgeon for two weeks, they noticed my jaw had shifted. They asked us to come back in a few hours to try to put it back in its socket in their office. During that hour procedure while I was under, it was unsuccessful and I woke up to them sharing I’d need to have a second, emergency surgery in the next day or two, whenever they could get me on the schedule in the hospital. I also woke up to my jaw unexpectedly, wired shut. I immediately had a panic attack.
After all of that, they took the wires off and prepared me for it being wired shut when I came out of the second surgery. Thankfully, one major answered prayer was my in-laws were flying in as I was getting this news of the second surgery. God knew Aaron and I would need a loving hug and familiar faces when we arrived home, carrying this news with us.
Having my jaw slip out of its socket was not in mine or Aaron’s plan obviously, but I have a soft tissue/connective tissue disorder called “EDS” (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) which is where a “group of hereditary disorders of connective tissue that are varied in the ways they affect the body and in their genetic causes. The underlying concern is the abnormal structure or function of collagen and certain allied connective tissue proteins.”
My surgeon told Aaron after the second surgery was a success “her jaw joint is so strong but the tissue is weak and was pulling her joints out of socket.” This made sense to me knowing how EDS shows up.
Until now, I have been able to hide and deal with invisible, chronic illness, due to my EDS and live a seemingly “normal life”. Since being diagnosed with EDS in 2019, this is the first time I’ve had an outward health “issue” I have had to deal with, despite the mask mandates. ;) I know God is using it to put me out of my comfort zone to talk about the way He has carried us through this season. This season He has us in has been challenging and definitely not lacking road barriers. But, I know this to be true, we have only got through it each day by His strength alone. We are so weak and I am so grateful I have the hope that he paid the ultimate price so that I wouldn’t have to experience the pain He did. I’m learning
To wrap up the longest blog post I’ve probably ever written, I hope this sheds a little more light into why I needed the surgery and I hope to write a few more in this series on how EDS has affected my life and tips on recovery.
Lastly, May is EDS Awareness Month.
If you feel led, I have a personal fundraiser set up right HERE.
It would mean so much if you donated so others have the opportunity to be diagnosed earlier than I was, at the age of 29.
