Having orthognathic jaw surgery is a stressful time, a big decision that cannot be taken lightly, a lot of planning is involved but also more important is finding the right surgeon who will operate to the best of his/her ability. As you can see this isn't something to be taken lightly, but surely if this is done on the NHS then this can't go wrong? Can it? Orthognathic surgery is out of your control. Leaving your life in somebody else's hands is a worry but rest assured you know they are the experts and you will be safe and very likely be relieved of these symptoms. Not worth thinking about but the worst thing that could possibly go wrong would be to wake up from surgery and knowing there has been a mistake, but how can this be? They are the experts not you. They have spent many years studying the anatomy, the face the structure of the jaws. Well you also know your own body and you know if something is right or not, this is something that cannot be taught, it's natural it is life.
How about being trapped in your own body with your tongue so cramped that you are struggling to talk? Everybody has a right to free speech, well maybe think again. Your jaws being in the wrong position and trapped near your throat you are struggling to breathe? Not a nice thought. Tongue muscles not adapting to the limited space which in turn failing your facial muscles and not being able to express yourself? Yes these are all linked. Rest assured if this did by any small unlikely event happened, speaking to the surgeon will see these problems, at the end of the day this is your health, this is the NHS you are number one priority. The worst thing that could possibly go wrong would be if these so called experts telling you everything is ok, this is all in your head. I'm pretty confident if this happened to me or anyone you'd go bat hell crazy! Knowing they are wrong and you are right. How could you prove this? The worst possible thing would be for a maxillofacial surgeon to get the measurements completely wrong and your lower jaw being trapped in a bite that is unnatural. Losing the ability to express yourself, not being able to talk, not being able to breathe within your own body, sounds like a horror film, could be a horror film.
Trying to bring your lower jaw forward into the position it should be only to be told by everybody you know and love "why are you sticking your jaw out?" If this happened would this put you into deep hole of depression? Not wanting to eat? Not wanting to leave the house? To be left alone? Maybe looking for answers on your laptop week in and week out and starting to go crazy. This sounds like every patients nightmare. Well this is what happened to me, and still is.
Two months later my tongue and my jaw has finally tried to get into the position it wanted to be. Being able to speak, being able to express yourself and being able to prove that this was not in your head after all. Being told for the first time after months from a close friend that this does not look right, finally realising you were right and they were wrong. Relief, having a weight lifted, being able to finally find a bit of hope, these are only words and cannot say the true emotional state I am feeling.
Today I have taken a trip from Coventry to Manchester for a second opinion, anybody who knows the M6 will know this is no quick drive, but it will be worth once the surgeon can finally see what I see and relieve me of the stress, pain and depression. To open his eyes and see what is in front of him. Well imagine my despair when I have been passed over as another time waster, ?150 down and a tank full of petrol wasted and a long miserable drive home, not knowing what to do next, knowing this is not in my head?
I am now sitting in my room depressed, unsure of life and looking for a way out. A way out of my body, not to die but to be the person my body should be, yet I am being deprived of this, who give's the right to stop you from being who you are mentally and physically? Well I guess a maxillofacial surgeon that's who.
Where do I go from here I don't know, what I do know is my upper jaw should have been moved a further 7-8mm forward, but I'm no expert, I'm just the person within this trapped body.
Judge for yourself, just like the maxillofacial surgeon.
http://youtu.be/zwMMswf7T3s
