T-minus 7 Days - The Pre Op

February is finally here! I went today for my pre op appointment at the Naval Hospital. I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I figured I would spend most of the daylight hours on this gorgeous 70 degree February day cooped up in the hospital. Luckily, I was wrong. I made it through the tunnel traffic, the gate, and the lack of parking spots and got to the clinic for my appointment. I waited less than 5 minutes before I was called back. After a check of my vitals (yep, my heart is still beating and I don't have a fever), the doctor came in to go over my pre op package. She reviewed the procedure - moving my upper jaw forward and up after cutting it into three pieces, and then moving my lower jaw forward to line up with the upper. She also went over the risks - nerve damage, tooth damage, additional procedures. This was all a review of the last appointment. She did have me sign an informed consent form, which had some interesting tidbits that I had not thought of. There was also some new information, which is pretty much just gross and I will spare you until it is actually happening. I got to try on my splints, which the doctor was VERY proud of! Luckily, they fit.

Things I learned today:

1. I will be carrying wire cutters on me at all times for 6 weeks after the surgery.
2. I will only be in the hospital for one night. From the doctor: "Sick people stay in the hospital. Surgery patients go home."
3. She may damage my teeth, which would then lead to a root canal, which won't hurt because I won't be able to feel anything.
4. I am getting old.

After my meeting with the doctor, I headed down to get some blood drawn. She wanted to know how much blood I have, so she knows how much I can lose during surgery. Not sure how I feel about that. I was done at the hospital and back home exactly 2 hours after my appointment time. Not bad considering I live 30 minutes away from the hospital!