It didn't work out the way that I planned it, but my surgery is finally scheduled. On June 4, 2012, I'll be at HUP for my surgery. It's been years in the making and I'm glad to have a firm date to look forward to, but I learned a big lesson on the way. Trust your gut.
In September I had an appointment with my orthodontist, during which he told me it looked like I'd be ready for surgery. After having a set of molds of my teeth made, I walked out of the office feeling like I was walking on air. I was running ahead of schedule! Perfect! A day later, I got a call saying there were a few more adjustments that needed to be made before I'd be ready for surgery. :(
After my parade balloon deflated into a wrinkly pile of brightly colored rubber, I started thinking "Maybe I should call and schedule the surgery anyway." I figured the surgeon's office probably wouldn't have immediate openings and that if I scheduled the surgery a couple months out, all the adjustments would be made and I'd be ready for that date. Doubt crept in and I decided not to make the call. I trusted in the process and decided to do as I was told and wait until I had a set of final molds of my teeth to send to the surgeon for approval before scheduling the surgery. Oh I wish I had been rebellious.
Fast forward to December and my most recent appointment with the orthodontist. He took another set of molds and gave me another promising projection that I could be ready. The next day I got the call I had been waiting over a year for. Dr. Swiatek said things looked perfect and I could call the surgeon's office to set the date. I spent several frustrating days trying to get in touch with the oral/maxillofacial surgery scheduler at HUP. This frustration, on top of an already rough work week, left me crying in a bathroom stall at work more times than I'd like to admit.
That being said, my heart lept when I finally saw the HUP phone number pop up on my cell phone during, yet another, horrible day at work. I ran to the backroom of the pharmacy and eagerly picked up the call. I pulled out my planner and my pen and started the conversation with the scheduler. As quickly as my smile had appeared, it was smacked right off my face when I was told that June 4th, nearly six months out, was the earliest possible opening for the surgery. My immediate response was "I'll take it." followed quickly by "Is there a waiting list you can put me on?" While there is a waiting list (and, yes, I'm now on it), I'm told that openings come up very rarely and there are a few people ahead of me. So, after ironing out the details and hanging up the phone, back into the bathroom stall I went to cry out my frustrations. I had mentally prepared myself for a surgery date as far out as March (maybe even April), but I was in no way prepared for June.
Scheduling in June doesn't just mean that I have to wait longer for the surgery, it also means that I have to stay at my current job that much longer. Staying at my job longer means not being able to increase my income, not being able to move back into my own place, and not being able to start my new career. All of these thoughts were rolling through my head as I kicked myself for not following my instincts and scheduling the surgery back in September. But, as we all know, hindsight is always 20/20. With the support of my awesome family and friends, I tried to focus on the positives. My outlook has since improved and I am feeling better about my future. Now I have a date to look forward to and now I can really let myself plan for the surgery and for the time after.
Things to come: testing my Ninja Kitchen System's blending abilities, a meal-replacement shake taste test, submitting requests for a leave of absence and short term disability benefits. I also plan on taking a full set of photos of my face that I can use for comparison after the surgery.
