It's a fancy word for jaw advancement. What it means is, they're going to break my upper and lower jawbones and move my entire jaw forward as a unit about two-thirds of an inch, resetting it in place with as series of screws and possible bone grafts. If all goes well--85-90% success rate for this surgery--I will be able to sleep through the night for the first time in many years. No CPAP machine and no pills, which are only partially effective with me anyway (and the latter seem to lose their effect after just a couple days).
And if it doesn't? Well, you'll read it here as well.
So why this blog? For several reasons. First, to let my friends and family know what's going on with me as my surgery approaches and as my recovery progresses, because needless to say... I'm not going to be able to do much talking that first week. Second, many other people have blogged their experience with this surgery. Their blogs have been huge help and wealth of information, letting me know what to expect and ultimately giving me the courage and certainty to go through with this. I feel it's only fair to do the same and let others who follow me know what it's like, for better or for worse.
This is a major procedure, with recovery time measured in months. There are side effects and possible complications that I'll get into later. As things happen, I will be posting pictures, observations, and yes, may occasionally complain or vent my frustrations. I have a pretty good idea what to expect, but doubtless there will be surprises along the way. So please bear with me as I enter what I expect to be purgatory on my way to the paradise that only real sleep I haven't known in ten years can provide.
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