January 2012 Buddies!

[Rivvie]

Happy new year everybody!
I can't believe it is actually January already. The nerves are slowly creeping in... Work is keeping me very occupied though.

[AWSeibert]

Happy New Year all!! Wow January 2012 is here! I had my first preop appointment with my surgeon today, it went well. They gave me all the feeding stuff like zip and squeeze bags, syringes that look like turkey basters... I am having a Lefort I and BSSO done. They havn't quite decided yet on whether the Lefort I will be a 3 piece or a 1 piece. Initially I needed a 3 piece but they are leaning more towards a 1 piece because my braces corrected a good portion of my bite. I originally had an open bite and now it seems as if it has changed more into an overjet. I feel very confident and comfortable with my surgeons though! After my appointment today I was supposed to go up to Anesthesia to sign my consent form and do all of that paperwork. There were 7 patients ahead of me though so they told me to come back another day. My second (and last I think) preop appointment with my Surgeons is next Tuesday 10JAN2012. I figure I will just go in a few hours early and try to get into Anesthesia that day!

I hope you all are well!!

Ashleigh

[keeponsmiling]

Glad your pre-op went well Ashleigh. Just had mine this morning. I think everything was ok, just have to wait for blood test results to come back. One thing that has got me a bit down in the dumps is that the nurse told me the hospital is currently 'in crisis'. Basically, because of two bank hols over Christmas and New Year, and the usual seasonal increase in pnuemonia, flu etc, the hospital is full. So beds on wards like the one I will be on are taken up by the overflow from the other wards, and all non-essential ops are cancelled. Two oral surgeries scheduled for today were cancelled and knowing what the NHS can be like I'm really worried about the knock-on effects of this and how long it'll be before the 'crisis' is over. We haven't even had any cold weather in the UK so far this winter! If they cancel my appt I will probably have a breakdown after psyching myself up for so long - even the thought of having the hooks on my braces longer than necessary is enough to upset me at the moment! Keeping everything crossed...

[Marian]

Hi Keeponsmiling

I had this exact same thing happen to me back in September. I had to ring the afternoon before the op to check there was a bed - there wasn't. I was told to ring at 6.30am on the day of the op - still no bed. I was told to go into the hospital anyway and waited for 2 hours constantly being told there had been huge admissions over the weekend and still no bed. 10 minutes before my allotted surgery time I was told there would be a bed available when I came out of theatre (there was still someone in the bed when I went to theatre!!)

I know what you are going through, and I have everything crossed that all will go ahead as planned.

Marian
(September buddies)

[keeponsmiling]

Wow Marian - how on earth did you stay sane?! I keep telling myself that after two years of treatment (and five years before that of denying I needed treatment!) I should be able to wait a few extra measly weeks... As long as I'm recovered enough to take the kids to Disney Paris on 1 May - it's all booked and I don't want to be going pumped full of painkillers with a face like a hamster and thermos of soup while everyone else is eating out and having a whale of a time! It's just SOOOOOO frustrating.

[gustani]

Hi guys, I have my underbite surgery next week. Top jaw moved forward around 10mm.
Braces for 2 years, 2 very long years at that!
keeponsmiling do you mind me asking which part of the country you are from or hospital you are referring too? I'm so scared of the bed situation, I'm not sure if I can take them turning me away.
Thanks and good luck guys!

[keeponsmiling]

I'm being treated in Exeter, Devon. Not sure where Marian was treated, but I think this is a fairly common situation wherever you're being treated on the NHS, especially this time of year. I'm just hoping this mild weather holds out, because we've not had a proper cold snap yet and if we do the hospital will be swamped... Let's not be pessimistic!

[AWSeibert]

KeepOnSmiling - I have everything crossed for you!! Eeek, I don't know if I could handle that. I guess the only thing that will bump me in the OR is emergency surgeries, so hopefully nothing happens!

Good luck to you Gustani!! Can't wait to hear how it goes!!

[Rivvie]

Hi all! How is everybody doing?
My surgery is in just 3 days, starting to get nervous... To make matters worse I have been stuggling to keep a cold at bay. Feeling pretty tired and muscle aches all over, sigh... Hope that it does not get any worse than this.

The orthodontist is going to cut the wires on Tuesday, surgery is Wednesday morning. I was scheduled to be the first that day, but was bumped to a later time due to an urgent case that was scheduled before me. I have to be at the hospital at 07:30, surgery will be around 09:00

[keeponsmiling]

Hi Rivvie. I was thinking of you over the weekend - you must be feeling nervous by now but it'll soon be over with. I have my final consult with the surgeon tomorrow and just thinking about it is giving me a cold sweat. This time next week you'll be home, the worst of the swelling will have passed and you can concentrate on recovering. Good luck to you. Keep us posted.

[keeponsmiling]

Well I just got the news this morning that my surgery's cancelled until 5 March. I am gutted. I'm so sad I can't even find the energy to be cross. I kind of suspected things weren't good when I went for my pre-op and the nurse said non-urgent surgeries were being rescheduled, but I hadn't anticipated that I'd have to wait so much longer. I'll keep following all your stories and wish you all the very best, but looks like I'll have no news now for a loooooooooong time.

[Rivvie]

Aww I am so sorry to hear that keeponsmiling. I am really feeling for you, to be so close and then to be pushed back that far. Keep us posted though, I definately will be following your stories in the future!

As for me, I have posted some updated pictures in my braces story. I hope I am still feeling ok tomorrow, since I feel a cold coming up. Hope it is just the nerves....

[catsteeth]

Rivvie, good luck tomorrow! I hope all cold germs stay away and you have an uneventful surgery.

keeponsmiling, I feel for you..so close but so far away. I'm going to my pre-op today so I'll be thinking of you. I hope you at least get a really early March date.

[keeponsmiling]

Thinking of you Rivvie and sending you get well vibes.

Thanks for all the pep talks. I'm still very sad, but when I finally get into surgery and am balled up with nerves I'll remember how bad I feel now and hopefully it'll reassure me and help me through.

[AWSeibert]

Oh Keeponsmiling, I am so sorry!! They pushed it out more than I would have expected, wow! Keep your head up as best you can!

Rivvie, Good Luck Today!! Hope everything goes smoothly and I am looking forward to your updates!

Catsteeth, I hope your pre-op went well!

I go back to the surgeon for my last preop next Tuesday 24JAN, he said that at this appointment we will try on my splints. Not sure what else but it's getting closer and closer to the date! I do have plans to enjoy my last steak for a while with a big group of family and friends the weekend before surgery.

Thinking of you all!
Ashleigh