June/July 2015 Surgery Buddies

[snapdresser]

13 days, 2 appointments, one set of surgical hooks and I'm ready to go!!! I think; maybe..... Well, really thinking about it maybe not.... No, definitely not!

This is getting close. So much more nervous about this than I should probably be...

You just keep thinking about those nurses, Nozzelnut You would have liked the NP who did my pre-surg physical! Her name was Yael

Ok, so does anyone else stand in front of the mirror and squish your face around trying to get an idea of what you'll look like after the surgery? lol

[KaylaChristine]

I got a letter yesterday from the hospital for my pre-op appointment. I'm glad they sent it to me finally because I had no idea where I needed to go. The letter did say to expect to make a $500 deposit towards my services (depending on my type of insurance). I can live with that lol. Oh and the medication for my nebulizer only cost me 80 cents (only $8 before insurance) for 25 doses. Woo!

Snapdresser - Yep, almost there!

Jaime - Thanks for the link to your youtube channel! I plan on making a blog--if I have time to get it up before the surgery lol.

Nozzlenut - I keep going from super excited to nauseatingly nervous lol.

[KaylaChristine]

Ok, so does anyone else stand in front of the mirror and squish your face around trying to get an idea of what you'll look like after the surgery? lol

Haha yes! I also puff up my cheeks a bit near the upper jaw too. Glad I'm not the only one doing things like that lol.

[snapdresser]

KaylaChristine - Haha yeah, I do it all. Puff up my cheeks, put my lips a certain way, etc etc. Discretely, of course

Nozzelnut - I told you not to read that article! I was like that all day yesterday lol. Don't worry, tomorrow you'll be back to mostly excited

POLL: Is watching Face/Off right before the surgery a good idea? Or a bad idea? Lol

[Nozzelnut]

I don't know why; just that everyone; everyone for the rest of my life will see this. Not to boil it down, but the 5 or so hours in the operating room will have a huge impact on the rest of my life. Kinda, sorta, not really the same as being prescribed a CPAP machine and on the bottom of the Rx it said 99 years.

Hopefully this will take care of the OSA, nose breathing problems, clenching, grinding, canted smile, TMJD... A lot of things.

I know I started this treatment about 1.5 years ago knowing that this day will eventually get here; and it's only 12 days away. I think the buildup to it was a bit too long. And gave me way too much time to think about it.

It's just the nervous anxious feeling you get when there's something big; out of your control coming your way.


And probably not a good idea to watch anything related to breaking bones remove and replacing any body parts. I haven't watched any youtube vids about this surgery because I don't really want to know the inside info about this one.

[jaime]

I know exactly how you feel. Last weekend I was having a ton of anxiety and I couldn't understand why. Eventually it dawned on me that of course I was anxious; I was about to have a life-changing surgery. As stupid as it sounds, I hadn't ever really thought of it like that. There is no going back after the surgery, for better or for worse (we assume better!).

I'm just glad there are so many other people on the Internet getting surgery...everybody seems to say it's so worth it in the end. Gotta just keep your eyes on the prize and know that's it's a positive big deal.

There's no way I could watch a video of the surgery. I came extremely close to blacking out at my desk when I was reading about another non-dental procedure I had a few years ago (matrixectomy).

[snapdresser]

I think the videos are neat stomach-churning, but SUPER interesting. I think Jaime's spot on: the anxiety is mixed with excitement because it's going to be a POSITIVE change! If I was having an arm amputated or something, fuhgeddaboudit, but we're gonna be better versions of our previous selves!! A huge improvement! That's exciting!!! of course, I don't have to tell you all that! It's really neat going through this as a group. Good to hear that all these emotions are "normal"

Oh, btw my physician said something encouraging today that y'all may want to hear. She told me that it's really a good decision to get this surgery. It's right for me and will relieve my symptoms now, AND it's good that I'm doing it now because those symptoms can get worse and usually cause other bad health effects as I get older. She said it's good on me for taking care of it now you all are in the same boat!

[lalcharlie]

I will be rereading all these posts in less than a year (I hope) as I'm still post SARPE! So encouraging. I'm totally feeling your excitement and nausea
I'll be staying away from youtube videos as I'm a bit squeamish. I'm worried that after surgery I might catch my reflection in the mirror and pass out (the whole wall next to the toilet was mirrored in the hospital, so unkind!) But I feel dreadful admitting this as it's rather a pathetic fear. Yes, I look at my crooked jawline and wonder what I'll look like afterwards....puff cheeks out, squish up face! Been told the changes will be 'subtle' but that's all so far. Probably not subtle if it's your own face! What others see is different.

[snapdresser]

image.jpg

That's my VSP printout. Shows my "before and after" skull. Kinda neat! My surgeon sent it to me on my request

[Nozzelnut]

I'll have to ask my surgeon about the VSP and if he uses it when I see him on Tuesday. Pretty neat.

[snapdresser]

TWO DAYS. Still not tooootally decided on whether or not I should watch Face/Off before the surgery lol. It's a great movie tho! Considering Peter Luger's Steakhouse for my "last meal" lol. But my mom's coming into town tomorrow night, which complicates things. It'll be nice to have her there to help take care of me tho

[jaime]

We're getting so close!!

That VSP thing is cool. I'm not sure if I understand it but it's cool nonetheless.

Third-last day of work today. Just wrapping things up since I took 6 weeks off starting Thursday.

What's on everyone's agenda for their home stretch? I'm getting my hair cut and coloured tonight as I know it'll be awhile before I want to sit in a chair for a few hours, making small talk with someone.

[snapdresser]

I also put in for 6 weeks off, but I think I'll return after 4 weeks tops. Maybe sooner. Home stretch is mostly cleaning before my mom gets into town lol. I'm gonna try to get my car inspected this afternoon if the check engine light goes off lol. Tomorrow I have to swing by my surgeon's office at lunch to try on my surgical splints (even tho she said she might not even use them cuz my bite is fine). Then final dinner, maybe, taking my nausea pill tomorrow night, and then trying my best to fall asleep before my super early start Wednesday!

[jaime]

Lots to do! hope your car is alright...post-surgery would not be a fun time to have to deal with car troubles.

That's nice your mom is coming in. I'm sure that'll be a huge help!

What time is your surgery? Mine is 8am but I have to be at the hospital for 6am. We're staying in a hotel the night before as the hospital is an hour from where I live. I probably won't be able to sleep either!

[snapdresser]

Eh, my car's got a ton of issues. It's a beat up (from city driving) '06 Prius. 200k miles and a check engine light that seems to come on when I accelerate too hard on a freeway onramp. Hopefully it shuts off by this afternoon lol

Yup, my mom's been pretty supportive along the way. She's had some work done in the past so she kinda knows what's up, or at least she's understanding of it. Wait, so if you have to show up at 6, what's at 8? They start cutting at 8 or they wheel you in to go under at 8? My surgeon starts cutting at 7:30 I think, but I'm supposed to be at the hospital at like 6:30, I think. I go under at 7 IIRC. I'll have to double-check my papers. I think I gotta be up at 4:30AM on Wednesday That's a good deal with the hotel. We were talking about staying at a hotel the night after I come out so I can see my surgeon on Friday (since she's also out on Long Island) but since my mom's coming up I don't think that's gonna work. Yeah... Of course, you can't take anything to help you sleep the night before surgery either! At least it's an early start so if I can't fall asleep, I don't have to lay there awake for too long