Hi Dave,
I'm glad you have a surgery date finally! I was told my surgery might be last Fall maybe, then this Spring, and now it looks like it will be Summer. The waiting is so hard! I think it's the unknown.
By the way, I'm 47 and it took me awhile to do this, too. I've known about my asymmetrical jaw for years. This is my second time in braces.
Best of Luck!
HighandLo
Just at the beginning
Moderator: bbsadmin
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Brandyleigh35
- Posts: 1018
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
HI Dave,
Just wanted to let you know that I'm 43 and I will be having upper, lower, and genioplasty on May 24th. I have been in braces for 14 months now, and I had palate expansion surgery last March to widen my palate. I understand about the waiting, but seems like your surgery date is at a good time for you. Mine needs to be during the summer because I work for the school district and it is the only time off I will have. I will have a full 3 months before I have to go back to work.
Can't say I'm really looking forward to getting it done as it has been 14 months and I just now got the feeling back in my top teeth from the palate expansion, so I'm assuming this is going to take just as long if not longer to heal from. I know it will all be worth it, and I'm totally thrilled with my results so far. But age does factor into the recovery time and while things do get better it is definitely more of a waiting game for us older folks.
I'm trying really hard to do everything possible to make things faster and better this time though. I'm on a full supplement regimen that is supposed to aid in the reduction of swelling, and bruising, etc. I've been working out a lot and getting in good shape, eating better, and have quit caffeine. I'm also trying to do some positive affirmations, and visualize my recovery daily. Figure it can't hurt. I will let you all know how it works out. If you want to follow my surgical journey you can visit my blog. There are also several other buddies of mine on there that have had this surgery too, so you can check them out also.
Brandy
Just wanted to let you know that I'm 43 and I will be having upper, lower, and genioplasty on May 24th. I have been in braces for 14 months now, and I had palate expansion surgery last March to widen my palate. I understand about the waiting, but seems like your surgery date is at a good time for you. Mine needs to be during the summer because I work for the school district and it is the only time off I will have. I will have a full 3 months before I have to go back to work.
Can't say I'm really looking forward to getting it done as it has been 14 months and I just now got the feeling back in my top teeth from the palate expansion, so I'm assuming this is going to take just as long if not longer to heal from. I know it will all be worth it, and I'm totally thrilled with my results so far. But age does factor into the recovery time and while things do get better it is definitely more of a waiting game for us older folks.
I'm trying really hard to do everything possible to make things faster and better this time though. I'm on a full supplement regimen that is supposed to aid in the reduction of swelling, and bruising, etc. I've been working out a lot and getting in good shape, eating better, and have quit caffeine. I'm also trying to do some positive affirmations, and visualize my recovery daily. Figure it can't hurt. I will let you all know how it works out. If you want to follow my surgical journey you can visit my blog. There are also several other buddies of mine on there that have had this surgery too, so you can check them out also.
Brandy
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4beauty4symmetry
- Posts: 226
- Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 5:58 pm
- Location: boston
I suppose this belongs on another thread but brandileigh's comments on preparing for the Big Jaw Surgery has me thinking. . .
I'm four and half months post-sarpe and still numb in my upper gums, esp the right side, and I have a thin ribbon of numbness crossing my midface.
My next surgery will be upper and lower (setback) w/ genio, and I'm nervous that the infraorbital nerve, which caused me the midface numbness that drove me crazy with the Sarpe, will again go on strike.
Anyway, in reviewing my diet I realized the one food or nutrient source that had not been in it for decades was omega-3. I don't mean walnuts, flax seed, or eggs. I always ate lotsa walnuts. But it turns out that flax and walnuts only provide one type of Omega-3--ALA, from which the body is supposed to convert to the two other Omega-3 oils--DHA and EPA. But at least one study suggest the body doesn't convert ALA from these food sources very efficiently.
Oil cold water fish that have fed on algae are the best source of Omega-3--salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel.
These are foods I have gone years without eaten. Omega-3 is supposed to affect nerve conduction. No, I don't know of any studies linking Omega 3 consumption to facial nerve function. . . . .But under the better safe than sorry rule I've started eating these foods every day or every other day.
My hope is that in doing so my the time my infrorbital nerve gets lifted or stetched again it will be more lubricated and thus able to roll with the scalpel, so to speak.
Brandi--do you eat oily fish from the sea? I met someone from Alaska once who seemed to subsist on Big Macs, so I don't want to be presumptous. . .
I'm four and half months post-sarpe and still numb in my upper gums, esp the right side, and I have a thin ribbon of numbness crossing my midface.
My next surgery will be upper and lower (setback) w/ genio, and I'm nervous that the infraorbital nerve, which caused me the midface numbness that drove me crazy with the Sarpe, will again go on strike.
Anyway, in reviewing my diet I realized the one food or nutrient source that had not been in it for decades was omega-3. I don't mean walnuts, flax seed, or eggs. I always ate lotsa walnuts. But it turns out that flax and walnuts only provide one type of Omega-3--ALA, from which the body is supposed to convert to the two other Omega-3 oils--DHA and EPA. But at least one study suggest the body doesn't convert ALA from these food sources very efficiently.
Oil cold water fish that have fed on algae are the best source of Omega-3--salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel.
These are foods I have gone years without eaten. Omega-3 is supposed to affect nerve conduction. No, I don't know of any studies linking Omega 3 consumption to facial nerve function. . . . .But under the better safe than sorry rule I've started eating these foods every day or every other day.
My hope is that in doing so my the time my infrorbital nerve gets lifted or stetched again it will be more lubricated and thus able to roll with the scalpel, so to speak.
Brandi--do you eat oily fish from the sea? I met someone from Alaska once who seemed to subsist on Big Macs, so I don't want to be presumptous. . .
Dec 2006--RPE followed by SARPE surgery
Jan 2007--Braces
Nov 2007 BSSO mandibular setback, genioplasty, and two implant anchors. Surgery-eve reprieve from Lefort.
May 2008--Debraced
Surgeries in Costa Rica, Orthodontics in Massachusetts.
All to fix an openbite, crossbite, underbite, and two missing bottom molars.
Jan 2007--Braces
Nov 2007 BSSO mandibular setback, genioplasty, and two implant anchors. Surgery-eve reprieve from Lefort.
May 2008--Debraced
Surgeries in Costa Rica, Orthodontics in Massachusetts.
All to fix an openbite, crossbite, underbite, and two missing bottom molars.
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Brandyleigh35
- Posts: 1018
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
4beauty,
As far as eating goes, I honestly never really thought about it, but yes I guess I do only eat fish from the sea. Over the past year we have pretty much gone organic. Down to even like flour, butter, etc. It really wasn't planned, and I actually started out as a rather non supportive organic marytr. The more I ate organic produce the more I found it just tasted better. My husband is a hunter so we eat a lot of game meat anyway caribou, moose, local organic chicken. and only fish from the sea. Our freezer is stocked with red salmon and king salmon that we catch each year, as well as halibut that we take a yearly charter to catch. During the winter we have to rely on the grocery store for organic produce but in the summer we go to a local farm and pick our own veges. We often go to a local seafood market and buy shrimp, and scallops, but they are also alaskan type and from the sea.
The only other type of fish I eat sometimes is cat fish that we occasionally purchase. I know that it is not Alaskan, or from the sea, but could not tell you where it come from.
Maybe that will be an added boost to my pre-surgical prep huh?
Brandy
As far as eating goes, I honestly never really thought about it, but yes I guess I do only eat fish from the sea. Over the past year we have pretty much gone organic. Down to even like flour, butter, etc. It really wasn't planned, and I actually started out as a rather non supportive organic marytr. The more I ate organic produce the more I found it just tasted better. My husband is a hunter so we eat a lot of game meat anyway caribou, moose, local organic chicken. and only fish from the sea. Our freezer is stocked with red salmon and king salmon that we catch each year, as well as halibut that we take a yearly charter to catch. During the winter we have to rely on the grocery store for organic produce but in the summer we go to a local farm and pick our own veges. We often go to a local seafood market and buy shrimp, and scallops, but they are also alaskan type and from the sea.
The only other type of fish I eat sometimes is cat fish that we occasionally purchase. I know that it is not Alaskan, or from the sea, but could not tell you where it come from.
Maybe that will be an added boost to my pre-surgical prep huh?
Brandy
nerves
I saw my chiropractor today, and apart from my back he is just an all round 'healer' and 'health expert'. He said Omega 3's will definitely speed up the process of getting feeling back and help regenerate the nerves. My entire face is currently numb and im going insane with it...so off I go to buy some omega 3 gel capsules and fish oil. (still on liquids only, no real fish for me).
nerves
I saw my chiropractor today, and apart from my back he is just an all round 'healer' and 'health expert'. He said Omega 3's will definitely speed up the process of getting feeling back and help regenerate the nerves. My entire face is currently numb and im going insane with it...so off I go to buy some omega 3 gel capsules and fish oil. (still on liquids only, no real fish for me).
Never thought that I'd be posting this but I have NOW got a date!!!!! Its all happening on the 14th August. this suits me very well as I will have all my school reports and the like finished and my students will have finished all their exams. I am to have two pre ops. They are to get the measurements sorted.
I have a question that someone here might be able to help with. I always thought that my soreness,eating and even speech problem was that my lower jaw was jutting out and gave me the classic protruding jaw. The under bite is quite severe but when my surgeon was talking to me he said that he felt that my main problem was that my upper jaw was further back. He says that he would move the upper more forward than move the lower back. Does anyone know what criteria is used to determine whether the lower is moved back and /or the upper forward? Is it aesthetic or physical.
Anyway , roll on the 14th
I have a question that someone here might be able to help with. I always thought that my soreness,eating and even speech problem was that my lower jaw was jutting out and gave me the classic protruding jaw. The under bite is quite severe but when my surgeon was talking to me he said that he felt that my main problem was that my upper jaw was further back. He says that he would move the upper more forward than move the lower back. Does anyone know what criteria is used to determine whether the lower is moved back and /or the upper forward? Is it aesthetic or physical.
Anyway , roll on the 14th
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Just in from my final visit to the Ortho until after the operation. He took moulds of my teeth again and has put "hooks" on the top and bottom. My surgery is set for the 15th of August but I will have 2 pre op visits to the surgeon's team in the hospital. cannot believe it is really happening. To anyone thinking about the thought of being in braces for 2 years .....forget it...it goes really fast.
Dave
Dave
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Update, I had my hooks put on for surgery a couple of weeks ago and have now had my first pre op, They took more impressions and i hope they were ok as I have my final pre op next monday and surgery on the 15th, Feel slightly anxious but anything that gets me nearer getting these hooks and braces off the better, Did not really mind them in the beginning but now as my underbite is in the proper place for surgery, its also in the wrong place for eating and talking properly, I have used dental wax to cover the hooks but it still is annoying, will update with photos before and after soon:
Dave
Dave
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Update, I had my hooks put on for surgery a couple of weeks ago and have now had my first pre op, They took more impressions and i hope they were ok as I have my final pre op next monday and surgery on the 15th, Feel slightly anxious but anything that gets me nearer getting these hooks and braces off the better, Did not really mind them in the beginning but now as my underbite is in the proper place for surgery, its also in the wrong place for eating and talking properly, I have used dental wax to cover the hooks but it still is annoying, will update with photos before and after soon:
Dave
Dave
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Hi Dave,
I also have a class 3 underbite, my upper jaw will be moved forward 6.5mm & the lower back 5mm. So looks like we are in a similar situation... I always thought my lower jaw would be moved back further, as it appears to be so prominent. However, i've looked at my profile more recently & the upper jaw looks out of proportion with my face, being too far back from my nose (if that makes sense??) 
Anyway, congratulations on getting a date for surgery!! Good luck with everything & let us know how it goes.
Take care
Beth
I also have a class 3 underbite, my upper jaw will be moved forward 6.5mm & the lower back 5mm. So looks like we are in a similar situation...
I always thought my lower jaw would be moved back further, as it appears to be so prominent. However, i've looked at my profile more recently & the upper jaw looks out of proportion with my face, being too far back from my nose (if that makes sense??) Anyway, congratulations on getting a date for surgery!! Good luck with everything & let us know how it goes.
Take care
Beth
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freerideuk
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:44 am
- Location: Glasgow , scotland
ahhhh well done on getting a date =]
and as a follow underbiter i noo how you feel i was sure my dicumfort was fromt my bottom jaw but turns out it is my upper jaw that was uderdeveloped:S
bet your getting excited not long now till you go for surgery
am sure everything will go amazing and i hope you have a really easy recovery
xxxxxx
and as a follow underbiter i noo how you feel i was sure my dicumfort was fromt my bottom jaw but turns out it is my upper jaw that was uderdeveloped:S
bet your getting excited not long now till you go for surgery
am sure everything will go amazing and i hope you have a really easy recovery
xxxxxx
Getting close
I am on holiday at the moment in France. I had to attend 2 pre ops in Ireland .......thank goodness for low cost airline..Ryanair. Just back in France now and coming back on Sunday. Both my pre ops went very well. Took bloods and checked all the information and took moulds and then fitted the wafers to go between my teeth. This day and time next week it will be over, I will be on the road to bite heaven!!!!! Can't wait to get to the far side. To all those on the forum, who over the past 2 years helped and encouraged....many many thanks. I will post some photos pre and post op when I get out the other side. I am to have the upper jaw moved forward and the lower moved back 2mm. I will have 6 plates, 2 on each of the cuts in the upper and one each side on the bottom.
I really just want it to be over and to get on with the rest of my life now. Since 20th June and the addition of the "hooks" onto my braces, I have found it really really annoying. The hooks are by far and away the worst part ...so far. Anyway Thanks everyone and "talk" to you on the far side.
Dave
I really just want it to be over and to get on with the rest of my life now. Since 20th June and the addition of the "hooks" onto my braces, I have found it really really annoying. The hooks are by far and away the worst part ...so far. Anyway Thanks everyone and "talk" to you on the far side.
Dave
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October