Metal Mouth Message Board

Four years I have been waiting for my double jaw surgery. I have been so impatient. But now it is only four days away I am becoming very afraid - I'm not even sure why I'm scared.
I keep on picking fights with my family and friends and becoming overly emotional. I am feeling quite alone (even though I am surrounded by loved ones) and im struggling to cope!

What is wrong with me?!!

It's just anxiety. Nothing to really worry about. For some reason I was very calm before surgery, more excited than anything. I just wanted to get it over with. I had 100% confidence in my surgeon, so I think that helped a lot. I also read a lot of blogs and posts here, so I knew basically what to expect in recovery. It's really not that bad, since pain is typically low. Just a PITA for a while with keeping your nose clean, eating through a syringe, trying to talk, and drooling. Remember, all that stuff will pass relatively quickly. You've already been through the worst with the orthodontics

Thanks for replying
I do have 100% confidence in my surgeon - I've been told that the hospital im at has the best Maxillofacial doctors in the country. I'm not afraid that there will be a problem. But I can't seem to get rid of the anxiety or stress or whatever it is that is making my moods soar and then crash. It's so weird. I guess it's just because I have wanted the surgery for so long (15 years) that now it is happening it is overwhelming me! My poor family are treading on eggshells around me :/

Its completely normal! Its a stressful time - you have had this date in your head and now it is approaching. It was a panic for me too and I couldn't sleep well the week before it. But on the plus side, the anaesthetic will have you completely unaware of what is happening to you, and they might give you a relaxant before hand, so you actually feel chilled out right before your op. In a few days time you wont have that feeling of anticipation any more - it will be done and you can get on with the recovery. Best of luck x

Here's the best advice I can give you: go exercise. Seriously, go to the gym, ride a bike, go hiking, go for long walks, trim some shrubs or mow the lawn, whatever. You have a lot of built up anxiety and energy and exercise will help you get rid of that and clear your mind. It will help, trust me.

I am EXACTLY the same, ive been waiting six years and my op is in 5 days now. I've been so emotionally off balance, i've been tearful and I have barely slept for the past 3 nights. My mind is working in overdrive thinking about things i have to do for work before being off for that time, planning my aftercare, making soup, thinking about what to take to hospital and then on top of that is the anxiety about the op itself and my ability to cope with the pain and trauma of it. I'm scared about not being able to eat, I'm scared about not being able to communicate if i'm in pain. I absolutely want the surgery but i'm so so scared.

It's stupid but i'm going to miss my old face/smile because its just me, its what i'm used to (even though ive always been conscious to the point of having very low self-esteem) I'm worried I wont like the result after all of this and wont feel like 'me'. Im sure this is a normal part of the build up to the op. I've just wanted it for so long and it's becoming real.... i'm just on a different planet and my mind isnt functioning normally.

Good luck