Surgery in September

[peanut]

Hello,

I'm new here, and haven't posted before. I've been reading a lot, as I will be undergoing jaw surgery on the 13th of September. I'm having my upper jaw operated on, as well as something done to my chin, and maybe something done to my lower jaw. Actually, I'm not exactly sure. I do know that I will be banded for a minimum of 4 weeks after the surgery.

I live almost 5 hours away from my surgeon, and haven't seen him since December, and I won't be going back again to see him until the week before my surgery. He is the surgeon my orthodontist uses for all his surgery cases, and they have been communicating about my progress, but haven't felt the need to schedule me any extra appointments. I'm actually not to worried about not knowing the details. I trust both my surgeon and my orthodontist.

However, I'm wondering if anybody has ever compiled a list of things that should be taken to the hospital. I'm not sure what I'll need, but I don't want to forget anything, as I'll be 5 hours from home for the surgery. I've been told not to forget lip balm, and that a wipe board is handy for communicating during the first day and a bit. Also, it was mentioned by someone that I should bring my own kleenex with me, because the hospital kleenex is cheap and scratchy.

Does anybody have any other suggestions of what I should take with me to the hospital?

And for anybody wondering, I am a 27 year old female from the East coast of Canada.

Thanks!
peanut

[Joanne]

Here's a good list I'll copy and paste from a web site. Kleenex and lip balm are a good idea. Also, my mom told me to ask for two hospital gowns, so that you won't be hanging out in back when you start walking around. A lot of what you'll absolutely need will be provided when you're in the hospital. Here's the list, and I'll copy and paste the web site as well.
~Joanne

1. Pen and paper or a kid’s doodle board - communication is the most important thing
2. Something to remind you of a happy place or time. A stuffed animal, a picture, something you don't need to read because you may not be up to reading at first.
3. Pajama bottoms, especially if the room is Co-ed.
4. Slippers that have a decent grip and stay on well. Isotoner slippers work well. Make sure the slippers are washable and you wash them when you get home to get rid of any lingering hospital germs.
5. A pajama top for when the IV's come out. Don't put it on while you have the IV in because it is a big pain in the butt, and you will likely drip blood on it. Better to dirty their stuff than yours.
6. Your own housecoat
7. A few magazines with lots of pictures and reading that is easy. Books with top ten lists and stuff. Humor is a good thing. After surgery your concentration is usually foggy from being put under, and it is not the best time to read heavy novels.
8. SPAM to listen to music.
9. TV after the second day. On the first day you won't be up to watching it really so it is a waste of money.

[Joanne]

Ok here it is. the entire web site is awesome and informative:

http://geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/

~Joanne

[peanut]

Thank you for answering my question, and for sharing the website with me.

I just got my Hospital Admission information in the mail today, and I am having a LeFort I, BSSO and a Functional Genio, as well as having my wisdom teeth removed. I don't think they are leaving anything untouched!

Thanks again,
peanut

[nahky]

You only have one month to wait. Im so jealous

Hope it all goes well with you peanut. Im sure you'll look stunning once you strat to recover.

[smile]

Ooh, a fellow Canadian going under the knife. I wish you a very speedy recovery! How long are you staying at the hospital? I've been told I'd only stay the night, unless complications arise.

Oh BTW, I've read a humidifier is really helpful at home after an upper jaw sugery.

I think we have similar sugery plans. Upper/lower/genio/1 wisdom tooth removal is in store for me in less than a year. (I don't know the technical terms ;P) Out of curiosity, how much is this costing you in eastern canada? I'm in BC and I've been estimated 10,000 dollars.

Do let us know how the surgery treats ya.

[peanut]

Hi Smile,

Thank you for the suggestion of the humidifier. That probably will be very helpful for me, as I am a mouth breather, and also suffer from bad allergies in September, so breathing through my nose all the time is going to be tough.

As far as things go now, they have me staying in hospital for 3 nights. Because I'm about a 5 hour drive from my hospital, I don't think they'll want to let me out too soon, because it's a long drive back if I have complications.

As far as the cost goes, I hope there is none! I'm paying $5000 for my orthodontic treatment, but the hospital stay and the surgery should be covered by medicare. I have private insurance, so I'll also be able to get a semi-private room at no extra cost, if one is available.

What is it that you will have to pay for? Or is the $10 000 just for your orthodontic treatment?

I will post here as I think of things before my surgery, and will also post after my surgery.

Take care,
small one

[smile]

(Ah crap, I just lost my message .. Don't you hate it when that happens? This is my second time round. haha)

What a concidence - I'm a mouth breather too. Especially b/c I have a hard time meeting my lips due to my tiny chin. gah. I can't wait for me surgery.

I'm pay $10000 just for the surgeon. (4000 per jaw and bit less for the chin or something to that affect.) Medicare (Just plain ol' public health care for me) covers the hospital stay and the people who put you to sleep..(who right now I can't remember to spell to save my life.)

I also (well, okay my parents) shelled out 7 grand for my braces (which, I know, is a lot) but he was the guy we liked most, he gave the option of surgery, (some had the, "it ain't that bad.. live with it!" attitude) located close to our house, and came with glowing recommendations from people I know. He's pretty successful around these parts and money isn't too tight here so it felt like it was the right way to go. And hell, I'm doing this once, so why not go all out.

So, it's a big $17,000 total for my ortho journey. Don't worry, I'm paying for my surgery with me own life savings (...to be honest, is really all given to me by my parents.. funny how that works) so I'm not technically being a leech on my parents. (I think.) haha. And I'll pay back for the braces one day with my own earnings I'm sure. =P

So when's your exact date peanut? Oh wait, I just saw your signature. Haha.. I'm dumb. How fun. Who's going to be taking care of ya? Boyfriend, husband, parents? Just out of curiosity. Oh, and I'm just a 16 (17 in a bit) teenager, if you haven't picked it up. My parents will be my caretakers I guess and I'll be avoiding the hell out of my brother. (I'm sure he'll make me feel sesame about the swelling and bruising and make things 10000 times worse.) OH, and what do you have planned for your recovery? Catching up on reading? Or renting movies you've always meant to watch? Oh, and how long are you going to be in braces after surgery? I've been told 6 months or so.

I'm done. =D

[peanut]

Hi smile, and thank you for replying.

I'm still confused about why you have to pay for your surgeon. Those kinds of services are supposed to be covered by Medicare, unless it is deemed cosmetic, and not necessary. I can't imagine that you will have such extensive surgery done if it's not necessary. There must be a perfectly good reason why you have to pay. I just can't figure it out.

My father will be taking care of me after surgery. He is retired, so he can be my full-time nurse.

I'm not sure what exactly I'll do during recovery. Take it as it comes, I suppose. I could be in braces for up to a year after surgery. They won't give me a lower estimation. They just keep saying 'up to a year.'

Have a great day!
peanut

[csblackburn]

Peanut,

Best of luck to you. I'm at the beginning stages of all of this so I'll be curious as to how everything goes.

As Smile has mentioned, in B.C. we have to pay the surgeon's fees. My oral surgeon has told me that it will be somewhere between $4000 and $7000 depending on whether I need my lower jaw set back or not. I will definitely be getting my upper jaw moved forward but he has reserved judgment on my lower jaw.

Tomorrow I have the awful privilege of getting spacers put in. This is a new experience for me as I never had braces when I was teen as I didn't need them. Then it will be braces in a week which I hear is a little more difficult for adults like myself in regards to the pain. I'm 34 so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

Best wishes,

Cary

[smile]

I'm jelous of you easterners. No surgeon's fees and all that! And just to clarify, (since I don't really know the technical terms) are you treating a underbite or an overbite peanut? Or something else all together? Have ya had any extractions?

Glad to hear abou tanother B.Columbian going through the same thing. Sorry about the spacers =P. I know, they're not fun.

[csblackburn]

Sorry about the spacers =P. I know, they're not fun.

Thanks. So far they are a complete pain in the (you know where). I have a total of 12 of them jammed in between my chicklets. My lower left side is killing me when I eat and I just want to rip them little blue meanies out. I've been avoiding keeping my teeth together, which isn't too much of a problem considering my underbite. I actually have to physically think about keeping my mouth closed as it naturally wants to stay open. I've heard this is normal for people such as myself.

Take care,
Cary

[peanut]

And just to clarify, (since I don't really know the technical terms) are you treating a underbite or an overbite peanut? Or something else all together? Have ya had any extractions?

Sorry about the delay in getting this question answered...

I haven't had any extractions yet, but during surgery, they are removing all 4 of my wisdom teeth. As for the surgery: they are treating me mostly for asymmetry. I do have a bit of an overbite, but nothing that would merit a need for surgery on it's own. If you think of the jaw split into four quadrants, 2 on top, 2 on the bottom, they should all be the same size. None of my quadrants match, and so my muscles and my jaw joint are constantly having extra pressure put on them, as my teeth try to find a comfortable resting place. This pressure and pulling is causing my jaw joints to wear out, so having the surgery should help alleviate the pressures being put on the joints. I also have some lip incomptence (meaning I can't properly close my mouth into a relaxed position without pulling my facial muscles, which defeats the purpose of trying to relax).

I still can't believe that British Columbians need to pay the surgeon's fees. Mine are covered by Medicare, which I always thought was a National program, and not a Provincial program. Even my wisdom teeth extraction is covered by Medicare, because it is happening in the hospital and not in the doctor's office.

Only 2 more weeks until my surgery!

It is now bedtime on the East Coast...

[peanut]

It's less than one week until my surgery.

I went to my orthodontist to get my surgery hardward installed. They put 3 extra hooks on my top wire, and 3 on the bottom, so they can attach elastics all the way around, after I've had surgery. Also, they changed my ligs, and used the little metal ties on every tooth. I really have a mouth full of metal now.

Tomorrow, I travel to see my surgeon. I'm not nervous for the surgery yet, but I am scared that my OS is going to find a reason to postpone surgery. That is my biggest fear right now. I have mentally prepared myself, and I don't want to be let down.

My OS is 4 and 1/2 hours (almost 5 hours) away, but I am making a day trip out of it. Gas is going to cost me so much that I can't afford to stay overnight. Especially since I have to go back on Monday, for the week, and then again 2 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery.

Surgery is Tuesday at 6:45 am. I can't wait!!!

[peanut]

I saw the surgeon on Thursday. He doesn't think he will need to do surgery on my lower jaw anymore. Just on my top jaw, and a genioplasty on my chin. This should make recovery easier.

I'm looking forward to surgery, just so I can get it over with. These last few days are going so slowly.

I probably won't update until I am home from the hospital, and starting to recover.