These comments have frightened me.

Message

#16 Post by **sparkles** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:14 pm

I think something else...to take into account WHERE you have seen these comments..your link to MSE is a money saving site not a dentistry or orthodontic site...how likely is it that a fully qualified dentist is going to be giving out advice on a money saving forum?
Ignore them!
It is a tough decision to make to have jaw surgery, but you'll make good informed decisions without the help of MSE (save that for saving your pennies for the ever increasing costs of petrol, food, etc etc)

#17 Post by **Heather** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:40 pm

Yes, Sparkles. I suppose your right, there

Ohh why can't i just be told that i HAVE to have it done, even though i have made my descision.

I've been unable to make descisions easily all my life.

#18 Post by **Andantae** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:10 pm

YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT DONE!!!!

sorry---couldn't resist.

Heather~

I would try to think of all the benefits and get myself excited about the wonderful results you will receive so shortly after this surgery! Thank goodness these well practiced surgeries even exist to address our ortognathic issues and that we have the means to take advantage of them. The vast majorty of the people living in this world will never have this kind of opportunity no matter how much they need or want it.

Having said that, it's always more difficult to intellectualize when it's oneself!

#19 Post by **fromjersey** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:22 pm

Heather: I am now 80, and I know what it's like to live most of my life without the surgery. If I were to name one and only one thing I would have done differently in my life, it would be to have had the surgery when I was young. I know my life would have been vastly different. And despite my happiness now, there will always be a part of me that grieves for what never was. I am not a certaintist very often, but on this subject I am totally sure that this surgery changes lives for the better! I know of the prejudices and of the lack of confidence and the many, many years of holding my hand in front of my face. For many, many years it was FEAR that held me back. Please don't let it happen to you.
Helen

#20 Post by **Heather** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:18 pm

Andantae- Thankyou so much for trying to make me feel better about the situation. You sound like agreat motivator!

I am definitely trying to think of all the positives.

Helen- Wow, your having this op at 80? I really admire you for going ahead now.

Thankyou so much for trying to spur me on. I really wish you the best of luck! You truely desrve it.

I didn't know whether to start another topic or not, so i'll put it here.

Ok, this is embarassing...there's so many things wrong with me that i don't know where to start.

I really want this surgery as my life has always been on hold, but right now my teeth are in a bad state of decay. I developed a phobia of the dentist around 4 years ago after i was in severe pain due to a root canal.(I never went back.)

Along with this, i am Agoraphobic, due to how i look and i suffer from Bulimia and Depression.

I wondered if anyone here knows if osteoporosis can stop you from having surgery? As i have it. Also, if i wanted tooth implants would that come before or after surgery?

I just wanted to get it off my chest, i'm not looking for sympathy or anything, just, i don't know which way to turn. It's so overwhelming.

Thanks for listening.

I'm 29 next month BTW.

#21 Post by **Heather** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:32 pm

I was prescribed them years ago but never really took them properly like i should have/be.

I took them for a few months say. What difference do these make then?

#22 Post by **fromjersey** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:49 am

Heather: I did not get BSSO, but did get sliding genioplasty. Also recently got upper gums cut to do something about gummy smile. Both these were compromises, but still make a big difference. I do know fear holds us back. Most of the time our fears are worse than actuality.
Helen

#23 Post by **loulou123** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:15 am

Hey heather

Im also in the UK and of a very similar age (im 28 and had op in february) im also an ex dental phobic.

Im still quite scared of the dentist if im honest, but have been able to consider the orthodontist as entirely different, as for me it can occasionally be uncomfy but in a completely different way to the dentist.

If you want to know more about my story then please read my blog (at the bottom of this post) tho i had a pretty rough ride (please dont let that scare you tho) you can see that i still got through it all relativley easily and if i can than so can you.

If you have any questions or want to chat, please send me a personal message

#24 Post by **sparkles** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:42 am

loulou123 wrote: Im still quite scared of the dentist if im honest, but have been able to consider the orthodontist as entirely different, as for me it can occasionally be uncomfy but in a completely different way to the dentist.

I'm the same! I absolutely HATE going to the dentist and if I go for anything more than a routine checkup I HAVE to take someone with me because I'm very good at fainting (partly cause my body doesn't like loosing blood if I have an extraction and partly just because I get myself so stressed about going that my body drops after it's all done)
But going to the orthodontist is very different. I happily go there all by myself, sit in the chair and let them do anything. I've never had a bad experience with an orthodontist and I've seen an orthodontist regularly since I was a young child (but have with a dentist...I remember being about 6 years old and having to have a tooth removed due to crowding and the dentist had his foot up on the chair beside my head trying to yank my tooth out

)
Orthodontists are generally lovely people who don't do scary things to your teeth

It is really hard to make the decision. The reasoning behind mine and the length of time it took for me to decide it was right for me can all be read on my blog (click www below)
Once I made the decision it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders!

#25 Post by **Thathrill** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:47 pm

Like Sparkle I started a blog based on my oral surgery. Being told that I would need my jaw broken really freaked me out as a kid so I thought if I forgot about it that it would go away. LOL Well it came back and in full force. With the way my teeth were meeting, I was told that they would wear away to the point of where they would be ruined. That really opened my eyes and I felt it was time to do something about it. Im really looking forward to having a proper bite for once in my life

#26 Post by **Polly** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 4:08 am

Hi Heather

I'm from the UK too and had upper and lower jaws broke in June last year. It is a big operation and I do have one regret...... Why didn't I have it done years ago!

It really has changed my life, I feel more confident in myself and can't believe what a huge difference it has made.

I had my braces taken off after 3 years in December. I was petrified of dentists which just seemed to dissappear when I started my orthodontic treatment (helped by the fact my orthodontist is a superb guy). I can't believe how chilled out I am now in a dentist chair.

My surgeon is just wonderful and part of their job is to explain the risks that are involved but please don't be put off. I didn't have my mouth wired shut which was great. They put quite a few metal plates and screws which held everything together quite nicely!

{{{GO FOR IT}}}

Feel free to PM or mail me.

Polly x