Double jaw surgery 21st November - Some questions!

[Neil(NI)]

Hi folks.

Today is my first time posting on the forum having previously just been reading up on the experiences of others. As noted in the title, I am due for double jaw surgery on the 21st of November at the Ulster Hospital in Northern Ireland. I've had braces on for almost 3 years now and have now reached the humble age of 25!

As I'm now less than a week away from the operation, I thought see if you guys could help me out with a few queries! I appreciate any feedback you may be able to provide and apologise for any lack of details. Anyways, my queries in no particular order lol:

1) I see that a lot of people on this forum know the precise details of their surgery, including the medical names for the operations and other technical language. Is this something that I should know as well? I confess that when the consultants/doctors speak about this stuff, the terms and technical language doesn't stick in my head. I do know how to describe what they will be doing and I'm confident in the knowledge of why it is necessary etc. Is this in any way an issue?

2) To be as basic and whimp-like as I can about this question: Will I wake up after the surgery screaming in agony? I have never had any surgery of any kind before and don't know what to expect. I'm worried that my family might see me in agony as well and think differently of me in such a state.

3) How long did you find it difficult to be able to talk in a coherent manner?

4) Final question (for now lol): Is it normal to be pretty darn scared? I know I'll be admitted to hopsital a full day before the operation which I believe is so they can take blood in case they need it during the operation.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and help out in anyway. If there is any further details you need me to provide in order to give me a better response, please let me know!

Oh, before I forget, thanks to those people that remain on the forums after their work has been completed to help people like myself.

[soleil4716]

While I don't have any experience in double-jaw surgery, but I'll still chime in:

1) I don't think you have to know the medical terms. As long as you know what is being done and how, you should be fine. The medical terms help everyone to speak in a common language just to make sure everyone is talking about the same thing

2) Most likely you will not be waking up in agony because you'll still have enough drug in your system that will neutralize the pain. When I woke up, I could feel some pain in my jaws but it was not agonizing in any way. You'll most likely be given a morphin pump that you should be able to use yourself based on your pain level. I used it for a few hours and then did not need it anymore.

3) I'll let the double jaw patients take this one.

4) It is very normal to be scared since it is your first surgery. But once it is done, you'll say to yourself - 'It was not a big deal after all' You'll have the deepest sleep in your life when the anesthetic is given and when you wake up you'll be delighted to know that everything is done and it'll feel very quick to you.

Good luck with your surgery!!

[OzzysMom]

Welcome Neil and congrats on your upcoming surgery!

1) Honestly, aside from the name 'lefort' I didn't know any of the terms until I came to this forum...then I started researching the terms because I felt kinda lost. As long as you and your surgeon are on the same page is the most important thing.

2) No, you won't wake up screaming in agony. You will still be very knocked out from all the drugs. When my surgeon first woke me up to tell me "I made it" I remember that my throat hurt(which I expected), then I went right back to sleep and when I woke up again, I expected my throat to hurt but it didn't. You'll have a jaw bra w/ice packs and you'll probably just want to sleep for awhile.
Your family is not going to think differently of you in "such a state." Actually, you will be a lot more swollen and bruised 3-5 days later. It took me a year but I finally put up an album of my surgery on my facebook page and I was afraid people would think certain things about me too. But I can't tell you how many replies I got about being admired for being so brave.

3) It's going to take awhile to talk normally again. It hurt me a lot to talk(or laugh) the first week or so. Then I could talk a little better but it felt like my face was pulling if I talked too much. Certain words/sounds were difficult so as soon as you are able, try exercising your mouth and make funny faces. It helps to get the muscles moving again. At 12 days post-op, I ordered a Frappuccino from Starbucks and I could not say "frappuccino" and the lady behind the counter was really mean saying she could not understand me....it will get frustrating at times but that is part of the healing process. Just keep your eye on the end result!

4) Yes, of course it's normal! As soon as I had my surgery date, I would have some days where I would be really cool and other times be very scared and apprehensive. You will be fine!

[PJ]

I'll try †o contribute what I can to this, as I had double jaw surgery in April.

1. I only know the names of what I had done (BSSO--lower jaw, and Lefort 1--upper jaw) because of this thread: I didn't know what people were talking about, so I looked it up. There are some other surgeries, but I am only familiar with the 2 above. I don't think it is a big deal if you don't know the names, but it can be helpful if you have questions later.

2. I doubt there will be any agony. I had it pretty good: I felt no pain immediately upon waking. The pain came a couple of days later, and it was really just the insides of my cheeks where some of the cutting was done. It did hurt for awhile if I tried to talk for more than a couple of minutes without a break, but otherwise, not too bad. It will be uncomfortable for several weeks, but not seriously painful.

3. I was lucky, in that--I chose a surgeon who doesn't wire you shut, so I just had a couple of light rubber bands on when I woke up--and, my surgery did not require any splitting of the upper palate, so I did not have a splint in either. Due to those two things, talking was not very difficult. Friends who called the next day were shocked to hear me answer the phone.

4. I tried not to think much about the surgery until the day before--then I let myself freak out that whole day, and by the next morning I went into the hospital with a feeling of calm. I had gotten it out of my system. I also resolved that since I was going to run and hide, that I might as well relax and trust the people who were going to take care of me.


The fear is normal--not being afraid would be crazy!
Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[PJ]

Oops! I meant I was not going to run and hide.

[srs]

PJ,
Ditto on #4, that's exactly what happened to me. Freaked out before, things got worse after I signed that horrible consent and took out my Livig Will to be copied. The day of surgery was calm, since there was nothing else I could do but go with the flow.

[Neil(NI)]

Thanks for all your feedback

It's good to know how you folks got through things and your experiences in general. Just a few days away now and I'm not nervous yet, but I'm sure I'll get there soon lol.

What were your experiences when you woke up after the operation? Apparantly I will have some apparatus on my face which sprays cool water on my cheeks/neck to help with the swelling.

[Esoteric]

Before my surgeries I did a lot of research because I was curious. It was nice to be able to talk to my surgeon and ortho using the technical terms. It was also nice to be able to understand them when they were just rambling on while the assistant was taking notes. You don't have to know any of the terms at all, I just like to dive into things that's just how I am.

[projo198]

1) I see that a lot of people on this forum know the precise details of their surgery, including the medical names for the operations and other technical language. Is this something that I should know as well?

I wouldn't sweat it, I just asked questions in laymen's terms and that's how they were answered. Doctors know wer'e not doctors, ya know? Even right before my surgery as a safety measure they asked me what I was having done "in my own words", LOL..

2) To be as basic and whimp-like as I can about this question: Will I wake up after the surgery screaming in agony?

No, you'll still feel the anasthesia and wil roll into pain meds right right away. Won't be pleaant, but not screaming. I was pretty awake as soon as they brought me out, even asked the wife and doc a few questions as best I could.

3) How long did you find it difficult to be able to talk in a coherent manner?

FOr me; FOREVER... I'm 8 weeks now and still struggle, I think because I'm still totally numb. It is getting better little by little though, you'll notice a HUGE improvement when they remove the bands/splint and whatever else they leave in there, usually at about 6 weeks.

4) Final question (for now lol): Is it normal to be pretty darn scared?

I wasn't. I usually don't worry about things until just before they happen, kind of a waste of time fretting. It is a routine procedure now and if your comfortable with your doc that helps. I showed up at 730 in the morning for a 1000 surgery. No worries!

END NOTE; Keep your head up first few weeks post op, it'll work out! Stay on the forum also, it helped me a lot.

[Neil(NI)]

Thanks for your comments

I'm being admitted tomorrow morning, about 24 hours before the actual surgery. I know they want to take some blood in case they need it during surgery. This has me a bit worried as everyone else seems to be admitted just a few hours in advance - is this a precaution given the current flu pandemic, or is it a measure of the severity of my operation?

[OzzysMom]

I wouldn't worry about it. I've read some people's posts that they were admitted the day before as well. It probably has more to do with what your surgeon prefers and your location.
Same for recovery. Some surgeons(especially outside USA) want to keep their patients in the hospital for a couple of days for the same surgery.
Best wishes to you!

[srs]

Which is that cool mist thing to help with swelling? I didn't have that. I was so sleepy anyway, you will so relaxed that you will not care about apparatuses, cool mists or anything!

[Neil(NI)]

I dont know what it looks like, but I imagine something like a fighter pilots mask, which is cool lol. It will be on before I wake from surgery I believe.

Thanks for all the good wishes! I will post back as soon as I'm home and able

[sauerkraut]

Don't know if you'll see this in time, but all the best for your op . I agree that being admitted the day before is nothing to worry about. I think it's quite common in Europe. They like to do their pre-op checks and have you in situ ready for when they want you on operation day. I was admitted the day before my SARPE and I remember feeling quite a fraud, wandering around perfectly healthy amongst all the other patients.

Your mist thing sounds cool (scuse the pun)! They had a rather primitive system of tying gel packs round your face with bandages at the hospital I was at...

Hope all goes well, and remember to report back

[Neil(NI)]

Hey folks. Just got online for the first time since being discharged on Monday evening and thought that I would post a quick update.

The operation went well with no complications or difficulties. Op was on Saturday and its now Thursday. I'm still just as swollen with some bruising and am slowly beginning to be able to swollow and speak normally. Pain is pretty much the same and am trying to get into a daily rountine at the minute, but am very tired just typing here!

No feeling in my bottom lip and chin, hoping it will come back in due course. Jaws locked in placed with elastics too. Will post more when I'm feeling better, thanks again for the support!

Neil