DECEMBER 2014 BUDDIES!!

[gutsygumshoe]

Hahaha yeah I'm thinking that! It was chicken soup But at least I can eat the pieces of chicken in it at the moment!

Bless you I bet you must be so fed up! It's so crap of them to say they'll be in touch on a certain day then not contact you. Definitely hassle them tomorrow if you still haven't heard anything!

Guessing tomorrow morning will probably be a 5am start. I wanna leave early cos Tuesday last week there was a big accident between where I live and the town the hospital's in, around the time I would have had to leave. And all the roads were gridlocked! So we're gonna leave early just in case and I'm probably gonna be keeping an eye on the traffic reports all night...

[oimysizex]

haha yes, least you can still chew, and well clean your teeth properly!!!

I am well fed up today I don't know why though, haha, I am gonna deffo ring them tomorrow, I'd ring them tonight but im working in an hour,

Yeah you don't wanna miss your admission times and they start being funny with you, I will probably setting off at 5 to get there for 7 LOL, will have to get a taxi though which is gonna cost mega money but oh well.
how are you getting there?
x

[gutsygumshoe]

They've only gone and bloody cancelled it!!

I got a phonecall about half an hour ago from a lady at the hospital, apparently they have a problem with the theatre and they've had to cancel everything they had booked in for tomorrow. Supposedly someone is going to call me tomorrow to rebook it. She said that I was very high priority and would be top of the list and they'd slot me in somewhere, but she also said that my surgeon doesn't do these surgeries every week so I don't know how long it will be now. She did ask however if I had any availability problems with Christmas coming up, which makes me wonder if they are aiming to get me in before then? Who knows!

What's really annoying is I'd arranged the next three weeks off work, and they've already got someone in from outside to cover for me. But obviously I can't be on sick leave if I'm not off sick! My boss says not to worry about it now and we'll figure it out once I have my new date. She was pretty outraged on my behalf, heh.

I honestly don't know how to feel right now I knew it wasn't gonna be good as soon as my phone started ringing. oimysizex looks like I'm coming to join you in surgery limbo...

[oimysizex]

Omg noooooooooooooo!!! You have had this booked for a long time!!! They may be able to book a surgery in somewhere like the 'apparant saturday' one for me. They wont do the people after you before you they SHOULD slot you in, i feel for you because you get so hyped up like YESSSS this is my time then they cancel it! I am so sorry, its a ballache cause you've booked off work etc, everyone keeps asking why I am in work!!!
when did they say they was calling you back? we might have to make a janurary thread soon enough!!
Hope you're okay!!!

xx

[oimysizex]

You never know they could slot you back within the next week as they really don't like to be back logged, this is why my surgeon wants to do saturday so they are not backed up for the monday after (next set of people)
I really hope you're okay, its been suprisingly hard for me to deal with I don't know why. keep me updated and if they dont ring by a certain time, chase them up!!

[oimysizex]

Saturday has now been CANCELLED, i am truly fed up now, earliest date now is looking like the 22nd december, that will probably be cancelled as well.. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I hate nhs sometimes

[gutsygumshoe]

Oh no that's so crap! Could they not get the extra staff in that they needed? I'm so sorry

The hospital just phoned me, they don't have a proper update yet because my surgeon apparently isn't replying to their e-mails! So they don't know yet if he's going to push other people back to fit me in, or if I have to wait until his next free slot, which isn't until February...!

I know exactly what you mean about it being hard to deal with - it's such a big life-changing thing and it takes a lot to psych yourself up and prepare yourself for it. So for them to cancel it just like that and to not know what's happening is just like really stressful and upsetting.

The main problem is work - I'd booked three weeks off, two of which would have been sick leave signed off by my surgeon, and the last week was holiday I'd saved for Christmas. They've brought in a freelancer to cover me during that time, and now I'm not actually on sick leave I can't get sick pay, so that's two weeks of unpaid leave right before Christmas. Fun times!

I'm so sick of everything If I do have to wait until the next available slot then what if that one gets cancelled due to 'maintenance issues' too? Will it ever actually happen?!

[oimysizex]

They got the staff they just cancelled!
They take the absolute p*ss I had to book sat off just in case just to give work abit of notice, they are gonna be well annoyed now. They said to me, If i wasn't able to come in over xmas, id have to wait to janurary (which I am not willing to do so I will have to it soon as poss)

So you HAVE to spend the time off work?! I think its absolutely ridiculous, 2 weeks without money, too hard, I still live at home and I won't be able to cope on 80 quid a week for sick!!

I feel for you because, feb is TOO long to wait, I really really reeaaaaaly hope he can slot you in, I hope my surgeon can slot me in, maybe we can get our surgies before xmas, its really hard, I cried this morning when she told me it had been cancelled (not on the phone) its just hard for us people when we have all these nock backs like this, its getting on my nerves, they should push other peoples back (as selfish as that sounds) a waiting list is a waiting list for a reason, not cancel a few peoples ops and let others have them!!

agh, feel down today just want it over, hope all is ok.
x

[gutsygumshoe]

That's seriously ridiculous!! I guess there's some sort of stupid rules and regulations in place that ban extra ones or something - that's what the woman on the phone was saying to me earlier, she's not sure that they'd be able to add extra dates that weren't already on his list because of it.

Will work let you go in again now? Or are you gonna take the time to try and de-stress a bit?

Lol the woman at the hospital asked me if I had any dates coming up they needed to take into consideration if I was going away on holiday or something - of course I haven't booked any holidays, I was expecting to be recovering from surgery!! What a stupid question!!

As far as I know I'll have to take the time off work - I need to talk to my boss about it once I know what's going on, but I don't know what my surgeon's new plan is yet. I'm so worried about the money side of things - that would be half a month's wages and it wouldn't be enough to cover my share of our bills, as well as my travel to work for January - let alone food! My boyfriend will be able to cover but it'll make things tight. What a crap situation

I cried too I really hope we both manage to be fitted in soon, it's so horrible not knowing. Yes I totally agree they should push everyone else's back - yeah it might mean that they're say a week behind schedule until they catch up, but it must be better than sending the people who were right at the top of the waiting list straight to the back again?! And what if they cancel again for whatever reason - would we then be stuck waiting for even more months?

[oimysizex]

Yeah work will let me go back in, I orginally had to work saturday and had sunday off but told them on the saturday just gone be aware i might have to go in saturday so i wont be able to work and they were fine about it said they will mark me off if I had to go in, I went in yesterday and they gave it me off anyway, so I'm just gonna enjoy my weekend off.

Its very emotional i thought i was being irrational lol.

I vote we phone pals and complain we will soon get our ops then lol.

hows your partner being? supportive?
x

[gutsygumshoe]

Nope not irrational at all. Like I said it's a big thing to go through, it's a big change that's happening to your body with a proper hardcore recovery period and it's a lot to come to terms with. So being messed around so much is just a lot of extra stress we don't need on top of it!

Haha my mum is researching lots of e-mail addresses of people to complain to! I'm gonna wait and see what happens before I complain, but if it does end up being February then someone's gonna get a sh*tty e-mail from me lol.

Yeah he is very supportive thankfully, he's very pissed off at the way they've handled the whole thing. I told him about how your hospital's been messing you about and he's pissed off on your behalf too lol! As am I. Are your family being supportive? x

[oimysizex]

I still think you should complain anyway, feb is a long way to wait for another appointment, you could argue they should have been prepared for 'matinence issues' anyway!!!
My mum is pissed off on my behalf she had to book some days off work to look after me but now shes had 2 random days off when she didnt need to!!!!
We should ring the hospital EVERYDAY to annoy them so they get that sick of us they MIRACULOUSLY find us a slot hahahaha!!!m

[katsface]

I'm so sorry to hear you're getting jerked around by the hospitals. That stinks. I really hope you can both get your surgeries in soon!

I'm up next Thursday. Just paid the surgeon today, and I go in on Monday to see my regular doctor for a pre-surgery physical.

I'm getting pretty nervous by trying not to think about it. My husband's birthday is this weekend and I'm glad to have that as a distraction.

The freezer is full of soup, stock, and other frozen and blended meals. This weekend I'm going to freeze more banana and pineapple for smoothies and pineapple juice to reduce swelling. *Pro-Tip* keep the core in the pineapple (it has the most enzymes) and don't mix the juice with anything else otherwise it will act as a digestive enzyme rather than helping reduce the swelling.

I printed out recipe cards for smoothies and juices that my sister can make for me when she comes. I'm also printing out a list of instructions for her getting about in our apartment and cooking my food.

I got a foam wedge to help me sleep sitting up, and a tray with folding legs for eating etc. in bed.

I also ordered some yarn and needles to knit my friend a baby blanket when I'm board.

Hubs said I'm going to win the guineas book of world records title for most prepared person to ever have jaw surgery. I think he's impressed. I just don't want to go hungry, and I don't want to eat what I would consider junk b/c it will give me GI problems and I don't need that on top of everything else.

My family sent me an AMAZING care package with new fleece button-up PJs, slippers, activity books with puzzles and such, a couple of seasons of a TV show on DVD (I don't have a TV), and dry erase boards and markers. My mom also hand-drew a set of "flash cards" that have phrases and demands written on them so I can communicate easily. She made cards for things like "I'm hungry" and "I need pain medicine" but also funny things like "lol" and "OMG you're talking too loud!". I'm incredibly lucky to have my family supporting me!!

I need to clean and organize my apartment some more. I don't want it to be a mess when I get home from the hospital and I don't want it to be a mess when my sister gets here. She won't care, but I figure if things are organized it will be easier for her to use the space.

I hope everyone has a speedy recovery whenever your surgery is!

[tracey68]

Hello December 2014 buddies! I'm new to this forum but wanted to join this thread. My surgery is scheduled for 2 weeks from today, on December 29th, although it was once scheduled for December 11th. I'm very anxious and reading about your struggles and cancellations is making me even more nervous. I hope you get new dates soon.

[Nadira]

Hello December Buddies

I am Day 7 post BSSO, and catching up.
So sorry to hear about cancelations.
I know as steep a learning curve it is to deal with post surgery 'inconviences'.
the presurgery for me was much harder, and if cancelled would be very very difficult. I know the uncertainty of the date to plan for surgery is and not being in control is a huge stressor, ( past surgery experience ).

My Surgeon is excellent and as much as possible stays to the same pattern with every patient. My surgery Wednesday and out Saturday 2 pm. Hospital nurses well trained for orthognatic care and excellent overall.
Of course nothing goes without a hitch, I had to wait 3 hours in recovery, before a room was available, yet the room turned out to be a private room.
After the noise of recovery, it was great.
The first night as normal I did not sleep well, kind of wired and yet kept very comfortable with morphine and anti nausea as I was having my sinuses give me a bad case of post nasal drip, that was upsetting my stomach.
I was surprised to be NPO until Thursday (Day 2 ) evening, and then learning how to drink clear fluids was very, very tiring.
Friday (Day 3 ) surgeon visit and later X-ray. Saturday ( Day 4) surgeon visit and discharge after 2pm antibiotics, IV removed and Rx for antibiotic muscle relaxant, tylenol, codiene, and mouth rinse. Everything except Robaxin was liquid form. It is a full time job taking medicine, food, salt water rinses, and finding time to rest.
An the best yet on Sunday ( Day 5 ) evening I could begin a full liquid diet.
Monday ( Day 6 ) was first check up and got some 'pond scum' rinsed away. And new X-rays looked great.
Advanced 7.2 mm on rt side and 4.6 on left side. Plates and screws all looking good.
Reminders of No Chew, and another week or so before I can add scrambled egg to my diet.
Next appointment Friday (Day 10 ).
A general note the bruising and swelling is remarkable, when asked how I am doing I just send a photo and say looks worse than it feels. And I am also happy I did not need to be wired.

I have moved away from syringes for eating as soon as possible. At this time I only have 2 bands and after much pouring liquid onto my chest, I finally figured out a mirror would be useful as well as a bib.
Well past my energy level, and from someone else it is better to rest before yawning starts.

To those of you waiting and recovering all the best.