June/July 2015 Surgery Buddies

[jaime]

Wow, lots of prescriptions for you!

I haven't gotten anything yet. After SARPE, I was given a painkiller, chlorahexadine mouth wash, and an antibiotic I think. They gave me Tylenol 3 (AKA acetaminophen with codeine) but it does nothing for me, so the surgeon had to come back from home and write me a script for Percocet. I am planning on asking for Percocet again.

I use sleeping pills frequently so I was intrigued by the general anaesthesia for SARPE (my first time getting anaesthesia). I don't know why, but I thought it would be fun to fight to stay awake as long as possible. I don't remember how long I stayed awake for, maybe 5 seconds tops.

I took an over-the-counter congestion medicine for SARPE and I didn't find it did anything at all.

Nozzlenut, hopefully you meet a cute nurse who sees past your immense swelling.

KaylaChristine, a pill crusher is a really good idea! I should order one of those on Amazon.

[snapdresser]

Jaime - Yeah, I'm wondering how much the Tylenol with codeine will do... But my surgeon did seem to say the pain wouldn't be too bad so maybe I can get away with it. In the hospital I'm supposed to get a button with a pain killer drip, so that'll be nice She also said I gotta get huge bottles of Childrens Motrin cuz you gotta take such a huge dose lol. We'll see how it works out. You gonna post a 1-week update on your blog??

KaylaChristine - Yup, I might get a pill crusher too. My surgeon suggested crushing my Zyrtec for my allergies. I take them as needed tho and if I'm just laying around at home most of the time, I should be fine without.

I just read a HORRIBLE experience... What am I doing to myself reading that sort of stuff?! The girl did have a ton of serious conditions going into the surgery, tho, and she was getting a 3-piece which is pretty hardcore. I'm kinda hoping my situation is a little less... risky? Ugh.

[jaime]

Oh jeez...I steer clear of the horror stories. You'll just make yourself worried unnecessarily. The way I see it, I will cross that bridge if I have to. No point making yourself anxious for it to go fine, which I'm sure it will. For every 1 horror story online, there's probably 100+ people who get the surgery successfully and never post about it online. Maybe even 1000+. I asked the other day and my surgeon does 6-8 jaw surgeries a month, with half of those being adults.

I don't think I have anything else left to say on the blog before surgery. I am planning to post a pre-surgery vlog to YouTube, though. I will likely do a few vlogs again like I did with SARPE.

[snapdresser]

I know, I know. But once you start reading it, it's hard to stop! You wanna get to the resolution! 6-8 surgeries a month is a lot! I met with a guy who does hundreds per year, but my surgeon only does about 5-6 a YEAR. I'm ok with that tho, for a few reasons: She seems knowledgeable and has performed my surgery plenty of times; She's highly educated (DDS/MD and was Associate Prof at Columbia Med, etc.); She uses VSP which should go a long way in properly planning my treatment; She's been willing to make time for me, hear out my concerns, and address them in her surgical planning; I live in a state with no tort reform in case she screws up ; my case is very straightforward (one of the biggest reasons); and I feel like I'm getting highly personalized care from her. Hopefully that doesn't bite me later (irrational fear, I'm sure), but the people who accept my insurance for the procedure in this state are few and far between, especially in light of the tort situation and associated high malpractice insurance rates. If they want to make a lot of money, they leave the state or are out-of-network. Doctors in Texas and California (some of the most "famous" ortho surgeons) have awesome tort reform, so doctors love to live in those places. More experienced doctor, more of an assembly-line feel IMO, and less liability if they screw up

Whaaaat you have a YouTube vlog?? What's it listed under?

[KaylaChristine]

Nozzlenut - Haha, I've been under anesthesia once before. I had my gallbladder removed about 8 years ago. I made it to 97 counting down from 100 before I was out lol.

Snapdresser - I thought about getting a wedge pillow, but I know I'll roll over on my side while in bed regardless lol. Wow, that's quite a few prescriptions. I hope I get mine prescribed before surgery as well. I'm super worried about congestion too. Was the horrible experience one about the girl who's gum tissue died and fell off and she had to get cadaver grafts, lost teeth, etc? That's the worse one I've read but she had a medical condition.

Jaime - I got a pill crusher from Wal-mart. It's plastic but I'm hoping it works well enough. My husband criticized the one I bought (he works with the developmentally disabled and has used many pill crushers lol) but it was all they had. I'm sure it'll work well enough.

Just got back from my appointment with my regular doctor. She gave me a prescription to rent a nebulizer with a face mask for my asthma. I feel much better about that now! Hopefully the rental won't cost too much--or the medication for it.

[snapdresser]

KaylaChristine - That's the one... I didn't want to bring up the specifics cuz it might frighten Jaime Yeah, she had some serious stuff going into it, but jeez... Insane how bad it went. I'm a "side sleeper" but I feel like if I go to sleep on my back, I have to wake up and purposefully switch to my side. You just sleep right through it, huh? My doc also recommended sleeping in a recliner, but my tiny little NYC apartment doesn't have room for such niceties For what it's worth, back in the day I used a plastic pill crusher for some reason or another and it worked just fine. It just has to be functional, it doesn't have to be pretty. Oooooo a nebulizer. I want... I bet that'd be a god-send when you're recovering...

[jaime]

Wow this horror story sounds intense. Google isn't turning up much...link for the busy-at-work-but-currently-easily-distracted-by-any-mention-of-the-word-jaw?

[deathorglory]

I've found that the flat part of a large knife also work well as a pill crusher...I do what I do with garlic cloves. Pill under the knife, smack the knife, crushed pill! Not powdery crushed, but crushed nonetheless.

My profile changed quite a bit, but from straight on, my jawline is almost back to normal prior to surgery. ...Pretty awesome, considering what I looked like on day 3... I was unrecognizable...!

[snapdresser]

Jaime - Trust me, you don't want to read the story.... Ugh.... I regret having read it. If you're positive you want to read it, I can send you a link, but I'd urge you to reconsider It's got pictures. The girl lost most of her maxilla You know, given that she got orthognathic surgery, I wouldn't be SUPER surprised if she has a profile on this website.

deathorglory - Nice! Sounds like you had the results you were looking for then

[KaylaChristine]

Snapdresser - Yeah, I feel so bad for the girl. That's definitely a story I wish I hadn't read. I usually fall asleep on my back, but I always roll over on my sides---without waking up. I don't have the room (or the extra cash) to get a recliner either. I'd love one, but my duplex is pretty crammed as it is. Yeah, hopefully it also helps with general congestion. I just feel 1000x better knowing that I'll be able to use it in case of an attack. Though I have no idea how much albuterol (the medication) she prescribed for it. I'll probably pick up the meds tonight and get the nebulizer next week.

Jaime - I agree with snap, it's not a good one to read before surgery. I probably shouldn't have brought it up lol.

[jaime]

Alright, if it's that bad, I'll steer clear.

[snapdresser]

After all this talk of cases with rare side-effects and regrets, I think we're all due for some encouragement! Here ya go!
http://twentytwowords.com/11-lives-fore ... nd-afters/

FIVE DAYS!!! KaylaChristine is pounding on the Single Digit Clubhouse door!!!

[jaime]

Great post!! I feel like I've actually seen all those before from various sources but I always love before and afters.

Snap, my YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/user/newnavut
I only posted 2 vlogs from SARPE.

letsbefit, which recipe are you referring to?

[Nozzelnut]

Great post!! I feel like I've actually seen all those before from various sources but I always love before and afters.

Snap, my YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/user/newnavut
I only posted 2 vlogs from SARPE.

letsbefit, which recipe are you referring to?

Jaime I think they're posting up some spam. I checked their other posts and they're the same; and go to the same link.

13 days, 2 appointments, one set of surgical hooks and I'm ready to go!!! I think; maybe..... Well, really thinking about it maybe not.... No, definitely not!

This is getting close. So much more nervous about this than I should probably be...

[jaime]

Nozzlenut, I saw you subscribed to me. The pressure to put up some more vlogs is real. j/k...I was going to anyway.

I see the post is gone now so if you reported it to Lynn, good work. I remember talking about recipes somewhere on this board so I figured it had to do with that.

So you're nervous, eh? About anything in particular?