Fall/Early Winter 2016 Surgery Buddies

[kpw818]

CandyApple: I bet! I know the last few days are like, bah I just want this done with now! I' m exactly a week away today (I'll probably be in PACU at this time next week). Seems like there are quite a few of fall/winter surgeries coming up--can't wait to hear how everything goes for everyone!

senecastudent: Sounds like we have a similar surgery--for class III? You will be about a month after me. Hopefully I can give some more advice after my surgery next week. Your question on swelling is a good one. I expect that more swelling would indicate that you are needing more time to heal/have more inflammation.

[wcom939]

Hi everyone, just got my date for Nov 16th. Upper jaw advancement and lower jaw reduction. I'll have my consult with my surgeon next week to find out exactly what he'll be doing but I'm beyond relieved to get in as quickly as possible.

Quick question: does swelling affect the time of recovery? Like, if your swelling goes down sooner, is that a good thing in the timeline or is it irrelevant?

I think it's based more on the actual healing of the bone seen through X-Rays. I am still swollen like a chipmunk but my oral surgeon has indicated that my healing is going faster than expected and my jaws might get unwired a week or two earlier than expected.

[kpw818]

Pre-op appointment yesterday and surgical hooks today. Very excited and anxious. Hard to focus on everything (stinks cause I have a lot of work to do before I leave for this surgery!).

The orthodontist office is super excited, ha ha. They are all waiting to see how things are going to turn out. The orthodontist had me take a few more before pictures. It was funny. Apparently I'm going to look different or something

How's everyone else?

[tdhenson86]

Hello all, Im having my surgery on next Thursday so less then a week. Praying for the best and no nerve issues. Thats my biggest fear since I have already had my IAN nerve injured over a year and a half ago with a dental implant. Don't worry it healed quickly, but it makes me scared to go in to do more work around that nerve. Im also over 40 yrs old but hoping that if I healed once from my nerve being messed with that this will hopefully turn out the same. Im have jaw moved forward 4-5 mm I am being told. With my braces I have about a 6mm overjet, but before braces it was more of a deep bite. Good luck to all of you coming up and thanks for listening while I vent a little anxiety.

Hope all goes well! Please keep us posted!

[tdhenson86]

Pre-op appointment yesterday and surgical hooks today. Very excited and anxious. Hard to focus on everything (stinks cause I have a lot of work to do before I leave for this surgery!).

The orthodontist office is super excited, ha ha. They are all waiting to see how things are going to turn out. The orthodontist had me take a few more before pictures. It was funny. Apparently I'm going to look different or something

How's everyone else?

That's great to hear! I have my pre-surgical work up tomorrow (10/14), hooks placed 3 weeks from tomorrow (11/4), and surgery 4 weeks from today (11/10)! I've been excited all along, but the nervousness is starting to sink in a bit...

[pantlover]

ahhh! exactly 1 week away from surgery for me! i've started buying stuff to prepare. just got a bed wedge/pillow wedge to help with sleeping upright as well as some ensure + cookie butter (trader joe's), protein powder, and almond butter. FYI, adding a tablespoon of each of these to each bottle of Ensure will up the amount calories/protein/fat/etc. it'll also add up to over 600+ calories each bottle. Makes it taste a little better as well!

kpw818, you're just a few days away! hope those surgical hooks aren't giving you too much trouble! mine have been a pain in the A!

candyapple, best of luck to you! sounds like your surgery is right before mine. i'm feeling those pre-op jitters as well!

wcom939, hope your recovery is going well! how are you feeling about the results so far?

[CandyApple]

Hi everyone! Mission complete. Had my surgery yesterday lower jaw advancement and a bone graft for my area that I lost a tooth 2 years ago. This is so I can try to put another implant in. I had bone loss there. Day 2 and my face is huge especially on my bone graft / tmj side. Im already feeling sensations so I am glad about that. There is not bad sensations like I had with the previous implant fiasco. I spoke about earlier. I just want to let all of you up and coming know that it really is not as bad as we make ourselves think. My pain is mostly in my neck area from them stretching me all around and its hard to swallow, but the doc also said I will have to learn to swallow in the new location also. If any of you have questions let me know. Im gonna try to add a pic in another post after I figure it out.

[CandyApple]

My pic

[kpw818]

ahhh! exactly 1 week away from surgery for me! i've started buying stuff to prepare. just got a bed wedge/pillow wedge to help with sleeping upright as well as some ensure + cookie butter (trader joe's), protein powder, and almond butter. FYI, adding a tablespoon of each of these to each bottle of Ensure will up the amount calories/protein/fat/etc. it'll also add up to over 600+ calories each bottle. Makes it taste a little better as well!

kpw818, you're just a few days away! hope those surgical hooks aren't giving you too much trouble! mine have been a pain in the A!

candyapple, best of luck to you! sounds like your surgery is right before mine. i'm feeling those pre-op jitters as well!

wcom939, hope your recovery is going well! how are you feeling about the results so far?

The one on the bottom require wax for sure. The top two took some getting used to, but they don't hurt right now.

Tomorrow is the day! Feeling nervous and anxious. This totally snuck up on me. Trying to be positive, remember why I am getting this done (my inability to eat my dinner last night should be a reminder, but I'm finding it hard to sleep thinking about all of the what-ifs).

Those on the other side, any way to calm nerves?

[kpw818]

Hi everyone! Mission complete. Had my surgery yesterday lower jaw advancement and a bone graft for my area that I lost a tooth 2 years ago. This is so I can try to put another implant in. I had bone loss there. Day 2 and my face is huge especially on my bone graft / tmj side. Im already feeling sensations so I am glad about that. There is not bad sensations like I had with the previous implant fiasco. I spoke about earlier. I just want to let all of you up and coming know that it really is not as bad as we make ourselves think. My pain is mostly in my neck area from them stretching me all around and its hard to swallow, but the doc also said I will have to learn to swallow in the new location also. If any of you have questions let me know. Im gonna try to add a pic in another post after I figure it out.

Yay! So glad for you! Sounds like you are doing pretty well.

I have heard a couple people say it is hard to swallow--it your throat tight?

[CandyApple]

The one on the bottom require wax for sure. The top two took some getting used to, but they don't hurt right now.

Tomorrow is the day! Feeling nervous and anxious. This totally snuck up on me. Trying to be positive, remember why I am getting this done (my inability to eat my dinner last night should be a reminder, but I'm finding it hard to sleep thinking about all of the what-ifs).

Those on the other side, any way to calm nerves?

Kwp I had to calm my nerves with medicine., but I really was just ready to get it done and my invincible women kicked in.. You can do it!! I think as long as you don't have any pre exisisting issues in the area like Tmj or other things you will come through it like a walk in the park.. ( sorta) but seriously if your young your body will do great I'm sure. My pain is mostly on the side I had issues. It doesn't even feel like anything was done to the other side. See you on the other side soon

[CandyApple]

The swallowing is getting better now on day 5. Loads of pain and green bruising on neck now. Everything is still numb and tight with twitching and tingles going on lip and chin. I think more pain starts once the surgery Griggs are all out of your system. I wanted to go to a masseuse today for relaxation and lymph drainage but my pain on the bad side was too much. I had to take the norco again and just slept. I will try again tomorrow.

[wcom939]

ahhh! exactly 1 week away from surgery for me! i've started buying stuff to prepare. just got a bed wedge/pillow wedge to help with sleeping upright as well as some ensure + cookie butter (trader joe's), protein powder, and almond butter. FYI, adding a tablespoon of each of these to each bottle of Ensure will up the amount calories/protein/fat/etc. it'll also add up to over 600+ calories each bottle. Makes it taste a little better as well!

kpw818, you're just a few days away! hope those surgical hooks aren't giving you too much trouble! mine have been a pain in the A!

candyapple, best of luck to you! sounds like your surgery is right before mine. i'm feeling those pre-op jitters as well!

wcom939, hope your recovery is going well! how are you feeling about the results so far?

The one on the bottom require wax for sure. The top two took some getting used to, but they don't hurt right now.

Tomorrow is the day! Feeling nervous and anxious. This totally snuck up on me. Trying to be positive, remember why I am getting this done (my inability to eat my dinner last night should be a reminder, but I'm finding it hard to sleep thinking about all of the what-ifs).

Those on the other side, any way to calm nerves?

Just set a goal of something you want to get back to doing (besides eating) as soon as you possibly can after surgery. In my case it was my job, which I enjoy very much. So I just focused on getting back to work the week after getting surgery and trying to get back to a somewhat normal life (I say somewhat as I'm one of the lucky few with jaws wired for 2 months). I also looked forward to getting back home and playing some games and with my mom's new puppy.

I would suggest just stay positive and make a mental list of all the things you plan to do after your surgery.

[pantlover]

Just set a goal of something you want to get back to doing (besides eating) as soon as you possibly can after surgery. In my case it was my job, which I enjoy very much. So I just focused on getting back to work the week after getting surgery and trying to get back to a somewhat normal life (I say somewhat as I'm one of the lucky few with jaws wired for 2 months). I also looked forward to getting back home and playing some games and with my mom's new puppy.

I would suggest just stay positive and make a mental list of all the things you plan to do after your surgery.

i second wcom939's suggestion about the positives that will come after. in addition, I'm keeping my mind off of my surgery by stressing about everything else in my life lol. I'm also waiting for LSAT scores to be released in the next couple of days so this has literally been the most stressful week ever. no amount of puppy videos can save me.

wcom939, how are you feeling about your results so far? or is it still too soon?

kpw818, wishing you the best of luck! hope everything goes swimmingly for you! can't wait to hear from you once it's all over.

[CandyApple]

Regretting the bone graft. I think this is the reason that side of my face looks like a softball in it. The other side the swelling has gone down dramatically.