Looking for advice

[Guest guest]

I am a 40 year old man thinking of corrective jaw surgery. When I

was about 18, I was told by a surgeon I needed this. Between work

and life in general I never did it. I am not currently working, but

have some money. I have gotten used to the aching jaw. Although it

is annoying and my face isn't exactly symetrical I guess am am still

unsure. I just want some positive or negative feedback from those

that have gone through this and how it has affected their quality of

life, if at all. I haven't been for an evaluation for twenty tears

so I am not sure what will be envolved for me. If anyone can

recommend someone in the Virgnia Beach, Virgnia area for me to speak

with about this, it would be appreciated. Approximate costs involved

would be great also. I hope I am not asking too much :\(<-Me when I

smile)

[Guest guest]

Hi...I had upper and lower jaws surgery last Oct. I'm 6 months post

op and still not used to the new face .. I have not been too happy

with the result, everyone (family and friends) told me I looked

beautiful before surgery and look weird and rather ugly after. I am

waiting for another 6 months to see if my face would get any better.

My upper jaw below nose is still numb and cheeks around nose still

puffy and that what causes my nose distorted and I look weird when

laughing.

The surgery took about 5.5 hrs. The first 2 weeks after surgery, no

serious pain (took long time for anesthesia to wear off) plus lots

of pain killers. But I could hardly sleep because the nose often

blocked up because of the bleeding, so I had to sit up to sleep.

When the anesthesia wore off... then it was very very painful.

The good thing is ... the main problem was fixed. I had extreme

gummy smile, and now I can laugh as much as I can without showing my

gum. So ... that really makes me happy despite the slow healing

proses. Everyone asked whether it was worth the pain to have the

surgery, I must say it was well worth it. I still have to wear my

braces for I dont know how long. The waiting is frustrating but like

I said, it's worth it.

Do lots of research, and hopefully you find the courage to do it.

Good luck.

> I am a 40 year old man thinking of corrective jaw surgery. When

I

> was about 18, I was told by a surgeon I needed this. Between work

> and life in general I never did it. I am not currently working,

but

> have some money. I have gotten used to the aching jaw. Although it

> is annoying and my face isn't exactly symetrical I guess am am

still

> unsure. I just want some positive or negative feedback from those

> that have gone through this and how it has affected their quality

of

> life, if at all. I haven't been for an evaluation for twenty tears

> so I am not sure what will be envolved for me. If anyone can

> recommend someone in the Virgnia Beach, Virgnia area for me to

speak

> with about this, it would be appreciated. Approximate costs

involved

> would be great also. I hope I am not asking too much :\(<-Me when

I

> smile)

[Guest guest]

First thing to do is find out, from an orthodontist and/or oral and

maxillofacial surgeon, just exactly what's up, and what they think

will be involved in fixing it.

My braces, which were on for 20 months, were $5,600 or so, and my

insurance paid either $1,000 or $1,200 of that (can't remember).

I had lower advancement only. My surgeons' fees were about $6,000,

and the hospital bill was $10,000 or so. All of these expenses were

covered by my major medical insurance.

I have heard of the cost of upper and lower being as much as $40,000.

And I know of some folks who had major battles with insurance

companies, even some who were denied coverage.

But first you need to find out what you need. It may be that today's

orthodontics can help you without surgery. It may be that you need

only upper, or only lower or both. Your docs are your best source of

info, and many are knowledgeable about insurance companies, too. You

might also check with a dental school, if you don't mind having

residents work on you, with supervision, of course. They are often

less expensive, and some give most excellent care. (Most, I'd like to

think.)

Ask, too, what the docs think might be in your future. Bad bites can

lead to tooth loss (through grinding, through periodontic ills, etc.)

and deterioration of the tmj. You say your joints hurt now, that

could be on the road to far worse pain. I'm not saying it will, and

I'm not saying that the surgery will fix jaw pain.

Mine went well and I am pleased with the results. Most folks have

that result. Some people wind up with more pain than they started

with, and/or extensive numbness. That's unusual, but it can happen.

Also, ask any surgeon you see whether he wires patients shut, post

op, or bands, and how long. If the answer is banding, as him how

tightly he closes the mouth.

Good wishes to you. Information is power.

Cammie

> I am a 40 year old man thinking of corrective jaw surgery. When

I

> was about 18, I was told by a surgeon I needed this. Between work

> and life in general I never did it. I am not currently working, but

> have some money. I have gotten used to the aching jaw. Although it

> is annoying and my face isn't exactly symetrical I guess am am

still

> unsure. I just want some positive or negative feedback from those

> that have gone through this and how it has affected their quality

of

> life, if at all. I haven't been for an evaluation for twenty tears

> so I am not sure what will be envolved for me. If anyone can

> recommend someone in the Virgnia Beach, Virgnia area for me to

speak

> with about this, it would be appreciated. Approximate costs

involved

> would be great also. I hope I am not asking too much :\(<-Me when I

> smile)

[Guest guest]

Jane, I don't know if this will help, but with Datreon, there are some

formulas and stuff that he just would not take, so maybe the peptamin is one for

, also he was having about 3 bowel movements a day for a while, so they

did some labs, and put him on sodium bicarbonate for a while till the levels

came back up on thier own. I would definately talk to the doctor about it,

especially if she is spilling ketones, and I would keep an eye on her blood

sugars if she is not eating well. Let me know how things go, and I will be

paying

for you guys!

le

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane,

My son Henry did not show overt signs of reflux but he ended up needing a

Nissan because their was so much acid in his esophagus by age two. The first

sign I notice with him when his reflux is acting up is a marked decrease in

eating and difficulty swallowing when he does eat.

After surgery he didn't need any reflux meds for a year but now takes

Prilosec and Zantac. I wonder if the meds would have done the trick prior to

surgery

but since he needed a Pylroplasty and a g-tube the Nissan was necessary as

well.

I wished I had known that reflux can be present without the classic signs. I

think my son's eating problems now at 4yrs would not be a difficult if eating

had not been so painful for so long before he was 2yrs.

Henry - 4yrs - 32lbs, 39 1/2in, RSS, Prilosec, Periactin, Benefiber, Zantac,

Peptamen Jr., Nutropin

-8yrs - 45lbs, 49in,nonRSS