Re: 12 days post op (screws used during surgery) - Cammie

[Guest guest]

Cammie,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I've been quite busy w/work and haven't

been on board in a while.

>> if I am remembering properly, that you had several other

complications affecting both your general health and your recovery.

You are remembering correctly. Boy, what a year I had last year. I

can't believe it's been 14 months since I had my jaw surgery.

Beside having the screw pop out on the left side and breaking the

plate on the right, a couple of weeks after I had the hardware

removed (12 weeks after my BSSO/lower adv.), I unexpectedly had a 95%

blocked heart artery. Fortunately, I had the jaw surgery because I

wasn't able to work out at the time and I really felt awful. The

doctors told me if the blockage wasn't caught, I would have had a

massive heart attack. So, needless to say, I had an angioplasty

procedure and due to 2 arythmias, I had to have a heart ablasion.

Let me add, I have VERY low cholesterol/blood pressure and I'm pretty

thin. Unbelievable, but it must be hereditary because my dad had

open heart surgery at the same age that I had my procedure (41) -

also, it was the same artery blocked as mine and would you believe

this, I was in the same hospital he was in and the same room as him

(I had a 4 day stay and his was 1 month).

What a difference I feel now. My jaw/mouth is doing great. My

doctors are so pleased and so am I, to how my jaw looks.

I'm working out regularly. Riding an indoor bicycle ~100+ miles a

week and I just started working out at the gym again. Because I have

severe Raynauds/Scleroderma, I couldn't go to the gym during the

winter months. So it's great getting back to that.

Thank goodness I'm feeling and doing well now. What a road!

>> Would you agree that the breaking of a plate or screw (or even one

working loose) is not a big concern, usually?

You're right. It shouldn't be a big concern. Also, if the

screws/plates have to be removed, the procedure isn't bad at all. A

slight setback, but not a big deal. It's an in-office procedure and

the surgeon gives a general, so nothing is felt during the

procedure. After the procedure, since the gums are cut again, it's

sore, but NOTHING like the original surgery.

Hope all is doing well with you and everyone else here on the board.

Regards,

Jane

> > > > Has there been anyone that you know that had the lower jaw

> > advance

> > > > forward and had the surgery screws break. I realize they are

> not

> > > > perfect and that's why they wire your mouth shut.