Just need someone to talk to.......

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling very

scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but now

it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but I am

very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my face. Can

someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to expect?

I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for lab

work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets. Thanks for

listening.

hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

One thing that I have found reading these posts and getting the surgery, is that

every surgery and every recovery is unique. While I see many similarities in

people's experiences, no two are identical. For instance, I may have a lot of

bleeding while someone else has none. I had pain after the third day, and other

people say they have pain until the third day...

It is odd, but it seems that everytime I ask if someone has had a similar

problem or concern, someone out there has... but their entire experience could

have been completely different.

I am only 5 days post-op and things are going well for me. I can't say it's

been easy- but then I didn't expect it to be. I had upper and lower for a

under/open bite. My surgery took 3 1/2 hours (instead of the 5 1/2 they planned

for) everything just seemed to fit. It took a long time for me to come out of

the anesthesia and I hated the feeling, but I woke up several times in the night

and a nurse was always checking in on me.

I had to suction, but not as much as I hear some people do. I wasn't spitting

up blood or anything... unfortunately that came when I got home. It still never

got bad, but every once in a while my kids will go.. " ewww " and I know that

mucusy blood is dripping from my nose again.

I didn't ask for any pain medicine. I didn't need any then. I have taken a few

Lortabs at home, but they make me loopy and my stomach hurt, so I have been

taking Tylenol.

I hated that head thing I had to wear after surgery. I think it was too small.

It scrunched up my face so tight that I couldn't swallow. My husband finally

made the nurse get me a bigger size.

I went home the next morning in good spirits. I wasn't wired or banded. I

stopped by the OS office on the way home and he put two bands in then. I took

them out yesterday to eat, and couldn't get them back in. I'm going to call

this morning. I ate roast beef. I liquified everything for a few days, but I

got tired of it. Now I just want food. I made it into mush and spoon feed it

slowly. I got tired of eating before I got full. It is just so much work.

I have lots of swelling, but my family says that it is going down. All except

for my eyes... I think the swelling there is getting bigger. My whole face

can't be as big as a house at once, so I guess that parts are taking turns.

Numbness is simply annoying. I can't stand that pins and needles feeling. It

is like I got novicane all over my face. Sometimes part of my face will just

start moving- twitching, and I am hoping it's a good thing-- nerve endings

coming back and all.

I have good days and bad. I feel like I have had as much as I can stand at

times, and then I think, this isn't so bad.... it's worth it... It has been an

emotional roller coaster and I can't wait until it is over.

I am on the other side now, so I have good things to look forward to, I just

have to make it through this part--- the hardest part of the journey... then

I'll be home free.

~Cathy

[Guest guest]

Hi Ronda,

I had upper/lower/genio and had an easy go of it. I woke up feeling

great and never looked back. Was walking the wards the night of my

surgery, told the nurses I felt good enough to go back to work (that

was probably the demerol I was on). No pain, just discomfort that I

would describe as feeling like sore, overworked muscles. They taught

my husband how to use the suction device (he stayed in my room for

the 2 nights I was in hospital), but he said he didn't have to use

it. He made sure I got my meds on time (every 3 hours), fresh ice,

towels, gowns, etc.

Fear of this is normal, but usually unwarranted.

On the numbness issue, I was numb from behind my eyeballs to below my

chin. It does feel strange, but it doesn't last forever, although

some of it can take a long time to go away (typically a spot on the

lower lip/chin). Most people having the combination of surgery you're

having experience some form of numbness immediately post-op.

Best advice I can give you is to not panic when you wake up (I

thought I wasn't getting enough air, but I stopped and checked it

out - I could breathe through my nose a little, and breathe through

my mouth a little - and that helped). The second thing is to drink

lots of fluids - when I asked the nurses what the criteria was for

getting out of hospital, they said " as soon as you can taken in

enough liquids on your own " .

Hang in there, you're nearly there! If you want to read about some

more surgery experiences, check out this info website - click on

PERSONAL SURGERY EXPERIENCES

http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/

> Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling very

> scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but now

> it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but I am

> very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my face.

Can

> someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

expect?

> I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for lab

> work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets. Thanks for

> listening.

> hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

ronda,

if you weren't scared, you would be counted among the minority. but

the anticipation is WAY worse than the actual experience. you wanna

know my first thought as i was waking up in recovery??? it was a

sigh of relief and i thought, " its over!!! " and i was so happy. i

was still pretty out of it from the anesthesia so i was even thinking

about whether or not i could feel my face. but when i became more

aware of things, i found that i did not feel as " weird " as i thought

i would. there was some numbness in my gums, but none in my face.

now, of course, this is different for everyone.

but try to stay calm and know that you are in good hands... soon you

will be on the other side and hopefully feel the sense of relief that

i did. i'm two months post-op and haven't had a moment of regret...

take care,

heather

> Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling very

> scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but now

> it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but I am

> very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my face.

Can

> someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

expect?

> I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for lab

> work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets. Thanks for

> listening.

> hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad to hear you say it's

been worth it. I've been second guessing myself, but I do hear alot

of people say it's been worth it. Thanks again and I'll soon be on

the other side with you!

Ronda

> One thing that I have found reading these posts and getting the

surgery, is that every surgery and every recovery is unique. While I

see many similarities in people's experiences, no two are identical.

For instance, I may have a lot of bleeding while someone else has

none. I had pain after the third day, and other people say they have

pain until the third day...

>

> It is odd, but it seems that everytime I ask if someone has had a

similar problem or concern, someone out there has... but their entire

experience could have been completely different.

>

> I am only 5 days post-op and things are going well for me. I can't

say it's been easy- but then I didn't expect it to be. I had upper

and lower for a under/open bite. My surgery took 3 1/2 hours

(instead of the 5 1/2 they planned for) everything just seemed to

fit. It took a long time for me to come out of the anesthesia and I

hated the feeling, but I woke up several times in the night and a

nurse was always checking in on me.

>

> I had to suction, but not as much as I hear some people do. I

wasn't spitting up blood or anything... unfortunately that came when

I got home. It still never got bad, but every once in a while my

kids will go.. " ewww " and I know that mucusy blood is dripping from my

nose again.

>

> I didn't ask for any pain medicine. I didn't need any then. I

have taken a few Lortabs at home, but they make me loopy and my

stomach hurt, so I have been taking Tylenol.

>

> I hated that head thing I had to wear after surgery. I think it

was too small. It scrunched up my face so tight that I couldn't

swallow. My husband finally made the nurse get me a bigger size.

>

> I went home the next morning in good spirits. I wasn't wired or

banded. I stopped by the OS office on the way home and he put two

bands in then. I took them out yesterday to eat, and couldn't get

them back in. I'm going to call this morning. I ate roast beef. I

liquified everything for a few days, but I got tired of it. Now I

just want food. I made it into mush and spoon feed it slowly. I got

tired of eating before I got full. It is just so much work.

>

> I have lots of swelling, but my family says that it is going down.

All except for my eyes... I think the swelling there is getting

bigger. My whole face can't be as big as a house at once, so I guess

that parts are taking turns. Numbness is simply annoying. I can't

stand that pins and needles feeling. It is like I got novicane all

over my face. Sometimes part of my face will just start moving-

twitching, and I am hoping it's a good thing-- nerve endings coming

back and all.

>

> I have good days and bad. I feel like I have had as much as I can

stand at times, and then I think, this isn't so bad.... it's worth

it... It has been an emotional roller coaster and I can't wait until

it is over.

>

> I am on the other side now, so I have good things to look forward

to, I just have to make it through this part--- the hardest part of

the journey... then I'll be home free.

>

> ~Cathy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi . Thanks so much. The website you suggested was very helpful!

Thanks for the advice, and I'll do my best not to panic and to drink

alot of fluids. Did you have to use a suringe to get fluids in? Or

were you able to use a straw?

Ronda

> > Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling very

> > scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but

now

> > it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but I

am

> > very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my face.

> Can

> > someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

> expect?

> > I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for lab

> > work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets. Thanks

for

> > listening.

> > hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for the advice. I am ready to be " on the other side " ! It's

good to know that you have no regrets and that I'm not alone in

fearing the surgery. You've been a great help!

Ronda

> > Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling very

> > scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but

now

> > it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but I

am

> > very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my face.

> Can

> > someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

> expect?

> > I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for lab

> > work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets. Thanks

for

> > listening.

> > hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

Hi Ronda,

In the hospital, they gave me a big syringe with tubing on it, and

let us take some supplies home. I used that, it worked just fine. I

also had some zip-n-squeeze bags that friends had sent me, but we

didn't use them until I got home. I found them a bit difficult to

control as far as flow (too much down my throat at once), but they

were great for squeezing water & mouthwash in to flush my mouth

clean. I found out that you can't use them forever as one bag

actually exploded on me in the bathroom, thankfully it only had water

in it! I think most people find them really useful, and I would

recommend you consider buying some.

I used smaller syringes & tubes for awhile in order to do my liquid

meds. I take two small pills each night, and was afraid I wouldn't be

able to feel & swallow them, so we used a pillcrusher and mixed them

with my liquid meds.

My surgeon said definitely NO straws. You don't want to create

suction in your mouth. That's why the syringes and zippies are so

good, you're pumping stuff in, not sucking it in. Don't use a straw

until your surgeon says it's ok. Ditto on blowing your nose, mine

said I could only blow gently with my mouth open. That was thoroughly

useless for clearing my nose, so my next hint is to buy lots of q-

tips and hydrogen peroxide solution in order to clean your nose out.

I asked the nurses in hospital to show me how to do it carefully, and

I did it for about 7 weeks post-op. I went through over 600 q-tips in

that time. Blowing my nose felt strange, the area there will be

somewhat numb and odd-feeling for awhile post-op.

I was a slow learner, and had to use a child's sippy cup for several

weeks post-op. Eventually I learned how to drink from a glass when

someone suggested trying a wide glass with a thick rim (irish ale in

a pub, what a motivator!).

Hope that helps too!

> Hi . Thanks so much. The website you suggested was very

helpful!

> Thanks for the advice, and I'll do my best not to panic and to

drink

> alot of fluids. Did you have to use a suringe to get fluids in? Or

> were you able to use a straw?

> Ronda

[Guest guest]

It is not bad at all. I'm three weeks post op and waking up is such

a relief. My mom was there with me and my sister and Dad and I

think my pastor was there too lol and when i woke up all I said at

first was I did it. I had ice over my eyes so I couldn't see

anything. I was so afraid that I was gonna have to pee really bad

when i woke up b/c I had to go so bad b4 I think I was really

nervous lol but I didn't have to go lol anyways. I was just really

tired, as soon as I was in my room I kept dozing of uncontrollably,

it was not bad at all, you'll be just fine I remember being 4

days pre op like it was yesterday I remember reading all these post

that said I'm three weeks post op and I felt like " that's so far

away " , but it goes by so fast. After the first week you will almost

forget you had the surgery, lol I did,

hope this helps a little, the other answers were good and covered

all the bases

tori

> > > Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling

very

> > > scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but

> now

> > > it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but

I

> am

> > > very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my

face.

> > Can

> > > someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

> > expect?

> > > I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for

lab

> > > work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets.

Thanks

> for

> > > listening.

> > > hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

Hey Tori. Thanks! You and all the others that have responded to my

posting have been such a big help! It sounds like I'm making a bigger

deal out about waking up than it really is. I think if I can just get

past the hospital stay I'll be ok! Could you maybe tell me some

things I should bring to the hospital w/me? Thanks again!

Ronda

> > > > Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling

> very

> > > > scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year,

but

> > now

> > > > it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but

> I

> > am

> > > > very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my

> face.

> > > Can

> > > > someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

> > > expect?

> > > > I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for

> lab

> > > > work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets.

> Thanks

> > for

> > > > listening.

> > > > hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

DONT WORRY! Everything will be fine. When you get to the hospital,

let the nurses know that you are nervous, and they will give you

something to ease the anxiety. In regard to feeling your face, you

will be a little drugged for a few days, so you will not feel a

thing. You will feel the pressure from removal of the bandages,

depending on the kind that your surgeon used. It was a few days

before I felt any pain, and that was only because I had slept past

the time to take my pain meds, and had to wait for the meds to kick

in... Good luck!

> Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling very

> scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year, but now

> it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me, but I am

> very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my face.

Can

> someone tell me about their experience waking up and what to

expect?

> I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday for lab

> work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets. Thanks

for

> listening.

> hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda

[Guest guest]

The hospital stay isn't bad. I had an iv in for 1.5 days and I had

my surgery on wednesday and left friday morning. I would bring a big

stuffed animal, my sister bought me one and gave it to me with a

balloon when I woke up, lots of pj pants-shorts are ok too, i had

these terry flip flops and they were quiet helpful, a blanket, I was

hot the whole time so all I had on was my blanket and I didn't even

get under their covers. Um, thats about it. I brought a cd player

but I wasn't up to listening to it. I brought my mom too and she

stayed with me the whole time b/c I was in pediatrics, i don't kno if

that would apply to you but just in case it does. Good luck you will

do great!

*tori*

> > > > > Hey everyone. I'm having surgery in 4 days and I'm feeling

> > very

> > > > > scared. I've known about the surgery now for about a year,

> but

> > > now

> > > > > it's only down to 4 days. I am ready to get it behind me,

but

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > very worried about waking up and not being able to feel my

> > face.

> > > > Can

> > > > > someone tell me about their experience waking up and what

to

> > > > expect?

> > > > > I'm having upper and lower surgery. I go to my OS Tuesday

for

> > lab

> > > > > work, and then to my Orthodontist for surgical brackets.

> > Thanks

> > > for

> > > > > listening.

> > > > > hawaiidreamer06 - Ronda