Guest guest Posted June 19, 2004 Report Share Posted June 19, 2004 Hi, I am new here and want to hear from some people who are having orthognatic surgery to repair cleft palates. I am 41 years old, been through surgeries before (LaForte, etc.) unsuccessfully and am now having the orthognatic surgery done. I would love to hear success stories from adult patients who have had this done, or are in the process. I have just embarked on this process after much soul- searching. I am only in the very, very beginning. I just yesterday had the metal pendulum appliance fitted to my teeth (annoying!) and will be having surgically-assisted rapid palate expansion surgery soon. I am full of anxiety about it, as it will initially increase my cleft, not decrease it. I am hopeful to hear from others who have been through this. I know in the end it will all be worth it but the process is SO arduous. I have a great husband, a fantastic job, and two fabulous kids with special needs. I felt this was something I needed to do and am excited about it but scared at the same time. Too bad we cannot all just float away to a desert island while this is being done and come back complete! I have great friends who support me and all, but none of them can truly understand what having facial anomalies is like. It goes way beyond simply not feeling attractive, like those people on the reality shows. Please! We should have our own reality show. Anyway, I would very much like to hear from fellow cleft palate patients. You can e-mail me privately or post to the board, I will be reading messages. Best of luck to all, Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 19, 2004 Report Share Posted June 19, 2004 There is a cleft palate board run by a mom whose child was a cp patient, and who had the surgery. You may find more responses there to your specific needs, and I am sorry that I do not have the link. You might check the links here, and on OSS 2. Not at all that you are not welcome here -- of course, you are, and I think I speak for everyone in wishing you well and offering you all the support we can give. I don't know about the cleft opening more. I do know that people who have Surgically Assisted Palate Expansion are apt to get gaps between their front teeth, so it makes sense to me that the underlying bone and tissue also open. Most dislike it a lot! But it closes quickly, once the orthodontists start working on that project. I hope yours will, as well. I don't know whether I could have put up with those expansion devices, and was fortunate that my ortho was able to broaden my palate with braces alone. But I can tell you that most reports are that they're tough to deal with for the first couple of weeks, then it gets much better. I hope yours does, as well. I didn't have a lot of facial anomaly, but had major mouth troubles -- periodontic style -- which made my lower advancement surgery important to my general health. I do sympathize with those who find their appearances challenging, although I fail to understand those who choose to make others' lives difficult for such reasons. Best to you, Cammie > Hi, I am new here and want to hear from some people who are having > orthognatic surgery to repair cleft palates. I am 41 years old, been > through surgeries before (LaForte, etc.) unsuccessfully and am now > having the orthognatic surgery done. I would love to hear success > stories from adult patients who have had this done, or are in the > process. I have just embarked on this process after much soul- > searching. I am only in the very, very beginning. I just yesterday > had the metal pendulum appliance fitted to my teeth (annoying!) and > will be having surgically-assisted rapid palate expansion surgery > soon. I am full of anxiety about it, as it will initially increase my > cleft, not decrease it. I am hopeful to hear from others who have > been through this. > > I know in the end it will all be worth it but the process is SO > arduous. I have a great husband, a fantastic job, and two fabulous > kids with special needs. I felt this was something I needed to do and > am excited about it but scared at the same time. Too bad we cannot > all just float away to a desert island while this is being done and > come back complete! I have great friends who support me and all, but > none of them can truly understand what having facial anomalies is > like. It goes way beyond simply not feeling attractive, like those > people on the reality shows. Please! We should have our own reality > show. > > Anyway, I would very much like to hear from fellow cleft palate > patients. You can e-mail me privately or post to the board, I will be > reading messages. > > Best of luck to all, > Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 20, 2004 Report Share Posted June 20, 2004 I think the link Cammie was referring to is THE CLEFT ADVOCATE. I believe it's in the links on site two at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/orthognathicsurgerysite2 or try the geocities site at http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ looking under CLUBS If those don't work, try a google search. I hear you on floating away to a desert island - in all cases of medical/dental work, I have often fantasized about being able to leave a part of my body behind and pick it up later, or just plug in a new one from a catalogue! > Hi, I am new here and want to hear from some people who are having > orthognatic surgery to repair cleft palates. I am 41 years old, been > through surgeries before (LaForte, etc.) unsuccessfully and am now > having the orthognatic surgery done. I would love to hear success > stories from adult patients who have had this done, or are in the > process. I have just embarked on this process after much soul- > searching. I am only in the very, very beginning. I just yesterday > had the metal pendulum appliance fitted to my teeth (annoying!) and > will be having surgically-assisted rapid palate expansion surgery > soon. I am full of anxiety about it, as it will initially increase my > cleft, not decrease it. I am hopeful to hear from others who have > been through this. > > I know in the end it will all be worth it but the process is SO > arduous. I have a great husband, a fantastic job, and two fabulous > kids with special needs. I felt this was something I needed to do and > am excited about it but scared at the same time. Too bad we cannot > all just float away to a desert island while this is being done and > come back complete! I have great friends who support me and all, but > none of them can truly understand what having facial anomalies is > like. It goes way beyond simply not feeling attractive, like those > people on the reality shows. Please! We should have our own reality > show. > > Anyway, I would very much like to hear from fellow cleft palate > patients. You can e-mail me privately or post to the board, I will be > reading messages. > > Best of luck to all, > Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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