Dammit - Not on 'the other side' after all...

[Guest guest]

I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two issues

I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the hospital.

They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-seizure

medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

not to have them.

Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth didn't

seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn out

two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go back

in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

other side, or pre-op either???

At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

Dammit

[Guest guest]

Dammit, it's good to see you're staying so positive with this awful

news. Do they know what caused the screws to rotate? Will the

surgery be to replace the existing screws? We're all thinking about

you and everything will be ok for sure.

Nathalie

> I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

issues

> I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

> they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the

hospital.

> They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-

seizure

> medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

> not to have them.

>

> Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth

didn't

> seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

> saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn

out

> two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

> job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

back

> in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> other side, or pre-op either???

>

> At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

> recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

>

> Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

>

> Dammit

[Guest guest]

There isn't a real reason why it's happened. The OS kept asking me

if I heard any snapping or popping, or if I bumped my jaw in any

way. Since none of this happened, there's no way to know for sure

what is going on until they get in there and see the actual screws

and bone. I've posted the pictures I've taken so far on site two

under Dammit in the photo album in case you want to see the 'intial'

results.

I guess I half expected to hear this news since my teeth weren't

touching, and since there isn't anything I can do but go back into

surgery, there's no sense in getting all worked up about it.

Thanks to all of you for the kind words and encouragement.

Dammit

> > I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

> issues

> > I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns

out

> > they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the

> hospital.

> > They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-

> seizure

> > medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I

chose

> > not to have them.

> >

> > Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth

> didn't

> > seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until

I

> > saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn

> out

> > two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing

their

> > job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

> back

> > in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> > other side, or pre-op either???

> >

> > At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> > learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of

a

> > recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

> >

> > Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

> >

> > Dammit

[Guest guest]

Hi dammit,

Sorry to hear about your problem. I'm sure things will go fine the

second time around, at least you know what it was like going in, it's

usually easier than you think it will be.

Minor setback, I think. Better now than a few months from now, that's

for sure.

I would take the anti-seizure stuff, though. The last thing you want

is stuff shaking you like hiccups (I had a terrible cough that lasted

for months, I couldn't stop, and I was afraid things were shifting

around in my upper jaw).

Hang in there,

> I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

issues

> I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

> they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the hospital.

> They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-seizure

> medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

> not to have them.

>

> Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth didn't

> seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

> saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn out

> two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

> job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

back

> in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> other side, or pre-op either???

>

> At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

> recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

>

> Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

>

> Dammit

[Guest guest]

Man, that is harsh - don't they usually use 3 screws on each side?

Anyway you'll do great, slap your surgeon for me, eh?

Jay

> I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

issues

> I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

> they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the

hospital.

> They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-

seizure

> medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

> not to have them.

>

> Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth

didn't

> seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

> saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn

out

> two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

> job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

back

> in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> other side, or pre-op either???

>

> At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

> recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

>

> Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

>

> Dammit

[Guest guest]

Hey, Dammit,

Sorry to hear the news after such a wonderful start to recovery. I imagine this

won't be near as bad as the first. Let's hope that they can just go in and set

it straight without having to re-cut and re-shape.

I guess now when someone asks, you can tell them that yes you HAVE a screw

loose, but the doctors are going to fix that real soon

Keep your chin (and jaw) up! We are rooting for you!

~Cathy

P.S. From what I have read here and what my ortho says, it is not unusual for

the teeth not to touch on all sides after surgery. I know it has taken a few

weeks of elastics to get my right side to come together. Just so you know, teeth

touching isn't necessarily a sign of a problem, but I guess it could be....

Re: Dammit - Not on 'the other side'

after all...

There isn't a real reason why it's happened. The OS kept asking me

if I heard any snapping or popping, or if I bumped my jaw in any

way. Since none of this happened, there's no way to know for sure

what is going on until they get in there and see the actual screws

and bone. I've posted the pictures I've taken so far on site two

under Dammit in the photo album in case you want to see the 'intial'

results.

I guess I half expected to hear this news since my teeth weren't

touching, and since there isn't anything I can do but go back into

surgery, there's no sense in getting all worked up about it.

Thanks to all of you for the kind words and encouragement.

Dammit

> > I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

> issues

> > I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns

out

> > they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the

> hospital.

> > They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-

> seizure

> > medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I

chose

> > not to have them.

> >

> > Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth

> didn't

> > seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until

I

> > saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn

> out

> > two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing

their

> > job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

> back

> > in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> > other side, or pre-op either???

> >

> > At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> > learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of

a

> > recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

> >

> > Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

> >

> > Dammit

[Guest guest]

Oooh that's gotta be tough to hear. Hope you fly through it like you

did the first one.

Marsha

> I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

issues

> I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

> they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the hospital.

> They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-seizure

> medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

> not to have them.

>

> Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth didn't

> seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

> saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn out

> two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

> job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

back

> in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> other side, or pre-op either???

>

> At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

> recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

>

> Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

>

> Dammit

[Guest guest]

OUCH !!!!!! I know you've got a great attitude towards all this,

but still.. I feel for you.. :-(

Ray

[Guest guest]

Wow, good luck Thom! Like the others said, at least this time you'll

know more what to expect.

And just out of curiosity- how long is the bottom half of my face

going to be numb? LOL When I touch my bottom lip, it feels like

rubber. I don't have my first appointment with my surgeon til Monday

but he seemed pleased with the results at the hospital, so hopefully

on Monday I'll get the wires off and bands on. Yay!

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry to hear you have a few loose screws

Good luck on Tuesday *hug*

> I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two issues

> I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

> they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the hospital.

> They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-seizure

> medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

> not to have them.

>

> Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth didn't

> seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

> saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn out

> two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

> job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go back

> in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> other side, or pre-op either???

>

> At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

> recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

>

> Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

>

> Dammit

[Guest guest]

That is odd. I guess every OS has their own way of doing things. I

know that I've got three plates with screws on my left upper and two

on my right. They put an extra one on my left because the bone

seemed to be thinner.

dammit, I'm curious if you can explain where your teeth don't

touch? Do you have an open bite? Or is one side of your jaw

touching and not the other?

Keep your head up and good luck with round 2!

Marco

> > I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

> issues

> > I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns

out

> > they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the

> hospital.

> > They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-

> seizure

> > medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I

chose

> > not to have them.

> >

> > Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth

> didn't

> > seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until

I

> > saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn

> out

> > two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing

their

> > job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

> back

> > in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> > other side, or pre-op either???

> >

> > At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> > learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of

a

> > recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

> >

> > Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

> >

> > Dammit

[Guest guest]

The best way I can explain it is that when the jaw is cut, the

pieces should slide forward in a parallel. Instead, the x-ray shows

they front segment is tilted down about 10-15 degrees. The result

is my teeth touch first on one of my molars, and that's the only

place they touch. Imagine holding your jaw open like you do when

you're at the dentist, for a whole week. That's what it feels

like. The redo will be to unscrew the existing screws, and bolt

everything back together the way it should have been.

My OS said everything was aligned when I left the OR. The only thing

I can think of that could have caused this was I vaguely remember

when I was being moved from the recovery room to my room, the

attendant didn't tilt the back of the bed up, and I ended up falling

back. It hurt, but I don't remember if I hit my jaw then or not.

That would have been the only chance that I'm aware of to knock it

out of alignment.

Thanks for the good wishes!

Dammit

> > > I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

> > issues

> > > I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns

> out

> > > they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the

> > hospital.

> > > They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-

> > seizure

> > > medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I

> chose

> > > not to have them.

> > >

> > > Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth

> > didn't

> > > seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it

until

> I

> > > saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It

turn

> > out

> > > two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing

> their

> > > job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I

go

> > back

> > > in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on

the

> > > other side, or pre-op either???

> > >

> > > At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I

have

> > > learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy

of

> a

> > > recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

> > >

> > > Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

> > >

> > > Dammit

[Guest guest]

Well, Dammit, Dammit.

I will think about you on the morrow, and hope that the surgeon will

give those screws a talking to and a straightening out for you. I do

think and hope it will be way easier for you this time around.

And hey, don't be so reluctant to visit a new place. The other side

is a NICE place to be. You don't need a passporto or a border check.

So just don't be such a stick-in-the-mud stayathome fellow, and come

on over.

Lots of hands are out to try and grab you and pull you to this

territory!

Cammie

> I had my first visit with my OS this morning. There were two

issues

> I was concerned about. First, these darned hiccups! It turns out

> they are a by product of the steroids given to me in the hospital.

> They'll go away in a couple of days, or he can give me anti-seizure

> medications. I know those would make me really dopey, so I chose

> not to have them.

>

> Now for the not so good news. I posted before that my teeth didn't

> seem to be touching, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I

> saw the OS today. Well, I should have been concerned. It turn out

> two of the four screws holding my jaw in place aren't doing their

> job, and it has rotated on the remaining two. So, Tuesday I go

back

> in for a second round of surgery. I guess I'm not really on the

> other side, or pre-op either???

>

> At least I'm prepared for what is to come on Tuesday, and I have

> learned from the experience and can hopefully make as speedy of a

> recovery from the second round as I have from this one.

>

> Keep me in your thoughts and prayers...

>

> Dammit