Re: Need Some Support

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

I'm not sure what to say to help, but I think you did the right thing

by taking all of the bands off until your surgeon can advise you.

Please tell your surgeon exactly what you've told us here if you can.

Maybe there is a reason why the assistant did what he/her did and

your surgeon can explain. Maybe your surgeon needs to hear that one

of his patients did not feel she was listened to, or that the

assistant knew anything about her case.

I know from my own experience that my ortho would not do anything

that caused pain, he actually slowed treatment down over my protests,

of course, since I just wanted to be done with it all.

1 month and 1 day - congrats on getting this far! There's still a lot

of healing & recovery ahead for you, try to hang in there.

Hope that helps,

>

> Hello,

>

> I just got back from my OS......I am 1 month and 1 day out

> (Bilateral Madibular Sagital Split). I beleived I was doing

> great.....I wasn't wired when I woke up from surgery and I have

> needed minimal banding thus far. So, I just got back from my OS

> office but my OS and the attending physician who assisted my

surgery

> was not there for some reason. I was seen by an assistant, who I

have

> had to remind why I am there at almost every appointment. (At my 1

> week post op appointment he was astonished at my

swelling.....Anybody

> who knows what facial surgery entails would know that the swelling

> was normal.) Anyway, I don't have much faith in this person anyhow.

> So my OS is not there to see me. This person looks at my teeth and

> advises me that my teeth do not touch in the back. Then he goes

> looking for " heavy bands " to put on my hooks. He proceeds to put

> bands one me. I have had problems with the banding pattern previous

> and had what felt like an earache in my left ear but he didn't know

> because I told my OS at the last appointment and not him. At this

> time I am expecting my OS or attending physician to walk in any

> minute but they don't. I am soooo crushed emotionally because I

came

> to this appointment thinking that I was going to be told I could

> start chewing soft food.....not being banded sooooo tightly it

hurts

> to open my mouth and I don't even find out why my OS was not there.

I

> live an hour away from my OS and I cried all the way home mostly

> because I felt like this is a setback and the fact that the earache

> feeling I had before was returning but this time it felt like a

spike

> was being pushed into my ear. I looked at what the assistant had

done

> when I got home and he had put bands on all my back hooks but had

> taken a band and wrapped it around my hooks twice. One popped off

> when I opened my mouth so I thought that I didn't want my jaw to

heal

> ackwardly so I took them all off. I know this may be bad for my

> healing too but I was in sooooo much pain I didn't know what else

to

> do. I put in a call to my OS and let him know what was happening to

> me and hopefully he will contact me tomorrow. What I am confused

> mostly about is the fact that I was seen 2 weeks ago by my OS and

> phsycion and they didn't mention that I needed the banding then so

> why do I need it now......my teeth have never touched in the back

> since my surgury and my OS knows that. Let me know if anybody has

> went through this type of situation or to lend some support. I

can't

> beleive how this has made me feel. I almost didn't make it out of

the

> office before I started to cry.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

I'm not sure what to say to help, but I think you did the right thing

by taking all of the bands off until your surgeon can advise you.

Please tell your surgeon exactly what you've told us here if you can.

Maybe there is a reason why the assistant did what he/her did and

your surgeon can explain. Maybe your surgeon needs to hear that one

of his patients did not feel she was listened to, or that the

assistant knew anything about her case.

I know from my own experience that my ortho would not do anything

that caused pain, he actually slowed treatment down over my protests,

of course, since I just wanted to be done with it all.

1 month and 1 day - congrats on getting this far! There's still a lot

of healing & recovery ahead for you, try to hang in there.

Hope that helps,

>

> Hello,

>

> I just got back from my OS......I am 1 month and 1 day out

> (Bilateral Madibular Sagital Split). I beleived I was doing

> great.....I wasn't wired when I woke up from surgery and I have

> needed minimal banding thus far. So, I just got back from my OS

> office but my OS and the attending physician who assisted my

surgery

> was not there for some reason. I was seen by an assistant, who I

have

> had to remind why I am there at almost every appointment. (At my 1

> week post op appointment he was astonished at my

swelling.....Anybody

> who knows what facial surgery entails would know that the swelling

> was normal.) Anyway, I don't have much faith in this person anyhow.

> So my OS is not there to see me. This person looks at my teeth and

> advises me that my teeth do not touch in the back. Then he goes

> looking for " heavy bands " to put on my hooks. He proceeds to put

> bands one me. I have had problems with the banding pattern previous

> and had what felt like an earache in my left ear but he didn't know

> because I told my OS at the last appointment and not him. At this

> time I am expecting my OS or attending physician to walk in any

> minute but they don't. I am soooo crushed emotionally because I

came

> to this appointment thinking that I was going to be told I could

> start chewing soft food.....not being banded sooooo tightly it

hurts

> to open my mouth and I don't even find out why my OS was not there.

I

> live an hour away from my OS and I cried all the way home mostly

> because I felt like this is a setback and the fact that the earache

> feeling I had before was returning but this time it felt like a

spike

> was being pushed into my ear. I looked at what the assistant had

done

> when I got home and he had put bands on all my back hooks but had

> taken a band and wrapped it around my hooks twice. One popped off

> when I opened my mouth so I thought that I didn't want my jaw to

heal

> ackwardly so I took them all off. I know this may be bad for my

> healing too but I was in sooooo much pain I didn't know what else

to

> do. I put in a call to my OS and let him know what was happening to

> me and hopefully he will contact me tomorrow. What I am confused

> mostly about is the fact that I was seen 2 weeks ago by my OS and

> phsycion and they didn't mention that I needed the banding then so

> why do I need it now......my teeth have never touched in the back

> since my surgury and my OS knows that. Let me know if anybody has

> went through this type of situation or to lend some support. I

can't

> beleive how this has made me feel. I almost didn't make it out of

the

> office before I started to cry.

[Guest guest]

i have had SOME similar experiences, though i have been seen

regularly by my OS and not sure what i would do if i hadn't been, so

i feel for you on that. i completely understand.

It took a lOOOOONNNNGGG time for my back teeth to touch. i am almost

5 months post op and i JUST got out of bands two weeks ago. many

different configurations, but i do have to say, my teeth all came

together nicely.

what i dealt with was the ear pain, pretty bad at times, still not

right. it definitely was because i was banded for so long and as my

ortho said: " Get those bands back on IMMEDIATELY after eating and

cleaining " . With a 14 month old baby, i was struggling to get this

done, but did a pretty good job. The ear pain was a result of a

long time of lack of normal range and movement.

i went to see a different chiropractor (i do see one for my back),

who had worked previously on a person's jaw. he showed me exercises

to do on the belly of certain muscles to get the spindle cells

moving and activated which tell your muscles where they shoudl be

and how they should be acting. i have been a little lax in doing my

exercises, but for what i have done, they have helped A LOT. i

would take bands off, eat, clean, exercise and put bands back on.

yawning has gotten easier as has range of motion, all lessening the

ear pain.

best of luck. let us know how you do.

>

> Hello,

>

> I just got back from my OS......I am 1 month and 1 day out

> (Bilateral Madibular Sagital Split). I beleived I was doing

> great.....I wasn't wired when I woke up from surgery and I have

> needed minimal banding thus far. So, I just got back from my OS

> office but my OS and the attending physician who assisted my

surgery

> was not there for some reason. I was seen by an assistant, who I

have

> had to remind why I am there at almost every appointment. (At my 1

> week post op appointment he was astonished at my

swelling.....Anybody

> who knows what facial surgery entails would know that the swelling

> was normal.) Anyway, I don't have much faith in this person

anyhow.

> So my OS is not there to see me. This person looks at my teeth and

> advises me that my teeth do not touch in the back. Then he goes

> looking for " heavy bands " to put on my hooks. He proceeds to put

> bands one me. I have had problems with the banding pattern

previous

> and had what felt like an earache in my left ear but he didn't

know

> because I told my OS at the last appointment and not him. At this

> time I am expecting my OS or attending physician to walk in any

> minute but they don't. I am soooo crushed emotionally because I

came

> to this appointment thinking that I was going to be told I could

> start chewing soft food.....not being banded sooooo tightly it

hurts

> to open my mouth and I don't even find out why my OS was not

there. I

> live an hour away from my OS and I cried all the way home mostly

> because I felt like this is a setback and the fact that the

earache

> feeling I had before was returning but this time it felt like a

spike

> was being pushed into my ear. I looked at what the assistant had

done

> when I got home and he had put bands on all my back hooks but had

> taken a band and wrapped it around my hooks twice. One popped off

> when I opened my mouth so I thought that I didn't want my jaw to

heal

> ackwardly so I took them all off. I know this may be bad for my

> healing too but I was in sooooo much pain I didn't know what else

to

> do. I put in a call to my OS and let him know what was happening

to

> me and hopefully he will contact me tomorrow. What I am confused

> mostly about is the fact that I was seen 2 weeks ago by my OS and

> phsycion and they didn't mention that I needed the banding then so

> why do I need it now......my teeth have never touched in the back

> since my surgury and my OS knows that. Let me know if anybody has

> went through this type of situation or to lend some support. I

can't

> beleive how this has made me feel. I almost didn't make it out of

the

> office before I started to cry.

[Guest guest]

i have had SOME similar experiences, though i have been seen

regularly by my OS and not sure what i would do if i hadn't been, so

i feel for you on that. i completely understand.

It took a lOOOOONNNNGGG time for my back teeth to touch. i am almost

5 months post op and i JUST got out of bands two weeks ago. many

different configurations, but i do have to say, my teeth all came

together nicely.

what i dealt with was the ear pain, pretty bad at times, still not

right. it definitely was because i was banded for so long and as my

ortho said: " Get those bands back on IMMEDIATELY after eating and

cleaining " . With a 14 month old baby, i was struggling to get this

done, but did a pretty good job. The ear pain was a result of a

long time of lack of normal range and movement.

i went to see a different chiropractor (i do see one for my back),

who had worked previously on a person's jaw. he showed me exercises

to do on the belly of certain muscles to get the spindle cells

moving and activated which tell your muscles where they shoudl be

and how they should be acting. i have been a little lax in doing my

exercises, but for what i have done, they have helped A LOT. i

would take bands off, eat, clean, exercise and put bands back on.

yawning has gotten easier as has range of motion, all lessening the

ear pain.

best of luck. let us know how you do.

>

> Hello,

>

> I just got back from my OS......I am 1 month and 1 day out

> (Bilateral Madibular Sagital Split). I beleived I was doing

> great.....I wasn't wired when I woke up from surgery and I have

> needed minimal banding thus far. So, I just got back from my OS

> office but my OS and the attending physician who assisted my

surgery

> was not there for some reason. I was seen by an assistant, who I

have

> had to remind why I am there at almost every appointment. (At my 1

> week post op appointment he was astonished at my

swelling.....Anybody

> who knows what facial surgery entails would know that the swelling

> was normal.) Anyway, I don't have much faith in this person

anyhow.

> So my OS is not there to see me. This person looks at my teeth and

> advises me that my teeth do not touch in the back. Then he goes

> looking for " heavy bands " to put on my hooks. He proceeds to put

> bands one me. I have had problems with the banding pattern

previous

> and had what felt like an earache in my left ear but he didn't

know

> because I told my OS at the last appointment and not him. At this

> time I am expecting my OS or attending physician to walk in any

> minute but they don't. I am soooo crushed emotionally because I

came

> to this appointment thinking that I was going to be told I could

> start chewing soft food.....not being banded sooooo tightly it

hurts

> to open my mouth and I don't even find out why my OS was not

there. I

> live an hour away from my OS and I cried all the way home mostly

> because I felt like this is a setback and the fact that the

earache

> feeling I had before was returning but this time it felt like a

spike

> was being pushed into my ear. I looked at what the assistant had

done

> when I got home and he had put bands on all my back hooks but had

> taken a band and wrapped it around my hooks twice. One popped off

> when I opened my mouth so I thought that I didn't want my jaw to

heal

> ackwardly so I took them all off. I know this may be bad for my

> healing too but I was in sooooo much pain I didn't know what else

to

> do. I put in a call to my OS and let him know what was happening

to

> me and hopefully he will contact me tomorrow. What I am confused

> mostly about is the fact that I was seen 2 weeks ago by my OS and

> phsycion and they didn't mention that I needed the banding then so

> why do I need it now......my teeth have never touched in the back

> since my surgury and my OS knows that. Let me know if anybody has

> went through this type of situation or to lend some support. I

can't

> beleive how this has made me feel. I almost didn't make it out of

the

> office before I started to cry.

[Guest guest]

Ok. First, try to calm down a bit, and I do not mean to be

patronising about that. It's tough. Especially when you're hurting,

and feel as if your professionals are letting you down.

Now. How can we get this better?

Call, and ask for an appointment specifically with the surgeon(s?).

And let them know that you do not want to see the assistant, but

that you are in pain and troubled about your results.

The earache thing is not uncommon, I'm sad to say. It may be that

you just have to get through that, with the help of whatever pain

stuff they can offer to help. But the good news is that it usually

does stop, pretty soon. And the pain meds are good.

I sorry -- but whether you're crying or not may let them know that

you're hurting, but doesn't mean a lot clinically. People cry out of

frustration, physical weakness, weariness, etc. (How do I know? I

have done, all of the above. There's nothing nasty or weak about

that.) What does mean a lot is whether you need help with the pain.

Let them know, if you do.

Not a really good idea to change your banding without talking with

them. Call and tell them you're hurting. But whether your healing is

awkward or not isn't the point, methinks, anyhow. A lot of this

stuff is really awkward, but just has to be done. That doesn't mean,

however, that you can't have help.

Honey, I think you should be able to see and/or talk with, and/or be

examined by your surgeon(s?), to make sure that all goes well. Ask

for that -- and be specific that you want the surgeon, and not the

assistant. But the assistant may have known exactly what he was

doing. and maybe you need to learn how to re-apply those bands, even

if they hurt, yourself.

I am sorry you're having so much trouble. And I do hope that you and

your surgical team can cooperate to make it better.

C/

[Guest guest]

Ok. First, try to calm down a bit, and I do not mean to be

patronising about that. It's tough. Especially when you're hurting,

and feel as if your professionals are letting you down.

Now. How can we get this better?

Call, and ask for an appointment specifically with the surgeon(s?).

And let them know that you do not want to see the assistant, but

that you are in pain and troubled about your results.

The earache thing is not uncommon, I'm sad to say. It may be that

you just have to get through that, with the help of whatever pain

stuff they can offer to help. But the good news is that it usually

does stop, pretty soon. And the pain meds are good.

I sorry -- but whether you're crying or not may let them know that

you're hurting, but doesn't mean a lot clinically. People cry out of

frustration, physical weakness, weariness, etc. (How do I know? I

have done, all of the above. There's nothing nasty or weak about

that.) What does mean a lot is whether you need help with the pain.

Let them know, if you do.

Not a really good idea to change your banding without talking with

them. Call and tell them you're hurting. But whether your healing is

awkward or not isn't the point, methinks, anyhow. A lot of this

stuff is really awkward, but just has to be done. That doesn't mean,

however, that you can't have help.

Honey, I think you should be able to see and/or talk with, and/or be

examined by your surgeon(s?), to make sure that all goes well. Ask

for that -- and be specific that you want the surgeon, and not the

assistant. But the assistant may have known exactly what he was

doing. and maybe you need to learn how to re-apply those bands, even

if they hurt, yourself.

I am sorry you're having so much trouble. And I do hope that you and

your surgical team can cooperate to make it better.

C/

[Guest guest]

Ok. first and foremost I would like to thank you for your advice. After last

night I felt like I had taken many steps back as to my recovery from my surgery.

I need to clarify a few things though as I don't think they were properly

relayed in my last post due to my emotional state. Ok, first my OS is located in

a dental clinic for low income clientele. Basically, he runs a residency there

and many of the assistants are students who see and work on all patients that

come in....I am not sure if the assistant who saw me is a student because I

don't think they are allowed to see patients by themselves. Anyway, my OS is

also the surgeon on call for people who need emergency face surgery for

different reasons such as car accidents. Now, when I went to the appointment I

was not told that I would not be seeing my OS or my physician. In fact this

assistant had assisted before in banding me but my OS came in shortly. So as he

was examining me I thought my OS or physician would come in any

minute. After he had banded me, I was soooooo distraught that I just wanted to

get out of there. I wouldn't have gotten any good answers anyway because the

people I wanted to talk with were not there. I called my OS right when I got

home and left a msg explaining exactly what was going on.........I wasn't

bawling but I know you could tell in my voice that I was noticeably upset. Now,

the assistant had taken medium to heavy bands and wrapped them around my

surgical hooks twice causing immense and unbearable pain........I have a high

threshold for pain and I couldn't even stand it so keeping them on was not an

option not to mention that I couldn't open my mouth at all. As for pain meds,

there was nothing for me to take because my OS was not there to prescribe

anything for me and the Advil I had taken was not working. I would not have

messed with it but something told me it was not right. I removed the bands and

put them back on without wrapping them and I waited to hear from my OS.

Well, he left a msg with me this morning and told me that since I am 1 month

out from surgery my orthodontist is the main person who should be concerned with

making my teeth fit and touch properly (which is what he is doing) and my OS job

is to be sure I am healing well and to make sure my jaw stays where he put it.

This tells me that the assistant may have overstepped his bounds with me. He

also told me that if the bands hurt to remove them and try to reduce the

pressure so I could tolerate it, which is what I did. My OS is VERY concerned

about me and wants to set up another appointment to see me. When I do make the

arrangements I am going to express to him my concerns and that if they are not

going to be there to see me I don't want to keep the appointment. Thanks for

your input. I really appreciate it.

ceast36532 <no_reply > wrote:

Ok. First, try to calm down a bit, and I do not mean to be

patronising about that. It's tough. Especially when you're hurting,

and feel as if your professionals are letting you down.

Now. How can we get this better?

Call, and ask for an appointment specifically with the surgeon(s?).

And let them know that you do not want to see the assistant, but

that you are in pain and troubled about your results.

The earache thing is not uncommon, I'm sad to say. It may be that

you just have to get through that, with the help of whatever pain

stuff they can offer to help. But the good news is that it usually

does stop, pretty soon. And the pain meds are good.

I sorry -- but whether you're crying or not may let them know that

you're hurting, but doesn't mean a lot clinically. People cry out of

frustration, physical weakness, weariness, etc. (How do I know? I

have done, all of the above. There's nothing nasty or weak about

that.) What does mean a lot is whether you need help with the pain.

Let them know, if you do.

Not a really good idea to change your banding without talking with

them. Call and tell them you're hurting. But whether your healing is

awkward or not isn't the point, methinks, anyhow. A lot of this

stuff is really awkward, but just has to be done. That doesn't mean,

however, that you can't have help.

Honey, I think you should be able to see and/or talk with, and/or be

examined by your surgeon(s?), to make sure that all goes well. Ask

for that -- and be specific that you want the surgeon, and not the

assistant. But the assistant may have known exactly what he was

doing. and maybe you need to learn how to re-apply those bands, even

if they hurt, yourself.

I am sorry you're having so much trouble. And I do hope that you and

your surgical team can cooperate to make it better.

C/

[Guest guest]

Ok. first and foremost I would like to thank you for your advice. After last

night I felt like I had taken many steps back as to my recovery from my surgery.

I need to clarify a few things though as I don't think they were properly

relayed in my last post due to my emotional state. Ok, first my OS is located in

a dental clinic for low income clientele. Basically, he runs a residency there

and many of the assistants are students who see and work on all patients that

come in....I am not sure if the assistant who saw me is a student because I

don't think they are allowed to see patients by themselves. Anyway, my OS is

also the surgeon on call for people who need emergency face surgery for

different reasons such as car accidents. Now, when I went to the appointment I

was not told that I would not be seeing my OS or my physician. In fact this

assistant had assisted before in banding me but my OS came in shortly. So as he

was examining me I thought my OS or physician would come in any

minute. After he had banded me, I was soooooo distraught that I just wanted to

get out of there. I wouldn't have gotten any good answers anyway because the

people I wanted to talk with were not there. I called my OS right when I got

home and left a msg explaining exactly what was going on.........I wasn't

bawling but I know you could tell in my voice that I was noticeably upset. Now,

the assistant had taken medium to heavy bands and wrapped them around my

surgical hooks twice causing immense and unbearable pain........I have a high

threshold for pain and I couldn't even stand it so keeping them on was not an

option not to mention that I couldn't open my mouth at all. As for pain meds,

there was nothing for me to take because my OS was not there to prescribe

anything for me and the Advil I had taken was not working. I would not have

messed with it but something told me it was not right. I removed the bands and

put them back on without wrapping them and I waited to hear from my OS.

Well, he left a msg with me this morning and told me that since I am 1 month

out from surgery my orthodontist is the main person who should be concerned with

making my teeth fit and touch properly (which is what he is doing) and my OS job

is to be sure I am healing well and to make sure my jaw stays where he put it.

This tells me that the assistant may have overstepped his bounds with me. He

also told me that if the bands hurt to remove them and try to reduce the

pressure so I could tolerate it, which is what I did. My OS is VERY concerned

about me and wants to set up another appointment to see me. When I do make the

arrangements I am going to express to him my concerns and that if they are not

going to be there to see me I don't want to keep the appointment. Thanks for

your input. I really appreciate it.

ceast36532 <no_reply > wrote:

Ok. First, try to calm down a bit, and I do not mean to be

patronising about that. It's tough. Especially when you're hurting,

and feel as if your professionals are letting you down.

Now. How can we get this better?

Call, and ask for an appointment specifically with the surgeon(s?).

And let them know that you do not want to see the assistant, but

that you are in pain and troubled about your results.

The earache thing is not uncommon, I'm sad to say. It may be that

you just have to get through that, with the help of whatever pain

stuff they can offer to help. But the good news is that it usually

does stop, pretty soon. And the pain meds are good.

I sorry -- but whether you're crying or not may let them know that

you're hurting, but doesn't mean a lot clinically. People cry out of

frustration, physical weakness, weariness, etc. (How do I know? I

have done, all of the above. There's nothing nasty or weak about

that.) What does mean a lot is whether you need help with the pain.

Let them know, if you do.

Not a really good idea to change your banding without talking with

them. Call and tell them you're hurting. But whether your healing is

awkward or not isn't the point, methinks, anyhow. A lot of this

stuff is really awkward, but just has to be done. That doesn't mean,

however, that you can't have help.

Honey, I think you should be able to see and/or talk with, and/or be

examined by your surgeon(s?), to make sure that all goes well. Ask

for that -- and be specific that you want the surgeon, and not the

assistant. But the assistant may have known exactly what he was

doing. and maybe you need to learn how to re-apply those bands, even

if they hurt, yourself.

I am sorry you're having so much trouble. And I do hope that you and

your surgical team can cooperate to make it better.

C/

[Guest guest]

Glad to see that you seem back on track again, and sorry you had that

nasty brush with the assistant. It does indeed sound as though he did

a number on you, and I wouldn't be at all shy about letting the

surgeon know.

Maybe you can spare some other patient what you went through.

Best,

Cammie

> Ok. first and foremost I would like to thank you for your advice.

After last night I felt like I had taken many steps back as to my

recovery from my surgery. I need to clarify a few things though as I

don't think they were properly relayed in my last post due to my

emotional state. Ok, first my OS is located in a dental clinic for

low income clientele. Basically, he runs a residency there and many

of the assistants are students who see and work on all patients that

come in....I am not sure if the assistant who saw me is a student

because I don't think they are allowed to see patients by themselves.

Anyway, my OS is also the surgeon on call for people who need

emergency face surgery for different reasons such as car accidents.

Now, when I went to the appointment I was not told that I would not

be seeing my OS or my physician. In fact this assistant had assisted

before in banding me but my OS came in shortly. So as he was

examining me I thought my OS or physician would come in any

> minute. After he had banded me, I was soooooo distraught that I

just wanted to get out of there. I wouldn't have gotten any good

answers anyway because the people I wanted to talk with were not

there. I called my OS right when I got home and left a msg explaining

exactly what was going on.........I wasn't bawling but I know you

could tell in my voice that I was noticeably upset. Now, the

assistant had taken medium to heavy bands and wrapped them around my

surgical hooks twice causing immense and unbearable pain........I

have a high threshold for pain and I couldn't even stand it so

keeping them on was not an option not to mention that I couldn't open

my mouth at all. As for pain meds, there was nothing for me to take

because my OS was not there to prescribe anything for me and the

Advil I had taken was not working. I would not have messed with it

but something told me it was not right. I removed the bands and put

them back on without wrapping them and I waited to hear from my OS.

> Well, he left a msg with me this morning and told me that since I

am 1 month out from surgery my orthodontist is the main person who

should be concerned with making my teeth fit and touch properly

(which is what he is doing) and my OS job is to be sure I am healing

well and to make sure my jaw stays where he put it. This tells me

that the assistant may have overstepped his bounds with me. He also

told me that if the bands hurt to remove them and try to reduce the

pressure so I could tolerate it, which is what I did. My OS is VERY

concerned about me and wants to set up another appointment to see me.

When I do make the arrangements I am going to express to him my

concerns and that if they are not going to be there to see me I don't

want to keep the appointment. Thanks for your input. I really

appreciate it.

[Guest guest]

Glad to see that you seem back on track again, and sorry you had that

nasty brush with the assistant. It does indeed sound as though he did

a number on you, and I wouldn't be at all shy about letting the

surgeon know.

Maybe you can spare some other patient what you went through.

Best,

Cammie

> Ok. first and foremost I would like to thank you for your advice.

After last night I felt like I had taken many steps back as to my

recovery from my surgery. I need to clarify a few things though as I

don't think they were properly relayed in my last post due to my

emotional state. Ok, first my OS is located in a dental clinic for

low income clientele. Basically, he runs a residency there and many

of the assistants are students who see and work on all patients that

come in....I am not sure if the assistant who saw me is a student

because I don't think they are allowed to see patients by themselves.

Anyway, my OS is also the surgeon on call for people who need

emergency face surgery for different reasons such as car accidents.

Now, when I went to the appointment I was not told that I would not

be seeing my OS or my physician. In fact this assistant had assisted

before in banding me but my OS came in shortly. So as he was

examining me I thought my OS or physician would come in any

> minute. After he had banded me, I was soooooo distraught that I

just wanted to get out of there. I wouldn't have gotten any good

answers anyway because the people I wanted to talk with were not

there. I called my OS right when I got home and left a msg explaining

exactly what was going on.........I wasn't bawling but I know you

could tell in my voice that I was noticeably upset. Now, the

assistant had taken medium to heavy bands and wrapped them around my

surgical hooks twice causing immense and unbearable pain........I

have a high threshold for pain and I couldn't even stand it so

keeping them on was not an option not to mention that I couldn't open

my mouth at all. As for pain meds, there was nothing for me to take

because my OS was not there to prescribe anything for me and the

Advil I had taken was not working. I would not have messed with it

but something told me it was not right. I removed the bands and put

them back on without wrapping them and I waited to hear from my OS.

> Well, he left a msg with me this morning and told me that since I

am 1 month out from surgery my orthodontist is the main person who

should be concerned with making my teeth fit and touch properly

(which is what he is doing) and my OS job is to be sure I am healing

well and to make sure my jaw stays where he put it. This tells me

that the assistant may have overstepped his bounds with me. He also

told me that if the bands hurt to remove them and try to reduce the

pressure so I could tolerate it, which is what I did. My OS is VERY

concerned about me and wants to set up another appointment to see me.

When I do make the arrangements I am going to express to him my

concerns and that if they are not going to be there to see me I don't

want to keep the appointment. Thanks for your input. I really

appreciate it.