Re: one more try for this question

[Guest guest]

I ended up having a fairly comlicated set of 3 surgeries on my lower

jaw and I've had to see my surgeon every week for the past 8 weeks.

I personaly wouldn't want to see any other medical professional to

check-up my jaw except my surgeon, unless it was an emergency. One

thing to consider is that you may be tired after surgery, even after

healing for a week. The 12 hour drive may be too much by yourself,

are you having a friend drive or help you drive. you may want to

consider that. My surgeon is 1 1/2 hours away and by the time I've

driven there and back, I'm tired. You should see what the doctor in

NC recommends. He'll know what you should be expecting.

Good Luck!

Shelly

> Hi all! I've asked this question before but I didn't get any

> responses, so I thought I'd ask one more time. I've been reading

> over the posts a lot, and I can see that after surgery, you must

see

> your surgeon quite a bit. I'm considering having surgery in North

> Carolina, which is 12 hours from my home in NY. I'm planning on

> staying there for a week to recover initially (and to see the

> surgeon after a week), and then drive home. About how often do you

> have to visit your surgeon after surgery? i.e. how often can I

> expect driving to North Carolina for check-ups? Would anyone feel

> comfortable seeing a different surgeon for simple check-ups, or for

> complications? I am concerned about the distance, how often I'd

> have to drive there, and what would happen if I had complications.

> This surgeon was the only recommendation my ortho would give me due

> to my condition. I'm not sure if it would be wise to go against

his

> strong advice and do my own research of surgeons that are closer.

> I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks! - O.

[Guest guest]

I ended up having a fairly comlicated set of 3 surgeries on my lower

jaw and I've had to see my surgeon every week for the past 8 weeks.

I personaly wouldn't want to see any other medical professional to

check-up my jaw except my surgeon, unless it was an emergency. One

thing to consider is that you may be tired after surgery, even after

healing for a week. The 12 hour drive may be too much by yourself,

are you having a friend drive or help you drive. you may want to

consider that. My surgeon is 1 1/2 hours away and by the time I've

driven there and back, I'm tired. You should see what the doctor in

NC recommends. He'll know what you should be expecting.

Good Luck!

Shelly

> Hi all! I've asked this question before but I didn't get any

> responses, so I thought I'd ask one more time. I've been reading

> over the posts a lot, and I can see that after surgery, you must

see

> your surgeon quite a bit. I'm considering having surgery in North

> Carolina, which is 12 hours from my home in NY. I'm planning on

> staying there for a week to recover initially (and to see the

> surgeon after a week), and then drive home. About how often do you

> have to visit your surgeon after surgery? i.e. how often can I

> expect driving to North Carolina for check-ups? Would anyone feel

> comfortable seeing a different surgeon for simple check-ups, or for

> complications? I am concerned about the distance, how often I'd

> have to drive there, and what would happen if I had complications.

> This surgeon was the only recommendation my ortho would give me due

> to my condition. I'm not sure if it would be wise to go against

his

> strong advice and do my own research of surgeons that are closer.

> I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks! - O.

[Guest guest]

I wouldn't think that planning this commute when you're post op is

the best idea in the world, even if you come and go in a chauffeured

limo. But I agree with the other advice -- check with the N.C.

surgeon about it.

Is there any possibility that you could take the time off from work

in N.C., near the surgeon? Some hospitals even have residential

facilities near the hospital for families of patients. In any case,

I'd think you could explain your circumstances to the social services

department there, and ask for their help in resolving some of your

troubles.

Do you have particularly troublesome surgical needs, or other

physical problems which make the surgery risky? I cannot imagine that

there are not some surgeons in New York who could address your

troubles, but I don't know who they are, and would think your ortho

knows what he's suggesting for you. Have you discussed the matter of

the distance with the ortho? (I do know that there are some top

flight surgeons in N.C. who have treated really complicated issues

involving troubled joints, osteogenic distraction, etc., etc.)

And to answer you more directly: I saw my surgeon (or his partner)

weekly for several weeks. Then at two-week intervals, for about two

months. And I was glad to have the man who had done the work checking

out the recovery. Could I have seen someone else? No doubt. I trusted

his partners completely, and I had a simple case that healed readily

and satisfactorily. But what if, God forbid, something goes wrong?

If this fellow is someone your ortho works with regularly, perhaps

your ortho's experience (or the surgeon's) will provide you some

answers. I hope so. Good wishes to you.

Cammie

As for how often I went

> Hi all! I've asked this question before but I didn't get any

> responses, so I thought I'd ask one more time. I've been reading

> over the posts a lot, and I can see that after surgery, you must

see

> your surgeon quite a bit. I'm considering having surgery in North

> Carolina, which is 12 hours from my home in NY. I'm planning on

> staying there for a week to recover initially (and to see the

> surgeon after a week), and then drive home. About how often do you

> have to visit your surgeon after surgery? i.e. how often can I

> expect driving to North Carolina for check-ups? Would anyone feel

> comfortable seeing a different surgeon for simple check-ups, or for

> complications? I am concerned about the distance, how often I'd

> have to drive there, and what would happen if I had complications.

> This surgeon was the only recommendation my ortho would give me due

> to my condition. I'm not sure if it would be wise to go against

his

> strong advice and do my own research of surgeons that are closer.

> I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks! - O.

[Guest guest]

I wouldn't think that planning this commute when you're post op is

the best idea in the world, even if you come and go in a chauffeured

limo. But I agree with the other advice -- check with the N.C.

surgeon about it.

Is there any possibility that you could take the time off from work

in N.C., near the surgeon? Some hospitals even have residential

facilities near the hospital for families of patients. In any case,

I'd think you could explain your circumstances to the social services

department there, and ask for their help in resolving some of your

troubles.

Do you have particularly troublesome surgical needs, or other

physical problems which make the surgery risky? I cannot imagine that

there are not some surgeons in New York who could address your

troubles, but I don't know who they are, and would think your ortho

knows what he's suggesting for you. Have you discussed the matter of

the distance with the ortho? (I do know that there are some top

flight surgeons in N.C. who have treated really complicated issues

involving troubled joints, osteogenic distraction, etc., etc.)

And to answer you more directly: I saw my surgeon (or his partner)

weekly for several weeks. Then at two-week intervals, for about two

months. And I was glad to have the man who had done the work checking

out the recovery. Could I have seen someone else? No doubt. I trusted

his partners completely, and I had a simple case that healed readily

and satisfactorily. But what if, God forbid, something goes wrong?

If this fellow is someone your ortho works with regularly, perhaps

your ortho's experience (or the surgeon's) will provide you some

answers. I hope so. Good wishes to you.

Cammie

As for how often I went

> Hi all! I've asked this question before but I didn't get any

> responses, so I thought I'd ask one more time. I've been reading

> over the posts a lot, and I can see that after surgery, you must

see

> your surgeon quite a bit. I'm considering having surgery in North

> Carolina, which is 12 hours from my home in NY. I'm planning on

> staying there for a week to recover initially (and to see the

> surgeon after a week), and then drive home. About how often do you

> have to visit your surgeon after surgery? i.e. how often can I

> expect driving to North Carolina for check-ups? Would anyone feel

> comfortable seeing a different surgeon for simple check-ups, or for

> complications? I am concerned about the distance, how often I'd

> have to drive there, and what would happen if I had complications.

> This surgeon was the only recommendation my ortho would give me due

> to my condition. I'm not sure if it would be wise to go against

his

> strong advice and do my own research of surgeons that are closer.

> I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks! - O.

[Guest guest]

I just had my surgery almost 2 weeks ago, and have had to go back at

one week post op and again at 2 weeks post op (coming up this week),

and I am not sure how often I will be going. My OS is about 2 1/2

hrs away, and even riding in the car with someone driving is

exhausting. I don't think I would be able to do a 12 hr stint at a

time. I agree with the others that this is a long haul for this and

you would only want your OS to be the one treating you except for

emergencies, and what if you had complications like infection and a

lot of post op pain. I think you should talk with this OS and see if

he doesn't recommend someone closer to you that he trusts with the

same capabilities as himself and explain to your ortho that this is

too far away for you to go. Re-think this before you go there. Good

luck in your decision. Lyn

> Hi all! I've asked this question before but I didn't get any

> responses, so I thought I'd ask one more time. I've been reading

> over the posts a lot, and I can see that after surgery, you must

see

> your surgeon quite a bit. I'm considering having surgery in North

> Carolina, which is 12 hours from my home in NY. I'm planning on

> staying there for a week to recover initially (and to see the

> surgeon after a week), and then drive home. About how often do you

> have to visit your surgeon after surgery? i.e. how often can I

> expect driving to North Carolina for check-ups? Would anyone feel

> comfortable seeing a different surgeon for simple check-ups, or for

> complications? I am concerned about the distance, how often I'd

> have to drive there, and what would happen if I had complications.

> This surgeon was the only recommendation my ortho would give me due

> to my condition. I'm not sure if it would be wise to go against

his

> strong advice and do my own research of surgeons that are closer.

> I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks! - O.

[Guest guest]

I just had my surgery almost 2 weeks ago, and have had to go back at

one week post op and again at 2 weeks post op (coming up this week),

and I am not sure how often I will be going. My OS is about 2 1/2

hrs away, and even riding in the car with someone driving is

exhausting. I don't think I would be able to do a 12 hr stint at a

time. I agree with the others that this is a long haul for this and

you would only want your OS to be the one treating you except for

emergencies, and what if you had complications like infection and a

lot of post op pain. I think you should talk with this OS and see if

he doesn't recommend someone closer to you that he trusts with the

same capabilities as himself and explain to your ortho that this is

too far away for you to go. Re-think this before you go there. Good

luck in your decision. Lyn

> Hi all! I've asked this question before but I didn't get any

> responses, so I thought I'd ask one more time. I've been reading

> over the posts a lot, and I can see that after surgery, you must

see

> your surgeon quite a bit. I'm considering having surgery in North

> Carolina, which is 12 hours from my home in NY. I'm planning on

> staying there for a week to recover initially (and to see the

> surgeon after a week), and then drive home. About how often do you

> have to visit your surgeon after surgery? i.e. how often can I

> expect driving to North Carolina for check-ups? Would anyone feel

> comfortable seeing a different surgeon for simple check-ups, or for

> complications? I am concerned about the distance, how often I'd

> have to drive there, and what would happen if I had complications.

> This surgeon was the only recommendation my ortho would give me due

> to my condition. I'm not sure if it would be wise to go against

his

> strong advice and do my own research of surgeons that are closer.

> I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks! - O.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the helpful responses! I would have someone else do

all the driving for me if I were to have surgery in North Carolina.

I agree with you all though - I'm sure it'd be uncomfortable even if

I were simply riding in a car for that long. It would be great to

stay in NC for a longer period of time to recover (and save time

driving BACK down for check-ups), but the person driving me simply

couldn't take that much time off of work.

As for other qualified surgeons in NY - I, of course, asked my ortho

that question. I don't have any particularly difficult or unusual

health problems to deal with. I'm just having my upper moved

forward and the lower jaw moved back, as well as a possible upper

expansion. Granted, it's complicated, but I've seen many others on

this board come out just fine! My ortho, however, said he wouldn't

feel 100% comfortable telling me to see someone other than the

surgeon in NC. He COULD recommend someone else, but he wouldn't be

able to guarantee the best results possible with another surgeon.

Makes it a bit difficult then, huh? Of course I'd like to have the

best results possible.

My ortho works with this surgeon quite a bit, which is also

helpful. However, my ortho was trained by this surgeon, and I

honestly don't know how much of his recommendation has to do with

this fact. I know this surgeon is truly excellent, but I have a

feeling that my ortho feels obligated to send his patients to him

because he was trained by him.

Basically, I feel that another surgeon might be able to do just as

good of a job, but my ortho knows my case the best, and I feel that

I should trust him. You all have made it sound like it'll be very

difficult to go through it though. I'll be visiting the surgeon for

the first time soon, and I'll get his opinion then. Thanks a lot!

-

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the helpful responses! I would have someone else do

all the driving for me if I were to have surgery in North Carolina.

I agree with you all though - I'm sure it'd be uncomfortable even if

I were simply riding in a car for that long. It would be great to

stay in NC for a longer period of time to recover (and save time

driving BACK down for check-ups), but the person driving me simply

couldn't take that much time off of work.

As for other qualified surgeons in NY - I, of course, asked my ortho

that question. I don't have any particularly difficult or unusual

health problems to deal with. I'm just having my upper moved

forward and the lower jaw moved back, as well as a possible upper

expansion. Granted, it's complicated, but I've seen many others on

this board come out just fine! My ortho, however, said he wouldn't

feel 100% comfortable telling me to see someone other than the

surgeon in NC. He COULD recommend someone else, but he wouldn't be

able to guarantee the best results possible with another surgeon.

Makes it a bit difficult then, huh? Of course I'd like to have the

best results possible.

My ortho works with this surgeon quite a bit, which is also

helpful. However, my ortho was trained by this surgeon, and I

honestly don't know how much of his recommendation has to do with

this fact. I know this surgeon is truly excellent, but I have a

feeling that my ortho feels obligated to send his patients to him

because he was trained by him.

Basically, I feel that another surgeon might be able to do just as

good of a job, but my ortho knows my case the best, and I feel that

I should trust him. You all have made it sound like it'll be very

difficult to go through it though. I'll be visiting the surgeon for

the first time soon, and I'll get his opinion then. Thanks a lot!

-

[Guest guest]

, you say: It would be great to

> stay in NC for a longer period of time to recover (and save time

> driving BACK down for check-ups), but the person driving me simply

> couldn't take that much time off of work.

You will probably be able to drive as soon as you're off the

prescription pain stuff. Of course, that would probably mean renting

a car, either for you to use in NC, or for your driver to get back

home to N.Y.

Cammie

>

> Thanks for all the helpful responses! I would have someone else do

> all the driving for me if I were to have surgery in North

Carolina.

> I agree with you all though - I'm sure it'd be uncomfortable even

if

> I were simply riding in a car for that long. It would be great to

> stay in NC for a longer period of time to recover (and save time

> driving BACK down for check-ups), but the person driving me simply

> couldn't take that much time off of work.

>

> As for other qualified surgeons in NY - I, of course, asked my

ortho

> that question. I don't have any particularly difficult or unusual

> health problems to deal with. I'm just having my upper moved

> forward and the lower jaw moved back, as well as a possible upper

> expansion. Granted, it's complicated, but I've seen many others on

> this board come out just fine! My ortho, however, said he wouldn't

> feel 100% comfortable telling me to see someone other than the

> surgeon in NC. He COULD recommend someone else, but he wouldn't be

> able to guarantee the best results possible with another surgeon.

> Makes it a bit difficult then, huh? Of course I'd like to have the

> best results possible.

>

> My ortho works with this surgeon quite a bit, which is also

> helpful. However, my ortho was trained by this surgeon, and I

> honestly don't know how much of his recommendation has to do with

> this fact. I know this surgeon is truly excellent, but I have a

> feeling that my ortho feels obligated to send his patients to him

> because he was trained by him.

>

> Basically, I feel that another surgeon might be able to do just as

> good of a job, but my ortho knows my case the best, and I feel that

> I should trust him. You all have made it sound like it'll be very

> difficult to go through it though. I'll be visiting the surgeon

for

> the first time soon, and I'll get his opinion then. Thanks a lot!

> -

[Guest guest]

, you say: It would be great to

> stay in NC for a longer period of time to recover (and save time

> driving BACK down for check-ups), but the person driving me simply

> couldn't take that much time off of work.

You will probably be able to drive as soon as you're off the

prescription pain stuff. Of course, that would probably mean renting

a car, either for you to use in NC, or for your driver to get back

home to N.Y.

Cammie

>

> Thanks for all the helpful responses! I would have someone else do

> all the driving for me if I were to have surgery in North

Carolina.

> I agree with you all though - I'm sure it'd be uncomfortable even

if

> I were simply riding in a car for that long. It would be great to

> stay in NC for a longer period of time to recover (and save time

> driving BACK down for check-ups), but the person driving me simply

> couldn't take that much time off of work.

>

> As for other qualified surgeons in NY - I, of course, asked my

ortho

> that question. I don't have any particularly difficult or unusual

> health problems to deal with. I'm just having my upper moved

> forward and the lower jaw moved back, as well as a possible upper

> expansion. Granted, it's complicated, but I've seen many others on

> this board come out just fine! My ortho, however, said he wouldn't

> feel 100% comfortable telling me to see someone other than the

> surgeon in NC. He COULD recommend someone else, but he wouldn't be

> able to guarantee the best results possible with another surgeon.

> Makes it a bit difficult then, huh? Of course I'd like to have the

> best results possible.

>

> My ortho works with this surgeon quite a bit, which is also

> helpful. However, my ortho was trained by this surgeon, and I

> honestly don't know how much of his recommendation has to do with

> this fact. I know this surgeon is truly excellent, but I have a

> feeling that my ortho feels obligated to send his patients to him

> because he was trained by him.

>

> Basically, I feel that another surgeon might be able to do just as

> good of a job, but my ortho knows my case the best, and I feel that

> I should trust him. You all have made it sound like it'll be very

> difficult to go through it though. I'll be visiting the surgeon

for

> the first time soon, and I'll get his opinion then. Thanks a lot!

> -