Re: So, what to tell people..

[Guest guest]

I'm a student at UC Riverside and home is in Los Angeles so I know

what you mean about the long distance appointment stuff. Everytime I

have an appointment, my parents have to drive out and pick me up.

I'm in the beginning stages of preparing for surgery. I've been in

braces for five years already so my orthodontist probably doesn't have

to do that much to prepare. I just need to find the right surgeon and

get a date set for as soon as possible. And get my wisdom teeth out

over spring break, hopefully. I'm planning on taking a quarter off to

have the surgery.

I've been in these things for long enough and I'm bloody pissed.

> >

> > Hi, everyone. I'm another lurker and this site has been so

> > comforting to me post-op. I have never known anyone else who has

> had

> > to have this type of surgery so reading about other people's

> > experiences has been such a relief (yay for the internet!).

> >

> > I had my lower jaw moved back 5mm and my upper moved forward 5mm

> and

> > up some on December 20th, right after school got out for winter

> > break. I really wanted to have it done last summer so that I

could

> > have lots of time to recover, but it just didn't happen

> > unfortunately. So I ended up staying home from college this past

> > week (first week of classes) because I still have a splint on my

> > upper teeth and talk funny and I didn't want to go back for a

week

> > like that just to come back a week later to have it off (I have

to

> > fly to appointments b/c my college is in California and home is

in

> > Arizona). Everything is healing fairly smoothly - the tingling

and

> > throbbing and itching where it's numb are my major complaints.

And

> > of course the liquid diet which I have to be on for another 2

> weeks.

> > Then 2 weeks of soft foods and finally anything I want. I've

liked

> > the weight loss though.

> >

> > Anyway, what I'm worried about the most going back to school on

> > Monday after the splint gets taken off and I visit the ortho is

> what

> > to say to my friends and people I know there. I was really self-

> > conscious about my underbite which looked especially bad from the

> > sides so I didn't tell anyone that I was having surgery and the

> only

> > reason I gave for not being there last week was the vague

'medical

> > reasons.' I definitely look different - the long face is gone and

> I

> > look younger (I don't really want to at this point, but oh well)

> and

> > my eyes are bigger (not in actuality, but they seem bigger

> > somehow...maybe some of you have experienced this). So, what I am

> > wondering is how have friends reacted to all of your differences

> who

> > didn't know beforehand and did anyone say you looked better

before

> > and how did you deal with that? I'm still not even used to how I

> > look and am not entirely comfortable in public because the

> numbness

> > makes me feel like my face is huge but others can't tell.

> >

> > Thanks for any input. I guess it's good that this is all I have

to

> > worry about, but I'm afraid someone will say something

> > unintentionally and damage my self-esteem before it's even had a

> > chance to start growing after all the changes are over now.

> >

> > Kara

[Guest guest]

Hello Lerker-Kara!

Welcome

So, nice for you!!You did your surgery but now you look differnt and

wonder what the masses will do with that...

I think we each experienced that on some level at one pt or another

through this process.

well there's 2 sides as I see it...one is say nothing to the

masses...you will get the whole, did you loose weight, cut your hair

or geez, people will guess at whatever they can...maybe it's a boob-

job?! just kidding...but people will create the most amazing stories

when they want to why you look " different " now, just as those same

people prob gabbed about your wonderful human imprefections pre-op.

So in my personal opinion for " those " people...screw them!

On the other side, for those you care about and who care about

you...share with them if you choose about what you did. Remember it

will probable intimidate them some, considering what we have all done

is VERY intense and so in turn some may think us " crazy " ...not

chewing for how long?!, whaaaaaaaaat???

but for those who are special love you the same before and after they

will be so proud of you and happy for you that you took a chance, and

risked a little for a better more healthy life...and heck if you look

marevelous now---Woo-Hoo!! BONUS!!

*remember that guy/girl who wouldn't give you the time of day...just

watch bec guess who's head will turn around most quickly? Oh

yes...it's true and too bad, so sad, too late, Move on!

Bottom line, you are the same person, but your package has been

slightly altered for a healtier and happier life. Those who's

opinions 360 because your underbite is gone...well, those are the

people that don't deserve any explaniation...walk on, be proud, happy

and hold your beautiful head up high girlfriend!!!!!

Go Gettem!!!!

JO

>

> Hi, everyone. I'm another lurker and this site has been so

> comforting to me post-op. I have never known anyone else who has

had

> to have this type of surgery so reading about other people's

> experiences has been such a relief (yay for the internet!).

>

> I had my lower jaw moved back 5mm and my upper moved forward 5mm

and

> up some on December 20th, right after school got out for winter

> break. I really wanted to have it done last summer so that I could

> have lots of time to recover, but it just didn't happen

> unfortunately. So I ended up staying home from college this past

> week (first week of classes) because I still have a splint on my

> upper teeth and talk funny and I didn't want to go back for a week

> like that just to come back a week later to have it off (I have to

> fly to appointments b/c my college is in California and home is in

> Arizona). Everything is healing fairly smoothly - the tingling and

> throbbing and itching where it's numb are my major complaints. And

> of course the liquid diet which I have to be on for another 2

weeks.

> Then 2 weeks of soft foods and finally anything I want. I've liked

> the weight loss though.

>

> Anyway, what I'm worried about the most going back to school on

> Monday after the splint gets taken off and I visit the ortho is

what

> to say to my friends and people I know there. I was really self-

> conscious about my underbite which looked especially bad from the

> sides so I didn't tell anyone that I was having surgery and the

only

> reason I gave for not being there last week was the vague 'medical

> reasons.' I definitely look different - the long face is gone and I

> look younger (I don't really want to at this point, but oh well)

and

> my eyes are bigger (not in actuality, but they seem bigger

> somehow...maybe some of you have experienced this). So, what I am

> wondering is how have friends reacted to all of your differences

who

> didn't know beforehand and did anyone say you looked better before

> and how did you deal with that? I'm still not even used to how I

> look and am not entirely comfortable in public because the numbness

> makes me feel like my face is huge but others can't tell.

>

> Thanks for any input. I guess it's good that this is all I have to

> worry about, but I'm afraid someone will say something

> unintentionally and damage my self-esteem before it's even had a

> chance to start growing after all the changes are over now.

>

> Kara