Re: First Post

June 22, 2004

I was shocked at how weak I felt after surgery. While normally fairly

active, I needed to lay down and rest after taking a shower! The

hospital staff will usually check to see if you have someone around to

help you in the immediate post-op time. You just cannot do the things

you normally do right away. You need help with maneuvering the stairs,

fixing your meals, and perhaps other things as well.

As far as returning to work, it depends on several variables. Even

though I was feeling much better, I stayed out of work for 8 weeks due

to the physical demands of my job. And I had laparascopic surgery too.

Had I had a desk job, I'm sure they would have sent me back sooner.

I can't answer you definitively about insurance. Mine only took a

couple of weeks to be approved. I'm sure that was due to my

physician's office being very adept at handling the paperwork.

> Paperwork was submitted to my insurance

> company -- is there a considerable wait for their approval.

>

> They've also painted the first few weeks after surgery as pretty

> difficult. Is it really as bad? I am a widow and need to work to

> support myself. Is it going to be a long recuperation -- they

> haven't told me if I qualify for laparoscopic or open surgery.

>

> Thanks for any info.

>

> Maggie

June 22, 2004

Hi Maggie.

It's so difficult to give a time frame for recovery because

everyone heals differently and at their own rate of speed.

I know that I am a slow healer after surgery so it took me a good 6-

8 weeks to feel normal again and I had Lap-RNY done. I also had a

2nd emergency surgery done (also Lap) to repair a collapsed

intestine though so who knows how long it would have taken if not

for that.

I have seen some people say they were all good to go back to work

after 2 weeks and others say they still felt awful after 6 weeks. I

think it really depends on the type of work you do as well.

Some companies will allow you to come back part-time for a few

weeks. You might want to look into that as well. Do you have

disability insurance through your job?

Colleen

Lap-RNY 11/03/03

315/200/145-ish

> Hi, I am having surgery soon, I hope. I went to the introduction,

a

> psych eval, a nutrition class and have had a physical and approval

> by my regular doctor. Paperwork was submitted to my insurance

> company -- is there a considerable wait for their approval.

>

> They've also painted the first few weeks after surgery as pretty

> difficult. Is it really as bad? I am a widow and need to work to

> support myself. Is it going to be a long recuperation -- they

> haven't told me if I qualify for laparoscopic or open surgery.

>

> Thanks for any info.

>

> Maggie

February 4, 2005

hey Chaundra - I feel like there is another me out there! We are having the

same thing done if you go ahead with the upper. Here is why I would suggest it

- you don't want a crossbite! I have one now and I have tension in my jaw and

it causes me to have assymetry since my lower jaw is wider than my upper jaw on

one side. Totally sucks! When I point it out to people (which is totally dumb

- why do I do that??) they are like " oh yeah - wow " I'm the asshole for telling

them though. Point is - you might as well make everything fit as perfect as

possible if you're going to have the surgery anyway.

The 3-piece segmental split for the upper jaw scares freaks me though. Anyone

of you experienced the aftermath of it?? I'm curious to heal what the recovery

is like.

T

joidishelle wrote:

Hello Everyone

This is my first post and I am really excited. I am 20 and I am

looking to have my procedure at the end of April. I have a crooked

and protruding lower jaw, and according to my OS my upper jaw is too

narrow. I am pretty nervous about the aftermath of the procedure. I

was more comfortable when I was under the impression that I would

need just a lower jaw procedure, but if I only do the bottom then

the OS said that I will have a crossbite b/c my bottom jaw is wider

than the top. I still have not finalized my surgery plans. They say

that in order to widen the top jaw they will need to plit my upper

jaw into like 3 pieces and screw them together. I was wondering if

anyone has had this done, and if so do you think I should do it or

just stick it out w/ the crossbite. The downfalls they gave of not

having the procedure was possible joint issues in the future, the

crossbite, and may some instability b/c of the misfit of the jaws. I

just feel like splitting the jaw is sooo serious. For those of you

that had upper and lower, or anybody that wants to answer, what do

you think was the worst part of the surgery? My docs say that after

about 2 weeks that about 80% of the swelling will go down. They also

say it may be easier to me to recover b/c I am young. I need the

procedure, my jaw looks a mess, but I also have to finish school so

I only have about 5-6 weeks after surgery, before I will need to

start my internship. How long did you all need personal assistance?

And on more question(sorry the e-mail is long but I am so glad to

have people to ask that have had this done)How long is the average

procedure? I have more questions but I don't want to be too

overbearing or you guys might kick me out(lol).

Thanks So Much

Chaundra

---------------------------------

February 4, 2005

Hello Chaundra,

I haven't posted in a while, but in your message, you sound just like

I did. I had what appears to be the same surgery you are describing--

upper jaw widening in segments (I forget the technical name) and I

also had my lower jaw brought forward by cutting, advancing

and " rigid fixation " . My surgery was on 11/23/04 (10 weeks ago). I

am 47 years old. I always knew I had a cross-bite, but I had adjusted

and no one had ever recommended surgery (amazing, actually). The

cross-bite caused my teeth to wear down over time so that when my old

dentist retired and I went to a new dentist, she told me that if I

didn't fix it, I would eventually need significant restorative work

or dentures. Several other opinions confirmed that. So, if I was

you, I would fix it now. I will still need some restorative work at

the end of my braces and even post jaw surgery because I did not

correct it sooner.

The surgery is hard. But, I was definitely okay to go back to work

full time after 5 weeks. Most of the swelling will be gone by then,

in my experience. You don't say what your internship is in. If you

are in med school, you should have good access to info about good

surgeons. I had a great surgeon in Orlando, FL, Dr. Rafferty.

I recommend that you find someone who has done MANY of the same

surgeries you will have. I would ask about recission rates---

apparently, there can be problems with the jaw moving back, and

apparently, surgical technique makes a difference in that regard. I

also recommend inquiring about whether you will be wired shut and for

how long. I was not wired. I was tightly rubber-banded for 10 days

only. The first week was very difficult, but definitely manageable.

I was taking care of myself pretty well after 3 or 4 days. I still

needed help after that managing the house and the 4 kids and 2 dogs,

but I was self-sufficient by then. I would say that I was pretty

well back to normal in terms of being able to do everything by

Christmas. I still can't open my mouth quite all the way, and food

management inside my mouth is still weird, and I still have some

swelling around my jaw, but it will go away over time, and I have

been doing everything I want to do (except take BIG bites) for weeks

now. From reading this board, I would say my recovery was typical of

people who were not wired after surgery. If you will be wired for a

long time, you will be miserable for a long time. Ask your surgeon.

My surgery lasted 7.5 hours. I lost 2 units of blood, but did not

receive a transfusion. My swelling was worse than normal and I truly

looked hideous for about a week. My doctor and his staff were

extremely supportive, and I would ask around and talk to other

patients of the surgeon you intend to use to find out what to expect

in that regard, because it can make a big difference.

Good luck. Since you asked---do it now, while you're young, if you

can find a surgeon you like.

---Kathleen

>

> Hello Everyone

>

> This is my first post and I am really excited. I am 20 and I am

> looking to have my procedure at the end of April. I have a crooked

> and protruding lower jaw, and according to my OS my upper jaw is

too

> narrow. I am pretty nervous about the aftermath of the procedure. I

> was more comfortable when I was under the impression that I would

> need just a lower jaw procedure, but if I only do the bottom then

> the OS said that I will have a crossbite b/c my bottom jaw is wider

> than the top. I still have not finalized my surgery plans. They say

> that in order to widen the top jaw they will need to plit my upper

> jaw into like 3 pieces and screw them together. I was wondering if

> anyone has had this done, and if so do you think I should do it or

> just stick it out w/ the crossbite. The downfalls they gave of not

> having the procedure was possible joint issues in the future, the

> crossbite, and may some instability b/c of the misfit of the jaws.

I

> just feel like splitting the jaw is sooo serious. For those of you

> that had upper and lower, or anybody that wants to answer, what do

> you think was the worst part of the surgery? My docs say that after

> about 2 weeks that about 80% of the swelling will go down. They

also

> say it may be easier to me to recover b/c I am young. I need the

> procedure, my jaw looks a mess, but I also have to finish school so

> I only have about 5-6 weeks after surgery, before I will need to

> start my internship. How long did you all need personal assistance?

> And on more question(sorry the e-mail is long but I am so glad to

> have people to ask that have had this done)How long is the average

> procedure? I have more questions but I don't want to be too

> overbearing or you guys might kick me out(lol).

>

> Thanks So Much

> Chaundra

February 4, 2005

Hi Chaundra,

I had upper and lower done 5 weeks ago. I didn't have the 3 part

split like your looking at, they took my top jaw off in one cut right

above my teeth. I had a major cross-bite and had I not done the top

too I would of ended up with a nice under bite. I healed up real fast

and had no side effects. Most of the swelling was gone in about a

week and I had no bruising. My surgeon suggested I have someone stay

with me for 2 weeks mostly to help with my kids, and also b/c he said

not to bend over for that time. I don't know how long the average

procedure is, they told me it would be a 6 hour ordeal and I was only

under 4 and a half!!! Hope this helps you out a little and good

luck:)