Guest guest Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 I have had braces for two weeks and two days (but who's counting??). It looks like I will be ready for surgery in 6 to 12 months. In an attempt to find out what the next year holds for me, I talked with Dr. West's office yesterday and thought those of you working w/Dr. West might be interested in what I found out. Out-of-state patients need to plan on staying very close by for a week. (I think they said w/i 10 minutes.) This includes one to two days prior to surgery. The hospital has a hotel-like area where patients like us could stay for about $60 a day. After the week's stay, return in six weeks for a post-op appointment (and splint removal). Sounds like Dr. West uses two types of splints. A solid split that is wired to the top jaw for upper jaw surgery and a U shaped splint wired into the lower jaw for lower surgery. The tongue would fit into the U space. Out-of-state patients wear the splint for six weeks; in-state patients 3 to 6 weeks. Once the splint comes off, exercises are performed for four weeks and then a visit to the OD for fine tuning. Dr. West uses elastic bands instead of full wiring. For the first 24 hours after surgery, clear liquids. The next day, the bands can come off to eat soft foods (scrambled eggs, noodles, etc.) and brush teeth. A reduced opening and stiffness is common (as we've heard already on this board), but should get better w/the exercises. Healing is expected to take about three months. Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Diane, thanks for the update, I'm thinking of using Dr. West also, so it's nice to hear about your visits with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Hi Diane, Thank you for your post about Dr West. I have my first appointment with him in 2 weeks. I am totally excited but also apprehensive, as no one to date has been able to tell me IF or what they will do to improve the space in my mouth. I will try to be as informative as you just were, and have made notes from things that were asked in this thread about the surgical center and the hostel location. Do you have the name of the hostel for me? I will check when I am there. I am assuming I will need to stay there as well, as I live 32 miles from Seattle. Let me know any questions you may have that I can check on for you. Fran > > I have had braces for two weeks and two days (but who's counting??). > It looks like I will be ready for surgery in 6 to 12 months. > > In an attempt to find out what the next year holds for me, I talked > with Dr. West's office yesterday and thought those of you working > w/Dr. West might be interested in what I found out. > > Out-of-state patients need to plan on staying very close by for a > week. (I think they said w/i 10 minutes.) This includes one to two > days prior to surgery. The hospital has a hotel-like area where > patients like us could stay for about $60 a day. After the week's > stay, return in six weeks for a post-op appointment (and splint > removal). > > Sounds like Dr. West uses two types of splints. A solid split that is > wired to the top jaw for upper jaw surgery and a U shaped splint wired > into the lower jaw for lower surgery. The tongue would fit into the U > space. > > Out-of-state patients wear the splint for six weeks; in-state patients > 3 to 6 weeks. Once the splint comes off, exercises are performed for > four weeks and then a visit to the OD for fine tuning. > > Dr. West uses elastic bands instead of full wiring. For the first 24 > hours after surgery, clear liquids. The next day, the bands can come > off to eat soft foods (scrambled eggs, noodles, etc.) and brush teeth. > > A reduced opening and stiffness is common (as we've heard already on > this board), but should get better w/the exercises. > > Healing is expected to take about three months. > > Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Hi Fran, I don't know the name of the hostel, but understood it was an off-shoot of the Providence Medical Center (called the Providence Inn??). I think I called it a hospital in an earlier email. It is a very big building, connected to many different medical facilities. Lots of medical-types roaming about. Please confirm this is where the surgery is performed. Would you please also ask about when/if Dr. West uses incisions outside the cheeks? He has a very nice office. Everyone is very kind and Dr. West really takes his time to go over things with you. Having a list of questions is a really good idea! Good luck. I'm really anxious to hear how things go for you. Diane > >Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport >To: orthognathicsurgerysupport >Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: Dr. West Update >Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:27:54 -0000 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Fran, not sure if you're asking me, but the hostel I've stayed at is the Seattle International Hostel. http://www.hiseattle.org/ It is one block from the Pike Place Market -- great location. I've only stayed in the regular bunk bed rooms with other women, but they do have private rooms. Hostels aren't for everyone, but for the adventurous type on a budget, it's great. You meet people from all over the world. Luna > > > > I have had braces for two weeks and two days (but who's > counting??). > > It looks like I will be ready for surgery in 6 to 12 months. > > > > In an attempt to find out what the next year holds for me, I > talked > > with Dr. West's office yesterday and thought those of you working > > w/Dr. West might be interested in what I found out. > > > > Out-of-state patients need to plan on staying very close by for a > > week. (I think they said w/i 10 minutes.) This includes one to > two > > days prior to surgery. The hospital has a hotel-like area where > > patients like us could stay for about $60 a day. After the week's > > stay, return in six weeks for a post-op appointment (and splint > > removal). > > > > Sounds like Dr. West uses two types of splints. A solid split that > is > > wired to the top jaw for upper jaw surgery and a U shaped splint > wired > > into the lower jaw for lower surgery. The tongue would fit into > the U > > space. > > > > Out-of-state patients wear the splint for six weeks; in-state > patients > > 3 to 6 weeks. Once the splint comes off, exercises are performed > for > > four weeks and then a visit to the OD for fine tuning. > > > > Dr. West uses elastic bands instead of full wiring. For the first > 24 > > hours after surgery, clear liquids. The next day, the bands can > come > > off to eat soft foods (scrambled eggs, noodles, etc.) and brush > teeth. > > > > A reduced opening and stiffness is common (as we've heard already > on > > this board), but should get better w/the exercises. > > > > Healing is expected to take about three months. > > > > Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Hi Diane, I will check on this for you. And if you have any additional questions, just let me know. I will watch for this thread! I am getting a little nervous, but excited too! It will be a relief just knowing which way I am going to go with this, and what possibly they can do, and what my financial exposure will be. I will keep you updated! Fran - In orthognathicsurgerysupport , " DIANE COATES " <we6coates@m...> wrote: > Hi Fran, > > I don't know the name of the hostel, but understood it was an off- shoot of > the Providence Medical Center (called the Providence Inn??). I think I > called it a hospital in an earlier email. It is a very big building, > connected to many different medical facilities. Lots of medical- types > roaming about. Please confirm this is where the surgery is performed. > > Would you please also ask about when/if Dr. West uses incisions outside the > cheeks? > > He has a very nice office. Everyone is very kind and Dr. West really takes > his time to go over things with you. Having a list of questions is a really > good idea! Good luck. I'm really anxious to hear how things go for you. > > Diane > > >From: " franesmith2000 " <franesmith2000@y...> > >Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport > >To: orthognathicsurgerysupport > >Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: Dr. West Update > >Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:27:54 -0000 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2005 Report Share Posted March 31, 2005 Hi Luna, Great information! I know people are looking at alternative lodging. Pike Place is near the hospital zone. It would be a short bus or taxi ride to the hospitals and clinics. Thanks Luna! Fran > > > > > > I have had braces for two weeks and two days (but who's > > counting??). > > > It looks like I will be ready for surgery in 6 to 12 months. > > > > > > In an attempt to find out what the next year holds for me, I > > talked > > > with Dr. West's office yesterday and thought those of you working > > > w/Dr. West might be interested in what I found out. > > > > > > Out-of-state patients need to plan on staying very close by for a > > > week. (I think they said w/i 10 minutes.) This includes one to > > two > > > days prior to surgery. The hospital has a hotel-like area where > > > patients like us could stay for about $60 a day. After the week's > > > stay, return in six weeks for a post-op appointment (and splint > > > removal). > > > > > > Sounds like Dr. West uses two types of splints. A solid split that > > is > > > wired to the top jaw for upper jaw surgery and a U shaped splint > > wired > > > into the lower jaw for lower surgery. The tongue would fit into > > the U > > > space. > > > > > > Out-of-state patients wear the splint for six weeks; in-state > > patients > > > 3 to 6 weeks. Once the splint comes off, exercises are performed > > for > > > four weeks and then a visit to the OD for fine tuning. > > > > > > Dr. West uses elastic bands instead of full wiring. For the first > > 24 > > > hours after surgery, clear liquids. The next day, the bands can > > come > > > off to eat soft foods (scrambled eggs, noodles, etc.) and brush > > teeth. > > > > > > A reduced opening and stiffness is common (as we've heard already > > on > > > this board), but should get better w/the exercises. > > > > > > Healing is expected to take about three months. > > > > > > Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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