various comments to various posts

[Guest guest]

First, a great big " THANK YOU " to everyone who takes the time to post their

photos. I set mine up (so far just a picture of me and my beau--look what a

perfect set of teeth the man has!) and will be uploading photos soon. I went to

the OS yesterday for those " please pull your cheeks around to the back of your

head " photos...and more xrays. The tech was just gushing about how I would

notice that my nose would go up a little and how my lips would be noticeable.

That would be cool since I've actually been called " chicken lips " before! Next

week it is another set of impressions and then to surgery on the 22nd.

The reason I say " thanks " about the photos is because I am a visual person and

it reassures me to see the fantastic results (awesome , Sara and

!) and the immediate post op photos I can show to my daughter and beau so

they will know what to expect and not run screaming!

Second. A confession. I'm an emergency room RN and am usually on the " giving "

rather than the receiving end of all those horrible devices and procedures you

all have been talking about recently. I can't count how many NG tubes I've put

down. IV's? I put in at least 5 a day. Foley Catheters...again....daily. I've

been on the receiving end before and it is no fun, but because of my knowledge

base I can be a very demanding pt on how I want things done. That said, I also

know that some things just don't feel good no matter what and no matter who does

it, so I can let things slide sometimes. I am well aware of the nursing

shortage and my daughter who is 22 (and pregnant with my first grandchild--I'm

VERY excited) will be staying with me most of the time while I am in the

hospital. I know how overworked nurses are and am not willing to wait PATIENTLY

(patiently...get it?) when I need pain meds or to get up to go potty. I highly

recommend everyone have a family member with them

during hospital stays.

Third. Another confession. My ex-husband is a physician. Internal Medicine.

When his patients were turned down by insurance companies he wrote the insurance

companies letters asking what physician examined the patient to make that

determination. In Texas (and I imagine most places!) it is illegal to practice

medicine without a license. Making those types of decisions without examining a

patient and if those decisions were made by someone who was not a physician was

practicing medicine without a license. He let them know he was prepared to

report them to the proper authorities. Needless to say, his patient's

procedures were covered. Squeaky wheel principal. Great doctor....lousy

husband.

Lastly...ummm....Sara.....we are planning a trip to Italy next

year...ummmm.....just in case you move there and need houseguests I wanted to

let you know we are available! We just got back from 2 weeks in France (did I

tell you all what a great guy I have!) we just took stuff in our backpacks and

went everywhere....stayed in hostels. I ONLY took 700 photos! I've got them

posted on my yahoo photos site if anyone wants to look I think the link below

will get you there. I'm planning on spending my recuperation time editing and

labeling them all. There are also pictures from the Kerrville Folk Festival

which is going on. I took a ton of photos there as well and we are going back

out there this weekend.

OK, one more thing. Can you imagine going into surgery like this WITHOUT this

group? Thank goodness for the WWW. I won't feel alone on June 22. Thanks and

hugs, Connie

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/texasconniegray/album?.dir=fb9e & .src=ph & store= & pro\

did= & .done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos