Re: Carol: teeth nightmares and post-op psychological effects

[Guest guest]

Sara,

You are just too good. All of you guys! I swear, I couldn't do this

without you!!!

Your dream sounds too real for my taste. I can only imagine how

freaked out you must have been. Are we going to have to wear oven

mits to bed?! I'm just taking it one night at a time. Looking

forward to seeing my Surgeon on Wednesday.

Yeah, I've been taking pictures of myself, often and staring in the

mirror. Now that the swelling is starting to go down, I can see

where I ... well ... just don't look like ME anymore. It's strange

and wonderful and somehow wrong. <shrug> It'll be a while, I know,

before I can see the end result. I'll wait for a final opinion until

then. I have to admit ... I love when my Boyfriend reminds me of how

much he loves my eyes ... and how they are exactly the same as the

day we met ... and one of things that first drew him to me ... and

how they will always make my face, my own. Ain't that sweet?!

Yay!!! You went for a walk. I hope it went well. Gosh, in the city

you'll fit right in. <almost enough of a laugh to hurt>

Take care ... " talk " to ya soon,

Carol

> > > Carol,

> > >

> > > I'm sorry to hear that today has just been " one " of those days

> for

> > > you. I'm sure you've had more than your fair share of them

> lately.

> > > For me I find the positivity comes and goes in waves. One

minute

> > I'm

> > > being all chirpy and positive and determined to get over this

> > period

> > > and then something as stupid as taking the darn penicillin

> medicine

> > > which makes me want to vomit can put me into the WORSE mood

ever.

> > Or

> > > trying to join the conversation at dinner and having no one

> > > understand what you're saying despite the fact that you're

trying

> > so

> > > darn hard to enunciate your words clearly and it's pulling at

> your

> > > wounds. Ugh. Makes you just want to stamp your feet and throw a

> > > tantrum like a little kid.

> > >

> > > When I get like this I tend to lock myself up in the bathroom

so

> > > that I can have myself a wee sob without any interfering and I

> get

> > > to thinking about one phrase Dr. Sachs told me pre-

op, " Remember

> > > your recovery is just a phase in your life. It is not permanent

> and

> > > things will go back to normal and they will be even better than

> > > normal. " I think about all the pains I had pre-surgery such as

> not

> > > being able to eat properly (ok so I still can't) and the

> headaches

> > > (ok, so I'm pretty much still in pain now only that my jaw is

> > forced

> > > shut too and I need to take codeine daily) and I hang on to the

> > hope

> > > that once I get through this phase all will unfold like a

magical

> > > fairytale. I think it's pretty wonderous that we live in a time

> and

> > > age where doctors can actually operate on us to solve our

dental

> > and

> > > jaw problems. And as silly as it may be, for me hanging on to

the

> > > daydream of what my life will be like once i get this stupid

> splint

> > > out and once i get the braces off and can open my jaw properly

> > again

> > > makes the whole ordeal a little more bearable. It may not be

> acting

> > > positive per se but it helps me get back to that positive frame

> of

> > > mind again. AND I am a big advocate of getting stuff off your

> chest

> > > when you have to. If crying or throwing a fit is going to make

> you

> > > feel better then do it. No one is Joan of Arc and lord knows

our

> > > patience is being tested right now. So stamp your feet and in

the

> > > process try to stamp some of that negativity away:-) You've

come

> > > this far and it's one heck of an achievement, if I may say so

> > myself.

> > >

> > > Sending you a huge virtual hug and wishing you a good saturday

> > night.

> > >

> > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I'm going to see Dr. Sachs on Weds too for my first post-op ap. What

time are you going to see Dr. ? I'm going at 1:30. Maybe

we'll see eachother and exchange a real chipmunk hug:-)

It's funny that you said that we might have to wear oven mits to

bed. I don't know if you've seen that advert where the mother tapes

the little boy's hands with oven mits so he can't scratch his rash.

Everytime I see the look on his face I think, I so know how you feel!

Ok gotta go now and spend some time with my boyfriend. He's leaving

tomorrow night. Sob sob:-( It's been wonderful having him here.

Sara xx

> > > > Carol,

> > > >

> > > > I'm sorry to hear that today has just been " one " of those

days

> > for

> > > > you. I'm sure you've had more than your fair share of them

> > lately.

> > > > For me I find the positivity comes and goes in waves. One

> minute

> > > I'm

> > > > being all chirpy and positive and determined to get over

this

> > > period

> > > > and then something as stupid as taking the darn penicillin

> > medicine

> > > > which makes me want to vomit can put me into the WORSE mood

> ever.

> > > Or

> > > > trying to join the conversation at dinner and having no one

> > > > understand what you're saying despite the fact that you're

> trying

> > > so

> > > > darn hard to enunciate your words clearly and it's pulling

at

> > your

> > > > wounds. Ugh. Makes you just want to stamp your feet and

throw a

> > > > tantrum like a little kid.

> > > >

> > > > When I get like this I tend to lock myself up in the

bathroom

> so

> > > > that I can have myself a wee sob without any interfering and

I

> > get

> > > > to thinking about one phrase Dr. Sachs told me pre-

> op, " Remember

> > > > your recovery is just a phase in your life. It is not

permanent

> > and

> > > > things will go back to normal and they will be even better

than

> > > > normal. " I think about all the pains I had pre-surgery such

as

> > not

> > > > being able to eat properly (ok so I still can't) and the

> > headaches

> > > > (ok, so I'm pretty much still in pain now only that my jaw

is

> > > forced

> > > > shut too and I need to take codeine daily) and I hang on to

the

> > > hope

> > > > that once I get through this phase all will unfold like a

> magical

> > > > fairytale. I think it's pretty wonderous that we live in a

time

> > and

> > > > age where doctors can actually operate on us to solve our

> dental

> > > and

> > > > jaw problems. And as silly as it may be, for me hanging on

to

> the

> > > > daydream of what my life will be like once i get this stupid

> > splint

> > > > out and once i get the braces off and can open my jaw

properly

> > > again

> > > > makes the whole ordeal a little more bearable. It may not be

> > acting

> > > > positive per se but it helps me get back to that positive

frame

> > of

> > > > mind again. AND I am a big advocate of getting stuff off

your

> > chest

> > > > when you have to. If crying or throwing a fit is going to

make

> > you

> > > > feel better then do it. No one is Joan of Arc and lord knows

> our

> > > > patience is being tested right now. So stamp your feet and

in

> the

> > > > process try to stamp some of that negativity away:-) You've

> come

> > > > this far and it's one heck of an achievement, if I may say

so

> > > myself.

> > > >

> > > > Sending you a huge virtual hug and wishing you a good

saturday

> > > night.

> > > >

> > > > Sara

[Guest guest]

Sara,

My appointment is at 11:30, I think. But it's on the island, in West

Islip. You're probably going to the LS office, yes?

I'm sure eventually our paths will cross.

Yup ... I know that commercial. Too funny!

I hope you enjoyed each moment that your guy was with you!!!

Carol

> > > > Sara,

> > > > Well, it's a new day and the sun is shining (sort of) and I'm

> > > hoping

> > > > that I've come out the other side of my mood. I had a good

> cry

> > on

> > > > the phone last night with my Boyfriend. That helped a little

> > bit.

> > > > For me, I'm not really dealing with much pain or discomfort -

> > > > physically. It's my mind that's all messed up. I'm having

> > dreams

> > > > about all the metal in my mouth falling out and my bottom jaw

> > > falling

> > > > off or the other one about a high school reunion where no one

> > knows

> > > > who I am and they don't understand me when I talk.

> > > > Psychologically, this has been very difficult for me. I'm a

> > single

> > > > Mom, working full time - so I have enough stress in my life

> > > > normally. This has just put me over the edge, from time to

> > time.

> > > > <sigh> I'll see Dr. on Wednesday. I'm hoping and

> praying

> > > > that he'll understand ... and be able to help, in some way.

> In

> > the

> > > > meantime, it helps to vent here. 'Cause most of the time,

> when I

> > > try

> > > > to purge all this onto my Mom or my Boyfriend - they are

> sincerly

> > > > concerned and willing to help - but just CAN'T. And the

thing

> > is,

> > > > they don't understand that. NO, there is NOTHING you can do

> to

> > > help

> > > > me right now. NO, I don't need you to get me anything. NO,

I

> > > don't

> > > > want to talk about it. NO, I don't want you to come over and

> > give

> > > me

> > > > a hug. GEEZ! They mean well ... but enough all ready!

So,

> > > thanks

> > > > Sara (and everyone) for listening ... and being there. If

> > nothing

> > > > else, I KNOW that you guys UNDERSTAND!

> > > > STOMP STOMP STOMP ...

> > > > Carol

[Guest guest]

Yes my app is in the LS office so I guess we won't bump into

eachother but like you said, I'm sure our paths will cross eventually.

I had a wonderful weekend with my man. It really helped to have him

encourage me and tell me how great I looked so soon after because I

am feeling really conscious about the new look of me although I know

the old me is still inside, stubborn and fiery as ever.

Reading about your boyfriend helping you with your laundry made me

smile:-) That's just the kind of thing that makes me happy when my

boyfriend does it for me.

Sara xx

> > > > > Sara,

> > > > > Well, it's a new day and the sun is shining (sort of) and

I'm

> > > > hoping

> > > > > that I've come out the other side of my mood. I had a good

> > cry

> > > on

> > > > > the phone last night with my Boyfriend. That helped a

little

> > > bit.

> > > > > For me, I'm not really dealing with much pain or

discomfort -

> > > > > physically. It's my mind that's all messed up. I'm having

> > > dreams

> > > > > about all the metal in my mouth falling out and my bottom

jaw

> > > > falling

> > > > > off or the other one about a high school reunion where no

one

> > > knows

> > > > > who I am and they don't understand me when I talk.

> > > > > Psychologically, this has been very difficult for me. I'm

a

> > > single

> > > > > Mom, working full time - so I have enough stress in my life

> > > > > normally. This has just put me over the edge, from time

to

> > > time.

> > > > > <sigh> I'll see Dr. on Wednesday. I'm hoping and

> > praying

> > > > > that he'll understand ... and be able to help, in some

way.

> > In

> > > the

> > > > > meantime, it helps to vent here. 'Cause most of the time,

> > when I

> > > > try

> > > > > to purge all this onto my Mom or my Boyfriend - they are

> > sincerly

> > > > > concerned and willing to help - but just CAN'T. And the

> thing

> > > is,

> > > > > they don't understand that. NO, there is NOTHING you can

do

> > to

> > > > help

> > > > > me right now. NO, I don't need you to get me anything.

NO,

> I

> > > > don't

> > > > > want to talk about it. NO, I don't want you to come over

and

> > > give

> > > > me

> > > > > a hug. GEEZ! They mean well ... but enough all ready!

> So,

> > > > thanks

> > > > > Sara (and everyone) for listening ... and being there. If

> > > nothing

> > > > > else, I KNOW that you guys UNDERSTAND!

> > > > > STOMP STOMP STOMP ...

> > > > > Carol

[Guest guest]

Sara,

I'm so glad that you two had a great time. I think we are both lucky

ladies, eh?

hahaha ... stubborn and fiery? sounds like you and i could be sisters!

Oh yeah, before I forget, guess what I did? I sneezed!!! That's

right, I swore I wouldn't and then I did. And I've done it again

twice since the first time. And you know what ... it's not that

bad. I get all tense ... and the area around my nose is a little

more tender ... but I survived! So, sneeze all ya want - just don't

laugh! What a strange post-op world we live in!

Carol

> > > > Sara,

> > > > You are just too good. All of you guys! I swear, I couldn't

> do

> > > this

> > > > without you!!!

> > > > Your dream sounds too real for my taste. I can only imagine

> how

> > > > freaked out you must have been. Are we going to have to wear

> > oven

> > > > mits to bed?! I'm just taking it one night at a time.

> Looking

> > > > forward to seeing my Surgeon on Wednesday.

> > > > Yeah, I've been taking pictures of myself, often and staring

in

> > > the

> > > > mirror. Now that the swelling is starting to go down, I can

> see

> > > > where I ... well ... just don't look like ME anymore. It's

> > > strange

> > > > and wonderful and somehow wrong. <shrug> It'll be a while, I

> > know,

> > > > before I can see the end result. I'll wait for a final

opinion

> > > until

> > > > then. I have to admit ... I love when my Boyfriend reminds

me

> of

> > > how

> > > > much he loves my eyes ... and how they are exactly the same

as

> > the

> > > > day we met ... and one of things that first drew him to

me ...

> > and

> > > > how they will always make my face, my own. Ain't that

> sweet?!

> > > > Yay!!! You went for a walk. I hope it went well. Gosh, in

> the

> > > city

> > > > you'll fit right in. <almost enough of a laugh to hurt>

> > > > Take care ... " talk " to ya soon,

> > > > Carol