Made it! Post-surgery report

[Guest guest]

Hey y'all, I made it through the surgery (lower advancement) with

flying colors. Everything went really well and I am doing much better

than the norm in terms of swelling and recovery. I am actually

surprised at how good I feel. I mean, I am sore and puffy and my

lower lip and chin are numb, but I was prepared for worse, so I'm

feeling pretty grateful and pleased. I have almost no bruising. And I

am able to talk quite well even with my teeth splinted and banded.

The sensation is a lot like having your teeth stuck together with

Jolly Rancher hard candy!

Yesterday, I was a little scared going in to surgery -- there's

something very surreal about surrendering your body up to a team of

people in an operating room. " OK, I'm going to lay down on this table

and stare at the ceiling while you inject drugs into my veins to

knock me out, and then you're going to open my mouth and saw my

jawbone into pieces? OK, well, go ahead, I guess .... " So, yeah, a

little scary, but not unbearable.

The scariest part was waking up to the distinct sensation that I was

being suffocated by the oxygen mask. I was barely conscious and

struggling with the operating team, saying " I can't breathe, can't

breathe! " I don't know what that was all about. But once they let me

breathe without the mask, I calmed down and felt much better. (I

think they also injected some Haldol (sp?) that may have helped,

too.)

The whole team was truly really nice and very kind to me, and they

told me everything had gone very well. After I spent some time

gaining consciousness in recovery, I was wheeled out to a taxi and

Gay helped me stagger into the hotel room, where we both collapsed

and slept for several hours. But when I woke up I began drinking

pineapple juice and chicken broth and just taking it easy even though

I actually felt pretty decent. I had a compression bandage wrapped

around my head as well as an ice pack. We watched three Law and

Orders in a row -- a real luxury for the two of us!

Today I took it slow getting up, but started out with soymilk and a

cappucino, then showered and went out for brunch. I had corned beef

hash and poached eggs and could not open my mouth very far or chew at

all, but managed to get enough in to feel satisfied. Then we went out

and walked and shopped in the market for a couple of hours, and it

tired me enough to come back and nap for several hours. Then we went

out to a great seafood restaurant, where I managed fried fish and

salmon pot pie. So I'm doing pretty well!

I was self-conscious at first about my puffy face and talking through

the splint and bands, but I realized most people didn't even notice,

or if they did, were just curious. By tonight, I was talking to

waiters and cab drivers without much self-consciousness at all.

As for my looks and teeth -- I can tell my teeth now line up right,

but I don't see much difference in my face, although Gay says she

does. I have been doing my own brand of MLD; just stroking my face

and neck, which feels good if nothing else. I also think the

pineapple juice -- which someone on here recommended for flushing

toxins -- has been helpful. I drank almost a gallon yesterday through

a flexible straw. It has a ton of vitamin C, which is vital for

healing.

I definitely feel that this board helped prepare me so much. Thank

you all for sharing your experiences, and I hope that mine will help

someone else.

I will post pictures when I get home.

Luna

[Guest guest]

Congrats Luna! Before ya know it, you'll be eating anything ya want! Until

then, I want dibs on all the corn on the cob out there! Take it easy the

next

few days, eh? =)

Mia

> Hey y'all, I made it through the surgery (lower advancement) with

> flying colors. Everything went really well and I am doing much better

> than the norm in terms of swelling and recovery. I am actually

> surprised at how good I feel. I mean, I am sore and puffy and my

> lower lip and chin are numb, but I was prepared for worse, so I'm

> feeling pretty grateful and pleased. I have almost no bruising. And I

> am able to talk quite well even with my teeth splinted and banded.

> The sensation is a lot like having your teeth stuck together with

> Jolly Rancher hard candy!

>

> Yesterday, I was a little scared going in to surgery -- there's

> something very surreal about surrendering your body up to a team of

> people in an operating room. " OK, I'm going to lay down on this table

> and stare at the ceiling while you inject drugs into my veins to

> knock me out, and then you're going to open my mouth and saw my

> jawbone into pieces? OK, well, go ahead, I guess .... " So, yeah, a

> little scary, but not unbearable.

>

> The scariest part was waking up to the distinct sensation that I was

> being suffocated by the oxygen mask. I was barely conscious and

> struggling with the operating team, saying " I can't breathe, can't

> breathe! " I don't know what that was all about. But once they let me

> breathe without the mask, I calmed down and felt much better. (I

> think they also injected some Haldol (sp?) that may have helped,

> too.)

>

> The whole team was truly really nice and very kind to me, and they

> told me everything had gone very well. After I spent some time

> gaining consciousness in recovery, I was wheeled out to a taxi and

> Gay helped me stagger into the hotel room, where we both collapsed

> and slept for several hours. But when I woke up I began drinking

> pineapple juice and chicken broth and just taking it easy even though

> I actually felt pretty decent. I had a compression bandage wrapped

> around my head as well as an ice pack. We watched three Law and

> Orders in a row -- a real luxury for the two of us!

>

> Today I took it slow getting up, but started out with soymilk and a

> cappucino, then showered and went out for brunch. I had corned beef

> hash and poached eggs and could not open my mouth very far or chew at

> all, but managed to get enough in to feel satisfied. Then we went out

> and walked and shopped in the market for a couple of hours, and it

> tired me enough to come back and nap for several hours. Then we went

> out to a great seafood restaurant, where I managed fried fish and

> salmon pot pie. So I'm doing pretty well!

>

> I was self-conscious at first about my puffy face and talking through

> the splint and bands, but I realized most people didn't even notice,

> or if they did, were just curious. By tonight, I was talking to

> waiters and cab drivers without much self-consciousness at all.

>

> As for my looks and teeth -- I can tell my teeth now line up right,

> but I don't see much difference in my face, although Gay says she

> does. I have been doing my own brand of MLD; just stroking my face

> and neck, which feels good if nothing else. I also think the

> pineapple juice -- which someone on here recommended for flushing

> toxins -- has been helpful. I drank almost a gallon yesterday through

> a flexible straw. It has a ton of vitamin C, which is vital for

> healing.

>

> I definitely feel that this board helped prepare me so much. Thank

> you all for sharing your experiences, and I hope that mine will help

> someone else.

>

> I will post pictures when I get home.

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna you sound like you are doing fantastic! I'm 20 days post op today

and there's simply no way I could eat the yummy stuff you've described

you already had after just a couple days post op. I'm jealous!

I think I had a bit more done than you though, so I'll have to be

patient a while longer...

Anyway - congrats on getting to the other side, plus on doing so well!

Judy

[Guest guest]

Hi Luna,

I am so glad you are doing so well! You sound fantastic! And to be

up and around and enjoying Pikes Place so early is really amazing!

ANd everything you mentioned sounded yummy with or without surgery!

lol Thank you for sharing!

Hugs,

Fran

> Hey y'all, I made it through the surgery (lower advancement) with

> flying colors. Everything went really well and I am doing much

better

> than the norm in terms of swelling and recovery. I am actually

> surprised at how good I feel. I mean, I am sore and puffy and my

> lower lip and chin are numb, but I was prepared for worse, so I'm

> feeling pretty grateful and pleased. I have almost no bruising.

And I

> am able to talk quite well even with my teeth splinted and banded.

> The sensation is a lot like having your teeth stuck together with

> Jolly Rancher hard candy!

>

> Yesterday, I was a little scared going in to surgery -- there's

> something very surreal about surrendering your body up to a team

of

> people in an operating room. " OK, I'm going to lay down on this

table

> and stare at the ceiling while you inject drugs into my veins to

> knock me out, and then you're going to open my mouth and saw my

> jawbone into pieces? OK, well, go ahead, I guess .... " So, yeah, a

> little scary, but not unbearable.

>

> The scariest part was waking up to the distinct sensation that I

was

> being suffocated by the oxygen mask. I was barely conscious and

> struggling with the operating team, saying " I can't breathe, can't

> breathe! " I don't know what that was all about. But once they let

me

> breathe without the mask, I calmed down and felt much better. (I

> think they also injected some Haldol (sp?) that may have helped,

> too.)

>

> The whole team was truly really nice and very kind to me, and they

> told me everything had gone very well. After I spent some time

> gaining consciousness in recovery, I was wheeled out to a taxi and

> Gay helped me stagger into the hotel room, where we both collapsed

> and slept for several hours. But when I woke up I began drinking

> pineapple juice and chicken broth and just taking it easy even

though

> I actually felt pretty decent. I had a compression bandage wrapped

> around my head as well as an ice pack. We watched three Law and

> Orders in a row -- a real luxury for the two of us!

>

> Today I took it slow getting up, but started out with soymilk and

a

> cappucino, then showered and went out for brunch. I had corned

beef

> hash and poached eggs and could not open my mouth very far or chew

at

> all, but managed to get enough in to feel satisfied. Then we went

out

> and walked and shopped in the market for a couple of hours, and it

> tired me enough to come back and nap for several hours. Then we

went

> out to a great seafood restaurant, where I managed fried fish and

> salmon pot pie. So I'm doing pretty well!

>

> I was self-conscious at first about my puffy face and talking

through

> the splint and bands, but I realized most people didn't even

notice,

> or if they did, were just curious. By tonight, I was talking to

> waiters and cab drivers without much self-consciousness at all.

>

> As for my looks and teeth -- I can tell my teeth now line up

right,

> but I don't see much difference in my face, although Gay says she

> does. I have been doing my own brand of MLD; just stroking my face

> and neck, which feels good if nothing else. I also think the

> pineapple juice -- which someone on here recommended for flushing

> toxins -- has been helpful. I drank almost a gallon yesterday

through

> a flexible straw. It has a ton of vitamin C, which is vital for

> healing.

>

> I definitely feel that this board helped prepare me so much. Thank

> you all for sharing your experiences, and I hope that mine will

help

> someone else.

>

> I will post pictures when I get home.

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Sounds to me as though you're doing really well.

And pot pie and fried fish, so soon! Wowser! Congratulations. Just

don't overdo it -- you'll wind up with more swelling and discomfort

if you do. But great to be pumping in all that fluid, and moving

around.

Whoopee for you!

Cammie

> Hey y'all, I made it through the surgery (lower advancement) with

> flying colors. Everything went really well and I am doing much

better

> than the norm in terms of swelling and recovery. I am actually

> surprised at how good I feel. I mean, I am sore and puffy and my

> lower lip and chin are numb, but I was prepared for worse, so I'm

> feeling pretty grateful and pleased. I have almost no bruising.

And I

> am able to talk quite well even with my teeth splinted and banded.

> The sensation is a lot like having your teeth stuck together with

> Jolly Rancher hard candy!

>

> Yesterday, I was a little scared going in to surgery -- there's

> something very surreal about surrendering your body up to a team

of

> people in an operating room. " OK, I'm going to lay down on this

table

> and stare at the ceiling while you inject drugs into my veins to

> knock me out, and then you're going to open my mouth and saw my

> jawbone into pieces? OK, well, go ahead, I guess .... " So, yeah, a

> little scary, but not unbearable.

>

> The scariest part was waking up to the distinct sensation that I

was

> being suffocated by the oxygen mask. I was barely conscious and

> struggling with the operating team, saying " I can't breathe, can't

> breathe! " I don't know what that was all about. But once they let

me

> breathe without the mask, I calmed down and felt much better. (I

> think they also injected some Haldol (sp?) that may have helped,

> too.)

>

> The whole team was truly really nice and very kind to me, and they

> told me everything had gone very well. After I spent some time

> gaining consciousness in recovery, I was wheeled out to a taxi and

> Gay helped me stagger into the hotel room, where we both collapsed

> and slept for several hours. But when I woke up I began drinking

> pineapple juice and chicken broth and just taking it easy even

though

> I actually felt pretty decent. I had a compression bandage wrapped

> around my head as well as an ice pack. We watched three Law and

> Orders in a row -- a real luxury for the two of us!

>

> Today I took it slow getting up, but started out with soymilk and

a

> cappucino, then showered and went out for brunch. I had corned

beef

> hash and poached eggs and could not open my mouth very far or chew

at

> all, but managed to get enough in to feel satisfied. Then we went

out

> and walked and shopped in the market for a couple of hours, and it

> tired me enough to come back and nap for several hours. Then we

went

> out to a great seafood restaurant, where I managed fried fish and

> salmon pot pie. So I'm doing pretty well!

>

> I was self-conscious at first about my puffy face and talking

through

> the splint and bands, but I realized most people didn't even

notice,

> or if they did, were just curious. By tonight, I was talking to

> waiters and cab drivers without much self-consciousness at all.

>

> As for my looks and teeth -- I can tell my teeth now line up

right,

> but I don't see much difference in my face, although Gay says she

> does. I have been doing my own brand of MLD; just stroking my face

> and neck, which feels good if nothing else. I also think the

> pineapple juice -- which someone on here recommended for flushing

> toxins -- has been helpful. I drank almost a gallon yesterday

through

> a flexible straw. It has a ton of vitamin C, which is vital for

> healing.

>

> I definitely feel that this board helped prepare me so much. Thank

> you all for sharing your experiences, and I hope that mine will

help

> someone else.

>

> I will post pictures when I get home.

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna,

I'm so glad to hear that your surgery went well and that you're doing

so well already. Fried fish one day post-op?! Wow! Your description

about voluntarily giving yourself up on the OR table to be operated on

cracked me up. It's just how I felt too on the day of surgery! Keep on

drinking that pineapple juice. It helped me tremendously and enjoy

those L & O episodes now that you can:-)

Sara

[Guest guest]

Hi Cammie! How is it down there? How come ya got power still? I heard 8000

people in your state were without hydro! Congrats! Is the worst of it over yet?

Any downded trees?

Mia

[Guest guest]

Cammie,

You're right, I may have overdone it yesterday. I slept A LOT today.

Have been annoyed with the swelling and soreness. I am ready to be

done with it! I guess that's a bit premature, though. ;-)

But yeah, ate more fried salmon today and an amazing berry-brie

torte. My friend leaves tomorrow and then I will be back to a less

fancy diet. It's such a treat for us Montanans to come to the big

city and eat out at all the fabulous restaurants. But my cash is

shrinking and I have a stock of groceries from Trader Joe's to get me

through the next three days.

Luna

> > Hey y'all, I made it through the surgery (lower advancement) with

> > flying colors. Everything went really well and I am doing much

> better

> > than the norm in terms of swelling and recovery. I am actually

> > surprised at how good I feel. I mean, I am sore and puffy and my

> > lower lip and chin are numb, but I was prepared for worse, so I'm

> > feeling pretty grateful and pleased. I have almost no bruising.

> And I

> > am able to talk quite well even with my teeth splinted and

banded.

> > The sensation is a lot like having your teeth stuck together with

> > Jolly Rancher hard candy!

> >

> > Yesterday, I was a little scared going in to surgery -- there's

> > something very surreal about surrendering your body up to a team

> of

> > people in an operating room. " OK, I'm going to lay down on this

> table

> > and stare at the ceiling while you inject drugs into my veins to

> > knock me out, and then you're going to open my mouth and saw my

> > jawbone into pieces? OK, well, go ahead, I guess .... " So, yeah,

a

> > little scary, but not unbearable.

> >

> > The scariest part was waking up to the distinct sensation that I

> was

> > being suffocated by the oxygen mask. I was barely conscious and

> > struggling with the operating team, saying " I can't breathe,

can't

> > breathe! " I don't know what that was all about. But once they let

> me

> > breathe without the mask, I calmed down and felt much better. (I

> > think they also injected some Haldol (sp?) that may have helped,

> > too.)

> >

> > The whole team was truly really nice and very kind to me, and

they

> > told me everything had gone very well. After I spent some time

> > gaining consciousness in recovery, I was wheeled out to a taxi

and

> > Gay helped me stagger into the hotel room, where we both

collapsed

> > and slept for several hours. But when I woke up I began drinking

> > pineapple juice and chicken broth and just taking it easy even

> though

> > I actually felt pretty decent. I had a compression bandage

wrapped

> > around my head as well as an ice pack. We watched three Law and

> > Orders in a row -- a real luxury for the two of us!

> >

> > Today I took it slow getting up, but started out with soymilk and

> a

> > cappucino, then showered and went out for brunch. I had corned

> beef

> > hash and poached eggs and could not open my mouth very far or

chew

> at

> > all, but managed to get enough in to feel satisfied. Then we went

> out

> > and walked and shopped in the market for a couple of hours, and

it

> > tired me enough to come back and nap for several hours. Then we

> went

> > out to a great seafood restaurant, where I managed fried fish and

> > salmon pot pie. So I'm doing pretty well!

> >

> > I was self-conscious at first about my puffy face and talking

> through

> > the splint and bands, but I realized most people didn't even

> notice,

> > or if they did, were just curious. By tonight, I was talking to

> > waiters and cab drivers without much self-consciousness at all.

> >

> > As for my looks and teeth -- I can tell my teeth now line up

> right,

> > but I don't see much difference in my face, although Gay says she

> > does. I have been doing my own brand of MLD; just stroking my

face

> > and neck, which feels good if nothing else. I also think the

> > pineapple juice -- which someone on here recommended for flushing

> > toxins -- has been helpful. I drank almost a gallon yesterday

> through

> > a flexible straw. It has a ton of vitamin C, which is vital for

> > healing.

> >

> > I definitely feel that this board helped prepare me so much.

Thank

> > you all for sharing your experiences, and I hope that mine will

> help

> > someone else.

> >

> > I will post pictures when I get home.

> >

> > Luna

[Guest guest]

No downed trees in my little back 40, Miz Mia. How you, Livia?

We had a pile of rain, lost power for four or five hours, but all is

well. Some parts of the state had it rougher -- particularly a little

town called Atmore, that really got walloped last year by Ivan, too.

It's all moved on -- I think Atlanta is getting the rain now. So we

can concentrate on the next three little cannonballs headed our way,

starting in Capve Verde. Oh well. Gotta have something to worry about.

Thanks for the thoughts, though. I'm convinced you guys helped push

it away from us!

Cammie

> Hi Cammie! How is it down there? How come ya got power still? I

heard 8000

> people in your state were without hydro! Congrats! Is the worst of

it over yet?

> Any downded trees?

>

> Mia

[Guest guest]

Luna,

Good to hear from you again. Please take it easy! When do you head back to

Montana?

I phoned Dr. West's office today to try and get a good idea of how much my

cost will be for the surgery. Looks like $7,432. There's so many variables,

I hope it's close. I'll be having my surgery in the Swedish Medical Center

because my insurance benefit would be better (even though it will be about

double the cost of the Dr. West's facility).

How do you like the place you are staying? How far is it from Dr. West's

office? Would you mind if I asked the cost?

Thanks,

Diane, Oregon

>From: str8teeth4me <no_reply >

>Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: Made it! Post-surgery

>report

>Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2005 04:16:22 -0000

>