Guest guest Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hi Dammit! Glad to hear all's well with you -- but I hope " final " doesn't mean you'll never come back... Sounds as though this has been a real success story for you, even there were a few bumps (including that one big bad one!) along the way. glad to hear you're almost done with this adventure, and congratulations for maintaining your good humor and equanimity throughout. Cammie -- In orthognathicsurgerysupport , dammitviejo <no_reply@y...> wrote: > Hello to all my friends and June 2004 Surgery Pals! > > It's been over a year since my I had my lower jaw moved forward > 12mm. A brief recap for those of you who are new to the board: I > went in on June 22, 2004 to have my lower advanced. When I was moved > from the recovery room to my overnight room, the aide 'dropped' me > and I hit my newly reconstructed jaw. The result was 3 of the 4 > screws my OS had installed were jarred loose, and I had to have the > surgery redone a week later, this time with 6 new screws. Six > months post surgery two screws came loose, and I ended up going in > to my OS's office to have those removed under a light sleep. Woke > up, no pain, no problems. It's amazing how long those screws > actually are in your hand! > > Fast forward 13 months. I've been wearing bands since one week > following the second surgery. The size, thickness, and configuration > of the bands has changed, but in one week it will all be over as I'm > having my braces removed on July 28th! I'll have been in braces a > total of 28 month, 13 days. > > As a result of the surgery I now sleep much more peacefully. My > sleep apnea has been completely eliminated. I no longer clench my > jaws at night, which means I wake up without a headache for the > first time in memory. As my bite is coming together, I'm able to > chew almost anything I want and the braces allow. My bride also > sleeps better because the surgery eliminated my snoring. My bite has > progressed to the point where I no longer cut the roof of my mouth > with my lower teeth, and soon it will be finished and look great! > > My midline seemed off at 3 months and six months post surgery, but > it is now nearly dead on. I've regained sensation on most of my chin > and lower lip. Right now I can feel some sensation on all areas, but > there is a quarter size spot that just feels tingly if I run my > finger across it. If I don't touch it, I can't tell any difference. > Most times I don't notice it unless it is touched. > > As for cost of the whole shebang, well I paid around $4K for the > braces and $100 in co pays to the OS. Add another $50 for each of > the three 'outpatient' surgeries, and I'm out of pocket $4,350 or so > for the whole deal. Kaiser paid for both my surgeries, and the > hospital, OS, and Anesthesia ran $20K each time, of which Kaiser > paid around $14K each time. They also paid for the screw removal, > which I think was around $500. > > Would I do it again? Absolutely! Was the 'liquid' diet bad? No. Was > the emotional aspect bad? Actually it was worse for my bride > watching me than it was for me. > > I posted a few posts worth reviewing if you're just getting into > this: > > 81392 – How I felt 3 months post surgery > 78734 - Top 10 no chew diet suggestions – with apologies to > Letterman > > I hope this finds all my friends and June 2004 Pals doing well, > eating their favorite foods, and free of braces once and for all. > > Dammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hi Dammit, It is always great for us just beginning our post-op phase and those who are pre-op to hear about success stories such as yours! It is good to know that you will be able to close this chapter of your life and enjoy your new chapter with a nice beautiful smile! Thanks for sharing, > > Hello to all my friends and June 2004 Surgery Pals! > > > > It's been over a year since my I had my lower jaw moved forward > > 12mm. A brief recap for those of you who are new to the board: I > > went in on June 22, 2004 to have my lower advanced. When I was > moved > > from the recovery room to my overnight room, the aide 'dropped' me > > and I hit my newly reconstructed jaw. The result was 3 of the 4 > > screws my OS had installed were jarred loose, and I had to have the > > surgery redone a week later, this time with 6 new screws. Six > > months post surgery two screws came loose, and I ended up going in > > to my OS's office to have those removed under a light sleep. Woke > > up, no pain, no problems. It's amazing how long those screws > > actually are in your hand! > > > > Fast forward 13 months. I've been wearing bands since one week > > following the second surgery. The size, thickness, and > configuration > > of the bands has changed, but in one week it will all be over as > I'm > > having my braces removed on July 28th! I'll have been in braces a > > total of 28 month, 13 days. > > > > As a result of the surgery I now sleep much more peacefully. My > > sleep apnea has been completely eliminated. I no longer clench my > > jaws at night, which means I wake up without a headache for the > > first time in memory. As my bite is coming together, I'm able to > > chew almost anything I want and the braces allow. My bride also > > sleeps better because the surgery eliminated my snoring. My bite > has > > progressed to the point where I no longer cut the roof of my mouth > > with my lower teeth, and soon it will be finished and look great! > > > > My midline seemed off at 3 months and six months post surgery, but > > it is now nearly dead on. I've regained sensation on most of my > chin > > and lower lip. Right now I can feel some sensation on all areas, > but > > there is a quarter size spot that just feels tingly if I run my > > finger across it. If I don't touch it, I can't tell any > difference. > > Most times I don't notice it unless it is touched. > > > > As for cost of the whole shebang, well I paid around $4K for the > > braces and $100 in co pays to the OS. Add another $50 for each of > > the three 'outpatient' surgeries, and I'm out of pocket $4,350 or > so > > for the whole deal. Kaiser paid for both my surgeries, and the > > hospital, OS, and Anesthesia ran $20K each time, of which Kaiser > > paid around $14K each time. They also paid for the screw removal, > > which I think was around $500. > > > > Would I do it again? Absolutely! Was the 'liquid' diet bad? No. Was > > the emotional aspect bad? Actually it was worse for my bride > > watching me than it was for me. > > > > I posted a few posts worth reviewing if you're just getting into > > this: > > > > 81392 – How I felt 3 months post surgery > > 78734 - Top 10 no chew diet suggestions – with apologies to > > Letterman > > > > I hope this finds all my friends and June 2004 Pals doing well, > > eating their favorite foods, and free of braces once and for all. > > > > Dammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Dammit, I don't think we've met, but thanks for posting your experience. I'm two weeks post-op and I gasped when I read about you being dropped. What a nightmare. I'm so sorry that happened to you, but glad you've made it through. I appreciate hearing your experiences and that you're happy with the outcome. I'm going to go read your other two posts. Best of luck to you! Luna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Thanks for taking the time to post your update! So nice to hear about a long term success story. I was especially happy to hear that it helped with your clenching and headaches as that's the main reason I'm having lower jaw advancement. My surgery is scheduled for 08/08, and I'll try to think 13 months down the road while I'm recovering. Thanks again for showing us the light at the end of tunnel, and congratulations on making it through!!! Angel > Hello to all my friends and June 2004 Surgery Pals! > > It's been over a year since my I had my lower jaw moved forward > 12mm. A brief recap for those of you who are new to the board: I > went in on June 22, 2004 to have my lower advanced. When I was moved > from the recovery room to my overnight room, the aide 'dropped' me > and I hit my newly reconstructed jaw. The result was 3 of the 4 > screws my OS had installed were jarred loose, and I had to have the > surgery redone a week later, this time with 6 new screws. Six > months post surgery two screws came loose, and I ended up going in > to my OS's office to have those removed under a light sleep. Woke > up, no pain, no problems. It's amazing how long those screws > actually are in your hand! > > Fast forward 13 months. I've been wearing bands since one week > following the second surgery. The size, thickness, and configuration > of the bands has changed, but in one week it will all be over as I'm > having my braces removed on July 28th! I'll have been in braces a > total of 28 month, 13 days. > > As a result of the surgery I now sleep much more peacefully. My > sleep apnea has been completely eliminated. I no longer clench my > jaws at night, which means I wake up without a headache for the > first time in memory. As my bite is coming together, I'm able to > chew almost anything I want and the braces allow. My bride also > sleeps better because the surgery eliminated my snoring. My bite has > progressed to the point where I no longer cut the roof of my mouth > with my lower teeth, and soon it will be finished and look great! > > My midline seemed off at 3 months and six months post surgery, but > it is now nearly dead on. I've regained sensation on most of my chin > and lower lip. Right now I can feel some sensation on all areas, but > there is a quarter size spot that just feels tingly if I run my > finger across it. If I don't touch it, I can't tell any difference. > Most times I don't notice it unless it is touched. > > As for cost of the whole shebang, well I paid around $4K for the > braces and $100 in co pays to the OS. Add another $50 for each of > the three 'outpatient' surgeries, and I'm out of pocket $4,350 or so > for the whole deal. Kaiser paid for both my surgeries, and the > hospital, OS, and Anesthesia ran $20K each time, of which Kaiser > paid around $14K each time. They also paid for the screw removal, > which I think was around $500. > > Would I do it again? Absolutely! Was the 'liquid' diet bad? No. Was > the emotional aspect bad? Actually it was worse for my bride > watching me than it was for me. > > I posted a few posts worth reviewing if you're just getting into > this: > > 81392 – How I felt 3 months post surgery > 78734 - Top 10 no chew diet suggestions – with apologies to > Letterman > > I hope this finds all my friends and June 2004 Pals doing well, > eating their favorite foods, and free of braces once and for all. > > Dammit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2005 Report Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hi Dammit, A fellow June '04 surgery buddy here! So good to hear from you and that all is well and that you are happy with your results. Same here for me . . . I would do it all over again too!!! I was a tad bit more fortunate than you as I had my braces removed on February 10, 2005 . . . two day " after " Mardi Gras!!! I still have a small area of numbness in my lower left chin, but this seems to be getting better as time goes by. Thanks again for the post and hope all is well with you and yours! With regards, Dale New Orleans LA Upper/Lower June, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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