Carol: teeth nightmares and post-op psychological effects

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I can totally relate to the nightmares. Just last night I dreamt that

I had eaten one of those chewy gummy candies that get stuck all

across your teeth and that usually you have to pull off with your

fingers. Well wouldn't you know it, I woke up in the middle of the

night with my hands in my mouth and I was trying to PULL OUT my

splint! In my dream I thought I was pulling off the candy and I was

so preoccupied about it staying stuck there. Thank goodness I woke up

in time before disaster broke, though I don't think I would have been

able to pull out very much, it did really scare me. Most of the time

when I've had dreams related to teeth in the past I've been told it

has to do with preoccupations related to work. I think right now we

can safely say that our dreams are purely related to the surgery and

the recovery. The psychological side effects are harder for some of

us to deal with than others and are highly unpredictable. For me it

has been wonderful to have my boyfriend keep on reassuring me how

great I look and I'm sure your boyfriend is doing the same. The

problem is that I don't recognize myself at all when I look in the

mirror. I know it's still early days but I would have kept my old

chin happily if I could've gotten rid of the headaches and let's not

forget, BITE INTO THAT YUMMY SANDWHICH!

Oh well, I guess I'll learn to get used to this new me soon.

I'm sure Dr. will be able to provide you with some comfort

and perhaps advice. I know DR. Sachs talked to me a lot about the

post-op blues before I went into surgery. He wanted me to be very

prepared to deal with it and for the most part I am but having this

message board I think has been the best part.

Well, I'm off out of the house now for my first walk around the block

post-op. My fiancee is bringing me. Wish me luck as I slurp around

the upper west side of Manhattan where unfortunately people always

seem to be around. I think I'll say what Luna suggested if anyone

stares too hard " yeah I was in a boxing fight. I won. " :-)

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