Re: Wahoo! I'm scheduled!

[Guest guest]

Luna,

That's great news! Congratulations. Sounds like you'll be the first of us

Dr. West groupies to have surgery.

My OD told me today I should be ready for surgery in the fall. I'm guessing

November. Anyone else looking at a November surgery?

Diane, Oregon

_____

From: orthognathicsurgerysupport

[mailto:orthognathicsurgerysupport ] On Behalf Of

str8teeth4me

Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 6:27 PM

To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

Subject: Wahoo! I'm scheduled!

I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I could

handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can fly

home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my surgery and

a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so relieved to

have finally figured all that out.

FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I would

consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I could

have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never be on a

blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's good news.

They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint like? Is

it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it to

brush around it?

Ciao,

Luna

_____

[Guest guest]

Luna, how exciting! I am scheduled for July 11, also lower advancement.

Don't know many of the details as yet, but probably will after I go in for post

op records etc on Jun 15.

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I could

handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can fly

home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my surgery and

a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so relieved to

have finally figured all that out.

FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I would

consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I could

have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never be on a

blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's good news.

They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint like? Is

it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it to

brush around it?

Ciao,

Luna

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Vhurgo, wanna be surgery buddies? :-) Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna

My splint is like a thin U-shaped wafer that my top and bottom teeth

rest in. It is not uncomfortable, and I haven't had too many

problems brushing. The original swelling is what made brushing hard,

not the splint.

> I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I

could

> handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can fly

> home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my surgery

and

> a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so relieved

to

> have finally figured all that out.

>

> FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I would

> consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I could

> have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never be

on a

> blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's good

news.

>

> They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint like?

Is

> it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it to

> brush around it?

>

> Ciao,

> Luna

[Guest guest]

that's good to hear that you're scheduled...im assuming you won't be

wired shut...that is the big concern for me...im having just lower jaw

surgery...im trying to decide if i should get wired shut or not...im

leaning toward not, but we'll see...what did your doctor advise you to

do in making that decision...

> I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I could

> handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can fly

> home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my surgery and

> a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so relieved to

> have finally figured all that out.

>

> FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I would

> consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I could

> have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never be on a

> blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's good

news.

>

> They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint like? Is

> it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it to

> brush around it?

>

> Ciao,

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi Luna,

You must be so excited to have a date! Way to go. Good news about

being able to go home so quickly too. I am sure that makes it much

easier on your planning. I will look for posts about what a splint

is, as I don't know the answer to that either.

Fran

> I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I

could

> handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can fly

> home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my surgery

and

> a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so relieved

to

> have finally figured all that out.

>

> FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I would

> consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I could

> have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never be

on a

> blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's good

news.

>

> They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint like?

Is

> it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it to

> brush around it?

>

> Ciao,

> Luna

[Guest guest]

I had just lower, and my doctor advised for me to be wired without

rigid fixation. He said that he feels that rigid fixation does not

allow the muscles and joints to adapt as easily as not using rigid

fixation and wiring you shut. That is just his preference. There are

differing opinions on this subject, so you really need to discuss

this with your OS and make the decision together. Once you get used

to it, being wired shut is not that bad. Don't get me wrong, there

are days that I would kill for a piece of pizza, but those pass. )

> > I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I

could

> > handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can

fly

> > home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my

surgery and

> > a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so

relieved to

> > have finally figured all that out.

> >

> > FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I

would

> > consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I

could

> > have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never

be on a

> > blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's

good

> news.

> >

> > They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint

like? Is

> > it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it

to

> > brush around it?

> >

> > Ciao,

> > Luna

[Guest guest]

i wasn't really given the choice or rather, allowed to make the

decision. I went to see 2 different doctors, one wanted to wire me

and the other one wanted to only band me. I went for the second one

but I didn't base my decision on the wiring vs non wiring, more on

how I felt about the doctor in that I felt I could trust the second

one more.

each doctor has a different theory on the wiring or not wiring

dilemma. as i understand it, when you're moving the lower jaw there

is more risk of nerve damage taking place so some doctors like to

wire to ensure that healing runs smoothly without having to rely too

much on your jaw being slided into the " exact " position during

surgery. With rigid fixation and banding a common criticism made (by

some doctors who prefer wiring) is that the doctor has to be 100%

accurate in terms of the position where they slide your jaw into and

sometimes 100% is hard to achieve. With wiring instead the jaw

muscles are allowed a little more flexibility in terms of easing the

jaw into its most natural position on its own without putting too

much pressure. Others criticize wiring because they say it makes the

TMJ worse whereas banding doesn't. I guess what I'm trying to say is

that there is a lot of debate out there on the pros and cons of both

methods. Either way, your oral surgeon should be able to provide you

with an overview and should also have an idea of what option he/she

thinks is best for you. I'm not sure none of us are qualified enough

in oral surgery and oral dentistry to decide on our own what option

is best for us.

Hope this helps.

Sara

> > I just scheduled my surgery for July 8. Dr. West's office said I

could

> > handle being on my own within a few days of surgery, and I can fly

> > home after the post-op appt. So my friend will come for my

surgery and

> > a long weekend, and I should be fine after that. I am so relieved

to

> > have finally figured all that out.

> >

> > FYI, for those who are having just lower surgery, they said I

would

> > consume only liquids for the first 24 hours, and after that I

could

> > have soft foods (scrambled eggs, etc.), and that I would never be

on a

> > blended diet unless I got a craving for steak. :-) So that's good

> news.

> >

> > They said I'd be splinted for six weeks. What is the splint like?

Is

> > it uncomfortable? Does it interfere with talking? How hard is it

to

> > brush around it?

> >

> > Ciao,

> > Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna, I think that sounds like a great idea. I am hoping I will have use of a

work computer whilst at home. It's a good time for me to do this with winter

here in Australia, won't have to go out in the cold to go to work.

Keep me updated on what goes on with you. I cannot wait to get it over and done

with and start concentrating on healing?

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

Vhurgo, wanna be surgery buddies? :-) Luna

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

, thanks for the info on the splint. I'm still having a hard

time picturing it, but it's good to know it's not uncomfortable and

doesn't interfere with brushing. I guess I'll find out what it's like

soon enough! Luna

[Guest guest]

My doc didn't tell me it was my decision to make -- he just said I'll

most likely be banded, not wired. It sounds like wiring is more common

for upper/lower rather than just lower. Luna

[Guest guest]

Fran, thanks -- yeah, it's cool that I'm having the surgery about six

months earlier than I'd planned on. It's all happening so fast, but

that's a GOOD THING. :-) Luna

[Guest guest]

Oh, wow, I didn't realize you're in Australia. Ha, we're going at the

same time, but for you it's the middle of winter and for me the middle

of summer! That'll be fun to compare notes! :-) Luna

[Guest guest]

Yeah it's a good time of year for it - I hate winter. I am hoping by about

middle of our summer my braces will be off too! I see you're going in a lot

earlier than expected - good for you. I will have had my braces on for just over

14 months when I have surgery.

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

Oh, wow, I didn't realize you're in Australia. Ha, we're going at the

same time, but for you it's the middle of winter and for me the middle

of summer! That'll be fun to compare notes! :-) Luna

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Vhurgo,

I'm in Australia too...south of Sydney. It's good to talk to another Aussie

as I'm curious as to how the techniques compare to those used in the US. I'm

still only thinking about the surgery...haven't decided yet (already went

through it once as a child). Anyway, all the best,

-- Re: Wahoo! I'm scheduled!

Luna, I think that sounds like a great idea. I am hoping I will have use of

a work computer whilst at home. It's a good time for me to do this with

winter here in Australia, won't have to go out in the cold to go to work.

Keep me updated on what goes on with you. I cannot wait to get it over and

done with and start concentrating on healing?

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

Vhurgo, wanna be surgery buddies? :-) Luna

---------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am in Melbourne. Good luck with your decision making process, it's tough to

deal with.

I think it's pretty similar as in techniques, I am just thankful it's not as

expensive!

Seems not as much wiring goes on in Australia.

Pouye wrote:

Hi Vhurgo,

I'm in Australia too...south of Sydney. It's good to talk to another Aussie

as I'm curious as to how the techniques compare to those used in the US. I'm

still only thinking about the surgery...haven't decided yet (already went

through it once as a child). Anyway, all the best,

-- Re: Wahoo! I'm scheduled!

Luna, I think that sounds like a great idea. I am hoping I will have use of

a work computer whilst at home. It's a good time for me to do this with

winter here in Australia, won't have to go out in the cold to go to work.

Keep me updated on what goes on with you. I cannot wait to get it over and

done with and start concentrating on healing?

str8teeth4me <no_reply > wrote:

Vhurgo, wanna be surgery buddies? :-) Luna

---------------------------------