Re: Eeek! What am I doing?!

[Guest guest]

Luna,

In my humble opinion ... if you didn't worry ... you wouldn't be

human. I had the same " moment of clarity " - several actually - and

I've had a bunch post-op as well. I just try to keep calm, keep my

fingers crossed and my hands in prayer postion ... that it was done

for the right reasons and will all come out for the best.

I had my surgery for a TMJ condition - daily major migraines and the

inability to get my teeth to touch ... very open bite. But I, like

you, am also hoping that aesthetically there is a benefit, too. Only

time will tell. But I hope I'm still me!

All the best,

Carol

Hang in there!

> I've been making the arrangements for my surgery -- it's scheduled

for

> July 8, and my friend and I have our plane tickets and hotel booked.

> I'm still futzing with flex spending accounts and the loan

> application. My surgeon's info packet arrived in the mail a few days

> ago. I hadn't really been nervous at all until I started reading it.

> It's all serious and stuff. :-)

>

> I had a sudden moment of clarity where I thought: What the heck am I

> doing to myself? Allowing people to slice and rearrange my JAW?! I

> know these butterflies are normal. I know I'm in good hands. I

expect

> everything to go well, although I'm a little worried that the

results

> won't be dramatic enough to justify all this expense and hassle. I

> know that at the very least I'll have straight teeth and a beautiful

> smile, but my secret hope has been that I'll become pretty. Or

> something approaching it. And the reality probably is that I'll

still

> look like me.

>

> Anyway, I just read Cammie's and Grapebat's experiences with lower

> advancement and that calmed some fears, raised others. Like, is it

> really OK that I'll be discharged a few hours after surgery? I

guess I

> have to trust that my surgeon, who is one of the best, knows what

he's

> doing. But I'm a control freak! This is hard. :-)

>

> All part of the journey, I suppose .... Thanks for listening.

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Carol,

> In my humble opinion ... if you didn't worry ... you wouldn't be

> human.

Yeah, I was starting to wonder about myself. Still, I'm more excited

than anything. About the possibility of looking better, but especially

about going to the " big city " and hanging out with one of my favorite

people. Probably the nerves will set in shortly before the surgery and

I'll be a wreck. We'll see.

> fingers crossed and my hands in prayer postion ...

THAT'S an interesting image. :-)

> for the right reasons and will all come out for the best.

Yeah. That's kind of what I figured. I did my research, took a long

time deciding, and now feel pretty relaxed that I've made the right

decision.

> I had my surgery for a TMJ condition - daily major migraines and the

> inability to get my teeth to touch ... very open bite.

I really hope it helps you!

> you, am also hoping that aesthetically there is a benefit, too.

I wonder at what point we'll know for sure? When is the swelling gone

enough?

Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna,

When is the swelling gone enough? That's a REALLY good question.

Carol

> Carol,

>

> > In my humble opinion ... if you didn't worry ... you wouldn't be

> > human.

>

> Yeah, I was starting to wonder about myself. Still, I'm more excited

> than anything. About the possibility of looking better, but

especially

> about going to the " big city " and hanging out with one of my

favorite

> people. Probably the nerves will set in shortly before the surgery

and

> I'll be a wreck. We'll see.

>

> > fingers crossed and my hands in prayer postion ...

>

> THAT'S an interesting image. :-)

>

> > for the right reasons and will all come out for the best.

>

> Yeah. That's kind of what I figured. I did my research, took a long

> time deciding, and now feel pretty relaxed that I've made the right

> decision.

>

> > I had my surgery for a TMJ condition - daily major migraines and

the

> > inability to get my teeth to touch ... very open bite.

>

> I really hope it helps you!

>

> > you, am also hoping that aesthetically there is a benefit, too.

>

> I wonder at what point we'll know for sure? When is the swelling

gone

> enough?

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Hi Luna,

I can really relate to your experience. I haven't committed myself to the

surgery yet...I'm too terrified. I've already had a lot of surgery

(including the full jaw surgery as a child) and I have no illusions about

the severity and risk.....but I just looked at my dental photos and I have

to admit that my mouth is a disaster! My front teeth are all rounded because

they never touch (so there is no wear or tear), they are all over the place

and my top jaw is long and narrow, jutting out like a beak, while my bottom

jaw is almost non existent. If I had all my teeth pulled out and replaced

with false teeth, I'd be better off...it wouldn't be any more difficult to

eat than what I go through now. I can't even kiss my husband, because I am

too ashamed of my mouth. I work in a position of high leadership, where I

need people to respect me and look up to me...but sometimes I wonder how

they really see me. I look like such a dork. It has been proven that the way

we look does have a large impact on how people perceive us. A recessive jaw

is often seen as a sign of lower intelligence and passiveness.

I just made an appointment to see a specialist about my migraine headaches.

After 10 years, I've had enough. I now spend 6 hours vomiting when I have a

really bad attack.

On the other hand...I'm healthy. I don't have cancer and I have a happy

healthy family who love me the way I am.

It is hard to make a decision, but I do know that once you make the decision

you have to be 100% committed and positive.

I wish you all the best. I hope your surgery is a breeze. Keep us all posted

-- Eeek! What am I doing?!

I've been making the arrangements for my surgery -- it's scheduled for

July 8, and my friend and I have our plane tickets and hotel booked.

I'm still futzing with flex spending accounts and the loan

application. My surgeon's info packet arrived in the mail a few days

ago. I hadn't really been nervous at all until I started reading it.

It's all serious and stuff. :-)

I had a sudden moment of clarity where I thought: What the heck am I

doing to myself? Allowing people to slice and rearrange my JAW?! I

know these butterflies are normal. I know I'm in good hands. I expect

everything to go well, although I'm a little worried that the results

won't be dramatic enough to justify all this expense and hassle. I

know that at the very least I'll have straight teeth and a beautiful

smile, but my secret hope has been that I'll become pretty. Or

something approaching it. And the reality probably is that I'll still

look like me.

Anyway, I just read Cammie's and Grapebat's experiences with lower

advancement and that calmed some fears, raised others. Like, is it

really OK that I'll be discharged a few hours after surgery? I guess I

have to trust that my surgeon, who is one of the best, knows what he's

doing. But I'm a control freak! This is hard. :-)

All part of the journey, I suppose .... Thanks for listening.

Luna

[Guest guest]

Luna,

I understand exactly what you mean... last week I was explaining the

surgery to a classmate of mine, and she asked if that was going to

change the way I looked. Without even hesitating - or even being

aware of my response - I heard myself saying " I hope so! "

I myself have started worrying that this isn't going to change

enough. Then I smile, and realize that being able to do so without

reflexively covering my mouth, or even possibily being able to eat

without worrying if my jaw will lock up with each chew, makes it all

worth it in the end regardless of how much - or how little - my

overall appearance is affected. Yes, I will probably be a little

disappointed if I don't look different. But the fact of the matter

is, regardless of how we end up looking on the outside, I believe we

will all end up more beautiful on the inside for having gone through

this, especially together. While our surgery is " fixing " the

cosmetics, the caring and compassion we are sharing is giving us the

best " face-lift " of all!

It must be such a comfort to you to know you have such special

friends who are willing to go on this journey with you! Focus on the

adventure, and those little things you CAN control... the rest will

just " happen. "

Hugs!

Kate

> I've been making the arrangements for my surgery -- it's scheduled

for

> July 8, and my friend and I have our plane tickets and hotel booked.

> I'm still futzing with flex spending accounts and the loan

> application. My surgeon's info packet arrived in the mail a few days

> ago. I hadn't really been nervous at all until I started reading it.

> It's all serious and stuff. :-)

>

> I had a sudden moment of clarity where I thought: What the heck am I

> doing to myself? Allowing people to slice and rearrange my JAW?! I

> know these butterflies are normal. I know I'm in good hands. I

expect

> everything to go well, although I'm a little worried that the

results

> won't be dramatic enough to justify all this expense and hassle. I

> know that at the very least I'll have straight teeth and a beautiful

> smile, but my secret hope has been that I'll become pretty. Or

> something approaching it. And the reality probably is that I'll

still

> look like me.

>

> Anyway, I just read Cammie's and Grapebat's experiences with lower

> advancement and that calmed some fears, raised others. Like, is it

> really OK that I'll be discharged a few hours after surgery? I

guess I

> have to trust that my surgeon, who is one of the best, knows what

he's

> doing. But I'm a control freak! This is hard. :-)

>

> All part of the journey, I suppose .... Thanks for listening.

>

> Luna

[Guest guest]

Wow, , sounds like a tough decision. What happened, did they mess

up your mouth when you had surgery as a child? Are you going to have

braces?

It took me a long time to decide. At first I was really resistant

( " You people are crazy! " ) but it seemed the more I learned the more I

realized it was the right thing to do. My teeth were healthy and

nicely shaped, so it didn't make sense to wreck them with cosmetic

dentistry. I decided I wanted what I would have had if I'd had braces

as a kid. I decided I was worth the expense.

I have similar issues with wondering how people can respect me when I

look this way (I also have weight issues). And much as I believe we

should judge people on their inner qualities, when I look at some

before/after photos, I realize I totally have the cultural prejudices

ingrained in me. It's amazing how lower advancement can transform

people from looking passive and dorky to attractive and confident.

I have a weird chin, though, and am not sure that this will help much.

We'll see.

Luna

> Hi Luna,

>

> I can really relate to your experience. I haven't committed myself

to the

> surgery yet...I'm too terrified. I've already had a lot of surgery

> (including the full jaw surgery as a child) and I have no illusions

about

> the severity and risk.....but I just looked at my dental photos and

I have

> to admit that my mouth is a disaster! My front teeth are all rounded

because

> they never touch (so there is no wear or tear), they are all over

the place

> and my top jaw is long and narrow, jutting out like a beak, while my

bottom

> jaw is almost non existent. If I had all my teeth pulled out and

replaced

> with false teeth, I'd be better off...it wouldn't be any more

difficult to

> eat than what I go through now. I can't even kiss my husband,

because I am

> too ashamed of my mouth. I work in a position of high leadership,

where I

> need people to respect me and look up to me...but sometimes I wonder how

> they really see me. I look like such a dork. It has been proven that

the way

> we look does have a large impact on how people perceive us. A

recessive jaw

> is often seen as a sign of lower intelligence and passiveness.

>

> I just made an appointment to see a specialist about my migraine

headaches.

> After 10 years, I've had enough. I now spend 6 hours vomiting when I

have a

> really bad attack.

>

> On the other hand...I'm healthy. I don't have cancer and I have a happy

> healthy family who love me the way I am.

> It is hard to make a decision, but I do know that once you make the

decision

> you have to be 100% committed and positive.

>

> I wish you all the best. I hope your surgery is a breeze. Keep us

all posted

>

>

>

>

> -- Eeek! What am I doing?!

>

> I've been making the arrangements for my surgery -- it's scheduled for

> July 8, and my friend and I have our plane tickets and hotel booked.

> I'm still futzing with flex spending accounts and the loan

> application. My surgeon's info packet arrived in the mail a few days

> ago. I hadn't really been nervous at all until I started reading it.

> It's all serious and stuff. :-)

>

> I had a sudden moment of clarity where I thought: What the heck am I

> doing to myself? Allowing people to slice and rearrange my JAW?! I

> know these butterflies are normal. I know I'm in good hands. I expect

> everything to go well, although I'm a little worried that the results

> won't be dramatic enough to justify all this expense and hassle. I

> know that at the very least I'll have straight teeth and a beautiful

> smile, but my secret hope has been that I'll become pretty. Or

> something approaching it. And the reality probably is that I'll still

> look like me.

>

> Anyway, I just read Cammie's and Grapebat's experiences with lower

> advancement and that calmed some fears, raised others. Like, is it

> really OK that I'll be discharged a few hours after surgery? I guess I

> have to trust that my surgeon, who is one of the best, knows what he's

> doing. But I'm a control freak! This is hard. :-)

>

> All part of the journey, I suppose .... Thanks for listening.

>

> Luna

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kate,

Thanks for understanding. I don't have functional problems with my

bite, so that gives a different perspective. I'm sure that having a

bite that " works " will be a big boost to your self-esteem, which of

course affects how the world sees us. I know that my having straight

teeth will make a difference in how I feel, too. (It already does,

even though I'm still in braces.) I guess I'm just hoping for a

fairy-tale ending.

Yes, I'm delighted to have a good friend coming with me. I know I'm in

good hands. Friends are the best! And I think maybe this whole thing

is a lesson in learning to " change the things I can, accept the things

I can't, and the wisdom to know the difference. "

Good luck to you.

Luna

> > I've been making the arrangements for my surgery -- it's scheduled

> for

> > July 8, and my friend and I have our plane tickets and hotel booked.

> > I'm still futzing with flex spending accounts and the loan

> > application. My surgeon's info packet arrived in the mail a few days

> > ago. I hadn't really been nervous at all until I started reading it.

> > It's all serious and stuff. :-)

> >

> > I had a sudden moment of clarity where I thought: What the heck am I

> > doing to myself? Allowing people to slice and rearrange my JAW?! I

> > know these butterflies are normal. I know I'm in good hands. I

> expect

> > everything to go well, although I'm a little worried that the

> results

> > won't be dramatic enough to justify all this expense and hassle. I

> > know that at the very least I'll have straight teeth and a beautiful

> > smile, but my secret hope has been that I'll become pretty. Or

> > something approaching it. And the reality probably is that I'll

> still

> > look like me.

> >

> > Anyway, I just read Cammie's and Grapebat's experiences with lower

> > advancement and that calmed some fears, raised others. Like, is it

> > really OK that I'll be discharged a few hours after surgery? I

> guess I

> > have to trust that my surgeon, who is one of the best, knows what

> he's

> > doing. But I'm a control freak! This is hard. :-)

> >

> > All part of the journey, I suppose .... Thanks for listening.

> >

> > Luna

[Guest guest]

Kate,

You said that ... beautifully.

Hugs!

Carol

> > I've been making the arrangements for my surgery -- it's

scheduled

> for

> > July 8, and my friend and I have our plane tickets and hotel

booked.

> > I'm still futzing with flex spending accounts and the loan

> > application. My surgeon's info packet arrived in the mail a few

days

> > ago. I hadn't really been nervous at all until I started reading

it.

> > It's all serious and stuff. :-)

> >

> > I had a sudden moment of clarity where I thought: What the heck

am I

> > doing to myself? Allowing people to slice and rearrange my JAW?! I

> > know these butterflies are normal. I know I'm in good hands. I

> expect

> > everything to go well, although I'm a little worried that the

> results

> > won't be dramatic enough to justify all this expense and hassle. I

> > know that at the very least I'll have straight teeth and a

beautiful

> > smile, but my secret hope has been that I'll become pretty. Or

> > something approaching it. And the reality probably is that I'll

> still

> > look like me.

> >

> > Anyway, I just read Cammie's and Grapebat's experiences with lower

> > advancement and that calmed some fears, raised others. Like, is it

> > really OK that I'll be discharged a few hours after surgery? I

> guess I

> > have to trust that my surgeon, who is one of the best, knows what

> he's

> > doing. But I'm a control freak! This is hard. :-)

> >

> > All part of the journey, I suppose .... Thanks for listening.

> >

> > Luna