Hi It's Me Again!

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I posted a few months ago saying that I would be getting surgery to

fix my open bite (photos: Cozmia). Well my surgery date is 2 weeks

away. I'm starting to get nervous or anxious, I can't find the right

word to describe it.

Anyway, I've been trying hard to be positive, by thinking of the

outcome like being able to actually bite into things such as, lettuce,

which is always nice. However, I want to ask a question to all

those who have had this surgery. What did you do on your time off? I

have planned to read a few books that I haven't had time to read, and

watch movies, but I want to remain mentally active (to not get so

depressed) and try not to spend all my time on the internet (which I

am pretty sure I will end up doing anyway).

I'm 21 years old and and it hurts when my friends make plans for the

summer that I know I will not be able to participate in because of my

surgery. I hate talking about the surgery to my friends because I

feel they won't understand and I feel like I whine too much about it,

which I am doing right now (and I haven't even gotten it yet). Other

than that, I'm hoping that everything turns out okay. I also have a

great therapist and mentor that I can always cry to. I will write

again to let you know how my surgery/recovery goes.

I hope everyone in the states has a wonderful fourth of July weekend.

Sincerely,

Norma Landeros

[Guest guest]

Hi Norma

I'm sure everything will turn out great for you! Your friends probably won't get

it

at all but that is ok because at least you can come here. I say spend the time

you have now, within the next two weeks, to pig out on all the junk food and

fast food you can! Chocolate, fries, etc. I watched a lot of tv on my time off.

Talk

shows and soap operas are great for that!

Mia

> Hello everyone,

>

> I posted a few months ago saying that I would be getting surgery to

> fix my open bite (photos: Cozmia). Well my surgery date is 2 weeks

> away. I'm starting to get nervous or anxious, I can't find the right

> word to describe it.

>

> Anyway, I've been trying hard to be positive, by thinking of the

> outcome like being able to actually bite into things such as, lettuce,

> which is always nice. However, I want to ask a question to all

> those who have had this surgery. What did you do on your time off? I

> have planned to read a few books that I haven't had time to read, and

> watch movies, but I want to remain mentally active (to not get so

> depressed) and try not to spend all my time on the internet (which I

> am pretty sure I will end up doing anyway).

>

> I'm 21 years old and and it hurts when my friends make plans for the

> summer that I know I will not be able to participate in because of my

> surgery. I hate talking about the surgery to my friends because I

> feel they won't understand and I feel like I whine too much about it,

> which I am doing right now (and I haven't even gotten it yet). Other

> than that, I'm hoping that everything turns out okay. I also have a

> great therapist and mentor that I can always cry to. I will write

> again to let you know how my surgery/recovery goes.

>

> I hope everyone in the states has a wonderful fourth of July weekend.

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Norma Landeros

[Guest guest]

Norma

Try not to stress too much about what you will do during your time

off. I found that the more I did that (stressing) the more miserable

I got about the surgery and the time it would rob me of. Look at it

this way, you're giving up a very small portion of your overall life

to fix a problem that has caused you to lead a less than satisfactory

style of life e.g. eating etc. Fixing this problem will enable you to

enjoy life to the max in the future, all other things remaining

constant. So while you may not be able to plan an amazing summer this

year, this time next year you'll be sporting a gorgeous new smile, or

even come Sept you will be! I know I was really upset about losing my

summer and being so far away from home and my fiance. And then, as

luck would have it I healed so much more quickly than expected and

before I knew it I was actually out and DOING STUFF again. And best

of all, I get to fly home after all. Tomorrow as it happens and I'm

only 3 weeks and 3 days post-op. So things may turn out to be a lot

less bleak than you see them now:-)

In terms of what to do during your free time I wouldn't worry too

much about the mental stimulation. Trust me when I tell you you won't

want it for a while. You'll be very tired the first week and will

likely sleep a lot. I picked up my first book after about 4 days post-

op and have since then read 3 books in 2 weeks. It's just really nice

to be able to have all this time to read and not feel guilty for

doing it. Usually you have other things to do that take priority over

relaxing and resting up. This is one period in your life where that

will not be the case so enjoy it! If you feel like watching TV or a

movie do it. One thing that I did as I got better was make a point to

leave the house at least every other day. Then with my friends I

organized to go to the movies and made a list of things I wanted to

see. Bit by bit as you heal you start to feel better and your brain

starts to wake up and it figures out on its own what it needs for

stimulation. Oh and as for the friends that don't understand the

surgery, I think they understand more than you think. They just don't

understand why someone would voluntarily put themselves through

something like this and who can blame them for thinking like that?

After all we've all had our doubts about the surgery and we NEEDED to

do it so go figure what someone who doesn't need the surgery feels

like. In a strange and wonderful way my friends really started to

understand only after the surgery had taken place because they saw

immediately what an improvement it made for me. The results were

suddenly more tangible for them. They gave me a Get Well Package that

included a present from each of them. I was allowed to open only one

present per day to give me something to look forward to each day.

Needless to say I opened all the presents at once but there was some

cool stuff like an origami set and board games etc. You'll see that

you'll find stuff to do. The important thing is to not think of

yourself as an invalid. You are as my OS always says, simply someone

whose jaw in under construction. Stay positive and you'll see

everything will go well.

Sara

> Hello everyone,

>

> I posted a few months ago saying that I would be getting surgery to

> fix my open bite (photos: Cozmia). Well my surgery date is 2 weeks

> away. I'm starting to get nervous or anxious, I can't find the

right

> word to describe it.

>

> Anyway, I've been trying hard to be positive, by thinking of the

> outcome like being able to actually bite into things such as,

lettuce,

> which is always nice. However, I want to ask a question to all

> those who have had this surgery. What did you do on your time

off? I

> have planned to read a few books that I haven't had time to read,

and

> watch movies, but I want to remain mentally active (to not get so

> depressed) and try not to spend all my time on the internet (which I

> am pretty sure I will end up doing anyway).

>

> I'm 21 years old and and it hurts when my friends make plans for the

> summer that I know I will not be able to participate in because of

my

> surgery. I hate talking about the surgery to my friends because I

> feel they won't understand and I feel like I whine too much about

it,

> which I am doing right now (and I haven't even gotten it yet). Other

> than that, I'm hoping that everything turns out okay. I also have a

> great therapist and mentor that I can always cry to. I will

write

> again to let you know how my surgery/recovery goes.

>

> I hope everyone in the states has a wonderful fourth of July

weekend.

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Norma Landeros

[Guest guest]

Hi Norma,

It must be exciting and nervewracking to be this close to surgery.

I haven't had this surgery yet, but I have had others. It always

helps me to prepare for the recovery during these last few days. I

gather the things I want to read/watch/do - like word games, and

writing etc, and to set up my recovery table. I put the remote, a

pad and pencil to keep track of my pain meds (it can get really

confusing when you have had recent anesthesia to keep track of

anything for a while), and things I will need routinely. I gather

special foods, aids, and ways to communicate - usually a walkie

talkie, but not for this surgery!! lol Just being occupied with

gathering things helps me get through the preop jitters. I hope

this might be of some help to you too.

The great thing is that you will be feeling so good and ready to go

by the start of school next fall! You will be there! yeah!!

If you can think of anything you need help with here, let us know.

There are so many supportive people here and I am sure some of the

vets can really help you.

Hugs,

Fran

> Hello everyone,

>

> I posted a few months ago saying that I would be getting surgery to

> fix my open bite (photos: Cozmia). Well my surgery date is 2 weeks

> away. I'm starting to get nervous or anxious, I can't find the

right

> word to describe it.

>

> Anyway, I've been trying hard to be positive, by thinking of the

> outcome like being able to actually bite into things such as,

lettuce,

> which is always nice. However, I want to ask a question to all

> those who have had this surgery. What did you do on your time

off? I

> have planned to read a few books that I haven't had time to read,

and

> watch movies, but I want to remain mentally active (to not get so

> depressed) and try not to spend all my time on the internet (which

I

> am pretty sure I will end up doing anyway).

>

> I'm 21 years old and and it hurts when my friends make plans for

the

> summer that I know I will not be able to participate in because of

my

> surgery. I hate talking about the surgery to my friends because I

> feel they won't understand and I feel like I whine too much about

it,

> which I am doing right now (and I haven't even gotten it yet).

Other

> than that, I'm hoping that everything turns out okay. I also have

a

> great therapist and mentor that I can always cry to. I will

write

> again to let you know how my surgery/recovery goes.

>

> I hope everyone in the states has a wonderful fourth of July

weekend.

>

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Norma Landeros

[Guest guest]

Dear Sara,

Thank you so much for your kind words and advice. I feel so much

better about this surgery and everyday I know I will get better.

I hope to be as lucky as you with a speedy recovery, Thank you sooo

much for your encouragement I honestly feel much more optimistic for

my surgery.

Sincerely,

Norma

> > Hello everyone,

> >

> > I posted a few months ago saying that I would be getting surgery to

> > fix my open bite (photos: Cozmia). Well my surgery date is 2 weeks

> > away. I'm starting to get nervous or anxious, I can't find the

> right

> > word to describe it.

> >

> > Anyway, I've been trying hard to be positive, by thinking of the

> > outcome like being able to actually bite into things such as,

> lettuce,

> > which is always nice. However, I want to ask a question to all

> > those who have had this surgery. What did you do on your time

> off? I

> > have planned to read a few books that I haven't had time to read,

> and

> > watch movies, but I want to remain mentally active (to not get so

> > depressed) and try not to spend all my time on the internet (which I

> > am pretty sure I will end up doing anyway).

> >

> > I'm 21 years old and and it hurts when my friends make plans for the

> > summer that I know I will not be able to participate in because of

> my

> > surgery. I hate talking about the surgery to my friends because I

> > feel they won't understand and I feel like I whine too much about

> it,

> > which I am doing right now (and I haven't even gotten it yet). Other

> > than that, I'm hoping that everything turns out okay. I also have a

> > great therapist and mentor that I can always cry to. I will

> write

> > again to let you know how my surgery/recovery goes.

> >

> > I hope everyone in the states has a wonderful fourth of July

> weekend.

> >

> >

> > Sincerely,

> >

> > Norma Landeros