first post-op visit

[Guest guest]

First of all - I think after weeks of being on this site, I finally

figured out that OS is oral surgeon and OD is orthodontist. It really

did take me that long (and I'm a grad student - I'm doomed!)

I had Joey call my PS (that's plastic surgeon - see I'm down with the

lingo now!) today to ask about my bone graft site. I figured the

secretary would just ask him and call back - but he actually got on

the phone! Joey almost fell off his chair!!! Anyway, he asked if I

had seen the OD (hehehe) and he said no. God was not really happy

about that and then asked if we were close by the office. Being as we

live three blocks from the hospital (since I'm a grad student there)

he said yes - and that's when it happened. God invited us over! You

had to see us - what are we going to wear? What are we going to say?

It was pretty funny.

As for the fifth conversation I had with my PS - he said I was way

above the typical healing curve and doing better than he had expected

) Yeah! He did caution me against touching the stiches with my

tongue - because if they fall out early, saliva can seep in and the

bone graft will get infected. Again with the not eating/drinking hot

stuff. Again with the no blowing the nose - although I did ask what

happened if I simply exhaled through my nose and there just happened

to be snot. He said if that were the case it was better to block off

one side and only breath through one nostril. But he said things

looked healthy and by week three we should have a good handle on how

the soft tissue is healing and the probable success of the graft.

I complimented him on my cute nose - and he said he was able to tuck

it in while he had my jaw down. But then he suggested that I might

want some more touch ups around the tip (he really is a perfectionist)

about 9 months out. Being as it usually takes me two years to forget

how much I hate surgery - I think that's a little too soon for me.

Although if the graft doesn't take and they have to do it again who am

I to say no to nose 7.0? Bring it on

As for the graft site - he said things are looking good and to keep

the surgical dressing on it (which is funny because he couldn't

actually see the incision but I guess if it were infected the gauze

would have been a weird color and it's still white). He said leave

the dressing on as long as possible - and when it falls off it falls

off. There's dissovable stiches there too - go figure.

So all was well ) I'm trying not to blow my nose or touch my

stiches - and just pray the graft takes. And the more time I spend

with the PS - the more I really like him. I think while he was under

he must have said something really positive - because I really like

him a whole lot more now.

If anyone is still reading this - you should get a gold star! Why do

I think you guys want to hear a blow by blow?!? Once I write it and

it's this long - I think about editing to make it shorter...but I

never do. Feel free to skim next time

At least I'm in a good mood today (and Sara - I'm sending you some of

my postive vibes - your's really helped the other day). Aight -

that's it. I'm out like trout.

-becky