Re: surgery date of 09/08/2005

[Guest guest]

Bob,

oh, my... you worry more than me! I'm sorry you are going through

this - it makes this already emotional process so much more painful.

Your fears are understood, and you should work through this. If you

are unable to reach the point where you feel comfortable with this

decision, there is absolutely nothing wrong with postponing surgery.

My suggestion is talk to your surgeon in detail, and even ask if they

can recommend a councelor that is associated with the hospital. That

person would be most knowledgeable in the statistics of your

anesthesiologists, as they would be one of the first to talk to family

members of those who didn't make it through surgery. That being said,

the risks of dying on the surgery table are so incredibly slim for

even heart surgery patients, that the fact that you are in good health

going in for an elective procedure brings the risk down to close to

zero. I can understand the hesitation to anesthetize patients who are

obsessed with the possibility of dying, as the mind is a very powerful

thing. Use this to your advantage, and generate positive energy.

Perhaps the surgery tapes (Cammie?) has used can help you.

Good luck, and please continue to share your fears. You can only end

them by releasing them.

Kate

> I have backed off for a while. I have a surgery date of

> Sept 8. I am very fearful but need to face this fear. I am healthy

> 44 male who will be having upper and lower jaw advancement for my

OSA.

> I will also be having my tounge brought forward and Some Fat taken

out

> of my neck. my biggest and really only Fear is of dying on the

> table.

> Has anyone ever died from this surgery who is otherwise healthy. I

> am 5 feet 8 inches 180 Lbs and work out 4 x weekly. Any suggestions

> as I am obsessing about dying on the table not Living better, which I

> should be. I here anesthesiologist don't Like to put pts under who

> are obsessed with dying. Any Suggestions, the one suggestion I can

> think of is to Cancel and live with that machine.

[Guest guest]

Kate, thanks so much for your kind thoughts. I hare already my

decision. I'm just waiting and worrying.

Bob

> > I have backed off for a while. I have a surgery date of

> > Sept 8. I am very fearful but need to face this fear. I am

healthy

> > 44 male who will be having upper and lower jaw advancement for

my

> OSA.

> > I will also be having my tounge brought forward and Some Fat

taken

> out

> > of my neck. my biggest and really only Fear is of dying on the

> > table.

> > Has anyone ever died from this surgery who is otherwise healthy.

I

> > am 5 feet 8 inches 180 Lbs and work out 4 x weekly. Any

suggestions

> > as I am obsessing about dying on the table not Living better,

which I

> > should be. I here anesthesiologist don't Like to put pts under

who

> > are obsessed with dying. Any Suggestions, the one suggestion I

can

> > think of is to Cancel and live with that machine.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I know your concern as I have wrestled with the decision to use

surgery to correct my sleep apnea. My problem is I can't get a CPAP

mask to fit properly and the air leaks wake me up all night long.

I've stopped using the CPAP. I am having upper, lower and tongue

movement too. Also work on the nose.

I have some fear, but with me it comes down to a " quality of life "

issue. At this point I feel I will take the risk, because the rate

of cure is high. After having won my battle against cancer (15 yrs

ago), I would like have the energy I lack due to the lack of oxygen

at night.

I feel I have a good surgeon, assistant surgeon, and hopefully a

good anesthesiologist. I will be their hands and God.

Is there risks? Yes. But there are risks in everything we do. You

will have to decide if this is the right choice for you. If you are

satisfied with the CPAP, then you might not want to go the surgery

route. If I could find a mask that fit I wouldn't be doing the

surgery.

Good luck in your decision. I will have surgery on June 17th and

will be glad to share my experience with you and the group.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

Bob

I had the same fear because this was my first major surgery, and I did

not know what to expect. I am 30 years old, and I even went so far as

to prepare a will and everything. This was something I had not thought

about too much up until this point as I am not married yet, and I

don't have any kids. But this surgery was really freaking me out, and

I kept thinking the same thing, " what if I die on the table? " My

doctor reassured me that he has not lost a patient yet, and he didn't

intend on making me the first one. How nice of him! )

I am now 18 days post op, and I can honestly say that the time in the

hospital was the easiest part of this entire process. It's getting

home and dealing with recovery that is difficult. When I was in pre

op, I didn't even request any medication to relax me, as I was

surprisingly calm. Not sure how that came about as I was freaking out

about the surgery the entire week, or two, or three, before.

There are plenty of survivors on this site who will tell you that the

actual surgery is not as bad as they had expected it to be, and it

really is true. Don't be afraid to read the posts on this site because

they will truly help you prepare for what you are about to do. I

learned the right questions to ask my OS, and I was more prepared as a

result of this site. The people here truly offer a wealth of knowledge

and support. If nothing else, it is uplifting to here the stories of

us who are on the other side of the surgery. It lets you know that we

have survived, and you will to. )

> I have backed off for a while. I have a surgery date of

> Sept 8. I am very fearful but need to face this fear. I am healthy

> 44 male who will be having upper and lower jaw advancement for my

OSA.

> I will also be having my tounge brought forward and Some Fat taken

out

> of my neck. my biggest and really only Fear is of dying on the

> table.

> Has anyone ever died from this surgery who is otherwise healthy. I

> am 5 feet 8 inches 180 Lbs and work out 4 x weekly. Any suggestions

> as I am obsessing about dying on the table not Living better, which I

> should be. I here anesthesiologist don't Like to put pts under who

> are obsessed with dying. Any Suggestions, the one suggestion I can

> think of is to Cancel and live with that machine.

[Guest guest]

I would like to tell everyone who hasresponded to my post how much

it has meant to me and uplifted me from my fear. Today I feel more

anxious to go then fear. The one post that helped me alot was how

it may be more likeley to die on the way to the hospital then in the

hospital and how many caradic patients due well as well.

Anyway now that my braces have gotten my teeth to an appropiate

place.Today I will have my models made for my surgeon as he does

what he calls a mock operation using my models and xrays. This is

not covered by iinsurance and costing 2500 anyone evr heard of such

a thing.

Anyways thanks so much I love to talk to people by phone if anyone

wants to shre their expereince. My office # is toll free 800-841-

7677. No commerical interests on my part Just questions

> Hi ,

>

> I know your concern as I have wrestled with the decision to use

> surgery to correct my sleep apnea. My problem is I can't get a

CPAP

> mask to fit properly and the air leaks wake me up all night long.

> I've stopped using the CPAP. I am having upper, lower and tongue

> movement too. Also work on the nose.

>

> I have some fear, but with me it comes down to a " quality of life "

> issue. At this point I feel I will take the risk, because the rate

> of cure is high. After having won my battle against cancer (15 yrs

> ago), I would like have the energy I lack due to the lack of

oxygen

> at night.

>

> I feel I have a good surgeon, assistant surgeon, and hopefully a

> good anesthesiologist. I will be their hands and God.

>

> Is there risks? Yes. But there are risks in everything we do.

You

> will have to decide if this is the right choice for you. If you

are

> satisfied with the CPAP, then you might not want to go the surgery

> route. If I could find a mask that fit I wouldn't be doing the

> surgery.

>

> Good luck in your decision. I will have surgery on June 17th and

> will be glad to share my experience with you and the group.

>

> Shirley

[Guest guest]

,

My Surgeon also did a " mock operation " on a set of molds. I have yet

to find out if it will be covered by my Insurance. I got his bill

just recently: $35,900.00. I haven't heard from the hospital yet.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and my hands in prayer position

that Aetna pays for everythign! (I'll settle for the 70% or so that I

understood upfront would be their portion!)

Take care - glad to hear that you are in better spirits!

Carol

> > Hi ,

> >

> > I know your concern as I have wrestled with the decision to use

> > surgery to correct my sleep apnea. My problem is I can't get a

> CPAP

> > mask to fit properly and the air leaks wake me up all night

long.

> > I've stopped using the CPAP. I am having upper, lower and tongue

> > movement too. Also work on the nose.

> >

> > I have some fear, but with me it comes down to a " quality of

life "

> > issue. At this point I feel I will take the risk, because the

rate

> > of cure is high. After having won my battle against cancer (15

yrs

> > ago), I would like have the energy I lack due to the lack of

> oxygen

> > at night.

> >

> > I feel I have a good surgeon, assistant surgeon, and hopefully a

> > good anesthesiologist. I will be their hands and God.

> >

> > Is there risks? Yes. But there are risks in everything we do.

> You

> > will have to decide if this is the right choice for you. If you

> are

> > satisfied with the CPAP, then you might not want to go the

surgery

> > route. If I could find a mask that fit I wouldn't be doing the

> > surgery.

> >

> > Good luck in your decision. I will have surgery on June 17th and

> > will be glad to share my experience with you and the group.

> >

> > Shirley