Bad day and news . . . feeling discouraged

June 15, 2005

Hi everyone,

My emotional roller-coaster has begun, and I could really use some

encouragement. I had my 2 week chec-up today with the OD, and he

informed me he as to now do something to " bring one side of my nose

down " ? I still don't fully understand, and when I asked him, he

kind of glossed over it like it was a minor procedure (no need to go

to the hospital or anything, they just do it with stitches).

Hmmm . . . maybe I'm overreacting, but the thought of any more

prodding in my nose/mouth area is just nauseating, not to mention

does insurance cover this? Do I pay for it? I mean, sometimes I

get the impression that the money spent on all of this stuff is just

a footnote to some of these Dr's. Anyhow, has anybody experienced

this nose issue? My nose was fine before all of this, so it's just

frustrating.

Also, I guess I just am feeling a little overwhelmed at the prospect

of this swelling and numbness persisting for months. I knew it was

a possibility going in, but the reality of it really hit me hard

today. So, I'm not going to be able to eat, kiss, talk, look normal

for months to a year? I guess it's just overwhelming me today for

some reason. I feel like crying, but I know better because then I

would have more problems on my hands . . .like breathing! I know

that I'll get over this, and as we all know, there's not really a

choice, but if any of you have any words of support, I could really

use them right now! Thanks everyone, and sorry to be such a

downer. I am still confident that eventually I will be glad I did

this. It's just that some days it's easier to see that than others.

June 15, 2005

-

I wish I could give you a hug - that's always my knee jerk reaction.

And just like I cringe at the thought of those plastic cheek expanders

yesterday - the idea of anyone touching my/your mouth/nose area sent

shivers down my spine. Do you think your nose looks lopsided? Is it

harder for you to breathe on one side than the other? I really never

thought about how much our noses would change after this surgery - the

only thing I heard was that it may tip the end up. I'm sorry your OD

was such a clod - and didn't really explain it to you nicely. If you

need to yell or punch or whatever - we're always here for you ) And

as for the swelling/eating issue...it will come down someday. My dad

has been all inspirational in the last couple weeks - and writes me

notes constantly about how time does not stand still. We've been

through braces, pre-op anxiety, surgery, immediate recovery - and

we'll never be stuck in one of those places (well the braces maybe

)...but we made it through and time just marched on. Eventually your

swelling (and all of ours) will go down - eventually you'll see the

light at the end of the tunnel.

We're always here for you )

-becky

June 15, 2005

Aw ,

Hugs to you:-). First, I would completely hold off on the nose

thing. You are probably quite swollen still (like me, 15 days

postop), so it's hard to say if that side of your nose won't just

come down with the swelling. Can you breathe okay? I had to get a

septoplasty to fix my nose a few days ago, but that was to help me

breathe. I'm not sure what your doctor is referring to, but it seems

like a cosmetic thing, and you would probably have to pay for it.

I know what you mean about the kissing thing. My poor 5 yr old is

used to getting kisses every day, now her mommy can't kiss her. That

is sad:-(. That is what is bothering me the most right now, that I

can't kiss my daughter or my husband. I was used to not being able

to talk right because of the way my bite was before, but having no

feeling in my lip is getting old.

Try to keep your head up...it will get better. I have my days too

where I think that I can't stand another minute of numbness or

swelling, but it passes. A year from now, we will both look back and

this will be a distant memory, and we will say, that wasn't so bad.

(Lets hope:-)). I hope your day gets better:-).

> Hi everyone,

>

> My emotional roller-coaster has begun, and I could really use some

> encouragement. I had my 2 week chec-up today with the OD, and he

> informed me he as to now do something to " bring one side of my nose

> down " ? I still don't fully understand, and when I asked him, he

> kind of glossed over it like it was a minor procedure (no need to

go

> to the hospital or anything, they just do it with stitches).

> Hmmm . . . maybe I'm overreacting, but the thought of any more

> prodding in my nose/mouth area is just nauseating, not to mention

> does insurance cover this? Do I pay for it? I mean, sometimes I

> get the impression that the money spent on all of this stuff is

just

> a footnote to some of these Dr's. Anyhow, has anybody experienced

> this nose issue? My nose was fine before all of this, so it's just

> frustrating.

>

> Also, I guess I just am feeling a little overwhelmed at the

prospect

> of this swelling and numbness persisting for months. I knew it was

> a possibility going in, but the reality of it really hit me hard

> today. So, I'm not going to be able to eat, kiss, talk, look

normal

> for months to a year? I guess it's just overwhelming me today for

> some reason. I feel like crying, but I know better because then I

> would have more problems on my hands . . .like breathing! I know

> that I'll get over this, and as we all know, there's not really a

> choice, but if any of you have any words of support, I could really

> use them right now! Thanks everyone, and sorry to be such a

> downer. I am still confident that eventually I will be glad I did

> this. It's just that some days it's easier to see that than others.

>

June 15, 2005

My surgeon is going to do the same thing. After surgery I seemed to

have lost my upper lip and my nose is wider, so to fix this my

doctor will put some stiches under my nose (inside my mouth) to pull

the soft tissue tighter togther and therefore making the nose more

narrow and giving the upper lip a little more fullness. I am in

agreeance with all of this, but yo're right...I didn't even think to

ask about the cost or if insurance covers it. But in my opinion,

anything to make me look better is fine by me...I need to trust my

doctor who has done these procedures hundreds of times.

Hope you feel better about it soon,

Willa

> Hi everyone,

>

> My emotional roller-coaster has begun, and I could really use some

> encouragement. I had my 2 week chec-up today with the OD, and he

> informed me he as to now do something to " bring one side of my

nose

> down " ? I still don't fully understand, and when I asked him, he

> kind of glossed over it like it was a minor procedure (no need to

go

> to the hospital or anything, they just do it with stitches).

> Hmmm . . . maybe I'm overreacting, but the thought of any more

> prodding in my nose/mouth area is just nauseating, not to mention

> does insurance cover this? Do I pay for it? I mean, sometimes I

> get the impression that the money spent on all of this stuff is

just

> a footnote to some of these Dr's. Anyhow, has anybody experienced

> this nose issue? My nose was fine before all of this, so it's just

> frustrating.

>

> Also, I guess I just am feeling a little overwhelmed at the

prospect

> of this swelling and numbness persisting for months. I knew it

was

> a possibility going in, but the reality of it really hit me hard

> today. So, I'm not going to be able to eat, kiss, talk, look

normal

> for months to a year? I guess it's just overwhelming me today for

> some reason. I feel like crying, but I know better because then I

> would have more problems on my hands . . .like breathing! I know

> that I'll get over this, and as we all know, there's not really a

> choice, but if any of you have any words of support, I could

really

> use them right now! Thanks everyone, and sorry to be such a

> downer. I am still confident that eventually I will be glad I did

> this. It's just that some days it's easier to see that than

others.

>

June 15, 2005

,

I'm so sorry to hear that you had a rough appointment with your

doctor. Try to keep calm until you have a better understanding of

your doctor's concerns and what he wants to do about them.

Meanwhile ... I know it can seem daunting, like forever will come

before you can live " normally " again ... but it won't be forever, I

promise. Hang in there as the roller coaster flies down the track

and know that it will level out, soon.

Hugs!

Carol