Surgery date set... I have some questions....

[Guest guest]

I'm set to get my surgery on Aug 3. I have an appointment tomorrow

with the oral surgeon. I am absolutely terrified; they're telling

me I will be perfectly fine and ready to go back to school on Aug

17th, but I really do think they're sugar-coating everything. My

orthodontist said it would be a one-week recovery, ha ha ha what a

liar! This was supposed to be done in May but the oral surgeon and

orthodontist are AWFUL about keeping in touch with each other. I'm

worried that since I still have a gap on my top two front teeth and

they're still a bit crooked they will postpone the surgery AGAIN

(that'd be the 3rd time!) for December when I have winter vacation

(I'm in college).

How was the pain for you guys? How swollen were you, etc? I got my

wisdom teeth out in November 2003 in prep for the surgery, and I was

swollen a little bit and I healed very quickly; the surgeon said it

boded very well for my jaw surgery but I'm still afraid I won't want

to go out of the house for two weeks! I'm supposed to be wired shut

for 5 days to a week. I have the underbite and apparently a

crossbite, and midface hypoplasia, whatever that is, so they're

doing both my upper and bottom jaw. I'm so scared about being under

for six to eight hours; I've only been out for about thirty minutes

when I had hernia surgery a few years ago!!! I'm also terrified of

needles and things and I'm begging the hospital to let them knock me

out before the blood test and IV with some nitrous oxide or

something so I don't freak out and hit someone (because I'm known to

do that).

I'm so wanting to get this all over with, as I'm in a lot of pain in

my right jaw joint and it's hard to bite into things and everything.

I thought it'd be better to ask these questions here first for

people who have had the surgery as opposed to the surgeon who tends

to sugar-coat everything and is rather condescending and quite rude

(I'm 19; he and the orthodontist act like I'm five!). Apparently

though he's one of the best in Southern California, so... I guess I

shouldn't be too worried.

Does anyone have any tips as to what I could eat for the first week

(er, drink)? How many nasty things will I get stuck with (IVs,

catheters, etc)? My dad is freaking out about this surgery; my mom,

stepmom and boyfriend are fine and dandy with it as I really want it

done, and I'm trying so hard to not be scared and keep a positive

attitude as I hear it really impacts one's recovery if you're

positive about it.

Any comments, encouragement welcome, definitely... I really am

terrified but trying not to show it to everyone!!!

Lanie