Re: Hi Diane. :)

October 20, 2005

Hi Diane,

I had upper jaw surgery, major nose reconstruction, cheek bone and bone graft

surgery May this year. I also had cuts under my eyes and from ear to ear so my

surgeon could lengthen my nose. I was in hospital for ten days , my 4 year old

little brother didn't see me until the day I went home. Hecame iwth my mum to

pick me up from the hospital he took one look and walked away asking where his

sister was.

My mum talked to him and reminded him that I had an operation and that I looked

different but it was still the same . He came back and ran away again

saying hasn't got red hair she's got yellow hair. My hair was covered in

blood due to the cut on the scalp and with the staples having to be in place for

two weeks I couldn't wash my hair. My mum and a nurse talked to him and he came

back and asked to see our special hand shake then he believed it was me.

I was upset because he was upset and I didn't expect him to react that way but

he was fine after that.

---------------------------------

Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

October 20, 2005

,

Thank you very much for taking the time to send this email to me. It is very

helpful. I've always given my kids the " I love you " sign language sign when

they were able to see me, but unable to hear me. This has always been a

comforting sign for us. I'll try to think of other ways to communicate it's

me, I'm the same, etc.

Take care,

Diane, Oregon

>

>Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>Subject: Re: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Hi Diane.

>Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 06:09:57 -0700 (PDT)

>

>Hi Diane,

>

>I had upper jaw surgery, major nose reconstruction, cheek bone and bone

>graft surgery May this year. I also had cuts under my eyes and from ear to

>ear so my surgeon could lengthen my nose. I was in hospital for ten days ,

>my 4 year old little brother didn't see me until the day I went home.

>Hecame iwth my mum to pick me up from the hospital he took one look and

>walked away asking where his sister was.

>

>My mum talked to him and reminded him that I had an operation and that I

>looked different but it was still the same . He came back and ran away

>again saying hasn't got red hair she's got yellow hair. My hair was

>covered in blood due to the cut on the scalp and with the staples having to

>be in place for two weeks I couldn't wash my hair. My mum and a nurse

>talked to him and he came back and asked to see our special hand shake then

>he believed it was me.

>

>I was upset because he was upset and I didn't expect him to react that way

>but he was fine after that.

>

>---------------------------------

>

> Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

>

October 20, 2005

Hi Diane,

I'm not sure how old your kids are, but I tried to prepared mine

before my surgery, and told them that my face would swell up and I

would be bruised. Anyway.....in my attempt to prepare them I had

terrified them - they thought when I got home from the hospital I

would be this monster with a huge black and blue head. They were

scared to come look at me when I first got home, and they both were

very relieved once they did see me, even though I thought I was

pretty scary-looking it wasn't as bad as they had imagined.

In hindsight, what I wish I had done was get them to look at some of

the pictures on this site to give them a more accurate description

of how my face would change. I also told them I wouldn't be able to

read them books and they could read to me until I was able to talk

again - it sort of empowered them to look after me for a change.

Again, I'm not sure how old your kids are, but these are just some

ideas.

Pam

>

> ,

>

> Thank you very much for taking the time to send this email to me.

It is very

> helpful. I've always given my kids the " I love you " sign language

sign when

> they were able to see me, but unable to hear me. This has always

been a

> comforting sign for us. I'll try to think of other ways to

communicate it's

> me, I'm the same, etc.

>

> Take care,

>

> Diane, Oregon

>

> >From: Penketh <s_penketh@y...>

> >Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

> >To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

> >Subject: Re: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Hi Diane.

> >Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 06:09:57 -0700 (PDT)

> >

> >Hi Diane,

> >

> >I had upper jaw surgery, major nose reconstruction, cheek bone

and bone

> >graft surgery May this year. I also had cuts under my eyes and

from ear to

> >ear so my surgeon could lengthen my nose. I was in hospital for

ten days ,

> >my 4 year old little brother didn't see me until the day I went

home.

> >Hecame iwth my mum to pick me up from the hospital he took one

look and

> >walked away asking where his sister was.

> >

> >My mum talked to him and reminded him that I had an operation and

that I

> >looked different but it was still the same . He came back

and ran away

> >again saying hasn't got red hair she's got yellow hair. My

hair was

> >covered in blood due to the cut on the scalp and with the staples

having to

> >be in place for two weeks I couldn't wash my hair. My mum and a

nurse

> >talked to him and he came back and asked to see our special hand

shake then

> >he believed it was me.

> >

> >I was upset because he was upset and I didn't expect him to react

that way

> >but he was fine after that.

> >

> >---------------------------------

> >

> > Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it

free.

> >

October 20, 2005

Pam,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to me. With my surgery four weeks

from today, I'm beginning to think about a lot of things!

You've given me a lot of good ideas. I have four kids, 3 - 15, all of whom

" I think " would handle it differently. And then there's my husband...this is

beginning to really bother him. He's very worried about me and the

procedures being done. This is why my mom is going to Seattle with me to

have my surgery and he'll be staying home. He will take time off of work

when I get home. I asked if he would go with me to my pre-op next week and

he had all kinds of excuses why he " should " stay home before he admitted he

didn't really know if he could handle it. But, he would be there for me if I

really wanted him to be there.

I hope your recovery is going well for you.

Diane, Oregon

>

>Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>Subject: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Re: [Orthognathic Surgery

>Support ] Hi Diane.

>Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 18:31:18 -0000

>

>Hi Diane,

>

>I'm not sure how old your kids are, but I tried to prepared mine

>

>before my surgery, and told them that my face would swell up and I

>

>would be bruised. Anyway.....in my attempt to prepare them I had

>

>terrified them - they thought when I got home from the hospital I

>

>would be this monster with a huge black and blue head. They were

>

>scared to come look at me when I first got home, and they both were

>

>very relieved once they did see me, even though I thought I was

>

>pretty scary-looking it wasn't as bad as they had imagined.

>

>In hindsight, what I wish I had done was get them to look at some of

>

>the pictures on this site to give them a more accurate description

>

>of how my face would change. I also told them I wouldn't be able to

>

>read them books and they could read to me until I was able to talk

>

>again - it sort of empowered them to look after me for a change.

>

>Again, I'm not sure how old your kids are, but these are just some

>

>ideas.

>

>Pam

>

> >

>

> > ,

>

> >

>

> > Thank you very much for taking the time to send this email to me.

>

>It is very

>

> > helpful. I've always given my kids the " I love you " sign language

>

>sign when

>

> > they were able to see me, but unable to hear me. This has always

>

>been a

>

> > comforting sign for us. I'll try to think of other ways to

>

>communicate it's

>

> > me, I'm the same, etc.

>

> >

>

> > Take care,

>

> >

>

> > Diane, Oregon

>

> >

>

> > >From: Penketh <s_penketh@y...>

>

> > >Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>

> > >To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

>

> > >Subject: Re: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Hi Diane.

>

> > >Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 06:09:57 -0700 (PDT)

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >Hi Diane,

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >I had upper jaw surgery, major nose reconstruction, cheek bone

>

>and bone

>

> > >graft surgery May this year. I also had cuts under my eyes and

>

>from ear to

>

> > >ear so my surgeon could lengthen my nose. I was in hospital for

>

>ten days ,

>

> > >my 4 year old little brother didn't see me until the day I went

>

>home.

>

> > >Hecame iwth my mum to pick me up from the hospital he took one

>

>look and

>

> > >walked away asking where his sister was.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >My mum talked to him and reminded him that I had an operation and

>

>that I

>

> > >looked different but it was still the same . He came back

>

>and ran away

>

> > >again saying hasn't got red hair she's got yellow hair. My

>

>hair was

>

> > >covered in blood due to the cut on the scalp and with the staples

>

>having to

>

> > >be in place for two weeks I couldn't wash my hair. My mum and a

>

>nurse

>

> > >talked to him and he came back and asked to see our special hand

>

>shake then

>

> > >he believed it was me.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >I was upset because he was upset and I didn't expect him to react

>

>that way

>

> > >but he was fine after that.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >---------------------------------

>

> > >

>

> > > Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it

>

>free.

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> > >

October 20, 2005

Hi Diane, my husband was the same...he said he would like to

just 'disappear' for 2 months until it was all over, and I said " me

too! " . I understood his fear though, men aren't nurturers by nature

so I think it's hard for them to know exactly what they're supposed

to do for you when you're under the weather. The pre-op might be

good for him to go to, he could ask the Dr. any questions and

concerns he may have and he may feel a bit more relaxed having some

information about how you will be when you get home.

My hubby helped out by... taking care of the kids, and each morning

in bed he brought me an 'instant breakfast' drink with my extra

strength tylenol. This was enough to get my energy up to get up and

do whatever it was...shower...eat...heat-pack...get on the computer

and co-miserate with everyone on this site :-)

It's nice your Mom will go with you...Moms seem to know what to do,

I hope she'll be in the hospital with you too!

Take care,

Pam

> >

> > >

> >

> > > ,

> >

> > >

> >

> > > Thank you very much for taking the time to send this email to

me.

> >

> >It is very

> >

> > > helpful. I've always given my kids the " I love you " sign

language

> >

> >sign when

> >

> > > they were able to see me, but unable to hear me. This has

always

> >

> >been a

> >

> > > comforting sign for us. I'll try to think of other ways to

> >

> >communicate it's

> >

> > > me, I'm the same, etc.

> >

> > >

> >

> > > Take care,

> >

> > >

> >

> > > Diane, Oregon

> >

> > >

> >

> > > >From: Penketh <s_penketh@y...>

> >

> > > >Reply-To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

> >

> > > >To: orthognathicsurgerysupport

> >

> > > >Subject: Re: [Orthognathic Surgery Support ] Hi Diane.

> >

> > > >Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 06:09:57 -0700 (PDT)

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >Hi Diane,

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >I had upper jaw surgery, major nose reconstruction, cheek bone

> >

> >and bone

> >

> > > >graft surgery May this year. I also had cuts under my eyes and

> >

> >from ear to

> >

> > > >ear so my surgeon could lengthen my nose. I was in hospital

for

> >

> >ten days ,

> >

> > > >my 4 year old little brother didn't see me until the day I

went

> >

> >home.

> >

> > > >Hecame iwth my mum to pick me up from the hospital he took one

> >

> >look and

> >

> > > >walked away asking where his sister was.

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >My mum talked to him and reminded him that I had an operation

and

> >

> >that I

> >

> > > >looked different but it was still the same . He came back

> >

> >and ran away

> >

> > > >again saying hasn't got red hair she's got yellow hair.

My

> >

> >hair was

> >

> > > >covered in blood due to the cut on the scalp and with the

staples

> >

> >having to

> >

> > > >be in place for two weeks I couldn't wash my hair. My mum and

a

> >

> >nurse

> >

> > > >talked to him and he came back and asked to see our special

hand

> >

> >shake then

> >

> > > >he believed it was me.

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >I was upset because he was upset and I didn't expect him to

react

> >

> >that way

> >

> > > >but he was fine after that.

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >---------------------------------

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > > Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it

> >

> >free.

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

> >

> > > >

October 20, 2005

Diane,

Your situation sounds like mine..I just had my 4th surgery 2 weeks ago in a

little over a year..my husband wasnt supportive from day one, and then use not

knowing that I would have to continue having more surgeries that were

unsuspected. I have 7 ad 10 yr old . THye handled all of them ok, my 10 year

old shed a few tears this last time, hes a moms boy and worries about me, my

daughter tried to help me when I needed it...my husband doesnt know what to do

whn we are sick, hes never had major surgery..good luck to you..I live in the

seattle area (Enumclaw) from 2000-2003..I miss it, but got tired of the

weather..had to come back to my home states of Georgia, my husbands originally

from the Bay area of San Fran California so we are used to warmer weather...good

luck to you and email me if you want to talk..I have found that this site helps

with recovery.

Jill in Atlanta

DIANE COATES wrote: