Re: To Gene

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I read all the replies and posts here very carefully, and am

grateful for the opportunity to talk to others with a similar problem.

Please don't misunderstand me. If my posts came across as arrogant or

demeaning, that is completely the OPPOSITE of what I intended.

But let me explain what I mean because it IS very important.

I have not seen a single person here who would post, " I am 5 years

post op. All my sensations have returned 100%. Life is 100% back to

normal, AND I now have a great bite! I am happy, optimistic, joyful,

and ready to encourage others. "

Of course people here encourage others, this is wonderful.

But are they 100% back to normal?

Have they regained 100% of all their sensations in the chin/lip/cheek

areas?

WHY, I ask you, have I not seen a single person here who would come

here a couple years after the surgery to report that everything is

100% back to normal?

MAYBE, just maybe, because " everything " does NOT go 100% " back to

normal. " A small numbness here. Just a little food restriction there.

Let me give you an example. I was once treated for depression. As I

was being treated, I found some message boards dealing with

depression. The joy, optimism, and happiness from post-treatment

members there was dazzling to me, I shared my experiences, they

shared theirs, and when I was fully cured, I felt so happy I wanted

to continue helping others and encouraging them.

Why, on this message board, don't people ever come back after 1-2

years to report? Are you so sure they don't have any remaining post

op issues? Why am I not seeing enough joy, happiness, and optimism

here? WHY?

thanks a lot

[Guest guest]

Hi Gene,

People do come back to tell us how great they are doing.

Unfortunately, I think their messages get burried quickly as this is

an active board. Look at message 95848 for example, (I was able to

find this quickly as I remembered that Carleen recently checked

in...).

Also, and this is just my observation, once surgery is over and you

are feeling better and better, you tend to not come to the board

anymore as you have less questions and concerns. I know in the

almost 8 weeks since my surgery i have gone days without visiting

the board. I'm just out living my life like normal and my surgery

is becoming more of something in the past. I do plan on coming back

to pop in, but it's amazing how fast other things become a priority

once you sucessfully get past surgery and are recovering well.

But to help you out.

HI! I'm Cori and I had upper jaw surgery July 20th of this year to

fix an open bite and a crossbite. I had a 2 piece Lefort, and was

in the hospital for two nights. While my recovery wasn't a blast,

it was not anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be and I'm

amazed that I'm already 7 1/2 weeks out of surgery. Things went

very well. I'm recovering faster than I even imagined. I have no

numbness at all, other than my upper gums which are starting to come

back. This is something that I didn't even notice until I tried to

floss my upper teeth after getting my splint out. It hasn't

effected anything other than that. I am already able to eat things

that I was not able to eat before surgery due to my open bite, and I

have only been able to chew for a week and a half! I am more

confident eating in front of others with my new found eating skills.

I didn't have an appearance change, so I can't comment on that.

I am 100% happy with my decision to have surgery. My bite, still

being 'tweaked' by orthodontics by the way, is still better at this

point than it has been, well probably EVER! I am happy and I feel

great.

Anyone else want to help Gene out with how they are doing, poeple

farther out than me?

Cori

> Thanks. I read all the replies and posts here very carefully, and

am

> grateful for the opportunity to talk to others with a similar

problem.

>

> Please don't misunderstand me. If my posts came across as arrogant

or

> demeaning, that is completely the OPPOSITE of what I intended.

>

> But let me explain what I mean because it IS very important.

>

> I have not seen a single person here who would post, " I am 5 years

> post op. All my sensations have returned 100%. Life is 100% back

to

> normal, AND I now have a great bite! I am happy, optimistic,

joyful,

> and ready to encourage others. "

>

> Of course people here encourage others, this is wonderful.

> But are they 100% back to normal?

> Have they regained 100% of all their sensations in the

chin/lip/cheek

> areas?

>

> WHY, I ask you, have I not seen a single person here who would

come

> here a couple years after the surgery to report that everything is

> 100% back to normal?

>

> MAYBE, just maybe, because " everything " does NOT go 100% " back to

> normal. " A small numbness here. Just a little food restriction

there.

>

> Let me give you an example. I was once treated for depression. As

I

> was being treated, I found some message boards dealing with

> depression. The joy, optimism, and happiness from post-treatment

> members there was dazzling to me, I shared my experiences, they

> shared theirs, and when I was fully cured, I felt so happy I

wanted

> to continue helping others and encouraging them.

>

> Why, on this message board, don't people ever come back after 1-2

> years to report? Are you so sure they don't have any remaining

post

> op issues? Why am I not seeing enough joy, happiness, and optimism

> here? WHY?

>

> thanks a lot

[Guest guest]

Also Gene, both Cammie (Ceast) and Fiddlesticks check in

regularly and they are at least 2 years post-op as well as from what

I gather 100% satisfied. You might want to also check out

orthognathic surgery site 2 which and Cammie moderate. Actually

now that I think about it, as I was getting closer to surgery in June

several members of the site who had had surgery some years ago

stopped by to post that they were still doing very well. Like Cori

said it's hard once your life gets back to normal to keep on posting

every single day although many of us do try to keep on providing that

much needed support. A lot of the posters sound miserable because

they've just come out of surgery which is not the happiest of times

or because they're just as terrified as you.

Something that I would recommend is asking your doctor if he has 2 or

3 patients that have undergone the same procedure as you did and that

you can talk to. I did that with my oral surgeon and was able to get

some great feedback. Sometimes it just helps to know someone who has

been treated by the same doctor that will be treating you.

Oh, and on your posts regarding being 25 and braces being a hindrance

to your dating activities. I'm 27 now, I was 26 when I got my braces

on for the 4th time (had them on from the time I was 7 to 17 years

old 3 times in total) and believe me when I say it was a heck of a

lot harder having them on when I was in high-school than when I was

working and at graduate school. People just didn't seem to notice

them until I pointed them out. Also, funnily enough I suddenly got

hit on like crazy by men, something about the braces made them more

interested in me for some reason. One guy told me that it showed that

I cared about how I looked...what ever. The point is that I think we

all fear that braces will be a lot worse than they actually are and

we place a lot more aesthethic value on them than we should. Would

you date a girl who has terrible teeth or a girl who has braces on?

Personally I would hope that any girl dating you would date you based

on your personality and what you have to offer rather than on whether

you have braces or not. I'm engaged now and personally am thrilled

that on the day of my wedding I will be able to smile proudly without

worrying about my bad open bite.

Best of luck!

Sara

> > Thanks. I read all the replies and posts here very carefully, and

> am

> > grateful for the opportunity to talk to others with a similar

> problem.

> >

> > Please don't misunderstand me. If my posts came across as

arrogant

> or

> > demeaning, that is completely the OPPOSITE of what I intended.

> >

> > But let me explain what I mean because it IS very important.

> >

> > I have not seen a single person here who would post, " I am 5

years

> > post op. All my sensations have returned 100%. Life is 100% back

> to

> > normal, AND I now have a great bite! I am happy, optimistic,

> joyful,

> > and ready to encourage others. "

> >

> > Of course people here encourage others, this is wonderful.

> > But are they 100% back to normal?

> > Have they regained 100% of all their sensations in the

> chin/lip/cheek

> > areas?

> >

> > WHY, I ask you, have I not seen a single person here who would

> come

> > here a couple years after the surgery to report that everything

is

> > 100% back to normal?

> >

> > MAYBE, just maybe, because " everything " does NOT go 100% " back to

> > normal. " A small numbness here. Just a little food restriction

> there.

> >

> > Let me give you an example. I was once treated for depression. As

> I

> > was being treated, I found some message boards dealing with

> > depression. The joy, optimism, and happiness from post-treatment

> > members there was dazzling to me, I shared my experiences, they

> > shared theirs, and when I was fully cured, I felt so happy I

> wanted

> > to continue helping others and encouraging them.

> >

> > Why, on this message board, don't people ever come back after 1-2

> > years to report? Are you so sure they don't have any remaining

> post

> > op issues? Why am I not seeing enough joy, happiness, and

optimism

> > here? WHY?

> >

> > thanks a lot

[Guest guest]

Just a thought...perhaps this surgery was so life-changing for some

people that afterwards, not only were they 100% happy about their

results, but they are now able or confident to do things they

wouldn't/couldn't do before. Perhaps they have gone on to do other

things with their time other than hide behind the computer, like some

of us (raising my hand!) are apt to do when we're preparing for the

surgery and wanting to learn about it, or just not confident out in

public.

People also tend to lose their association with aspects of their life

over time. In college I participated in the Walt Disney World College

Program. I loved it so much and it totally changed my life. I came

home, created a website about it (which is now one of the biggest,

most visited in the nation), became a representative on my campus, and

stayed in touch with all of my friends from there. Now years down the

road, weeks and months go by where I don't think about my experience

there. I haven't updated the website in over 5 years. I've lsot

touch with most of my friends from there. Although I will still tell

you it was one of the best things I've ever done, I'm just no longer

active in the communinities. I'm married now, working full-time, and

have lots of other things going on in my life. It's just how things

lessen over time.

I think there is probably a similar attitude with people years removed

from their surgeries. Though looking back from just August to now, I

have seen several people 2+ years post-op coming back to check in, on

their anniversaries and such.

The main thing to consider if you're worried about 100% nerve

recovery, is if you look better after surgery but you have some

semi-permanent or permanent numbness (if I remember correctly you're

looking into this more for cosmetic than medical reasons), is that

worse than living with the way you look now? Would it be worthwhile

to improve your looks and have something like that to live with? Or

would you rather stay as you are and not take a chance?

I'm 28 with an underbite, open/crossbite, and asymmetry. I'm just

beginning to develop tightness and pain in my jaw and joints, as well

as some popping/cracking in the last year or two. But even before

now, I was looking into the surgery for cosmetic reasons, and honestly

that's my biggest expectation at the end is to improve my looks. I've

weighed the possible results, and I'm willing to live with some

numbness if I look better in the end.

If you're still considering this surgery weeks and months from now,

I'll certainly be checking in with my post-op results. I'd be glad to

tell you how I'm feeling about the whole thing then. Right now I'm

really excited about getting this done and can't wait!

Oh, and by the way, I just went to my 10-year reunion this weekend. I

was a bit nervous about having braces on, but when I got there I saw

at least one other classmate of mine wearing braces. Go figure!

Not one person said anything to me about my braces, either.

~

[Guest guest]

Gene, you are mistaken. I am that person, and I have consistently so

posted, although my year for the surgery was 2002, and not 2005. But

if you wanna stick around and wait, I believe I'll still be singing

the same song.

Joy, optimism, happiness? Gene, buddy, I live within a couple of

hours of New Orleans. Lot closer to Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport,

Waveland. I work in the news business. Let me just say that this has

not been a particularly joyful, optimistic or happy time in the lives

of those of us on the gulf coast. In almost any direction I look, I

see someone whose life has been devastated, or severely changed ...

and that's because of lost homes, missing relatives, reporting from

the field, people unfed and unclothed, etc., etc. I personally did

not suffer losses, but loss, pain and suffering will remain in the

world, and jaw surgery will not turn you into a happy idiot. (Or

maybe it will. It did not have that effect on me, nor did I want it.)

Am I glad I had the surgery? Yes. Do I spend all day every day

walking around and concentrating on how happy i am about my mouth?

Not a chance. If you decide to do it, you get on with it. Ask your

questions, get your fix, and go on with the rest of your life. Except

for a few of us who are (probably) nutty enough to stick around and

try to help newbies. I remember how just plain cold frightening the

prospect was. I was terrified. For me, it turned out not only to be a

success, but a pretty easy procedure, if you can consider something

that arouses that much terror and expense, easy.

And no, it may be that you emerge with something that is less, maybe

even considerably less, than perfection. If that is enough to stop

you, well, consider yourself stopped. I think a surgeon and even an

ortho can promise you their faithful use of their acquired skills,

and caring support. But I doubt that you're gonna find one who'll

promise you a 100 percent guarantee of absolute perfection. If I

found such an one, I'd run like the dickens, becauss I suspect that

anybody who does that is, um, stretching the boundaries of

credibility. If you don't want to do it, that's an honorable choice,

of course. Just talk with your dentists about what they can do to

help with whatever oral and/or dental problems you have, short of

surgery.

I'm in the info business, but not the persuading business, if you get

my drift.

Cammie

> Thanks. I read all the replies and posts here very carefully, and

am

> grateful for the opportunity to talk to others with a similar

problem.

>

> Please don't misunderstand me. If my posts came across as arrogant

or

> demeaning, that is completely the OPPOSITE of what I intended.

>

> But let me explain what I mean because it IS very important.

>

> I have not seen a single person here who would post, " I am 5 years

> post op. All my sensations have returned 100%. Life is 100% back to

> normal, AND I now have a great bite! I am happy, optimistic,

joyful,

> and ready to encourage others. "

>

> Of course people here encourage others, this is wonderful.

> But are they 100% back to normal?

> Have they regained 100% of all their sensations in the

chin/lip/cheek

> areas?

>

> WHY, I ask you, have I not seen a single person here who would come

> here a couple years after the surgery to report that everything is

> 100% back to normal?

>

> MAYBE, just maybe, because " everything " does NOT go 100% " back to

> normal. " A small numbness here. Just a little food restriction

there.

>

> Let me give you an example. I was once treated for depression. As I

> was being treated, I found some message boards dealing with

> depression. The joy, optimism, and happiness from post-treatment

> members there was dazzling to me, I shared my experiences, they

> shared theirs, and when I was fully cured, I felt so happy I wanted

> to continue helping others and encouraging them.

>

> Why, on this message board, don't people ever come back after 1-2

> years to report? Are you so sure they don't have any remaining post

> op issues? Why am I not seeing enough joy, happiness, and optimism

> here? WHY?

>

> thanks a lot

[Guest guest]

I have seen some, but you are right to say not many. Not many when

compared to all the post on this site on a given day. I think the

nature of the site is support and a lot of people don't come back

when they no longer need the support. Also, for a lot of us, the

symptoms we experience are so problematic and consuming that we need

others going through the same thing. For those that are 100%, they

are probably enjoying having their life back. I have met some people

locally that have had wonderful experiences. My dentist office put

me in contact with a few people. Maybe your dentist could do the

same.

Rene`

> Thanks. I read all the replies and posts here very carefully, and

am

> grateful for the opportunity to talk to others with a similar

problem.

>

> Please don't misunderstand me. If my posts came across as arrogant

or

> demeaning, that is completely the OPPOSITE of what I intended.

>

> But let me explain what I mean because it IS very important.

>

> I have not seen a single person here who would post, " I am 5 years

> post op. All my sensations have returned 100%. Life is 100% back to

> normal, AND I now have a great bite! I am happy, optimistic,

joyful,

> and ready to encourage others. "

>

> Of course people here encourage others, this is wonderful.

> But are they 100% back to normal?

> Have they regained 100% of all their sensations in the

chin/lip/cheek

> areas?

>

> WHY, I ask you, have I not seen a single person here who would come

> here a couple years after the surgery to report that everything is

> 100% back to normal?

>

> MAYBE, just maybe, because " everything " does NOT go 100% " back to

> normal. " A small numbness here. Just a little food restriction

there.

>

> Let me give you an example. I was once treated for depression. As I

> was being treated, I found some message boards dealing with

> depression. The joy, optimism, and happiness from post-treatment

> members there was dazzling to me, I shared my experiences, they

> shared theirs, and when I was fully cured, I felt so happy I wanted

> to continue helping others and encouraging them.

>

> Why, on this message board, don't people ever come back after 1-2

> years to report? Are you so sure they don't have any remaining post

> op issues? Why am I not seeing enough joy, happiness, and optimism

> here? WHY?

>

> thanks a lot

[Guest guest]

Well, I've already replied to Gene (the first response to his

original post), and I've been quite busy so I haven't followed many

posts recently.

Gene may want to talk with Ray, the co-moderator of this group.

Gene's original post sounded very much like Ray's early posts, where

he was quite negative about the surgery (actually very depressed),

and questioned whether or not he should go through with it. Ray

didn't have a perfect outcome either.

As Kat_UK said, most people get on with their lives post-op. If

you're having a good recovery, you often feel guilty about posting

it when others are having difficulty. This is a support board, and

tends towards those having problems. But as others have said, there

are those of us who hang around (Cammie and I) and those who pop

back in from time to time (Kat_UK, Irishsmiles, lmont2000, etc, etc).

If a person is having so much difficulty contemplating this surgery,

it just might not be the right thing to go forward with. From my own

personal perspective, being depressed and negative going in is going

to affect the recovery process. You won't feel normal for a long

time, and having those mental handicaps is going to make it seem

much, much worse than it really is.

Keep in mind the risks involved in this surgery. You have to be

willing to accept them (possible permanent numbness of varying

degree, increased TMJ problems, relapse, etc). No surgeon will sign

off that you will be 100% better if you have this surgery.

My two cents (CAD) worth. And I feel at least 200% better from going

through this process.

> > Thanks. I read all the replies and posts here very carefully,

and

> am

> > grateful for the opportunity to talk to others with a similar

> problem.

> >

> > Please don't misunderstand me. If my posts came across as

arrogant

> or

> > demeaning, that is completely the OPPOSITE of what I intended.

> >

> > But let me explain what I mean because it IS very important.

> >

> > I have not seen a single person here who would post, " I am 5

years

> > post op. All my sensations have returned 100%. Life is 100% back

> to

> > normal, AND I now have a great bite! I am happy, optimistic,

> joyful,

> > and ready to encourage others. "

> >

> > Of course people here encourage others, this is wonderful.

> > But are they 100% back to normal?

> > Have they regained 100% of all their sensations in the

> chin/lip/cheek

> > areas?

> >

> > WHY, I ask you, have I not seen a single person here who would

> come

> > here a couple years after the surgery to report that everything

is

> > 100% back to normal?

> >

> > MAYBE, just maybe, because " everything " does NOT go 100% " back

to

> > normal. " A small numbness here. Just a little food restriction

> there.

> >

> > Let me give you an example. I was once treated for depression.

As

> I

> > was being treated, I found some message boards dealing with

> > depression. The joy, optimism, and happiness from post-treatment

> > members there was dazzling to me, I shared my experiences, they

> > shared theirs, and when I was fully cured, I felt so happy I

> wanted

> > to continue helping others and encouraging them.

> >

> > Why, on this message board, don't people ever come back after 1-

2

> > years to report? Are you so sure they don't have any remaining

> post

> > op issues? Why am I not seeing enough joy, happiness, and

optimism

> > here? WHY?

> >

> > thanks a lot