One year update

[Guest guest]

Hello, everyone!

I haven't been here for quite a long time, but I thought I would check in and

let you

know how I am doing. I know that many of you may be new to this Board since I

was

a regular visitor, but some might remember me (well, Cammie might, anyway!).

Here is a link to my .mac Web site that has pictures. At the top of the page,

you'll see

a link that says " braces/jaw surgery journey. " The pics start the morning of

the

surgery and end almost one year later. (Don't worry; there aren't 200 to look

at or

anything.

Before you look, you need to know that I swell up and bruise much more than the

average person, so some of the post-op shots are surprising. If you read the

captions, though, you'll see that it went down quickly. If you are considering

surgery

(or coming up on your date), please don't be alarmed. This is just the way my

body

reacted (and it did the same thing with my wisdom teeth surgery...in fact, I

puffed up

after I had my baby three years ago, too). I felt WAY better than I look; trust

me.

I am SOOOO glad I had the braces and surgery. I love my smile and no longer

feel

self-conscious about my crooket teeth. More importantly, the foundation of my

jaw

is strong and secure, which means I'm not in danger of seriously damaging my

back

teeth and joints. I know everyone has different experiences, but this was truly

worth

it for me (and much easier than I expected).

http://homepage.mac.com/saima23/PhotoAlbum93.html

Take care, everyone. Good luck and safe travels...

Carleen

saima23

[Guest guest]

Love the website! You look great! Thanks for posting your before

and after. I can't wait until my braces come off...just a few more

short months:-).

> Hello, everyone!

>

> I haven't been here for quite a long time, but I thought I would

check in and let you

> know how I am doing. I know that many of you may be new to this

Board since I was

> a regular visitor, but some might remember me (well, Cammie might,

anyway!).

>

> Here is a link to my .mac Web site that has pictures. At the top

of the page, you'll see

> a link that says " braces/jaw surgery journey. " The pics start the

morning of the

> surgery and end almost one year later. (Don't worry; there aren't

200 to look at or

> anything.

>

> Before you look, you need to know that I swell up and bruise much

more than the

> average person, so some of the post-op shots are surprising. If

you read the

> captions, though, you'll see that it went down quickly. If you are

considering surgery

> (or coming up on your date), please don't be alarmed. This is just

the way my body

> reacted (and it did the same thing with my wisdom teeth

surgery...in fact, I puffed up

> after I had my baby three years ago, too). I felt WAY better than

I look; trust me.

>

> I am SOOOO glad I had the braces and surgery. I love my smile and

no longer feel

> self-conscious about my crooket teeth. More importantly, the

foundation of my jaw

> is strong and secure, which means I'm not in danger of seriously

damaging my back

> teeth and joints. I know everyone has different experiences, but

this was truly worth

> it for me (and much easier than I expected).

>

> http://homepage.mac.com/saima23/PhotoAlbum93.html

>

> Take care, everyone. Good luck and safe travels...

> Carleen

> saima23

[Guest guest]

Carleen wrote:

>Before you look, you need to know that I swell up and bruise much more than the

>average person, so some of the post-op shots are surprising. If you read the

>captions, though, you'll see that it went down quickly. If you are considering

surgery

>(or coming up on your date), please don't be alarmed. This is just the way my

body

>reacted (and it did the same thing with my wisdom teeth surgery...in fact, I

puffed up

>after I had my baby three years ago, too). I felt WAY better than I look;

trust me.

>

I had you " beat " regarding swelling. I drank like it was going out of

style but it didn't matter, I still swelled. Your worst day was about my

day 12.

No, I don't have images posted. I wasn't worried at the time, and have

turned out okay.

Bill

[Guest guest]

Hi Carleen!

I remember you! In fact I was just thinking about you the other day, I LOVED

your pictures

back when you were recovering.

I'm a fellow MN girl, I think we had a few posts back and forth after your

surgery. I

remember you saying that Chipotle burrito bols rock! and I agree!

I'm 3 weeks out from a 2-piece Lefort and doing great! I wish I were a year out

like you

though!

Cori

upper/2-piece Lefort 7/20

http://www.coriandron.com/cori/surgery/surgery.html

> Hello, everyone!

>

> I haven't been here for quite a long time, but I thought I would check in and

let you

> know how I am doing. I know that many of you may be new to this Board since I

was

> a regular visitor, but some might remember me (well, Cammie might, anyway!).

>

> Here is a link to my .mac Web site that has pictures. At the top of the page,

you'll see

> a link that says " braces/jaw surgery journey. " The pics start the morning of

the

> surgery and end almost one year later. (Don't worry; there aren't 200 to look

at or

> anything.

>

> Before you look, you need to know that I swell up and bruise much more than

the

> average person, so some of the post-op shots are surprising. If you read the

> captions, though, you'll see that it went down quickly. If you are

considering surgery

> (or coming up on your date), please don't be alarmed. This is just the way my

body

> reacted (and it did the same thing with my wisdom teeth surgery...in fact, I

puffed up

> after I had my baby three years ago, too). I felt WAY better than I look;

trust me.

>

> I am SOOOO glad I had the braces and surgery. I love my smile and no longer

feel

> self-conscious about my crooket teeth. More importantly, the foundation of my

jaw

> is strong and secure, which means I'm not in danger of seriously damaging my

back

> teeth and joints. I know everyone has different experiences, but this was

truly worth

> it for me (and much easier than I expected).

>

> http://homepage.mac.com/saima23/PhotoAlbum93.html

>

> Take care, everyone. Good luck and safe travels...

> Carleen

> saima23

[Guest guest]

Thanks, ! I honestly think the worst part of the whole process is

waiting for

the braces to come off, at least it was for me!

I think I should go back and put in pics of my teeth before the braces, too.

They

weren't horrible, but they weren't great, either.

I'm glad you're so close to the " final reveal. " It will be a great day. Go

someplace nice

for supper to celebrate!

[Guest guest]

OMG, Bill--you're the first person I've met that had swelling worse than mine.

How

many days were you " inflated? " I actually thought it was pretty funny...I

figured I

could either laugh or cry, and laughing was much more fun.

[Guest guest]

CORI!

I'm so glad you responded! I have thought of you off and on, wondering when

your

surgery was going to be and how it turned out. My year got more interesting a

few

months after surgery...my dad got very sick around Halloween and died on

Thanksgiving Day, so the rest of the year was pretty much a blur. Now after a

couple

of months off from teaching and general craziness, I decided I should check back

in

here.

I would love to hear more about your experience--I'll have to go back in the

messages as I'm guessing you've posted about it? We'll have to get together at

Chipotle sometime--maybe in Uptown? In fact, after I read your message, I said

to

my husband, " Let's get that for lunch! " I still get the bowls--the burrito is

just a little

too big to get my mouth around comfortably without making a huge mess.

Today's bowl was eaten in your honor--congrats on making it to the other side.

Talk to you soon--

Carleen

[Guest guest]

Carleen wrote:

>OMG, Bill--you're the first person I've met that had swelling worse than mine.

How

>many days were you " inflated? " I actually thought it was pretty funny...I

figured I

>could either laugh or cry, and laughing was much more fun.

>

Supposedly there was someone worse than me the week before. But I never

saw this person.

I could send you an image off line if you wish.

My swelling started to go down on day 4 or 5 but really accelerated

around day 12 or so -- that's when I started walking.

Bill

[Guest guest]

I'd love to see a pic--you can send it to saima23@... or saima23@....

>

> >OMG, Bill--you're the first person I've met that had swelling worse than

mine.

How

> >many days were you " inflated? " I actually thought it was pretty funny...I

figured I

> >could either laugh or cry, and laughing was much more fun.

> >

> Supposedly there was someone worse than me the week before. But I never

> saw this person.

>

> I could send you an image off line if you wish.

>

> My swelling started to go down on day 4 or 5 but really accelerated

> around day 12 or so -- that's when I started walking.

>

> Bill

[Guest guest]

Hi Carleen!

I'm so happy to see that you are doing well.

I'm so sorry about your dad! I lost my dad unexpetedly last September 23rd, I

know how

hard it can be. It think it can be summed up by saying it sucks!

I've posted a little about my recovery. It's been going well so far, I have

been doing mostly

good. I had a not fun experience my 4th and 5th days out of surgery. My

surgeon

thought I was having a reaction to the Vicodin, so I stopped taking it. Anyway,

I spent the

whole weekend puking my guts up, even when there was nothing left. That was my

first

and last time when I thought, 'why did I do this to myself???'. Once the

Vicodin was out of

my system I have had no more nausea. Other than those moments on the bathroom

floor

I haven't regretted this at all. Really my puking episode, and then getting

a yeast

infection from being on antibiotics for so long (and that SUCKED), my recovery

has been

going great.

I would like to chew though! While I am eating Chipotle, it's always bringing

it home and

using our food chopper to chop it into smaller pieces before eating it as I'm

still on my

no-chew restriction. In a few weeks though once I'm cleared to chew, I would

LOVE to

meet you in Uptown or any other Chipotle! Maybe would like to come

along too,

she is a fellow MN girl and she had surgery in early June. It can be a MN girl

jaw surgery

convention.

Now if only I can get rid of these cheeks! I was really lucky, my swelling was

not bad at all,

and compared to you I wasn't swollen at all! But my cheeks are still chipmunk

cheeks and

I'm sick of hearing from people that I look like a chipmunk. They are saying it

nicely of

course and saying how cute I look and how I look great, but stlll... I know it

will take a few

months, it's just hard to be patient!

Cori

> CORI!

>

> I'm so glad you responded! I have thought of you off and on, wondering when

your

> surgery was going to be and how it turned out. My year got more interesting a

few

> months after surgery...my dad got very sick around Halloween and died on

> Thanksgiving Day, so the rest of the year was pretty much a blur. Now after a

couple

> of months off from teaching and general craziness, I decided I should check

back in

> here.

>

> I would love to hear more about your experience--I'll have to go back in the

> messages as I'm guessing you've posted about it? We'll have to get together

at

> Chipotle sometime--maybe in Uptown? In fact, after I read your message, I

said to

> my husband, " Let's get that for lunch! " I still get the bowls--the burrito is

just a little

> too big to get my mouth around comfortably without making a huge mess.

> Today's bowl was eaten in your honor--congrats on making it to the other side.

>

> Talk to you soon--

> Carleen