Surgery on 10/3/05 to cure OSA and TMJ

September 8, 2005

Hi everyone,

I've been a lurker here and on OS2 for the past 3 years, and have

posted messages only a few times. I want to thank those that have

written so extensively about their experiences with surgery, along

with responding to my posts. These sites are invaluable.

I'm excited to report my forthcoming surgery date on 10/3/05! As a

sufferer of obstructive sleep apnea, TMJ, and long face syndrome, I

will be having upper 3-piece Lefort I along with lower BSSO.

Apparently, my upper jaw will be impacted and moved forward 4

millimeters, and my lower jaw will be rotated up and moved forward 12

millimeters. Of course, I may learn otherwise when I meet with my

surgeon on the 14th. A splint and banding are definites after my

surgery, but I don't yet know for how long I'll be needing them.

Some may be interested to learn that my jaw surgery comes after

having had braces twice as a kid and a genioplasty in college. My

bite is fine, but I have a tiny mouth with crowded teeth and a

restricted upper airway. I'm ashamed to admit that my feeling and

looking tired (likely from OSA) in my early-mid 20's drove me to get

cheek implants in 1999. One of the implants became infected and had

to be removed in late 2000. I am so looking forward to getting the

left cheek implant removed when I have jaw surgery (not that one can

even discern that I have an implant; but, I'll be happy to know it's

gone). When I found out I had OSA in early 2004, I wished I had

never bothered with the implants. Anyway, I'll post my before/after

pictures; I sure hope that I no longer have dark purple circles under

my eyes! I can't wait to get a good night's sleep after all of this

is over.

Best wishes to those that are recovering. For anyone scheduled for

surgery in late September/early October, I hope we can chat a bit and

cheer each other on.

MTB Molly

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