Anyone else go through a period of mild PANIC before surgery??

[Guest guest]

I'm going in 9/15 and I'm starting to freak out about it. I was FINE

until about a week ago and now I'm starting to get scared. All the

questions run through my head-- when will I be able to come back to

work? Will I have to go on FMLA and if so, how will I do silly things

like _pay my mortgage_? Eating? Breathing? What I'm having is

pretty complicated from what I can tell- Lefort 1 with bone grafts and

a BSSO. Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I had Le Fort 1 and 2, bone grafts, major nose reconstruction, cheek bone

surgery. THe first week I had a hard time eating and could only manage very

watery liquids. My surgeon said prior to surgery we can either do it the easy

way ~( jaw surgery only) or the hard way, and I picked the hard way as it was

the option for me.

ihokievol wrote:

I'm going in 9/15 and I'm starting to freak out about it. I was FINE

until about a week ago and now I'm starting to get scared. All the

questions run through my head-- when will I be able to come back to

work? Will I have to go on FMLA and if so, how will I do silly things

like _pay my mortgage_? Eating? Breathing? What I'm having is

pretty complicated from what I can tell- Lefort 1 with bone grafts and

a BSSO. Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

Guess what…YOU ARE SO NORMAL!

If you read back and back you will see that about 2 wks or so before

each of our surgeries, we ALL Freaked out.

I planned on mine (Aug 04-upper 9mm up and back, genio lower /bone

graf.) and planned like 2 yrs or so...I was PUMPED the whole

time....Bring it on! Woo-hoo, let's do it!!

....and then...

I TWEAKED OUT...honestly I can recall once or twice feeling such a

rush of adrenalin that I felt like what people describe as a panic

attack...thing is, I felt the rush coming and was able to step back

from it and relax and think.

Consider this, at this point, you've probably done 98% of all you have

to, to be ready medically and personally and professionally for this

surgery.

Now what you need to do is take it easy, just let it get here.

I'm sure you have faith in your surgeon and hospital...so they will

handle that part and as to healing and FMLA...well unless you know now

how much time will need to use, don't assume you may need FMLA and

find you worried for nothing. As to bills, they will always be

there...one day at a time.

Breathing should be fine, and talk with your OS before about your

concern with that...if you have an issue like bad sinuses or something

(which I did) TALK about it...a little saline spray or nasal spray

with a humidifier, staying propped up to sleep, q-tips for when you

can't blow your nose...you'll be ok!

and as to eating...NO WORRIES.

2 ways to go...shakes and powders, keep you healthy, easy to get in.

OR BLEND IT!! Blend what? EVERYTHING...yes everything!

I did and kept my weight and nutrition where it needed to be and

without ONE shake!

Just remember anything can be blended...start with the simple things

like Mashed potatoes with extra milk/water/butter/broth/juice to keep

them thin enough for a straw...(PS if you live near a 7-11, those

Slurpy straws work great---they are wider)...so if you're looking to

keep it normal, eat what you wish, blend oatmeal-brown sugar/maple

into like a shake--it is awesome...or heck I did, stuffed peppers,

turkey cutlets w/turkey gravy and water-etc, chicken too (beef and

pork have a rough consistency I didn't like), salad and lots of

veggies and oh yes, Chinese food! No kidding and it ROCKED! (ps-keep

like things together…like veggies in one mug. Turkey another etc…

separate is better

....if you need ideas/recipes just ask!

Most of all, keep writing us...we all get it...been there done

that...and it will help to keep you anchored! PROMISE!

You can do this...you will be fine and when it's all done and healing

starts...once you get through the first 3-5 days...you'll be sure this

was the right thing!

HANG IN THERE---YOU CAN DO IT!!!

JO

> I'm going in 9/15 and I'm starting to freak out about it. I was

FINE

> until about a week ago and now I'm starting to get scared. All the

> questions run through my head-- when will I be able to come back to

> work? Will I have to go on FMLA and if so, how will I do silly

things

> like _pay my mortgage_? Eating? Breathing? What I'm having is

> pretty complicated from what I can tell- Lefort 1 with bone grafts

and

> a BSSO. Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

About a week before my July 23 surgery I just cried and cried and

cried. I kept telling my fiance I wish I could change my mind.

But here I am almost 5 weeks post-op and I am alive!

(by the way I had a lower jaw advancement)

Eating may be frustrating at first. I hated watching my family eat

pizza while I had to suck down an Ensure. There are some yummy recipes

though..like my favorite, Apple Pie A La Mode (canned apple pie

filling, ice cream, and milk blended). Good thing for me I always have

been a dessert lover, because I have basically been living off of

shakes.

The whole time my family just kept telling me to keep my eye on the

prize. Look forward to the end result. I cannot say yet, because I am

still banded shut, but I am almost certain this will be something I am

glad I did.

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to say, JO that was a really nice message. This group

wouldn't be what it is without people's support like yours, I'm sure

I'll need it when I get closer. so thanks!

Beth

> > I'm going in 9/15 and I'm starting to freak out about it. I was

> FINE

> > until about a week ago and now I'm starting to get scared. All

the

> > questions run through my head-- when will I be able to come back

to

> > work? Will I have to go on FMLA and if so, how will I do silly

> things

> > like _pay my mortgage_? Eating? Breathing? What I'm having is

> > pretty complicated from what I can tell- Lefort 1 with bone

grafts

> and

> > a BSSO. Thoughts?

[Guest guest]

Panic? Oh yes. 8 weeks before my surgery. I questioned whether or

not I really needed it, and was concerned about the risks.

I made a special appointment with my ortho, he ordered a new xray

and said " yes, you need it " . When I had my pre-op with my surgeon,

he said the same thing.

I went to see my general physician, and she gave me the best

possible advice " worry when you have something to worry about " . In

other words, don't worry about the future. Prepare for it, yes, but

don't worry until something happens. Then ACT!

I used a special set of tapes to prepare the week before, and also

used them during and after surgery, called Surgical Support Series

from a company called Hemisync. My mom and a number of other people

have used these during their surgeries to help minimize or eliminate

pain and relax. If you're interested, check them out at

http://www.hemisync.com

I did find a place of calm the week before surgery, was completely

calm going into surgery, and had a really great recovery. When I

woke up from surgery, I never looked back, I felt great.

Nervousness is normal, but don't let it take you over. If it's

really bad, you could ask your general physician for something short

term to calm you down.

My surgery was pretty major, I had upper/lower/genio - no bone

graft, no upper segmenting, but other than that, pretty much the

works.

Hope that helps,

> I'm going in 9/15 and I'm starting to freak out about it. I was

FINE

> until about a week ago and now I'm starting to get scared. All

the

> questions run through my head-- when will I be able to come back

to

> work? Will I have to go on FMLA and if so, how will I do silly

things

> like _pay my mortgage_? Eating? Breathing? What I'm having is

> pretty complicated from what I can tell- Lefort 1 with bone grafts

and

> a BSSO. Thoughts?