Last Month Pre-Surgery Questions

April 29, 2002

Hi all! Let me preface by apologizing for most likely asking the same

questions you've all seen, read, replied to in the past. I'm new to

this site and find it incredibly helpful for my plans for surgery.

I am currently playing ping-pong between my orthodontist and surgeon,

but am told that I am much closer to surgery and anticipate getting it

scheduled " soon " . My questions for you ...

Once the surgeon has told you you're ready, how long did it take to

actually get it scheduled (I'm hoping a month or so, hope not longer!)

Also, once it's scheduled, what exactly needs to be done prior to the

actual date (e.g., how many impressions/casts, blood drawn, that sort

of thing). Any info will be helpful.

Thanks!

Irish

April 29, 2002

Hi Irish.

How exciting for you that you will soon have your surgery date. When I got

the date for surgery, the actual surgery was less than a month away. Very

quick...

..

My week before surgery went like this:

Monday--see family dentists (husband & wife team) for last, good cleaning and

basic check, hugs all around--felt like I was going off to battle or

something.

Tuesday morning-- last check at surgeon's office & signed consent form (more

on consent forms another time--basic message--expect them to be scarey--don't

let them rattle you)

Tuesday afternoon--hospital tests: blood work, urine sample, chest X-ray,

EKG, home-care interview, admission paperwork; every body part poked, prodded

and stabbed, then off to family doc for medical clearance check up.

Wednesday--day off! ate junk food (last day I could eat before the

provisionals went on) and bought clear, unscented deodorant so O.R. staff

would not know I was wearing contraband deodorant--wild woman that I am

Thursday 8:00 am until 2:00 pm --prostho appointment--yes, really, I was in

the chair from 8-2 except to get up to go to the bathroom (know what it's

like to be a grown woman and have to ask a grown man for permission to go to

the bathroom with your mouth full of provisional temps?)

two sets of impressions--one mold for him, one mold to take to surgeon

Friday--ortho--hooks set into the wires of the braces in preparation for new

wires, showed him molds from prostho, hugs all round at this office also

(I'd been there for three years.) Now I was sure I was going into

battle...where's my shield?

Monday--took molds to surgeon for his pre-op study, last best wishes from his

nurses....

Tuesday--surgery

and Wednesday--home!

After that wild week, surgery was almost a welcome relief (well, almost...)

Once you start going through all the final appointments, it's a great feeling

(at least I thought so.) After so many years of talking about it and

waiting, it was finally happening.

Take care & good luck,

Lexi

April 30, 2002

Hi, Irishsmiles (and what a nice name!)

Read around in the back posts, and use the archive search thing if

you have specific questions.

I think the timing of the surgery depends pretty much on where you

are. Here, my ortho has told me I'll be ready by June. He first told

me May, and I could see the panic in his eyes, so I asked if he

wanted to wait a month. He grabbed onto the lifeline I'd thrown, and

with great relief, said yes. Now it looks as though I would have been

ready by may. Oh well. I'd rather be ready and be sure and wait.

My ortho had no problem scheduling me. He does 'em every Tuesday, and

it was just a matter of fitting me into a slot. I think he must have

the hospital reserved every Tuesday morning into infinity.

Now, there's a lot of stuff to do to get ready. Lexi's list is a good

one. There are more in the geocities website. Certainly, ZipnSqueezes

are a really good idea.

Some docs want you to give blood. Others think it's unnecessary

unless you really want to do it and are worried about transfusions.

What are they supposed to do for you? Upper? Lower? Genio?

Both my ortho and my surgeon will make molds and do pix.

I have to have an EKG and a chest x-ray within the week of surgery.

Because I've had minor problems, my surgeon also wants an exam of my

carotid arteries and an echostudy of a minor heart murmur, but that's

a special situation.

There's a laundry list of supplies you'll need. Things like lip balm,

and possibly nose spray, and possibly a humidifier... Check the old

posts for other suggestions.

You'll want to figure out what to do about nutrition, of course, and

make provisions for anyone else who relies on your care. (children,

elderly parents, etc.) Also get whatever clearances you need from

your workplace. And figure out how you're gonna arrange yourself for

sleeping.

You'll need to have someone to take you from the hospital, and

someone to take you home afterward.

I'd want to know whether my surgeon expects to band me or wire me,

and whether i'll have a splint. Matter of fact, I already do know.

And especially, you'll need supportive friends and family, I think.

You may have depression afterward, and you may get a bit of acne

briefly. You'll probably want a soft, baby toothbrush and a baby

spoon.

Good luck to you!

Cammie

April 30, 2002

In a message dated 4/30/02 6:43:46 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

irishsmiles10@... writes:

<< The 8am-2pm

appt for the provisional temps ... what is that all about? >>

Oh Irish, I doubt very much that you will be in the prostho chair that long.

I don't think most people are. Most of my appointment was with getting my

provisional bridges on in places where there will be implants in the future

or future crowns.

The molds were only for a brief time at the end of the marathon appointment.

It had to be done all at once right before the surgery because it screwed my

bite up a whole lot more than braces ever did......

From what I am hearing from other people, I am thinking that maybe this is

why I am not wearing a splint---but who knows? No one ever even mentioned

splint as an option to me although my surgeon and I did discuss a variety of

options to me.

Each one of us has a unique mouth (lol...that wasn't meant to be funny, but

this morning as I type it, it struck me as hilarious,,,.must be that rotten

sleep I'm getting...of course our mouths are unique--that's why we are all at

this site!) and I wouldn't worry one second about the prostho appointment.

Just ask and get info that's appropriate for you.

Sorry to hear that molds are so difficult for you. My jaws are not small

like yours (that must be a real bear!) but I do try to remember to breathe

through my nose. If you know any Yoga or deep tummmy breathing, now is the

time to do it! Also, I keep my eyes open and concentrate really hard out the

window (or if there is a picture in front of me, I try to put myself in it.)

Good luck. I understand just what you are saying about your smile. For

years I have made my smile smaller and smaller, I am so excited when this is

all done--not just to have the bite and teeth problems right, but to give

everyone who has helped me a great big smile......

take care,

Lexi

Please, do not worry----I am sure it will not be

April 30, 2002

Lexi,

Thank you SO much for such a thorough response. I kept reading

piece-meal about this last appt, that last appt, wasn't sure if I was

getting the whole picture! One additional question. The 8am-2pm

appt for the provisional temps ... what is that all about? Are those

more molds being made? Why does it take so long? Are they as awful

as the impressions/molds I've been getting all along with the

alginate? I have a God-awful time with molds. They have to give me

what they lovingly call the " banana spray " every time because I gag up

a storm. It's been the worst part of this whole experience thus far

(but I know I have a lot more to experience!). I can't imagine

sitting in the chair with molds being made that long. The spray

doesn't keep you numb for that long! Any more info on that will be

much appreciated!

Thanks again!

Irish

> Hi Irish.

> How exciting for you that you will soon have your surgery date.

When I got

> the date for surgery, the actual surgery was less than a month away.

Very

> quick...

> .

> My week before surgery went like this:

>

> Monday--see family dentists (husband & wife team) for last, good

cleaning and

> basic check, hugs all around--felt like I was going off to battle or

> something.

>

> Tuesday morning-- last check at surgeon's office & signed consent

form (more

> on consent forms another time--basic message--expect them to be

scarey--don't

> let them rattle you)

>

> Tuesday afternoon--hospital tests: blood work, urine sample, chest

X-ray,

> EKG, home-care interview, admission paperwork; every body part

poked, prodded

> and stabbed, then off to family doc for medical clearance check up.

>

> Wednesday--day off! ate junk food (last day I could eat before the

> provisionals went on) and bought clear, unscented deodorant so O.R.

staff

> would not know I was wearing contraband deodorant--wild woman that I

am

>

> Thursday 8:00 am until 2:00 pm --prostho appointment--yes, really, I

was in

> the chair from 8-2 except to get up to go to the bathroom (know

what it's

> like to be a grown woman and have to ask a grown man for permission

to go to

> the bathroom with your mouth full of provisional temps?)

> two sets of impressions--one mold for him, one mold to take to

surgeon

>

> Friday--ortho--hooks set into the wires of the braces in preparation

for new

> wires, showed him molds from prostho, hugs all round at this office

also

> (I'd been there for three years.) Now I was sure I was going into

> battle...where's my shield?

>

> Monday--took molds to surgeon for his pre-op study, last best wishes

from his

> nurses....

>

> Tuesday--surgery

>

> and Wednesday--home!

>

> After that wild week, surgery was almost a welcome relief (well,

almost...)

>

> Once you start going through all the final appointments, it's a

great feeling

> (at least I thought so.) After so many years of talking about it

and

> waiting, it was finally happening.

> Take care & good luck,

> Lexi

April 30, 2002

Thanks Cammie!

I'm going to have all three ... top, lower and genio. VERY nervous

but very much looking forward to a new me. I've been ashamed of my

smile for years and if I can ever get through this, it will be so

great. The emotional back and forth between the doctors without still

scheduling a date has been tough. I'm so ready to get this done and

stop worrying about it.

I know I will not be wired, just banded. Will also have a splint

(which I can't even imagine what that's all about). My surgeon wants

me to give blood. I've been approved by insurance and have been

approved for six weeks off from work, so those things have been

settled. I just kept reading emails here and there about those last

weeks and wasn't sure if I had the whole picture. Lexi's list and

your email helped a great deal! Thanks again. Thus far, the worst

about this whole experience is getting the molds done. They have to

give me a numbing spray (what they call " the banana spray " ) so I don't

gag. I have really tiny jaws and it's so difficult with the braces to

get those trays in there, let alone all that disgusting alginate! I

wonder if the last molds before surgery the same type as usual or are

they different somehow. Lexi mentioned she was in the chair for many

hours getting hers, so I'm curious about that.

Thanks again! You must be so excited. I've been reading some of your

posts and realize that you're almost there. Best of luck to you and I

will keep reading to find out how you did. Post as soon as you're up

and able! Best of luck and thanks again.

Irish

> Hi, Irishsmiles (and what a nice name!)

>

> Read around in the back posts, and use the archive search thing if

> you have specific questions.

>

> I think the timing of the surgery depends pretty much on where you

> are. Here, my ortho has told me I'll be ready by June. He first told

> me May, and I could see the panic in his eyes, so I asked if he

> wanted to wait a month. He grabbed onto the lifeline I'd thrown, and

> with great relief, said yes. Now it looks as though I would have

been

> ready by may. Oh well. I'd rather be ready and be sure and wait.

>

> My ortho had no problem scheduling me. He does 'em every Tuesday,

and

> it was just a matter of fitting me into a slot. I think he must have

> the hospital reserved every Tuesday morning into infinity.

>

> Now, there's a lot of stuff to do to get ready. Lexi's list is a

good

> one. There are more in the geocities website. Certainly,

ZipnSqueezes

> are a really good idea.

>

> Some docs want you to give blood. Others think it's unnecessary

> unless you really want to do it and are worried about transfusions.

> What are they supposed to do for you? Upper? Lower? Genio?

>

> Both my ortho and my surgeon will make molds and do pix.

>

> I have to have an EKG and a chest x-ray within the week of surgery.

> Because I've had minor problems, my surgeon also wants an exam of my

> carotid arteries and an echostudy of a minor heart murmur, but

that's

> a special situation.

>

> There's a laundry list of supplies you'll need. Things like lip

balm,

> and possibly nose spray, and possibly a humidifier... Check the old

> posts for other suggestions.

>

> You'll want to figure out what to do about nutrition, of course, and

> make provisions for anyone else who relies on your care. (children,

> elderly parents, etc.) Also get whatever clearances you need from

> your workplace. And figure out how you're gonna arrange yourself for

> sleeping.

>

> You'll need to have someone to take you from the hospital, and

> someone to take you home afterward.

>

> I'd want to know whether my surgeon expects to band me or wire me,

> and whether i'll have a splint. Matter of fact, I already do know.

>

> And especially, you'll need supportive friends and family, I think.

> You may have depression afterward, and you may get a bit of acne

> briefly. You'll probably want a soft, baby toothbrush and a baby

> spoon.

>

> Good luck to you!

>

> Cammie

April 30, 2002