Re: depressed 1 year to wait

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I had a " long " wait for my surgery - it will have been a year and

eight months when I have my surgery Aug 27th. I had removeable ALF

appliances upper/lower for 11 months before I even got into braces,

which I have had now for eight months.

I'm one of the world's most impatient people, and I'll admit, it's

pretty hard to come here and hear stories of people almost near their

date (as I am), people just coming out of surgery, and people well on

their way back to normal life out of the orthognathic jungle, but

take comfort in the fact that there are many people in the phase you

are in as well - you just don't hear from them as often. Some people

have been in braces for quite a number of years as well, and I hardly

know how to be that patient.

What to do to bear the wait? Research! Go surfing and find out as

much as you can to prepare for the recovery process (try the

orthognathic info site at http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ )

Hang out here

and read past posts. Keep a journal of what's going on as your braces

work their magic. Find some other interests to fill in the gaps,

maybe try some yoga to help build up your stamina and for stress

management.

I know this doesn't sound great now, but it's absolutely true -

before you know it, you'll be posting " I just got a surgery date and

I'm soooo excited! " . Then the rapid-fire countdown begins (time never

flies as fast as when you've got a date, I think, because the best-

laid plans don't seem to materialize), and you're in surgery for two

minutes and out on the other side.

Best regards,

[Guest guest]

Thank u fiddlesticks 4 your advice

[Guest guest]

No problem. I have plenty of experience in the waiting phase of this

whole business. Let us know how things go with you, ok?

[Guest guest]

is totally right. There are lots of us out here who are waiting

for a date, and it is pretty frustrating to hear of all the people

getting their dates confirmed and...best of all...getting their

braces

off!

But take heart. is also right about doing research and

preparing

yourself for what's to come. It helps remind you of where you're

going

with this, especially when you feel like you're doing all this for

nothing (like after a year and a half of braces, and no surgery date

yet, like me...) I'll probably be waiting at least another six months

while my bottom teeth move into place.

It's especially frustrating when you don't have any specific

timeframe

to rely on. You're just waiting for your mouth to react to the

braces.

And the best thing you can do to speed that along is to do everything

your ortho says (even when he/she tells you that you can't eat your

favorite foods - argh!). It's difficult sometimes to remember the end

goal when it seems so far away, but being a " good little ortho

patient "

will make things go a lot faster. And checking in here occassionally

should help keep you on track.

Good luck, and keep checking in to let us know how you're doing.

> Hi there,

>

> I had a " long " wait for my surgery - it will have been a year and

> eight months when I have my surgery Aug 27th. I had removeable ALF

> appliances upper/lower for 11 months before I even got into braces,

> which I have had now for eight months.

>

> I'm one of the world's most impatient people, and I'll admit, it's

> pretty hard to come here and hear stories of people almost near

their

> date (as I am), people just coming out of surgery, and people well

on

> their way back to normal life out of the orthognathic jungle, but

> take comfort in the fact that there are many people in the phase

you

> are in as well - you just don't hear from them as often. Some

people

> have been in braces for quite a number of years as well, and I

hardly

> know how to be that patient.

>

> What to do to bear the wait? Research! Go surfing and find out as

> much as you can to prepare for the recovery process (try the

> orthognathic info site at http://www.geocities.c

om/orthognathicinfo/ )

> Hang out here

> and read past posts. Keep a journal of what's going on as your

braces

> work their magic. Find some other interests to fill in the gaps,

> maybe try some yoga to help build up your stamina and for stress

> management.

>

> I know this doesn't sound great now, but it's absolutely true -

> before you know it, you'll be posting " I just got a surgery date

and

> I'm soooo excited! " . Then the rapid-fire countdown begins (time

never

> flies as fast as when you've got a date, I think, because the best-

> laid plans don't seem to materialize), and you're in surgery for

two

> minutes and out on the other side.

>

> Best regards,

>

[Guest guest]

Hey slow down a sec... One year is not that bad to wait. I know it

may seem like a long time but it'll fly by. My brother's wedding is

in June '03 and although it's far away it's really just around the

corner. I for one feel like there wont be enough time to get

everything done before then so it's all about putting things into

perspective. You're still really young so enjoy your youth, get out

there, make friends, keep busy, and you'll be there before you know

it!!

Take care,

Neta-lee

PS- this process takes a lot of patience but it's worth all the

waiting at the end.

> hi i get my braces on next week and then 1 year till my operation 4

> my underbite thing and genio but how does any 1 make it through

that

> year am 18 and have little social life bcos of the way i look

massive

> chin lol and 1 year till i look normal is a long time so again how

do

> people cope with the long wait as i believe am going to go

> crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Here is somebody else who has a long time to wait too. Not everybody

on this board has their surgery dates. I saw my oral surgeon, had the

tests done, thought I had an ortho as well... Just to find out that

this ortho can't treat me; I was so devastated, he was truly the

best. Now I have to find another ortho and it's very long to wait (

for that appointment) when you're getting a new doctor...

Yes, patience is a virtue. As my oral surgeon said it's better to

take things slowly and do everything properly... I've done a lot of

research and am still doing it.

I would go on with my life and before you know it, you'll have your

surgery date and be finished with it, and then comes recovery...

Take care,

> hi i get my braces on next week and then 1 year till my operation 4

> my underbite thing and genio but how does any 1 make it through

that

> year am 18 and have little social life bcos of the way i look

massive

> chin lol and 1 year till i look normal is a long time so again how

do

> people cope with the long wait as i believe am going to go

> crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It took me almost two years to get my date. I just got it two months

ago.

B

[Guest guest]

I know EXACTLY how u feel! I saw my oral surgeon in April 2001 b/c i

wanted to fix my underbite...he referred me to an orthodontist and

told me i have to get my teeth straight before undergoing surgery. I

got my braces on July 2001. I had to wait a year to have surgery

which was July 10th. I really was impatient, b/c i wanted it before

senior year of high school....not after. However, don't worry about

it. Surgery will be here no time! Just enjoy this year you have and

before you know it... it'll be your time!

Nina

>

> > hi i get my braces on next week and then 1 year till my operation

4

> > my underbite thing and genio but how does any 1 make it through

> that

> > year am 18 and have little social life bcos of the way i look

> massive

> > chin lol and 1 year till i look normal is a long time so again

how

> do

> > people cope with the long wait as i believe am going to go

> > crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Whoa!!! Think of every day in braces as a step closer to real

progress. (And the braces will provide a few distractions, I promise

you!)

Try to be of good cheer, and realize how fortunate you are that these

techniques are available to help -- and so well practiced by so many

skilled folks.

That's hard at 18, I know. But hey, you've been the same person for

18 years that you will be post op. You'll look different, but your

essence will be the same. So enjoy what's good in you -- I'm betting

that there's lots -- and focus on the time that will come when you

can enjoy better function and an improved bite and profile.

And take it one day at a time, and I promise, you'll get there.

Cammie

Post here when you wish. You'll find kindred and sympathetic spirits.

> hi i get my braces on next week and then 1 year till my operation 4

> my underbite thing and genio but how does any 1 make it through

that

> year am 18 and have little social life bcos of the way i look

massive

> chin lol and 1 year till i look normal is a long time so again how

do

> people cope with the long wait as i believe am going to go

> crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Two minutes, Miz ?? Wellll, nope. I mean, I spent at least a

week with my clicker, watching the phantasmagoria parade before me.

(I think it must have been Demerol.) But the point is, the length of

time didn't matter. It's like laughing gas for a root canal -- it

hurts, but you just don't care....

I do agree, though, that time flies once you have a date. If you're

like me, you have so many forms to fill out, and things to tend to

and items to check off on that list that you hardly know it, and

you're wheeling out the door, and hoping the nurse doesn't lose the

chair handles and dump your screwed-together jaws out on the concrete

parking lot!

Hannibalette, formerly known as Cammie, leader of the phantasmagorics.

> Hi there,

>

> I had a " long " wait for my surgery - it will have been a year and

> eight months when I have my surgery Aug 27th. I had removeable ALF

> appliances upper/lower for 11 months before I even got into braces,

> which I have had now for eight months.

>

> I'm one of the world's most impatient people, and I'll admit, it's

> pretty hard to come here and hear stories of people almost near

their

> date (as I am), people just coming out of surgery, and people well

on

> their way back to normal life out of the orthognathic jungle, but

> take comfort in the fact that there are many people in the phase

you

> are in as well - you just don't hear from them as often. Some

people

> have been in braces for quite a number of years as well, and I

hardly

> know how to be that patient.

>

> What to do to bear the wait? Research! Go surfing and find out as

> much as you can to prepare for the recovery process (try the

> orthognathic info site at

http://www.geocities.com/orthognathicinfo/ )

> Hang out here

> and read past posts. Keep a journal of what's going on as your

braces

> work their magic. Find some other interests to fill in the gaps,

> maybe try some yoga to help build up your stamina and for stress

> management.

>

> I know this doesn't sound great now, but it's absolutely true -

> before you know it, you'll be posting " I just got a surgery date

and

> I'm soooo excited! " . Then the rapid-fire countdown begins (time

never

> flies as fast as when you've got a date, I think, because the best-

> laid plans don't seem to materialize), and you're in surgery for

two

> minutes and out on the other side.

>

> Best regards,

>