To WEndy - from Angie

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am 29 years old. I work for our local sheriff's department so luckily

I have good benefits. I took 3 and 1/2 weeks off, but I might take off

the entire time that I am Wired/banded because I talk on the phone a lot

and also deal with the 'participants' for a great of the day and my

breath is really bad. I don't think I have enough time to cover another

month off, maybe 2 weeks off, but I will have manage.

About the splint, I don't think he'd have put it in if it wasn't

necessary, but he says so far I am healing okay. Doc said in 20 years of

surgery, I am the second patient he's had to remove a splint from. I

will see him again next week. I had my braces put in - September 2002

and the ortho says I will probably have them in for about 10 months post

- op. Not bad, considering that I've heard Some people say they have

worn their braces for years!!!

I had a few different problems, I am not big on medical terms but

basically I had an underbite, my lower jaw stuck out, I also had a

crossbite, which

Means that my lower jaw was shifting sideways, and my 'jaws' are not

even,

My loser jaw is wider than the upper, but that problem will be corrected

With the orthodontics.

Luckily, the surgery was only to my lower jaw!

How about you?

I have two children and it was hard taking care of them, especially my

two year old because I couldn't talk to him when I had the splint on. I

would say that my biggest recommendation to you, based on my experience,

would be to ask your doctor if he'll be using any steroid or steroid

like substances as an anti-inflammatory, and if he says yes, ask him for

an anti-anxiety medication. It will make a big difference.

Ang

Hi Ang, thanks for your reply

to my post

You sound like you are healing. How do you know that the splint

removal might have badly affected your outcome? Maybe it didnt?

My surgeon does not usually wire or splint. But he said sometimes it

is necessary.

I have only had my braces on for about 6 weeks. So I am not close to

having my surgery yet. Hopefully I will be ready by September or

October (both ortho & surgeon said 6 months of pre-surg braces) but

we shall see.

What was your surgery to correct? I am supposed to just have upper

jaw surgery and possibly genio. I have an open bite, my teeth only

touch in the back. Did you happen to have the same problem?

My father lives in New Hampshire so I have been to Mass many times.

He suggested that I have my surgery up there and recover at his

house, but I just dont think it would be very peacefull recovering

with my father, step-mother and 23 month old half-brother. LOL

I am 32 yrs old but a big baby when it comes to doctors & hospitals,

but I have my sister who is my best friend down here in Miami, so I

am counting on her to help me through the recovery.

What type of work do you do and how much time off did you take? This

concerns me since I am at a new job, I think they will nearly die if

I tell them I need to take a month off. I still do not even have my

new health ins. so I do not yet know if my surgery will even be

covered. I pray that Cigna will cover a portion of it.

Well that's my story, I would love to see your pre and post op pics

if you have any.

Thanks,

and happy healing to you!