Re: A Confession....

July 8, 2003

Keep that brother in law image going strong. He just hasn't a clue...

Fun to think of him trying to gum a steak.

But I do believe that for the occasion I'd make it maybe a flank

steak, instead of a filet. Or bottom round. Or maybe even shoulder.

And let him gum it, greasy and cold. While you eat a delicately

cooked and seasoned chicken fried steak, with the utmost delicacy.

(But that won't, alas, be the week post op. Wish I could offer

better...) You'll do fine. And hey -- Mexican has traditionally been

one of the most successful for post-op blending. Mix in some beans,

and rice, and salsa, and, if you want it, cheese or cheese soup, and

whiz away. (Whiz as in with a blender, until you get an edible,

slurpable texture.)

C.

July 10, 2003

Alison,

I'd say talk with your doctor(s) and see what s/he thinks the correct

order is for your health and for the best end results. Whatever you

decide, I wish you all the best with both operations.

Take care,

Carol

> In additional to jaw surgery, I have needed another surgery for the

> past year, a laparoscopy for endometriosis (for anyone not

familiar,

> it is basically a scope inserted into the abdomen and a laser is

used

> to remove the endometriosis). My pain is intermittent with this

> issue, but yesterday, I spent an hour in bed crying from the pain.

> So here's my confession, I want to have my jaw surgery first, and

it

> has been my main focus for the past year. Maybe it has to do with

> wearing braces, maybe it's because I've wanted it for 15 years. I

> don't know the reason but I do know this, my family IS NOT happy

with

> me at all. My mother and husband both told me yesterday that I

need

> to forget the jaw surgery and get the other issue taken care of

first

> and foremost.

>

> Logically I know they are probably right. We already have two

> children but the other issue could be affecting my fertility. I

> can't even justify in my own mind why the jaw surgery has been my

> main focus but I'm sure there is some deep psychological reason.

I'm

> going to have upper and lower to correct an overbite, overjet and

> cross bite.

>

> Well, thanks for listening.

>

> Alison

July 10, 2003

Alison,

I'd say talk with your doctor(s) and see what s/he thinks the correct

order is for your health and for the best end results. Whatever you

decide, I wish you all the best with both operations.

Take care,

Carol

> In additional to jaw surgery, I have needed another surgery for the

> past year, a laparoscopy for endometriosis (for anyone not

familiar,

> it is basically a scope inserted into the abdomen and a laser is

used

> to remove the endometriosis). My pain is intermittent with this

> issue, but yesterday, I spent an hour in bed crying from the pain.

> So here's my confession, I want to have my jaw surgery first, and

it

> has been my main focus for the past year. Maybe it has to do with

> wearing braces, maybe it's because I've wanted it for 15 years. I

> don't know the reason but I do know this, my family IS NOT happy

with

> me at all. My mother and husband both told me yesterday that I

need

> to forget the jaw surgery and get the other issue taken care of

first

> and foremost.

>

> Logically I know they are probably right. We already have two

> children but the other issue could be affecting my fertility. I

> can't even justify in my own mind why the jaw surgery has been my

> main focus but I'm sure there is some deep psychological reason.

I'm

> going to have upper and lower to correct an overbite, overjet and

> cross bite.

>

> Well, thanks for listening.

>

> Alison

July 10, 2003

Alison,

I'd say talk with your doctor(s) and see what s/he thinks the correct

order is for your health and for the best end results. Whatever you

decide, I wish you all the best with both operations.

Take care,

Carol

> In additional to jaw surgery, I have needed another surgery for the

> past year, a laparoscopy for endometriosis (for anyone not

familiar,

> it is basically a scope inserted into the abdomen and a laser is

used

> to remove the endometriosis). My pain is intermittent with this

> issue, but yesterday, I spent an hour in bed crying from the pain.

> So here's my confession, I want to have my jaw surgery first, and

it

> has been my main focus for the past year. Maybe it has to do with

> wearing braces, maybe it's because I've wanted it for 15 years. I

> don't know the reason but I do know this, my family IS NOT happy

with

> me at all. My mother and husband both told me yesterday that I

need

> to forget the jaw surgery and get the other issue taken care of

first

> and foremost.

>

> Logically I know they are probably right. We already have two

> children but the other issue could be affecting my fertility. I

> can't even justify in my own mind why the jaw surgery has been my

> main focus but I'm sure there is some deep psychological reason.

I'm

> going to have upper and lower to correct an overbite, overjet and

> cross bite.

>

> Well, thanks for listening.

>

> Alison

July 10, 2003

Alison,

Walking down the hallway to the OR, voluntarily putting myself in a

position to be broken, I couldn't help but think I was insane. Even

though I was dealing with terrible migraines and jaw pains from my

TMJ ... I wasn't dying. Why on earth would anyone put themselves in

that position on purpose?! Well, after having my surgery ... talking

to people who have 'been there, done that' ... reading posts on this

message board ... I know now that I'm not insane. None of us are.

To make the very hard decisions that we do, to have any type of

Orthognatic Surgey (both for medical and cosmetic reasons), makes us

all one thing ... BRAVE.

Support will come from places that you least expect it. Your family

may surprise you post-op. Hang in there. Life has a way of

being ... just the way it's supposed to be.

All the best,

Carol

> > Hi Alison - my confession is that this is my first time

responding

> to a

> > mail from this group (hi all). Speaking as someone who is having

> > surgery in a few weeks and as a Mom who has 2 daughters, I can

> > understand what you are going through. I am lucky in that I

don¡Çt

> know

> > the pain of endometriosis¡Ä I am so sorry you are going through

> this. I

> > have had In Vitro Fertilization though, so I do understand

fertility

> > issues. While the jaw surgery is a medical necessity, for me

it¡Çs

> also

> > something I am doing for myself (it¡Çs so hard to admit there are

> > cosmetic reasons for doing this as well, but there are). A lot

of

> Moms

> > I know have a hard time doing things just for themselves¡Ä maybe

> that¡Çs

> > your quandary¡Ä the jaw surgery is something purely for you¡Ä. and

> > that¡Çs ok. Moms are racked with too much guilt¡Ä to have my

> surgery, I

> > am going to stop nursing my daughter sooner than I probably would

> > otherwise and when I let myself, I feel pretty guilty about it.

But

> > like you, this is something I¡Çve been planning for a while and

the

> time

> > is now. Are you at the point in your orthodontic treatment that

> surgery

> > needs to take place in the next month? How long do you need to

wait

> > between surgeries?

> >

> > Good luck and take care of yourself.

> >

> > A Confession....

> >

> > In additional to jaw surgery, I have needed another surgery for

the

> > past year, a laparoscopy for endometriosis (for anyone not

> familiar,

> > it is basically a scope inserted into the abdomen and a laser is

> used

> > to remove the endometriosis). My pain is intermittent with this

> > issue, but yesterday, I spent an hour in bed crying from the

pain.

> > So here's my confession, I want to have my jaw surgery first, and

> it

> > has been my main focus for the past year. Maybe it has to do

with

> > wearing braces, maybe it's because I've wanted it for 15 years.

I

> > don't know the reason but I do know this, my family IS NOT happy

> with

> > me at all. My mother and husband both told me yesterday that I

> need

> > to forget the jaw surgery and get the other issue taken care of

> first

> > and foremost.

> >

> > Logically I know they are probably right. We already have two

> > children but the other issue could be affecting my fertility. I

> > can't even justify in my own mind why the jaw surgery has been my

> > main focus but I'm sure there is some deep psychological reason.

> I'm

> > going to have upper and lower to correct an overbite, overjet and

> > cross bite.

> >

> > Well, thanks for listening.

> >

> > Alison

> >

July 10, 2003