Re: My Op Experience (1 Wk on!)

[Guest guest]

<

>

Are you serious, or is this a joke? I ask because I have a set of

medical encyclopedia from 1898. In the entry under ether, it says

that ether can irratate the lining of the nose, but if you swab the

nostrils with cocaine first, not only does that soothe the

irratation, but it makes the patient relax so they don't fight the

anesthetic. I had no idea anyone still did this - if you were

serious and they still do.

Kris

> Hey guys,

>

> My name's from Lancaster, UK.

>

> I had a Bi-Maxillary Osteotomy (Upper Jaw Forward 7mm and Lower Jaw

> back 9mm), last Wednesday.

>

> Here's my story....

>

> Had braces since October 2002 to align my teeth for a good bite.

Was

> given a surgery date back in September 2003. The realisation of

what

> was happening hit!

>

> * So, last tuesday (9th December came), 1 day pre-op. I was

admitted

> to hospital in the afternoon (altho this is not really necessary).

> Had blood tests etc. Slept ok.

>

> WEDNESDAY 10th December 2003 - Surgery!

> * was woken at 6am, took some seditive tablets prescribed to help

me

> be more relaxed (altho i wasnt too bad, was just routine)

> * 8.30am - taken to theatre with cotton wool up my nose, soaked

with

> cocaine (lol), apparently this expands the nose in order for a

> better anaesthetic procedure.

> * 1pm - Surgery finishes (altho i dont remember). Was placed in the

> recovery room, also dont recall any of this.

> *2/3pm - First recollections of things. Was sick into my oxygen

mask

> (after-effects of anaesthetic) and people around me fussing!

> * Not in any pain surprisingly. Altho people are normally given a

> self-dosing morphine machine, which helps!

> The rest of the day is pretty much a blur, slept ok. Very swollen.

>

> THURSDAY 11th December.

> * was sick a couple of times, this was due to an anti-inflammitory

> drug i was given but they stopped giving me that.

> * Face ached but this is not really surprising!

> * Able to speak, altho it was very limited because of swelling of

> cheeks, lips and tongue. Drooling lots!

>

> FRIDAY-SATURDAY

> *Visitors came, but i found it got quite difficult and very tiring

> to speak and communicate, they are very understanding tho!

> *Was good to have a shower. Doctors are very pleased that im up and

> about so much.

> *Left hospital on saturday! Reluctantly (because in hospital there

> were personal TVs and nurses all the time - yes, this is only the

> British *free* National Health Service aswell!!)

>

> SATURDAY - TODAY (tuesday)

>

> *Face aches alot

> *Lots of tingling of cheeks and chin (think this is due to the

> nerves coming back)

> *Had some porrige-style breakfast this morning, other than that its

> been Soup and noutritional drinks!

>

>

> Whats annoyed me??????

>

> * Drooling all the time!!

> * Dry lips (nothing that vaseline cant help tho!)

> * No solid foods and im getting really sick of noutritional drinks,

> they all taste the same!

> * The aching after speaking. Not being able to speak properly is

> very frustrating!

> * The point just before the next medication dose, this is normally

> when you ache the most.

> * Taking pills is very laborious

> * The constant taste of gunk which builds up in my mouth cos i cant

> clean it properly.

>

> I can see how some people get depressed in situations like this.

> Luckily, it hasnt happened to me yet. Im quite an optimist and i

> know that itll only be a matter of time before i am fit and well

> again!

>

> For all those not sure whether to undergo surgery....

>

> ...dont hold back, just do it! Yes, its painful for a while, but i

> know that the rewards are gonna be just brilliant.

>

> Good luck to all forthcoming surgical dates!

> And get well soon to all the people in my boat!

>

> xx

[Guest guest]

Welcome home,

We had the same procedure last Wednesday. They sure do things

differently in the UK. I'm in the U.S. It sounds like you're doing

pretty well. That's great. I'm doing well myself, too. Yes, the

drooling is annoying. I carry Kleenex with me everywhere.

Are you allowed to use a WaterPik? Don't know if they have those

over there. It's an irrigation system for the mouth. It really

cleans your mouth well, but it can be very messy.

Happy healing,

Becky

> > Hey guys,

> >

> > My name's from Lancaster, UK.

> >

> > I had a Bi-Maxillary Osteotomy (Upper Jaw Forward 7mm and Lower

Jaw

> > back 9mm), last Wednesday.

> >

> > Here's my story....

> >

> > Had braces since October 2002 to align my teeth for a good bite.

> Was

> > given a surgery date back in September 2003. The realisation of

> what

> > was happening hit!

> >

> > * So, last tuesday (9th December came), 1 day pre-op. I was

> admitted

> > to hospital in the afternoon (altho this is not really

necessary).

> > Had blood tests etc. Slept ok.

> >

> > WEDNESDAY 10th December 2003 - Surgery!

> > * was woken at 6am, took some seditive tablets prescribed to

help

> me

> > be more relaxed (altho i wasnt too bad, was just routine)

> > * 8.30am - taken to theatre with cotton wool up my nose, soaked

> with

> > cocaine (lol), apparently this expands the nose in order for a

> > better anaesthetic procedure.

> > * 1pm - Surgery finishes (altho i dont remember). Was placed in

the

> > recovery room, also dont recall any of this.

> > *2/3pm - First recollections of things. Was sick into my oxygen

> mask

> > (after-effects of anaesthetic) and people around me fussing!

> > * Not in any pain surprisingly. Altho people are normally given

a

> > self-dosing morphine machine, which helps!

> > The rest of the day is pretty much a blur, slept ok. Very

swollen.

> >

> > THURSDAY 11th December.

> > * was sick a couple of times, this was due to an anti-

inflammitory

> > drug i was given but they stopped giving me that.

> > * Face ached but this is not really surprising!

> > * Able to speak, altho it was very limited because of swelling

of

> > cheeks, lips and tongue. Drooling lots!

> >

> > FRIDAY-SATURDAY

> > *Visitors came, but i found it got quite difficult and very

tiring

> > to speak and communicate, they are very understanding tho!

> > *Was good to have a shower. Doctors are very pleased that im up

and

> > about so much.

> > *Left hospital on saturday! Reluctantly (because in hospital

there

> > were personal TVs and nurses all the time - yes, this is only

the

> > British *free* National Health Service aswell!!)

> >

> > SATURDAY - TODAY (tuesday)

> >

> > *Face aches alot

> > *Lots of tingling of cheeks and chin (think this is due to the

> > nerves coming back)

> > *Had some porrige-style breakfast this morning, other than that

its

> > been Soup and noutritional drinks!

> >

> >

> > Whats annoyed me??????

> >

> > * Drooling all the time!!

> > * Dry lips (nothing that vaseline cant help tho!)

> > * No solid foods and im getting really sick of noutritional

drinks,

> > they all taste the same!

> > * The aching after speaking. Not being able to speak properly is

> > very frustrating!

> > * The point just before the next medication dose, this is

normally

> > when you ache the most.

> > * Taking pills is very laborious

> > * The constant taste of gunk which builds up in my mouth cos i

cant

> > clean it properly.

> >

> > I can see how some people get depressed in situations like this.

> > Luckily, it hasnt happened to me yet. Im quite an optimist and i

> > know that itll only be a matter of time before i am fit and well

> > again!

> >

> > For all those not sure whether to undergo surgery....

> >

> > ...dont hold back, just do it! Yes, its painful for a while, but

i

> > know that the rewards are gonna be just brilliant.

> >

> > Good luck to all forthcoming surgical dates!

> > And get well soon to all the people in my boat!

> >

> > xx

[Guest guest]

I don't know about soaking the cotton with cocaine, but quite a few

folks have reported that docs used those long cotton-tipped swaps

drenched in cocaine to prep and numb the nose...

Cammie

> <

cocaine (lol)>>

>

> Are you serious, or is this a joke? I ask because I have a set of

> medical encyclopedia from 1898. In the entry under ether, it says

> that ether can irratate the lining of the nose, but if you swab the

> nostrils with cocaine first, not only does that soothe the

> irratation, but it makes the patient relax so they don't fight the

> anesthetic. I had no idea anyone still did this - if you were

> serious and they still do.

>

> Kris

[Guest guest]

Agreed that the drooling is very annoying. Also, cleaning the teeth

is tedious and annoying. You don't know if you are doing things

right or wrong. No real pain, just uncomfortable from the swelling

(two days post op). The most uncomfortable I have been is in the

morning when trying to get up. That is the most painful. I was

able to eat soft foods right away, I only had an upper advancement

and use bands only when not eating meals. Anyway, it is good to

hear that other people are surviving the annoyances.

> Hey guys,

>

> My name's from Lancaster, UK.

>

> I had a Bi-Maxillary Osteotomy (Upper Jaw Forward 7mm and Lower

Jaw

> back 9mm), last Wednesday.

>

> Here's my story....

>

> Had braces since October 2002 to align my teeth for a good bite.

Was

> given a surgery date back in September 2003. The realisation of

what

> was happening hit!

>

> * So, last tuesday (9th December came), 1 day pre-op. I was

admitted

> to hospital in the afternoon (altho this is not really necessary).

> Had blood tests etc. Slept ok.

>

> WEDNESDAY 10th December 2003 - Surgery!

> * was woken at 6am, took some seditive tablets prescribed to help

me

> be more relaxed (altho i wasnt too bad, was just routine)

> * 8.30am - taken to theatre with cotton wool up my nose, soaked

with

> cocaine (lol), apparently this expands the nose in order for a

> better anaesthetic procedure.

> * 1pm - Surgery finishes (altho i dont remember). Was placed in

the

> recovery room, also dont recall any of this.

> *2/3pm - First recollections of things. Was sick into my oxygen

mask

> (after-effects of anaesthetic) and people around me fussing!

> * Not in any pain surprisingly. Altho people are normally given a

> self-dosing morphine machine, which helps!

> The rest of the day is pretty much a blur, slept ok. Very swollen.

>

> THURSDAY 11th December.

> * was sick a couple of times, this was due to an anti-inflammitory

> drug i was given but they stopped giving me that.

> * Face ached but this is not really surprising!

> * Able to speak, altho it was very limited because of swelling of

> cheeks, lips and tongue. Drooling lots!

>

> FRIDAY-SATURDAY

> *Visitors came, but i found it got quite difficult and very tiring

> to speak and communicate, they are very understanding tho!

> *Was good to have a shower. Doctors are very pleased that im up

and

> about so much.

> *Left hospital on saturday! Reluctantly (because in hospital there

> were personal TVs and nurses all the time - yes, this is only the

> British *free* National Health Service aswell!!)

>

> SATURDAY - TODAY (tuesday)

>

> *Face aches alot

> *Lots of tingling of cheeks and chin (think this is due to the

> nerves coming back)

> *Had some porrige-style breakfast this morning, other than that

its

> been Soup and noutritional drinks!

>

>

> Whats annoyed me??????

>

> * Drooling all the time!!

> * Dry lips (nothing that vaseline cant help tho!)

> * No solid foods and im getting really sick of noutritional

drinks,

> they all taste the same!

> * The aching after speaking. Not being able to speak properly is

> very frustrating!

> * The point just before the next medication dose, this is normally

> when you ache the most.

> * Taking pills is very laborious

> * The constant taste of gunk which builds up in my mouth cos i

cant

> clean it properly.

>

> I can see how some people get depressed in situations like this.

> Luckily, it hasnt happened to me yet. Im quite an optimist and i

> know that itll only be a matter of time before i am fit and well

> again!

>

> For all those not sure whether to undergo surgery....

>

> ...dont hold back, just do it! Yes, its painful for a while, but i

> know that the rewards are gonna be just brilliant.

>

> Good luck to all forthcoming surgical dates!

> And get well soon to all the people in my boat!

>

> xx