Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 hey all... well, i said i would come back and share my surgery experience so here i am. you know what? it wasn't bad at all. i was TERRIFIED before the surgery. it was all i thought about for the past year and a half when i found out i needed it. even the morning of, i considered backing out (not seriously, of course). i went in around 5:30 and got in my hospital gown. they gave me anti-nausea medication and put a little patch behind my ear that people use on cruise ships for sea sickness. then they wheeled me into the pre- surgical room to get my IV put in. i started crying... but the anesthesiologist was really cool. he said i wouldn't be normal if i wasn't scared. the next thing i remember is waking up in recovery. i had the MOST incredible sore throat. but it was over... the surgery was done! i don't remember getting into my hospital bed, but once i was there, i was hooked up to all sorts of tubes: my IV (complete with morphine button), a tube going through my nose and down into my stomach to suck out all of the blood i was swallowing, and these funny leg warmer things that periodically pumped full of air and then released to massage my calves and increase circulation to prevent blood clots. nurses came by from time to time to check my vitals. one of the nurses was a guy and he was really cute... so that was a little comfort. i was pretty out of it that day... no doubt thanks to the morphine. around 7 o'clock i had to go to the bathroom. the IV pumped me so full of fluids that my bladder filled up every 45 minutes! so they helped me to the bathroom and back... on the way back to bed, i started getting nauseated... i told one of the nurses i felt sick - she grabbed a suction tube. and my WORST fear was realized - i spewed blood. the tube in my stomach, that was supposed to prevent this from happening had actually started to come out, which is why i got sick. so i had one nurse suctioning my mouth out, while the cute guy nurse wiped my face with a wet cloth and yet another nurse was telling me to swallow whilst shoving the tube back down my throat. you know what... getting sick was my absolute number one fear and it wasn't that bad. i got through it. the nurses were awesome... they were right there and they weren't going to let anything bad happen to me. now, on to some other details: the swelling wasn't too bad. it peaked, just like my doctor said, on the 3rd or 4th day and has steadily decreased since then. today, day nine, it is barely noticeable even by me, my worst critic. the sore throat went away as well within about 4 days. my sinuses have been really congested (with blood) and my doctor said that it is okay to blow my nose very gently. blowing too hard could push air into my cheeks, which isn't dangerous, just scary. sudafed has helped with that. the liquid diet isn't too bad. i had some accidents with foods that were too thick, but i'm getting the hang of it. i think i'm actually eating better than i did b/f the surgery! last night for dinner i had potato cheddar soup (made by slim fast) and some gerber baby peaches for dessert. it really filled me up. this morning i blended some Special K cereal with milk and bananas and it was also really good. i don't think i've lost any weight as of yet. i do miss chewing yummy foods, but i will be able to do that again soon enough. oh, one last thing... this i wasn't prepared for... the general anesthesia made me really depressed for a few days. i cried at everything... also, i had this deep, deep longing to go back to the hospital - it was a comfort zone, i guess. but yeah, the depression was really odd - it was like i didn't know what i wanted. but i think that's over now. i'm back at work today... i feel good. there are good moments and bad moments - but i don't regret the surgery. i had some severe pain at certain points, mostly in my forehead. my doctor said that was from muscle tension and told me to apply heat to the area and massage it. that did the trick. i think that is all... i'd be happy to answer anyone's questions... i hope this testimony has helped. ta for now, heather, TN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Good to hear you are recovering well. I am due to get my lower jaw done n the summer(I am seeing the surgeon in may) Can you tell me if you had lower or upper done? and are you happy with the cosmetic result? I need to get it done as There is a lot of preasure on my lower jaw, I have a severe underbite and it's getting worse as I get older. Hope you have a speedy recovery and well done > hey all... well, i said i would come back and share my surgery > experience so here i am. you know what? it wasn't bad at all. i > was TERRIFIED before the surgery. it was all i thought about for the > past year and a half when i found out i needed it. even the morning > of, i considered backing out (not seriously, of course). i went in > around 5:30 and got in my hospital gown. they gave me anti-nausea > medication and put a little patch behind my ear that people use on > cruise ships for sea sickness. then they wheeled me into the pre- > surgical room to get my IV put in. i started crying... but the > anesthesiologist was really cool. he said i wouldn't be normal if i > wasn't scared. the next thing i remember is waking up in recovery. > i had the MOST incredible sore throat. but it was over... the > surgery was done! i don't remember getting into my hospital bed, but > once i was there, i was hooked up to all sorts of tubes: my IV > (complete with morphine button), a tube going through my nose and > down into my stomach to suck out all of the blood i was swallowing, > and these funny leg warmer things that periodically pumped full of > air and then released to massage my calves and increase circulation > to prevent blood clots. nurses came by from time to time to check my > vitals. one of the nurses was a guy and he was really cute... so > that was a little comfort. i was pretty out of it that day... no > doubt thanks to the morphine. around 7 o'clock i had to go to the > bathroom. the IV pumped me so full of fluids that my bladder filled > up every 45 minutes! so they helped me to the bathroom and back... > on the way back to bed, i started getting nauseated... i told one of > the nurses i felt sick - she grabbed a suction tube. and my WORST > fear was realized - i spewed blood. the tube in my stomach, that was > supposed to prevent this from happening had actually started to come > out, which is why i got sick. so i had one nurse suctioning my mouth > out, while the cute guy nurse wiped my face with a wet cloth and yet > another nurse was telling me to swallow whilst shoving the tube back > down my throat. you know what... getting sick was my absolute > number one fear and it wasn't that bad. i got through it. the > nurses were awesome... they were right there and they weren't going > to let anything bad happen to me. > > now, on to some other details: the swelling wasn't too bad. it > peaked, just like my doctor said, on the 3rd or 4th day and has > steadily decreased since then. today, day nine, it is barely > noticeable even by me, my worst critic. the sore throat went away as > well within about 4 days. my sinuses have been really congested > (with blood) and my doctor said that it is okay to blow my nose very > gently. blowing too hard could push air into my cheeks, which isn't > dangerous, just scary. sudafed has helped with that. the liquid > diet isn't too bad. i had some accidents with foods that were too > thick, but i'm getting the hang of it. i think i'm actually eating > better than i did b/f the surgery! last night for dinner i had > potato cheddar soup (made by slim fast) and some gerber baby peaches > for dessert. it really filled me up. this morning i blended some > Special K cereal with milk and bananas and it was also really good. > i don't think i've lost any weight as of yet. i do miss chewing > yummy foods, but i will be able to do that again soon enough. > > oh, one last thing... this i wasn't prepared for... the general > anesthesia made me really depressed for a few days. i cried at > everything... also, i had this deep, deep longing to go back to the > hospital - it was a comfort zone, i guess. but yeah, the depression > was really odd - it was like i didn't know what i wanted. but i > think that's over now. > > i'm back at work today... i feel good. there are good moments and > bad moments - but i don't regret the surgery. i had some severe pain > at certain points, mostly in my forehead. my doctor said that was > from muscle tension and told me to apply heat to the area and massage > it. that did the trick. > > i think that is all... i'd be happy to answer anyone's questions... i > hope this testimony has helped. > > ta for now, > > heather, TN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Good to hear you are recovering well. I am due to get my lower jaw done n the summer(I am seeing the surgeon in may) Can you tell me if you had lower or upper done? and are you happy with the cosmetic result? I need to get it done as There is a lot of preasure on my lower jaw, I have a severe underbite and it's getting worse as I get older. Hope you have a speedy recovery and well done > hey all... well, i said i would come back and share my surgery > experience so here i am. you know what? it wasn't bad at all. i > was TERRIFIED before the surgery. it was all i thought about for the > past year and a half when i found out i needed it. even the morning > of, i considered backing out (not seriously, of course). i went in > around 5:30 and got in my hospital gown. they gave me anti-nausea > medication and put a little patch behind my ear that people use on > cruise ships for sea sickness. then they wheeled me into the pre- > surgical room to get my IV put in. i started crying... but the > anesthesiologist was really cool. he said i wouldn't be normal if i > wasn't scared. the next thing i remember is waking up in recovery. > i had the MOST incredible sore throat. but it was over... the > surgery was done! i don't remember getting into my hospital bed, but > once i was there, i was hooked up to all sorts of tubes: my IV > (complete with morphine button), a tube going through my nose and > down into my stomach to suck out all of the blood i was swallowing, > and these funny leg warmer things that periodically pumped full of > air and then released to massage my calves and increase circulation > to prevent blood clots. nurses came by from time to time to check my > vitals. one of the nurses was a guy and he was really cute... so > that was a little comfort. i was pretty out of it that day... no > doubt thanks to the morphine. around 7 o'clock i had to go to the > bathroom. the IV pumped me so full of fluids that my bladder filled > up every 45 minutes! so they helped me to the bathroom and back... > on the way back to bed, i started getting nauseated... i told one of > the nurses i felt sick - she grabbed a suction tube. and my WORST > fear was realized - i spewed blood. the tube in my stomach, that was > supposed to prevent this from happening had actually started to come > out, which is why i got sick. so i had one nurse suctioning my mouth > out, while the cute guy nurse wiped my face with a wet cloth and yet > another nurse was telling me to swallow whilst shoving the tube back > down my throat. you know what... getting sick was my absolute > number one fear and it wasn't that bad. i got through it. the > nurses were awesome... they were right there and they weren't going > to let anything bad happen to me. > > now, on to some other details: the swelling wasn't too bad. it > peaked, just like my doctor said, on the 3rd or 4th day and has > steadily decreased since then. today, day nine, it is barely > noticeable even by me, my worst critic. the sore throat went away as > well within about 4 days. my sinuses have been really congested > (with blood) and my doctor said that it is okay to blow my nose very > gently. blowing too hard could push air into my cheeks, which isn't > dangerous, just scary. sudafed has helped with that. the liquid > diet isn't too bad. i had some accidents with foods that were too > thick, but i'm getting the hang of it. i think i'm actually eating > better than i did b/f the surgery! last night for dinner i had > potato cheddar soup (made by slim fast) and some gerber baby peaches > for dessert. it really filled me up. this morning i blended some > Special K cereal with milk and bananas and it was also really good. > i don't think i've lost any weight as of yet. i do miss chewing > yummy foods, but i will be able to do that again soon enough. > > oh, one last thing... this i wasn't prepared for... the general > anesthesia made me really depressed for a few days. i cried at > everything... also, i had this deep, deep longing to go back to the > hospital - it was a comfort zone, i guess. but yeah, the depression > was really odd - it was like i didn't know what i wanted. but i > think that's over now. > > i'm back at work today... i feel good. there are good moments and > bad moments - but i don't regret the surgery. i had some severe pain > at certain points, mostly in my forehead. my doctor said that was > from muscle tension and told me to apply heat to the area and massage > it. that did the trick. > > i think that is all... i'd be happy to answer anyone's questions... i > hope this testimony has helped. > > ta for now, > > heather, TN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2004 Report Share Posted March 25, 2004 Good to hear you are recovering well. I am due to get my lower jaw done n the summer(I am seeing the surgeon in may) Can you tell me if you had lower or upper done? and are you happy with the cosmetic result? I need to get it done as There is a lot of preasure on my lower jaw, I have a severe underbite and it's getting worse as I get older. Hope you have a speedy recovery and well done > hey all... well, i said i would come back and share my surgery > experience so here i am. you know what? it wasn't bad at all. i > was TERRIFIED before the surgery. it was all i thought about for the > past year and a half when i found out i needed it. even the morning > of, i considered backing out (not seriously, of course). i went in > around 5:30 and got in my hospital gown. they gave me anti-nausea > medication and put a little patch behind my ear that people use on > cruise ships for sea sickness. then they wheeled me into the pre- > surgical room to get my IV put in. i started crying... but the > anesthesiologist was really cool. he said i wouldn't be normal if i > wasn't scared. the next thing i remember is waking up in recovery. > i had the MOST incredible sore throat. but it was over... the > surgery was done! i don't remember getting into my hospital bed, but > once i was there, i was hooked up to all sorts of tubes: my IV > (complete with morphine button), a tube going through my nose and > down into my stomach to suck out all of the blood i was swallowing, > and these funny leg warmer things that periodically pumped full of > air and then released to massage my calves and increase circulation > to prevent blood clots. nurses came by from time to time to check my > vitals. one of the nurses was a guy and he was really cute... so > that was a little comfort. i was pretty out of it that day... no > doubt thanks to the morphine. around 7 o'clock i had to go to the > bathroom. the IV pumped me so full of fluids that my bladder filled > up every 45 minutes! so they helped me to the bathroom and back... > on the way back to bed, i started getting nauseated... i told one of > the nurses i felt sick - she grabbed a suction tube. and my WORST > fear was realized - i spewed blood. the tube in my stomach, that was > supposed to prevent this from happening had actually started to come > out, which is why i got sick. so i had one nurse suctioning my mouth > out, while the cute guy nurse wiped my face with a wet cloth and yet > another nurse was telling me to swallow whilst shoving the tube back > down my throat. you know what... getting sick was my absolute > number one fear and it wasn't that bad. i got through it. the > nurses were awesome... they were right there and they weren't going > to let anything bad happen to me. > > now, on to some other details: the swelling wasn't too bad. it > peaked, just like my doctor said, on the 3rd or 4th day and has > steadily decreased since then. today, day nine, it is barely > noticeable even by me, my worst critic. the sore throat went away as > well within about 4 days. my sinuses have been really congested > (with blood) and my doctor said that it is okay to blow my nose very > gently. blowing too hard could push air into my cheeks, which isn't > dangerous, just scary. sudafed has helped with that. the liquid > diet isn't too bad. i had some accidents with foods that were too > thick, but i'm getting the hang of it. i think i'm actually eating > better than i did b/f the surgery! last night for dinner i had > potato cheddar soup (made by slim fast) and some gerber baby peaches > for dessert. it really filled me up. this morning i blended some > Special K cereal with milk and bananas and it was also really good. > i don't think i've lost any weight as of yet. i do miss chewing > yummy foods, but i will be able to do that again soon enough. > > oh, one last thing... this i wasn't prepared for... the general > anesthesia made me really depressed for a few days. i cried at > everything... also, i had this deep, deep longing to go back to the > hospital - it was a comfort zone, i guess. but yeah, the depression > was really odd - it was like i didn't know what i wanted. but i > think that's over now. > > i'm back at work today... i feel good. there are good moments and > bad moments - but i don't regret the surgery. i had some severe pain > at certain points, mostly in my forehead. my doctor said that was > from muscle tension and told me to apply heat to the area and massage > it. that did the trick. > > i think that is all... i'd be happy to answer anyone's questions... i > hope this testimony has helped. > > ta for now, > > heather, TN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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