Re: Newbie from New Orleans

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to the group, Dale.

As for being the " oldster " of the group at 51...sorry, we have " olderers " . LOL!

Cammie is post-op and she's proud of her 56 or 57 or so years and we have

another who is still pre-op who is in his early 60's. I'm 42, but I'm close.

LOL!

I must admire you for your attitude in making this decision and sticking to your

guns. That seems to be a big problem with a lot of us...letting what others

think affect (or is it effect?) our decision. Fortunately for me, I didn't have

anyone trying to talk me out of it. There were concerns, but they were all very

supportive.

You've already conquered about 85% or more of the battle by realizing that this

is a " patience building process " so you are definitely on the right track. :-)

As for being long-winded...man, most of us are, have been, or will be...so type

on, we're here to listen (read).

Fortunately for me, being that I'm female, I can't help you with the shaving

part. LOL! But I do recall my Fweetie using some kind of cream that you just

wipe off instead of shaving it off. He uses is for his bald head...don't know

if he's ever used it on his face. I can check with him if you'd like.

Anyway, welcome again, and I hope your journey to the other side is quick,

painless, and uneventful.

Smooches

Newbie from New Orleans

Hi ya'll,

Being new to the group, please allow me to introduce myself. My name

is Dale and I live in New Orleans. At 51 years " young " , I suspect I

maybe be the oldster in the group of future surgeries. I have been

reading your many posts for sometime now in preparation for my

yet-to-be scheduled upper and lower jaw surgery. I have found the

info and personal accounts very helpful in putting aspects of the

surgery in perspective. I am very appreciative for the education I'm

receiving from both support sites. Thank you all.

The short and sweet of it is that I learned over twenty years ago

that I needed surgery to correct my underbite. I decided not to have

the surgery. Years went by. In March of 1997, I changed dentist.

Upon completing her examination of my teeth after the cleaning, with

concern in her voice, my dentist asked me if I had ever considered

surgery to correct my bite. I explained to her that I knew I was a

candidate for surgery, but I had just decided to leave things as they

were. I was told I really should at least consider it in order to

avoid future problems. As it were, certain teeth were beginning to

be worn down because of misalignment. The conversation really got me

to thinking. I decided to check out my options. My dentist

recommended an orthodontist. She told me that she could straighten

my teeth but that would not fix my bite. Long story short, I wore

braces from August of 1997 to January of 1999. My teeth were

straight and I figured I could live with my bite. No one even knew I

had a problem with my bite unless I told them. I wore my retainers

religiously and kept my appointments. Around this time last year, I

noticed that I was starting to bite the inside of my cheeks and my

tongue more often than usual. I knew it was because of my bite and I

discussed my concerns with my dentist and my orthodontist. An oral

surgeon was recommended. In June of 2003, after molds, x-rays,

drawings, etal, he concluded that I needed surgery on both upper and

lower jaws. Knowing that future problems, due to my underbite, would

only get worse with time, age withstanding, I decided I would have

the surgery. My dentist and orthodontist are very supportive. They

have nothing but good things to say about my oral surgeon and I am

very happy with him and trust him. By August of 2003, I was back in

braces. Only thing is, I thought I would have had the surgery by

now, but as many of you know, " tweaking " is a slow and patience

building process. I did get some glimmer of the future today. My OD

told me that she may be ready to make molds at my next appointment to

see how things line up and if I'm good to go to the OS for his take

on things. With apologies for being longwinded, I once again want to

thank you all for your writings. As for me, I will be checking in

from time to time. Best wishes to all post and pre ops.

Dale

PS: One more thing. I have friends that are supportive of my

decision to have the surgery, but I also have some friends that do

not understand why I am having the surgery. I am asked why I would

want to put myself through it. This does not bother me. I know why

and that's all that counts. One more thing . . . for the guys out

there that are post ops . . . I have a question. How goes the

shaving? I'm not one for growing a beard and was wondering if there

were any suggestions regarding shaving post op. Thanks!!!!! HAPPY

VALENTINE'S DAY!!! HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!! and GEAUX TIGERS!!!

[Guest guest]

Hello Dale,

I'm a newbie to the group as well! I have to tell you ... reading

your post was very inspiring to me. I was told not too long ago

that the only way to correct my bite would be surgery (and of

course, the additional year and a half of braces). I'm 28, with

minor TMJ problems, but they have been getting progressively worse.

My surgeon told me that although it's not bad now, the joint is

beginning to get arthritic. My teeth are fairly straight; I've

never really been extremely unhappy with the aesthetics of them, and

my off-kilter bite, not extremely noticeable. Anyhow, I really

contemplated putting it off/forgetting I ever went in. It just

sounded like too big of a process to deal with for what is a very

minor problem now. I guess reading some of these posts (especially

yours), has really made me realize how foolish it would be NOT to do

it now. I could very well be where you are in twenty years and

regretting my decision immensely!! Sincere thanks for sharing your

story...

from MN

> Hi ya'll,

> Being new to the group, please allow me to introduce myself. My

name

> is Dale and I live in New Orleans. At 51 years " young " , I suspect

I

> maybe be the oldster in the group of future surgeries. I have

been

> reading your many posts for sometime now in preparation for my

> yet-to-be scheduled upper and lower jaw surgery. I have found the

> info and personal accounts very helpful in putting aspects of the

> surgery in perspective. I am very appreciative for the education

I'm

> receiving from both support sites. Thank you all.

> The short and sweet of it is that I learned over twenty years ago

> that I needed surgery to correct my underbite. I decided not to

have

> the surgery. Years went by. In March of 1997, I changed

dentist.

> Upon completing her examination of my teeth after the cleaning,

with

> concern in her voice, my dentist asked me if I had ever considered

> surgery to correct my bite. I explained to her that I knew I was

a

> candidate for surgery, but I had just decided to leave things as

they

> were. I was told I really should at least consider it in order to

> avoid future problems. As it were, certain teeth were beginning

to

> be worn down because of misalignment. The conversation really got

me

> to thinking. I decided to check out my options. My dentist

> recommended an orthodontist. She told me that she could

straighten

> my teeth but that would not fix my bite. Long story short, I wore

> braces from August of 1997 to January of 1999. My teeth were

> straight and I figured I could live with my bite. No one even

knew I

> had a problem with my bite unless I told them. I wore my

retainers

> religiously and kept my appointments. Around this time last year,

I

> noticed that I was starting to bite the inside of my cheeks and my

> tongue more often than usual. I knew it was because of my bite

and I

> discussed my concerns with my dentist and my orthodontist. An oral

> surgeon was recommended. In June of 2003, after molds, x-rays,

> drawings, etal, he concluded that I needed surgery on both upper

and

> lower jaws. Knowing that future problems, due to my underbite,

would

> only get worse with time, age withstanding, I decided I would have

> the surgery. My dentist and orthodontist are very supportive.

They

> have nothing but good things to say about my oral surgeon and I am

> very happy with him and trust him. By August of 2003, I was back

in

> braces. Only thing is, I thought I would have had the surgery by

> now, but as many of you know, " tweaking " is a slow and patience

> building process. I did get some glimmer of the future today. My

OD

> told me that she may be ready to make molds at my next appointment

to

> see how things line up and if I'm good to go to the OS for his

take

> on things. With apologies for being longwinded, I once again want

to

> thank you all for your writings. As for me, I will be checking in

> from time to time. Best wishes to all post and pre ops.

> Dale

> PS: One more thing. I have friends that are supportive of my

> decision to have the surgery, but I also have some friends that do

> not understand why I am having the surgery. I am asked why I

would

> want to put myself through it. This does not bother me. I know

why

> and that's all that counts. One more thing . . . for the guys out

> there that are post ops . . . I have a question. How goes the

> shaving? I'm not one for growing a beard and was wondering if

there

> were any suggestions regarding shaving post op. Thanks!!!!!

HAPPY

> VALENTINE'S DAY!!! HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!! and GEAUX TIGERS!!!

[Guest guest]

Geaux tigers Newbie Dale!

I am a big Tiger fan too----taught English to our star running

back, in fact (yeah, the guy on the cover of SI!!)

No, you're not too old! You'll do fine--and I hear that the OSs in

NO are great. Besides that, the folks in this support group will do

you better than any medicine. Just wait and see.

Congratulations on getting closer to your date.

Tell those clueless friends that you don't want to wake up one

morning with no teeth in your mouth. That always stopped the

commentary in my neck of the woods (Clinton, LA).

Ann

> Hi ya'll,

> Being new to the group, please allow me to introduce myself. My

name

> is Dale and I live in New Orleans. At 51 years " young " , I suspect

I

> maybe be the oldster in the group of future surgeries. I have

been

> reading your many posts for sometime now in preparation for my

> yet-to-be scheduled upper and lower jaw surgery. I have found the

> info and personal accounts very helpful in putting aspects of the

> surgery in perspective. I am very appreciative for the education

I'm

> receiving from both support sites. Thank you all.

> The short and sweet of it is that I learned over twenty years ago

> that I needed surgery to correct my underbite. I decided not to

have

> the surgery. Years went by. In March of 1997, I changed

dentist.

> Upon completing her examination of my teeth after the cleaning,

with

> concern in her voice, my dentist asked me if I had ever considered

> surgery to correct my bite. I explained to her that I knew I was

a

> candidate for surgery, but I had just decided to leave things as

they

> were. I was told I really should at least consider it in order to

> avoid future problems. As it were, certain teeth were beginning

to

> be worn down because of misalignment. The conversation really got

me

> to thinking. I decided to check out my options. My dentist

> recommended an orthodontist. She told me that she could

straighten

> my teeth but that would not fix my bite. Long story short, I wore

> braces from August of 1997 to January of 1999. My teeth were

> straight and I figured I could live with my bite. No one even

knew I

> had a problem with my bite unless I told them. I wore my

retainers

> religiously and kept my appointments. Around this time last year,

I

> noticed that I was starting to bite the inside of my cheeks and my

> tongue more often than usual. I knew it was because of my bite

and I

> discussed my concerns with my dentist and my orthodontist. An oral

> surgeon was recommended. In June of 2003, after molds, x-rays,

> drawings, etal, he concluded that I needed surgery on both upper

and

> lower jaws. Knowing that future problems, due to my underbite,

would

> only get worse with time, age withstanding, I decided I would have

> the surgery. My dentist and orthodontist are very supportive.

They

> have nothing but good things to say about my oral surgeon and I am

> very happy with him and trust him. By August of 2003, I was back

in

> braces. Only thing is, I thought I would have had the surgery by

> now, but as many of you know, " tweaking " is a slow and patience

> building process. I did get some glimmer of the future today. My

OD

> told me that she may be ready to make molds at my next appointment

to

> see how things line up and if I'm good to go to the OS for his

take

> on things. With apologies for being longwinded, I once again want

to

> thank you all for your writings. As for me, I will be checking in

> from time to time. Best wishes to all post and pre ops.

> Dale

> PS: One more thing. I have friends that are supportive of my

> decision to have the surgery, but I also have some friends that do

> not understand why I am having the surgery. I am asked why I

would

> want to put myself through it. This does not bother me. I know

why

> and that's all that counts. One more thing . . . for the guys out

> there that are post ops . . . I have a question. How goes the

> shaving? I'm not one for growing a beard and was wondering if

there

> were any suggestions regarding shaving post op. Thanks!!!!!

HAPPY

> VALENTINE'S DAY!!! HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!! and GEAUX TIGERS!!!

[Guest guest]

Geaux tigers Newbie Dale!

I am a big Tiger fan too----taught English to our star running

back, in fact (yeah, the guy on the cover of SI!!)

No, you're not too old! You'll do fine--and I hear that the OSs in

NO are great. Besides that, the folks in this support group will do

you better than any medicine. Just wait and see.

Congratulations on getting closer to your date.

Tell those clueless friends that you don't want to wake up one

morning with no teeth in your mouth. That always stopped the

commentary in my neck of the woods (Clinton, LA).

Ann

> Hi ya'll,

> Being new to the group, please allow me to introduce myself. My

name

> is Dale and I live in New Orleans. At 51 years " young " , I suspect

I

> maybe be the oldster in the group of future surgeries. I have

been

> reading your many posts for sometime now in preparation for my

> yet-to-be scheduled upper and lower jaw surgery. I have found the

> info and personal accounts very helpful in putting aspects of the

> surgery in perspective. I am very appreciative for the education

I'm

> receiving from both support sites. Thank you all.

> The short and sweet of it is that I learned over twenty years ago

> that I needed surgery to correct my underbite. I decided not to

have

> the surgery. Years went by. In March of 1997, I changed

dentist.

> Upon completing her examination of my teeth after the cleaning,

with

> concern in her voice, my dentist asked me if I had ever considered

> surgery to correct my bite. I explained to her that I knew I was

a

> candidate for surgery, but I had just decided to leave things as

they

> were. I was told I really should at least consider it in order to

> avoid future problems. As it were, certain teeth were beginning

to

> be worn down because of misalignment. The conversation really got

me

> to thinking. I decided to check out my options. My dentist

> recommended an orthodontist. She told me that she could

straighten

> my teeth but that would not fix my bite. Long story short, I wore

> braces from August of 1997 to January of 1999. My teeth were

> straight and I figured I could live with my bite. No one even

knew I

> had a problem with my bite unless I told them. I wore my

retainers

> religiously and kept my appointments. Around this time last year,

I

> noticed that I was starting to bite the inside of my cheeks and my

> tongue more often than usual. I knew it was because of my bite

and I

> discussed my concerns with my dentist and my orthodontist. An oral

> surgeon was recommended. In June of 2003, after molds, x-rays,

> drawings, etal, he concluded that I needed surgery on both upper

and

> lower jaws. Knowing that future problems, due to my underbite,

would

> only get worse with time, age withstanding, I decided I would have

> the surgery. My dentist and orthodontist are very supportive.

They

> have nothing but good things to say about my oral surgeon and I am

> very happy with him and trust him. By August of 2003, I was back

in

> braces. Only thing is, I thought I would have had the surgery by

> now, but as many of you know, " tweaking " is a slow and patience

> building process. I did get some glimmer of the future today. My

OD

> told me that she may be ready to make molds at my next appointment

to

> see how things line up and if I'm good to go to the OS for his

take

> on things. With apologies for being longwinded, I once again want

to

> thank you all for your writings. As for me, I will be checking in

> from time to time. Best wishes to all post and pre ops.

> Dale

> PS: One more thing. I have friends that are supportive of my

> decision to have the surgery, but I also have some friends that do

> not understand why I am having the surgery. I am asked why I

would

> want to put myself through it. This does not bother me. I know

why

> and that's all that counts. One more thing . . . for the guys out

> there that are post ops . . . I have a question. How goes the

> shaving? I'm not one for growing a beard and was wondering if

there

> were any suggestions regarding shaving post op. Thanks!!!!!

HAPPY

> VALENTINE'S DAY!!! HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!! and GEAUX TIGERS!!!