Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Hi - I'm having surgery on December 17th too. I'm scared too, even though I have had other kinds of surgery before (and had lots of trouble with anethesia before too). (I've even had TMJ surgery before too, and went a year without being able to chew, yet I'm still nervous about how to handle the diet after this surgery). It's normal to be scared before a major operation like this. I think you just have to trust your gut feeling that you're doing the right thing. With me, I didn't really feel like I had any other good options than to try this. Braces didn't work the first 2 times on me. I've had an open bite my whole life, and now that I'm older, it's causing more problems. I have two somewhat young children, and I've been trying to prepare them as best as I can, talking about it, showing them pictures, telling them I probably won't feel great around Christmas, but I'll eventually be better. My older son (6 years old) said he would play some Christmas carols on the piano to make me feel better after my surgery! If you've been reading here a while, you're probably a little more prepared than you think, and that will definately help! I wish you the best. Try to post here you are able after the surgery & let us know how you are doing, and I'll do the same. > Hi you guys, > I have been a somewhat silent reader for a while now. I am having > surgery on December 17th. I am nervous because I am a student and I > also have a small daughter. I just hope I am doing the best thing. I > have had such bad headaches for years following a car accident where > my face hit the steering wheel. Apparently my bite has opened and my > jaw is not functioning correctly. I have the braces on, and the > surgery is supposed to last 6 hours...that's the first time I will > have ever been under ANY anesthesia. Thanks to all of you who have > a cheerful outlook, and Irish who always makes me smile. I'm not so > much dwelling on the negative, I'm just a bit scared. It's good to > know so many of you are doing this in December, too! Alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 , What a sweet child. Don't children seemed to find a way to make you feel better at the worst of times? I remember when my son was 4 years old (he's now 24). I was having a really bad day. I leaned up against the bathroom wall and just slid down to a seated position. My son came in, hugged me and said, " It'll be alright, Mommy. I'll 'tec (protect) you. " The next morning (around 5:00 a.m.), be woke me up and with the world's most biggest grin, said, " Mommy, I made you breakfast " . He had a tray with grapes, toast (with about a pound of butter on it) and some Pepsi in a dirty cup from his toybox. Best wishes to you and happy healing. Smooches Re: december surgery Hi - I'm having surgery on December 17th too. I'm scared too, even though I have had other kinds of surgery before (and had lots of trouble with anethesia before too). (I've even had TMJ surgery before too, and went a year without being able to chew, yet I'm still nervous about how to handle the diet after this surgery). It's normal to be scared before a major operation like this. I think you just have to trust your gut feeling that you're doing the right thing. With me, I didn't really feel like I had any other good options than to try this. Braces didn't work the first 2 times on me. I've had an open bite my whole life, and now that I'm older, it's causing more problems. I have two somewhat young children, and I've been trying to prepare them as best as I can, talking about it, showing them pictures, telling them I probably won't feel great around Christmas, but I'll eventually be better. My older son (6 years old) said he would play some Christmas carols on the piano to make me feel better after my surgery! If you've been reading here a while, you're probably a little more prepared than you think, and that will definately help! I wish you the best. Try to post here you are able after the surgery & let us know how you are doing, and I'll do the same. > Hi you guys, > I have been a somewhat silent reader for a while now. I am having > surgery on December 17th. I am nervous because I am a student and I > also have a small daughter. I just hope I am doing the best thing. I > have had such bad headaches for years following a car accident where > my face hit the steering wheel. Apparently my bite has opened and my > jaw is not functioning correctly. I have the braces on, and the > surgery is supposed to last 6 hours...that's the first time I will > have ever been under ANY anesthesia. Thanks to all of you who have > a cheerful outlook, and Irish who always makes me smile. I'm not so > much dwelling on the negative, I'm just a bit scared. It's good to > know so many of you are doing this in December, too! Alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my face anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... ... I couldn't handle it. My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted to get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was so scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me think about it in advance. " Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of never came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs really know what they're doing. Kris > Hi you guys, > I have been a somewhat silent reader for a while now. I am having > surgery on December 17th. I am nervous because I am a student and I > also have a small daughter. I just hope I am doing the best thing. I > have had such bad headaches for years following a car accident where > my face hit the steering wheel. Apparently my bite has opened and my > jaw is not functioning correctly. I have the braces on, and the > surgery is supposed to last 6 hours...that's the first time I will > have ever been under ANY anesthesia. Thanks to all of you who have > a cheerful outlook, and Irish who always makes me smile. I'm not so > much dwelling on the negative, I'm just a bit scared. It's good to > know so many of you are doing this in December, too! Alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my face anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... ... I couldn't handle it. My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted to get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was so scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me think about it in advance. " Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of never came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs really know what they're doing. Kris > Hi you guys, > I have been a somewhat silent reader for a while now. I am having > surgery on December 17th. I am nervous because I am a student and I > also have a small daughter. I just hope I am doing the best thing. I > have had such bad headaches for years following a car accident where > my face hit the steering wheel. Apparently my bite has opened and my > jaw is not functioning correctly. I have the braces on, and the > surgery is supposed to last 6 hours...that's the first time I will > have ever been under ANY anesthesia. Thanks to all of you who have > a cheerful outlook, and Irish who always makes me smile. I'm not so > much dwelling on the negative, I'm just a bit scared. It's good to > know so many of you are doing this in December, too! Alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my face anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... ... I couldn't handle it. My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted to get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was so scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me think about it in advance. " Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of never came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs really know what they're doing. Kris > Hi you guys, > I have been a somewhat silent reader for a while now. I am having > surgery on December 17th. I am nervous because I am a student and I > also have a small daughter. I just hope I am doing the best thing. I > have had such bad headaches for years following a car accident where > my face hit the steering wheel. Apparently my bite has opened and my > jaw is not functioning correctly. I have the braces on, and the > surgery is supposed to last 6 hours...that's the first time I will > have ever been under ANY anesthesia. Thanks to all of you who have > a cheerful outlook, and Irish who always makes me smile. I'm not so > much dwelling on the negative, I'm just a bit scared. It's good to > know so many of you are doing this in December, too! Alix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 You're right on, Kris... my story is much like yours, except that I was two decades plus older than you, and I had already had the wizzies that needed removing, removed. By my general dentist, in his office, with local anesthesia only. My anesthesiologist says, " Anybody around here can knock you out. But what I'm good at is bringing you back! " And he was, truly. Cammie > I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, > etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been > under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, > never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea > of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my face > anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... > ... I couldn't handle it. > > My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm > down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were > poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have > done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted to > get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he > said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the > way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was so > scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, > and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me > think about it in advance. " > > Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up > again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just > very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept > saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " > Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. > It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, > removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to > have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! > > I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of never > came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs really > know what they're doing. > > Kris > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 You're right on, Kris... my story is much like yours, except that I was two decades plus older than you, and I had already had the wizzies that needed removing, removed. By my general dentist, in his office, with local anesthesia only. My anesthesiologist says, " Anybody around here can knock you out. But what I'm good at is bringing you back! " And he was, truly. Cammie > I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, > etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been > under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, > never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea > of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my face > anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... > ... I couldn't handle it. > > My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm > down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were > poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have > done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted to > get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he > said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the > way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was so > scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, > and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me > think about it in advance. " > > Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up > again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just > very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept > saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " > Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. > It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, > removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to > have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! > > I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of never > came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs really > know what they're doing. > > Kris > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 You're right on, Kris... my story is much like yours, except that I was two decades plus older than you, and I had already had the wizzies that needed removing, removed. By my general dentist, in his office, with local anesthesia only. My anesthesiologist says, " Anybody around here can knock you out. But what I'm good at is bringing you back! " And he was, truly. Cammie > I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, > etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been > under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, > never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea > of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my face > anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... > ... I couldn't handle it. > > My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm > down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were > poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have > done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted to > get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he > said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the > way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was so > scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, > and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me > think about it in advance. " > > Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up > again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just > very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept > saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " > Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. > It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, > removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to > have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! > > I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of never > came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs really > know what they're doing. > > Kris > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 < > I had that option. I said No Way! Knock me out and don't wake me until it's over! << " Anybody around here can knock you out. But what I'm good at is bringing you back! " >> I have a funny anesthetic story. I could NOT wake up after having my wisdom teeth out. Even after I was awake, I wasn't 'awake'. My parents had brought me in, and they took me home to babysit me until my husband got off work. I went to their guest room and fell asleep. At 3:30 I popped wide awake and walked out to the kitchen. Scared my mother half to death. " What are you doing up? " I said, " Mom, Jeopardy! is on. " My body knew, and got me out of bed - but when I sat down to watch it, I fell asleep in the chair again. Just enough of me was awake to hear the questions and verbally answer them. Not just answer them, but get the answers right. My parents would look at me to see if I had woken up yet, but I was still sprawled over the chair with my mouth hanging open, practically snoring. Just when they were convinced I really was out cold, I'd answer another questions - correctly. Totally freaked them out. If I'm ever a contestant on the show, in my interview with I'll say I once played the game while heavily drugged. Kris > > I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, > > etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been > > under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, > > never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea > > of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my > face > > anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... > > ... I couldn't handle it. > > > > My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm > > down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were > > poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have > > done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted > to > > get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he > > said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the > > way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was > so > > scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, > > and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me > > think about it in advance. " > > > > Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up > > again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just > > very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept > > saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " > > Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. > > It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, > > removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to > > have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! > > > > I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of > never > > came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs > really > > know what they're doing. > > > > Kris > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 < > I had that option. I said No Way! Knock me out and don't wake me until it's over! << " Anybody around here can knock you out. But what I'm good at is bringing you back! " >> I have a funny anesthetic story. I could NOT wake up after having my wisdom teeth out. Even after I was awake, I wasn't 'awake'. My parents had brought me in, and they took me home to babysit me until my husband got off work. I went to their guest room and fell asleep. At 3:30 I popped wide awake and walked out to the kitchen. Scared my mother half to death. " What are you doing up? " I said, " Mom, Jeopardy! is on. " My body knew, and got me out of bed - but when I sat down to watch it, I fell asleep in the chair again. Just enough of me was awake to hear the questions and verbally answer them. Not just answer them, but get the answers right. My parents would look at me to see if I had woken up yet, but I was still sprawled over the chair with my mouth hanging open, practically snoring. Just when they were convinced I really was out cold, I'd answer another questions - correctly. Totally freaked them out. If I'm ever a contestant on the show, in my interview with I'll say I once played the game while heavily drugged. Kris > > I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, > > etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been > > under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, > > never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea > > of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my > face > > anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... > > ... I couldn't handle it. > > > > My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm > > down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were > > poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have > > done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted > to > > get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he > > said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the > > way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was > so > > scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, > > and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me > > think about it in advance. " > > > > Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up > > again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just > > very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept > > saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " > > Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. > > It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, > > removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to > > have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! > > > > I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of > never > > came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs > really > > know what they're doing. > > > > Kris > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 < > I had that option. I said No Way! Knock me out and don't wake me until it's over! << " Anybody around here can knock you out. But what I'm good at is bringing you back! " >> I have a funny anesthetic story. I could NOT wake up after having my wisdom teeth out. Even after I was awake, I wasn't 'awake'. My parents had brought me in, and they took me home to babysit me until my husband got off work. I went to their guest room and fell asleep. At 3:30 I popped wide awake and walked out to the kitchen. Scared my mother half to death. " What are you doing up? " I said, " Mom, Jeopardy! is on. " My body knew, and got me out of bed - but when I sat down to watch it, I fell asleep in the chair again. Just enough of me was awake to hear the questions and verbally answer them. Not just answer them, but get the answers right. My parents would look at me to see if I had woken up yet, but I was still sprawled over the chair with my mouth hanging open, practically snoring. Just when they were convinced I really was out cold, I'd answer another questions - correctly. Totally freaked them out. If I'm ever a contestant on the show, in my interview with I'll say I once played the game while heavily drugged. Kris > > I was told two years ago, at age 31, that I needed surgery, braces, > > etc. I did the whole panic attack thing. I, too, had never been > > under any sort of anesthetic. I had never had stitches in my life, > > never been in the hospital except to be born ... that, and the idea > > of cutting my bone was just abhorent. I hate people touching my > face > > anyway, to have someone go inside of it and cut my bones was ... > > ... I couldn't handle it. > > > > My first step toward treatment (after two years in a splint to calm > > down my jaw) was to get my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two were > > poking through the gums but not really out. My dentist could have > > done it, but I asked the oral surgeon to do it instead. I wanted > to > > get to know him and his work. When I got in the for appointment he > > said, " You have a third wisdom tooth up on top that will be in the > > way during surgery. Might as well let me take it out now. " I was > so > > scared of the whole thing that I said, " Stop talking, knock me out, > > and do whatever you want once you're in there. Just don't make me > > think about it in advance. " > > > > Getting knocked out was the easiest thing in the world. Waking up > > again was a little difficult ... but not awful. Not even bad, just > > very, very groggy. I had no pain, minimal swelling (people kept > > saying, " You just got your wisdom teeth out? You're not swollen! " > > Two weeks later I read the report that my OS had sent to my ortho. > > It said that he had cut out my upper wisdom tooth with a saw, > > removing part of the bone. I was stunned. My biggest fear was to > > have my bone cut, and here he had done it and I didn't even know! > > > > I guess I'm trying to say that the things I was most afraid of > never > > came to pass ... anesthetic isn't a scary thing, and the docs > really > > know what they're doing. > > > > Kris > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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