surgery sucks...but it's worth it hehe

[Guest guest]

Most of you don't know me, but that's ok. Thought I would post a

message about my experience with jaw surgery anyways.

I had to have an SARPE on dec 16 of last year. I was extremely

nervous before hand, and especially while I was in the hospital

waiting. Luckily my surgeon is one of the nicest men on the face of

the earth and he put me completely at ease. He explained to me

exactly what he was going to do, the (rare) risks that there are, and

what to expect post-surgery. What really made me feel better is that

he talked in terms that I could understand (me being 18 and newly

graduated from high school and him being a surgeon lol) and didn't

seem like he was simplifying it. Also, he came straight to my room

when he got to the hospital (didn't even put his jacket away!)

because I was his first patient.

Anyways, they put me under and I woke up pretty fast after being put

into post-op. It was hard to breath because my nose was plugged and

my throat was sore from the air tube they had had in. It was very

unpleasant because I kept coughing from the soreness of my throat and

had a bad nose bleed. (Bad by my standards, not medical ones hehe)

They gave me an ice pack to help with controlling the bleeding then

they wheeled me up to my room. That was quite the adventure! Nothing

like being pushed around on a bed while you're lying down, drugged,

and can't see where you're going lol.

I was admitted into the hospital at 6:30 am, my surgery was at 9am,

and I was ready to leave by 2pm. Because of the drugs I was really

woosey and had to take things very easy, but overall I felt great.

Until I looked in the mirror and saw that I looked like Miss Piggy lol

My surgery was on a Tuesday and the swelling stayed pretty even until

that Friday. Up until then I kept an ice pack with me just in case I

would need it, but on Friday the ice packs didn't leave my face

except to be switched with fresh ones. After that day things

progressively got better and by Christmas I was able to chew enough

to eat X-Mas dinner. The swelling lasted until about mid January, but

it had gone down to barely noticable.

When I went for my post-op check up with my surgeon he was very happy

with how things turned out and was suprised at how little bruising I

had. (I only had a few light yellow/green pathes on my right

cheek/jawbone area).

Well, that's my experience with my first surgery. I am on the waiting

list for my second surgery but do not know when it will be yet. I am

going in to have my upper jaw moved forward slightly. (Eeeek!) If

anyone has questions or comments feel free to reply here or email me

(irona_2@...)

~Jess~