New to the group

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, please feel free to ask away. I know so much more from the knowlege of the people in this group, than I could have ever read.

,Mommy to (9), (7), Bre-Anne (6), Grace (2) and our newest arrival is due Sept. 20thFor the latest baby info, and to see our family check out:www.BabyCountDown.com?baby=4007

[Guest guest]

Hello all! My name is and I am new to the group, in fact, this

is the first time I have ever used a chat room type of environment

before. I am 31, live in Florida, married for 8 years, no kids. I

am schedule for surgery on August 18th for " Bilateral Sagittal Split

Osteotomies of the mandible with rigid fixation to advance the

mandible and rotate " .

I was wondering if anyone can tell me a little of what to expect, not

what the doctor says, but from someone who has actually had the

surgery. (How bad is the swelling and bruising, best ways to help

with swelling and bruising, how long will you be out of commission,

work, when can I eat!!, etc.).

I know this is the right thing to do, but now that it is fast

approaching, I am starting to get that " Oh my God, what am I doing "

feeling.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

,

I am 5 days post op right now, so I'll offer you some info on my

situation. I think recovery differs for everyone, but this is my

experience. By the way, I had upper and lower jaw surgeries (I still

can't remember the technical terms) to correct an open bite and a

crooked jaw. I am 25 years old.

I was in a bit of denial about how much discomfort I was going to be

in post op. I want you to know that it is bearable especially with

pain meds, but it wouldn't hurt to brush up on some breathing

excersizes and calming excersizes. I had planned to be doing lots of

reading and knitting after surgery--I thought I would be bored. Hah!

Just dealing with the way my face felt, manuvering to the bathroom,

slugging down food through the syringe was a full time job. For the

first day or two I was kinda incapacitated.

I really hope this doesn't scare you...I just wish I had, had a

better idea about the intensity of the recovery process. It helps

alot if you have attentive care afterwards, which luckily I did. My

Mom deserves a medal of honor for her patience.

Best of luck. Know that you CAN do this!! If you have any more

questions feel free to email me or the group! Its wonderful to have

this site as a support.

Jessie

> Hello all! My name is and I am new to the group, in fact,

this

> is the first time I have ever used a chat room type of environment

> before. I am 31, live in Florida, married for 8 years, no kids.

I

> am schedule for surgery on August 18th for " Bilateral Sagittal

Split

> Osteotomies of the mandible with rigid fixation to advance the

> mandible and rotate " .

>

> I was wondering if anyone can tell me a little of what to expect,

not

> what the doctor says, but from someone who has actually had the

> surgery. (How bad is the swelling and bruising, best ways to help

> with swelling and bruising, how long will you be out of

commission,

> work, when can I eat!!, etc.).

>

> I know this is the right thing to do, but now that it is fast

> approaching, I am starting to get that " Oh my God, what am I

doing "

> feeling.

>

> Thanks!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jack,

Welcome to the group. We wish none of us were here-- but since we are-- we may as well team up and help each other.

You said you're still being bothered by the abdominal pain. For me, that pain was related to my medications. Prednisone and Methotrexate are hard on the stomach, and Carafate tablets (dissolve in water) and Aciphex have really made a huge difference for me. The problem for me was the gastric acid buildup. Some days, I think I could blast off, and somedays I wish I would blastoff...

I'm glad that these have gotten the double vision under control. I know that the nerve pain is tough-- and for many of us, the prednisone created blood sugar issues, which contribute even more to the nerve pain.

Personally, I've been able to get my neuropathy under better control by really watching my sugar intake-- even a "high" normal blood sugar was sending me into diabetic neuropathy. The other component for me was that because I've run a fever daily for the last 6 yrs-- just from the systemic inflammation- that I am chronically dehydrated. The tinest amount of dehydration made the nerves more sensitive, and if you think of it-- all our joints and ligaments are supposed to be surrounded and "floating" in synovial fluid. I know my xrays of my spine show dehydration of the discs-- so by increasing my fluid intake --no sodas, caffeine or alcohol, as these dehydrate even more, has helped also.

The other thing I totally swear by is MSM Powder. This is a natural mineral that has been engineered out of our soils and foods, by processing, and is essential for muscle and ligament health. I get mine from PUREMSM.COM. It's 99% pure--and it makes a huge, huge difference in my pain levels. I can take a tbsp in 1/4 cup of water, drink in down, then drink a glass of water-- and I'm back to sleep in 10 min.

In our ARCHIVES AND LINKS (the address is at the bottom of all the group emails- so just scroll down) and you can find a vast amount of info on this and other topics of interest.

Again, you've found a family of over 450+ people-- all in the same place-- so you're not alone. No question is to dumb to ask-- and this is a good place for answers, to vent the frustrations, and to make friends.

Take care,

Tracie

NS Co-owner/moderator

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