Metal Mouth Message Board

Calling all surgery veterans...

I am getting ready to pack a bag for the hospital, but I am really at a loss for what to bring. Will I be able to talk, or should I bring something I can write on? Will I feel up to reading or listening to music? Should I bring my laptop? What about lotion or other such things?

Ideas?

Well, as far as wanting to call...I am wondering if I will be able to talk clearly enough to use the phone, but just in case, I will have my cell phone with me. I plan on taking my mp3 player, a book and some magazines. I suspect that my brain power will not be that spectacular and most concentration will be on how I am feeling, etc.

I am going to get those footies with the rubber on the bottom. When my daughter was in the hospital, her feet got cold and she wanted socks. Those footies served a dual purpose.

I wouldn't bank on you being able to use your mobile, as cell phones can sometimes interfere with some of the medical equipment. You might be surprised with a sudden no-no slap on the wrist by the nurses, as I have done to my patients on numerous occasions!!

I don't know how it works in the states, but in Canada, there are telephones at patients' disposal in every room.

I didn't do anything at all while I was in the hospital. I had my surgery on a Thursday afternoon, was basically out of it until Friday morning, and went home Friday afternoon. I didn't have the time or inclination to read or listen to music. I slept much of the time. I did bring a change of clothes, and slippers.

I had a phone available, but I couldn't talk well enough to use it. Talking in person was fine, though, so I didn't need a pen and notepad.

my experience, I could mumble enough for people to understand in person.

I had a phone at my disposal, so i coudl make free local calls. So i chatted a awhile before my surgery.

I fasted from any food from 7am, my surgery began at around 5. SO i was very tired, lethargic, lightheaded. SO i couldnt read my books, and barely could flip through the magazines. So i took a nap, while listening to my mp3 player. i had a private room. So there was a locker to put my valuables int here, then the nurse locked it away. I asked for it to be unlocked after my surgery. I had my phone and wallet in there.

Change of clothes and slippers are an must, thats a given

GOODLUCK WITH IT ALL nvcarissa!

NvCarissa best of luck on your surgery Friday. I find myself nervous for you...although I can't wait to hear all the details since your surgery will be the same as mine (BSSO). Just out of curiosity do you know what your advancement will be?

The sock/slippers sound like a great idea, although I'm curious as to how long you will actually be in the hospital. My OS said that I wouldn't be having a catheter since the surgery would be less than 6 hours, and that I could go home as soon as I felt up to it. My friend (who has the same OS as I) just had her BSSO on the 12th. She is doing well, and said she went home within 12 hours. She said that she couldn't get any rest at the hospital as they were waking her up constantly to do checks etc and going home was the best thing for her. I find it so interesting how each doctor does it differently.

Brandy

Just out of curiosity do you know what your advancement will be?

Not sure what you mean by this...do you mean how many mm? No, I am not sure, but I will try and find out . The procedure is: "bilateral intra oral sagittal split osteotomy of mandible with rigid fixation and advancement" according to my pre-op paperwork. Original diagnosis does not include size of overjet ("excessive" is the word used). I have measured and it's around 9mm.

Thanks to everyone for your support. I am off today to get my nails done and hair cut and get some shopping done for my recuperation time.

I will check in when I am back home.

No biggy I was just curious. I'm sure the overjet changes to some degree during the orthodontic work anyway. 9mm is a good sized one though, so you should see amazing changes after your surgery! I'm sure at this point you must be a mixture of nerves, as well as excitement. Hopefully it will just fly by relatively uneventful and you will be better than new afterwards!

That is the exact same procedure I'm having done also and I think we are very close in age (I'm 42) so I will follow your story closely. It's hard to find others our age who are having this surgery done so take good pics ok? LOL.... Good Luck! and I'm sending good healing wishes your way!

Brandy

nvCarissa,

I am sorry I haven't been around much. It is NOW! Wow....how time flies. I remember back when we were both starting this.

Your surgery sounds a lot like mine. I was 8mm on one side and 9mm on the other. I never realized I was lopsided It does make a huge difference. There is a straight line from my upper teeth down to my jaw. While others don't notice it as much, I do. It is, in fact, incredible and really exciting! I hated having a recessed jaw.

What I lived on (but then again I always did) are computer games that require no thinking. I bought games where I'd have to think (problem solving type things) and they never got played. I got this Hoyle bulk pack of card/board games and I played them often. If I was sore or swollen or couldn't sleep, I'd play Yahtzee with the silly computer generated characters that talked. While that sounds so lame, it put my mind elsewhere and enabled me to relax.

I know you will do so well. Don't be afraid to be seen in public. Walking/exercise will help with the swelling. I made it a game...even the day after surgery I'd go to the grocery store and try to see who was staring! I also set little goals each day. One day it was to walk to the bar and have a glass of wine. Everywhere I went was great, esp if I knew the person there because they would hug me and be amazed I was up and around.

Lastly, I ate out a LOT. I still do. I have found that restaurants are so wonderful about modifying food or making suggestions. I still am on a somewhat restricted diet so I'll ask and they'll suggest something then say they can make the veggies a bit softer, etc. Never underestimate the kindness of the rest of society, they will be there for you if you need it.

Good luck and please let me know if you need anything. We will be thinking about you!!

Jane

p.s. re talking....

I felt very awkward talking. Everytime I made a phone call I felt so stressed unless the person already knew the situation. Everyone was so great though....I'd immediately say "sorry, I just had jaw surgery" and nobody had problems understanding me. It feels far worse than it sounds, I think.

My OS said the important thing is to speak slowly and be sure to swallow in between words because saliva can make it worse.

Anyway, I coped. I hated talking though....I really did. Don't count on talking too much that day or even the day after. It'll help if you have your caretaker with you. He/she will translate and also make it so you don't have to finish your sentence if they understand you enough.

Jane

nvcarissa,

Just wanted to send my good wishes for your upcoming surgery. Hope everything goes well for you. I'll be really interested in your recovery as I too, am over 40 and wondering how tough the recovery will be. My surgery is in 8 weeks time, and my plan is to take some reading material and music to listen to, pj's, dressing gown and socks (I really feel the cold and know that in the public hospital system when I had my children I often felt cold). Maybe going in the private hospital system will be different.

Also many thanks to nahky, teigyr, kathleen, and others who have put their experiences in writing. It has made for interesting reading and greatly increased my knowledge base.

Chrisk

Well, I am sitting here, coffee deprived, starving, waiting to leave for the hospital.
What I finally packed:

• Robe
  underwear
  book
  mp-3 player with soothing music
  slippers
  lotion
  ID and insurance card

I figure if I need anything else, my husband can get it for me. We'll be leaving in about 45 minutes or so. Oh, and I forgot to take care of a bank deposit yesterday, so I got it all set up for my husband to take care of while I was in surgery. It will keep him distracted for a little while.

Butterflies!!!

Again I'm sure you will not see this until you are on the other side, but the very best of luck and good thoughts from this side of the Atlantic.
Dave