I love getting mail, especially when it consists of letters telling me the time of my surgery!
First letter was titled notification of pre-admission, and is a pre-operative assessment for 9th July.
My actual surgery letter is 15th July at 7am. I'm instructed not to eat anything after midnight and drink only water up to 7am.
Both the assessment and the surgery are performed at my local hospital which is a 10 minute walk so I won't be travelling miles to the Manor Hospital where I've been treated so far, until after surgery where hes requested I see him every Friday for at least 6 weeks.
I'm so excited I just want to get on with it. I'm really scared I'll have terrible luck and get sick before hand! I can't afford to have this postponed so I'm gonna really look after myself!
It's so close I finally feel relief :)
We'll be recovering at about the same time! My surgery is scheduled for July 2nd. I had my pre-op physical today so that is making it more real. I meet with the surgeon on Friday. I can't wait! Best of luck to you as you get ready!
ReplyDeleteHi Sophie,
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across your blog the other day whilst doing one of those 'browse-internet-to-find-out-every-last-detail-about-jawsurgery' type sessions - we've all done it right??
Anyway I've read almost all of it now and have really enjoyed it, your age/situation/TMJD are all quite similar to mine and it's been really strange seeing you write some of the things I've thought/worried about.
I'm so excited for you that your surgery is like 2 weeks away!! I'm super jealous, not sure when mine will be yet but I'm hoping this side of xmas (although with NHS you can pretty much guarantee it'll take 5 times longer than you hope for...)
Can't wait to hear how you've got on after the 15th - wishing you all the luck in the world!
Peace
sarah x
Hey Sarah! Thanks for the message!
DeleteGosh... I can't tell you how many hours I've spent trolling through before and after images on jawsurgeryblog.com- which lead me to find all these guys on blogger.
It's a real comfort to talk to people on here who know what it feels like, and you kinda end up going on this journey with them. The first person I ever followed and spoke to was Terra (openbiteblog.blogspot.co.uk)
She's pretty much finished now - de-braced and everything! I seriously can't wait to be in that position - I'm very jealous!
You say you have TMJD? It seriously sucks doesn't it. people can't see anything so they don't realise how much it hurts - I've worked part time at McD's and I'm always on till or headset and having to speak for 9 hours at a time really takes it's toll!
If you haven't already made a blog, do it! It's funny, but this blog has become such a huge part of my life and these bloggers are my friends - I'm not quite sure what I'll do when I'm soo post-opp that I have nothing to contribute anymore!
Two weeks tomorrow - it'll all be over! or, rather just the end of this journey, and then I'll start a new one with (hopefully) my new fixed-face.
I'm glad my blog could help you, and I look forward to hearing more about yours! (also, it's nice to meet someone from the UK who understands the snail-paced ways of the NHS!!!)
x
Hi Sophie, I just came across your blog and you are having surgery the day before me! Are you so anxious, and yet excited? I know I am def getting nervous and just want it to be here so I can get through it and get back to my "normal" life! : ) I will def check in with you while you are recovering. I started a blog as well. Decided it would give me something to do while recovering! I will be thinking of you on the 15th! Hope everything goes well!
ReplyDeleteHey I've just had a read of your blog! (it won't let me follow it??..) and I think it's very cool that your having your surgery the day after me! And that you're kinda having the opposite surgery to me as it's my lower jaw which will be operated on.
DeleteIt's always exciting(?) to meet another sufferer of TMJD as I've always found it very difficult to describe to people how it's not just the practicality and jaw movements which are affected but for me it's the headaches, the ear ache, the feeling like my right eye is gonna just burst right out of it's socket from the dull aching pain? and of course the very attractive jaw locking. You know the drill I'm sure!
I've always joked about this, casually telling people 'oh yeah you know, just gonna get my jaw broke, no biggy' but I'm honestly now pretty scared... I watched a video of the surgery being performed and, it wasn't the gore that was distressing, as a forensic student I've seen worse, but the fact that that is gonna be my face stretched over my chin like that in 10 days..
But I'm excited for you for starting your blog - I don't know what I'd do without this and these incredible people. They've been one big bracey rock for me :)
I look forward to reading more of your posts!
x
YES! I totally understand those symptoms. The lock jaw is the best. NOT! The pain I get really is constant and irritating. I am so used to it sometimes I feel like I forget it's there, so it will be interesting to see how much more awesome life will be without that nagging headache, and tension!
DeleteI am also totally joking around about everything, it's my coping mechanism. lol I also watched a video which made the surgery feel even more intense. We will have to chat on the computer while we are recovering. Have someone who can laugh at me/with me when I say am drooling and can understand looking like a pumpkin head : )
((I will have to figure out why my blog won't let people follow)) I am new to blogging. I don't understand it to be honest.