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Author Topic: You're gonna move what to where!!!  (Read 45409 times)

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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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You're gonna move what to where!!!
« on: March 24, 2014, 10:00:45 pm »
I have decided to go forward and try to get my insurance company to approve my undergoing an MMA. Have been less than thrilled with the CPAP. Between the face sores and nose feeling like someone punched it all night I don't see CPAP as something I want to have to endure for a lengthy time.

My first appointment at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan is set for April 7th. X-rays, pics, maybe a mouth mold. After the surgeon has gone over all that I'll be called in for a second workup. Take care of anything that hasn't already been taken care of pre-op wise. Then everything goes off to the insurance company for pre-authorization. Have no idea how long that will take.

Decision is based on severity of my OSA and the fact that I have insurance that covers it now. Have no idea about the future and would rather not wait to find out. Plus I'm still relatively young and feel recovery is easier at 55 than at 65.

Will post more as I find out what's happening...
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Offline Jeff G

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2014, 10:13:03 pm »
I hope you get relief . I had to google that procedure to see exactly what it entails . I saw a ENT surgeon last summer about a similar problem and he suggested an operation that would move my tongue forward ... I declined .

I have been putting it off but I really need to get a sleep study done but have opted to treat other pressing LTS malady's instead and it keeps getting put on the back burner .

Please post pics and update us .
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #2 on: March 24, 2014, 10:43:59 pm »
sorry to hear the CPAP wasn't the trick; but at least you've still trying to get some improvement. Hang in there and best wishes!!!
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2014, 11:33:08 am »
Agree anything that needs to done will be far better dealt with at 55 than 65 , good luck with it all . Are there any insurances that you do not have to fight with , or are at least Doctor decided , I have answered my own ? but how much roughly would it cost to have the medical care UK/Ireland/Benelux/Nordic folk have ?
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2014, 07:41:30 pm »
Don't know the cost but the procedure is covered by my insurance. They just have to pre-authorize it. Since I'm very much in the severe category (severe starts at 30 episodes per hour and I clock in at 61 with no REM sleep) I'm hoping that the insurance company just gives in. I'm sure my surgeon will present a persuasive case.

As to pics...you want during surgery or just after? What about when they clean the blood clots out of my nose? It's a lovely procedure. Actually hope to have a friend take pics all along. After all, how often does a quarter of your head get moved to a new location.

Jeff G, get the study done. If you have sleep apnea, and it can be treated, some of your other problems might subside. When you're worn out all the time a lot can go wrong. For me it's not just the physiological part. It's also the social part of my life. All I want to do after work, or on the weekends at dark, is to go to bed. I have no energy to even try to socialize much less get frisky should the occasion "arise."

Anything is better than my current existence...

All right, that's about it for now. If you have questions ask away. I'll do my best to answer.
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Offline Jeff G

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2014, 07:51:26 pm »
My sinus surgery was pretty gruesome but it looked allot worse than it felt . I had a friend stay for a few days and he would run out f the room every time I blew my nose .

Best of luck and let us know how you make out .
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Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #6 on: March 29, 2014, 06:03:59 am »
Really can life with no details however all the best with it . You are going to feel better after having REM sleep again.
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2014, 03:42:51 pm »
It's been a busy week. Monday went to Mt. Sinai for x-rays and to discuss the operation with part of the surgical team. Wednesday was back at Mt. Sinai for special measurements, photographs of my head and mouth molds. Friday was for a CT scan so the surgical team can use the 3D image of my head to plan the operation. Monday have to call to set up the next meeting.

If it weren't for the insurance company having to pre-authorize the operation, I think my doctors would have me on the table in the next week or two. As it is I might be there mid-May if the insurance company doesn't drag their feet. I think it's about a five hour operation.

I know it's not going to be a walk in the park afterward. Especially after watching the various videos on Youtube where people have posted their experiences. Don't expect my experience will be much different. Docs said plan on being at home for at least two weeks. Oh well, so much for one week of vacation.

Actually I wish the operation was tomorrow. But it isn't so might as well adapt to the time table and go with the flow. Look forward to being able to sleep and breathe at the same time. More than happy to lose the CPAP mask. Am wondering how much my lower face will change. You're not unrecognizable but there is a definite difference to deal with.

Once I have the operation I'll start a new thread. This is the before and that will be the after. If you have any questions...
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Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2014, 06:20:03 pm »
No particular ? , I do think the wait and insurance dragging out the decision is cruel but I imagine that you know that's the system ,you are not being singled out. I wish you all the success and comfort pos , I also recognize your courage in this .
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline weasel

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2014, 09:25:54 am »

       LTS ,
              I had to Google this also .    It looks like a great way to
    improve sleep and beauty :) 
      I hope it is not to painful and offer wonderful sleep .

                                                              Weasel

      PS :  I want that done !   
" Live and let Live "

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #10 on: April 15, 2014, 06:44:17 pm »
Another step taken. Got blood test results for surgery. When I get these results it makes me wonder what exactly it is I'm sick with...

Let's see:
117 - Cholesterol
0 - Viral load
882 - T-cell
Everything else perfect...sorry, that's all the numbers I remember, my memory doesn't retain medical information very well.

Oh...
120/70 Blood pressure

You could take a blood test from when I was 20 and put it in my medical file and no one would be any the wiser. Nothing changes. Maybe at the end of my life everything will go wrong at once and I'll just explode...
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Offline Jeff G

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #11 on: April 15, 2014, 07:05:59 pm »
Nothing changes. Maybe at the end of my life everything will go wrong at once and I'll just explode...

Just don't do it at an airport, you wouldn't want that to be your legacy . 
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2014, 06:56:43 pm »
Met with my Attending Surgeon today. My first meeting for this operation. But know him from my previous chin operation which he performed.

Looks like my MMA surgery will be postponed so I can have some orthodontic work done to realign my teeth. While everything fits nicely, and never had to have braces, both my front upper and lower teeth flare outward. My doc wants to bring them back to an upright position. This will allow him to advance my jaw further to open my rather narrow breathing tube.

Hope the additional ortho can be covered by insurance, but if not, am still going to go through with it. Can't see undergoing the MMA and only get middling results. Rather give myself the best chance possible to cure the OSA.

Okay...that's it for now...

Any questions, just ask.
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Offline AlanBama

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2014, 12:10:59 pm »
I hope this procedure works well for you!  Will be following your reports....

I've been on CPAP since 2009, so I understand; it is definitely not a "good thing" to have to deal with!  Sleeping with an uncomfortable mask strapped to your face....it is sort of like "Alien" !  (also CPAP supplies, etc are not cheap)

I'm glad your insurance will cover this, and hopefully you won't have any 'issues' with them.


HUGS and best wishes,
Alan
"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2014, 07:47:28 pm »
The more things change...

...the more they cost...

Had my appointment with the orthodontist today. Now I'm $12,500 poorer. That is what it costs to do the necessary work on my mouth to get ready for the MMA surgery. This will probably take a year to accomplish. No surgery this year! Just a mouth full of metal with a plastic thingy stuck to my face at night so I don't croak. Really...I wonder if I can use my mouth as collateral when this is done. There must be at least $50,000 worth of work over the years. Must be worth something...

I suppose I could be depressed about all of this but I've got to save my supply of depression for other things. The work will allow the surgeon to widen my airway almost double. I figure if a quarter of my head is going to be cut loose and re-positioned I don't want to go through it for the minimum. Just have to grit my teeth...

Once I get the braces on then it's back over to my surgeon so he can pull 4 teeth to allow room for the rest of my teeth to relocate. Then back to the ortho so he can adjust the wires to start the process. Will have some limits on what foods I can eat for the time I'm wearing the braces. Nothing crunchy, gooey or sticky...hmmm...that pretty much throws out everything I eat. Hummus and tofu here I come...ugh...I think I'd rather starve.

Okay...that's where things stand for now. Any questions...ask away...
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Offline Jeff G

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #15 on: May 02, 2014, 08:20:35 pm »
Wow ... you are the new 6 million dollar man . I had to read back to remind myself that you really must have this done out of necessity . Best of luck and keep us posted . 
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #16 on: May 02, 2014, 08:37:27 pm »
wow! the things we go through for a little bit of beauty.  ;D
oh I'm sure breathing counts for something; but really after all this work your million dollar smile should stop people in their tracks.

best wishes for all this to be easy, go smoothly, and work out completely for you and your health.
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #17 on: May 03, 2014, 04:47:36 am »
What has to be kept in my mind is you are doing this in order to get a nights sleep which is a basic foundation block off good physical and Mental health. The cost off Dentistry is alarming. In Europe people cross boarders for Dental treatment, Viennese to Budapest, Germans to Poland. Basic Dentistry is available on the NHS in Britian and I am discovering to my cost just how basic it is.

I want to have some energy to campaign for more.

I have lost a great deal off gum and many teeth Due to horror film like mouth/Gum infections during chemo and then a diagnosis off Jaw necro{somethingorother} whereby the Jaw bone dies due ironically to the treatment I was on for osteophorois.

This means regular Dentist,s will not touch me  referring my treatment to the best Dental teaching Hospital in England as a Patient in the Reconstruction Team. So far the earliest appointment took 9 weeks.

I cannot fault the care and treatment I get when I actually get there .

I was amongst the first cohort to receive Atripla in UK. !8 months off clinical depression followed when I came off the stuff I surfed the edge off admission to Psy Hostital for being in a Manic episode, eventually a mixture off friend;s pleas, the rational part off me getting louder and 35000 $ dept saw me gallop into councilling, and a massive flop emotionally.

Approx Two years after this  the research that atripla reduced REM sleep in some to practically Zero made sense off this approx 5 year period and helped me a great deal, in coming to terms with the period.

So , Friend I think what you are doing is good planning for a future off good health, with any cosmetic pluses a happy bonus. Good luck with it all.
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #18 on: May 09, 2014, 10:46:17 pm »
I swear the Universe hates me. After signing away my first born to get the orthodontics done what happens? I break a molar while eating a soft bagel. Last few times it happened while eating scrambled eggs. So maybe it's an advance in why it broke...(sigh)...and now another $1,600 to get that taken care of. I think this is the fifth one in six years.

So braces have to wait till this is taken care of. Another two weeks to wait and then get an appointment to get the brackets attached. After which I get to enjoy having four teeth pulled one after the other. Maybe I should just let myself smother. Dying is always the cheapest way to take care of problems.
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Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #19 on: May 10, 2014, 03:53:08 am »
Quote from: LongTimeSurvivor link=topic=53287.msg635438#msg635438 date=1399689977 Dying is always the cheapest way to take care of problems.
[/quote

And the evidence you have on that is , anything and nothing can go on I don't know I have not done it yet.

For all I know first thing could be some suit ,impossible to ruffle you said "Hello Ducks, well before we can get on with settling down to a contented eternity there,s the small matter off your Life on Earth account , we have various programs to suit you just settle into your stage ! bunk we will meet later and make a start. OK chuck.

Right next please

"hello Ducks , Australian Aboriginal Male , since 14 following the teachings off the old ones, straight on through chuck,"

"OK we are on a roll right next

Oh bugger your a RC Priest , there goes the day we might as well sit down............
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2014, 10:23:19 pm »
I can assure you Mr. Leatherman...I do not do things for a little bit of beauty.

I do them for really huge hunks of it. Literally great, big, dripping slabs of beauty. Plus, anything I do for beauty, I assure you, is not done in the interest of my health. Far from it. And the only breathing to be concerned with is the intakes of breath by everyone who passes by upon seeing the results of what I do.

Now that we have that straighten out...

Love the upswept 'do. And the bleached look really does...something. Oh yes, thank you for your kind wishes for my health...you may kiss my ring now.
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #21 on: May 13, 2014, 10:51:30 pm »
Now that we have that straighten out...

Love the upswept 'do. And the bleached look really does...something. Oh yes, thank you for your kind wishes for my health...you may kiss my ring now.
LOL  ;D

and bleached?? that's just me letting it go back to the real color - white. Since Summer is nearly here, I'll be in the sun and pool way too much for any hair color to last. Oh wait! Wut?? Yeah, yeah. I bleached it!


do you think your teeth breaking issue is due to HIV or the meds? I had serious teeth issues in the late 90s from some of the meds - and from puking so much because of the meds. Throwing up often can cause a lot of issues. Could this be like a bone density issue?

maybe you just need a head transplant to solve ALL these issues. LOL  :-*
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #22 on: May 14, 2014, 08:50:35 pm »
Head transplant...

Had one, didn't take...

...so they popped this old thing on instead.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #23 on: June 15, 2014, 07:01:13 pm »
Figured I'd update this thread with the thrills I've been having...but where to start...so much lovely stuff to talk about.

After finding out about the crown I decided to go ahead and get my teeth cleaned in preparation for the brackets for the braces. Big mistake. Found two cracked fillings. So had the crown attached and the two fillings replaced all in one hours long session. Didn't help that my mouth absolutely hates to be numbed and fights, kicking and screaming all the way. Had to stop two extra times to try to numb my jaws. Went home feeling like I had misplaced the lower front of my face.

After that little adventure went to have the brackets put on. Of course, before this they had to put in separators to widen the space between my back teeth. Twelve rubber separators to be exact. For some reason my mouth also despises separators. When I went in for the bracket and band attachment I only had five separators left. Which, of course, meant that only the brackets could be attached. After that they put back in twelve separators and made an appointment for me to come back in a week.

Well, first thing that night one of the separators made a leap for freedom. Followed at various times by others. Went back in at the end of the week to have metal ones placed instead of rubber ones. The orthodontist said he had never had a patient who lost more than one rubber separator. I said welcome to my life. Three hours later a metal separator decided it didn't like being where it was and separated from between my teeth...sigh...

Luckily the rest held and come Monday there was a successful attachment of the bands around my back teeth. Right after that I scurried over to my surgeon's office for the extraction process. First they gave me "gas" which didn't do anything. Kept turning it up till it was going full blast. Still nothing. Numbing and I need to have a talk some day. Next came intravenous sedation. Doesn't knock you out. Just makes you not really care that four teeth are being yanked out of your mouth...along with all the cracking and crunching noise that comes with that. Luckily I had warned my surgeon ahead of time that I don't numb easily. So he dosed me so much that I didn't feel my mouth till the next day.

Now have to wait till July 9th to be rewired. Orthodontist wants me to be completely healed before we start that again. However...in between fun with dental surgeons and orthodontists...

I've had a few double vision episodes over the past two years. One happened again over Memorial Day weekend. So decided I needed to find out why this was occurring. Cue visit to ophthalmologist and neurologist. Ophthalmologist was fairly easy. He said it was probably an ocular migraine. The neurologist wanted an MRI of my brain to rule out problems there. I decided not to mention they might have a hard time finding it since I forgot where I left it last. So I got 45 minutes in a rock grinder without being able to move.

Went to the neurologist this past Friday. Brain was okay...which meant...it had been there the whole time. Thought I might have left it in the fresh vegetable section, among the cauliflower, at Kroger's. Since there was nothing to report per the test the neurologist has ordered an MRA of my neck and brain stem...and more blood work. Did find out one thing...I do have migraines. Just thought I had bad headaches. Turns out it runs in my family. Never knew that until I mentioned it to my mother and she filled me in. And I just thought we were crazy.

The one nice thing in my near future is I'm going out to Fire Island for two weeks of vacation. I like to act like a slug and not move while out on the beach. I spend hours watching the waves come in and the surf go out. Takes very little to entertain me. Too bad I can't really eat much with my four teeth out and brackets on. Because of the way my teeth are situated in the front of my mouth the orthodontist put little stops on my back teeth so that I can't close my mouth completely. Otherwise my top incisors would knock the brackets off my lower incisors. It's very hard to chew when your molars can't grind together.

All right...that's the update for now. Any questions don't hesitate to ask.
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Offline wolfter

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #24 on: June 16, 2014, 07:23:59 am »
Did they check to see if your eyes dilate correctly?  I've always had to wear tinted glasses or sun glasses due to incorrectly dilation.  This predated HIV way back to my youth.  If I walk out into the bright sun without protection, I immediately am given a migraine.

Your dental issues sound horrid.

best of luck and wishing you well

greg
Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #25 on: June 16, 2014, 09:11:20 am »
Next came intravenous sedation. Doesn't knock you out. Just makes you not really care that four teeth are being yanked out of your mouth...along with all the cracking and crunching noise that comes with that.
anesthesia has certainly come a long way through the yrs. And yes, the hearing the crunching, cracking, breaking of teeth being yanked outta your head is a creepy weird sound.

Any questions don't hesitate to ask.
thanks for the update! no questions; but I sure do hope that all this works out well for you and does the trick. This much work, and pain, deserves to resolve all your breathing, sleeping, eating and smiling issues.   ;D
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #26 on: June 18, 2014, 07:39:16 pm »
Enjoy the holiday I had to speed read the Dental part as thats due me in two weeks time.
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline deibster

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #27 on: July 10, 2014, 10:37:02 pm »
LTS,
Please let us know when the next round is scheduled. In the meantime, try to relax and move enough not to get sunburnt. Enjoy!
Big Hugs, Deiby
Poz since Dec 1992. Meds since 1995. Disability since 2005. Constantly fighting the Lipodystrophy 'beer gut.'

Prezista/Norvir, Epzicom, Cytomel, Prevacid, Coumadin, pravastatin, Fenofibrate, Remeron, Zoloft, Concerta, Flomax, Allegra180, Nasacort, Centrum, Flax Oil, Fish Oil

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #28 on: August 15, 2014, 07:47:04 pm »
The gift that keeps giving...

Have to go in for more surgery on my jaw. The surgeon needs to repair part of my jaw where it surrounds one of the spaces left when he pulled four of my teeth. The front part of the jaw broke away during the last session when he was pulling teeth. That particular tooth did not want to leave. Apparently it felt quite comfortable where it was.

It has to be done so that the orthodontist can start having my lower front teeth reposition back into that space.

The beach was great. Two full weeks away from everything. Was hoping I'd be able to do another week in August but the money has run out. Bills, bills, bills...copays just for the neurologist have added up to $400 in the past two months. But guess I shouldn't complain...I do have pretty good insurance.

Any questions...just ask. I'm compulsive when it comes to sharing my medical dramas!!!
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #29 on: August 19, 2014, 07:12:52 pm »
Well...that wasn't so bad. Couldn't feel a thing while the surgeon did his thing with my jaw. Just had to sit there and hear the scraping of my jaw bone so that it will grow into the bone graft faster. On an antibiotic called Amoxicillin. There is nothing alive in my intestinal tract as of this morning. Will need to be on a liquid diet until done. Thank god I can drink alcohol since there's no interaction between the two. Need to get my vi'ti'mens somehow.

Tomorrow is a visit with my internist to get blood test results and probably a flu shot.  I'm sure we'll discuss all my recent "excellent adventures." Friday is back to the neurologist for another round of Botox injected into the muscles around my eyes. The first go-around hasn't done much to stop the facial "tic" I have. See what happens with this batch.

Am going back to the beach again next week. Spend five days before Labor Day weekend hibernating. Will engage in my favorite thing which is to watch the waves come in and go out. Guess I'll do it under an umbrella this time since when I come back I have to have surgery to remove some skin cancer on my back. I tells ya...if not one t'ing...ah-nuh-der...

Other than all that...everything's peachy-keen...
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #30 on: August 20, 2014, 12:29:45 pm »
Other than all that...everything's peachy-keen...
LOL that reminded me of me. You don't know how many times I tell my peeps everything is great today, to then go on to explain how I started the day off puking into the toilet for an hour.... but was just fine after that.  ;D

so many issues, yet such a dogged spirit - good for you!

Thanks for all your updates, even when we don't all reply, we are all listening and thinking about you. Hope you got drunk! Hope you feel better! Hope you get all this stuff finished up some day. ;)  :-*
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline mrtoad

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #31 on: August 24, 2014, 02:21:34 am »
That goatee is the sexy       ;D
Lee
prezista with a kick from norvir,
Truvada, Intellence. celexa,xanax.Revolving statin

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #32 on: September 06, 2014, 03:20:50 pm »
Missing...1 inch by ¾ inch of skin. Last seen in dermatologist's office. Reward $$$ if found.

Felt like a man called horse while being sewn up. Have 12 stitches from that little affair. Can't go to the gym for two weeks. Otherwise might pop the stitches and bleed everywhere. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

So...the skin has been sent off to the lab to make sure the doc got all of the Basal Cell Carcinoma. Will know in a week. If she didn't...guess I'll have a bigger hole in my back. Does this qualify as a nip and a tuck?

Oh yes, I got my new base cabinet from Ikea. Been building it today since there's no reason to go downtown. I'm about as thrilled as I can be. Which usually isn't noticeably, except with an electron microscope. I'm repressed...what can I say.
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Offline mitch777

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #33 on: September 06, 2014, 04:32:31 pm »
Geez, I just had one removed less than two weeks ago. Don't they test the sample while you were there to make sure they got it all?
33 years hiv+ with a curtsy.

Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #34 on: September 06, 2014, 06:39:09 pm »
Can't go to the gym for two weeks. Otherwise might pop the stitches and bleed everywhere. Not that there's anything wrong with that..
unless you're the guy trying to hold onto the weights after you've bled all over them. LOL :)

Missing...1 inch by ¾ inch of skin. Last seen in dermatologist's office. Reward $$$ if found.
here's hoping the doc got it all and you're good to go!
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #35 on: September 18, 2014, 09:02:38 pm »
Friday, September 19th, go back to the dermatologist to get the stitches removed from my back. Finally, I will be able to go to gym. Two weeks...I've deflated to nothing.

The results came back. All the edges were clear. I wonder if they take a look at the bottom of the hunk of skin. Make sure it didn't penetrate further. Guess I'll just have to take their word on it.

Got a new wire for the braces about a week ago. Another is due October 1st. I think they're speeding up the tooth-moving. First wires have been five or six weeks. This is only three. The way the orthodontist was talking this last time I might be ready for MMA surgery around April 2015. While I am all for the sooner the better...I know that I'll be in pain for some time. Not to mention I'll be on a liquid diet for about 8 weeks...and forget steak for at least six to eight months.

But...at least I'll be able to breathe without the damned CPAP machine. I think I'll also breathe better when awake. My windpipe looks awfully small on the X-rays compared to what I've seen elsewhere. Just jutting out my jaw makes breathing easier.

I want to trade my body in...too many defective parts. Feel like I was put together by General Motors.

Okay...that's it...time for my "medicine"...where's the damn vodka...
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Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #36 on: September 21, 2014, 05:26:06 am »
I admire your guts hope that all goes well in the coming months
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #37 on: April 03, 2015, 07:22:40 pm »
Thought I'd update my situation with a short notice...

Surgery is set for May 12th.

That's when they start hacking away at my face. Just thought I'd let you know.

Will post more detail later.
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #38 on: April 03, 2015, 08:38:16 pm »
wow! where has time gone?!? Ok I did a bunch of stuff since Sept and so did you I'm betting. LOL Happy Holidays, Valentine's, the Ides of March, St Paddy's day, and April Fools Day.

Oh and how has you been lately? Although this surgery is going to a P.I.T.A., I hope you're focusing on the positive outcome in the not-to-distant future. ;D Of course, recovering/healing is going to be the worst part! Nothing is worse than being "half sick".... well, I guess being dead is worse than that! so do keep those happy thoughts going when the going gets hard in recovery. LOL

Definitely post when you can about how things go from now till then, and afterwards.
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline J.R.E.

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #39 on: April 03, 2015, 08:44:39 pm »



Good luck to you on your upcoming surgery.  Wishing you the best !


Ray
Current Meds ; Viramune / Epzicom Eliquis, Diltiazem. Pravastatin 80mg, Ezetimibe. UPDATED 2/18/24
 Tested positive in 1985,.. In October of 2003, My t-cell count was 16, Viral load was over 500,000, Percentage at that time was 5%. I started on  HAART on October 24th, 2003.

 As of Oct 2nd, 2023, Viral load Undetectable.
CD 4 @676 /  CD4 % @ 18 %
Lymphocytes,absolute-3815 (within range)


72 YEARS YOUNG

Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #40 on: April 04, 2015, 08:14:26 am »
Hi LTS,
Just a get well soon wish , hope all the pre op BS goes well , you must
Be glad this will be done soon , it's been quite the long ordeal.
I really feel for you.  maybe by the end of May you can spend some
time recouping on the beach , listening to the waves with
Some vitamin V   !

All my Best , Wade
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #41 on: April 18, 2015, 02:34:27 pm »
Well...guess I should bring this thing up to speed.

As noted previously my MMA surgery is slated to take place May 12th...finally. Surgery is estimated to last for about eight hours, give or take. After surgery is finished I'm scheduled to spend my first 24 hours in the ICU...unless, of course, the unfortunate incident that occurred last time succeeds where it failed last time. The I'll be spending the night in the Big M on a slide out tray. So...if I don't ever post here again you'll know where I ended up.

Got in the surgical wires for my braces. These are to stabilize my teeth in place. The day before surgery I go back to the orthodontist where the two wires will each be cut into three pieces while attached to my teeth. This is done so the surgeon can move a group of teeth and keep them in correct position to each other in the new location...hopefully still inside my mouth. Unfortunately this procedure will take place...six times. My teeth once again decided they had other plans for that day and didn't cooperate in relocating. My teeth are much like the rest of my body...a collection of ornery parts, with minds and agendas of their own, that supposedly make up me.

And don't get me start on my GI Tract...oh, why not...

That's another part I've been trying to come to terms with and solve a long standing problem. Usually, though, it just contributes hot air to the conversation. So I've been working with a gastroenterologist. A very nice, older gentleman in a white coat who writes his notes with a fountain pen in very neat cursive script. That last part makes me wonder if he is, indeed, a medical doctor but since he has produced results I will hold my skepticism at bay for the moment.

The doctor was one of the few butt (pardon my French) doctors who in the early days of the epidemic would treat HIV infected patients in the area where light never shines...except when he had to do a colonoscopy. He became very familiar with the many exotic diseases of the digestive system. Some, of which, may have only been observed by doctors who didn't know better than to go to places whence they might not return. Plus the usual pedestrian amoebi and other flotsam. He learned a lot and treated everyone with dignity they didn't get elsewhere. Was able to help some too. Despite lack of knowledge of what to do on the part of the medical community.

So I've been on enemas and pills for the past few weeks. Some improvement which is good. The thing is I don't know if it's permanent or if I'll have to do this stuff every night for the rest of my life or until I get so old I won't mind wearing adult diapers...probably next year.

However...no solution to the extreme pain that develops intermittently at the anus. The pain that is like large grain sandpaper with crushed glass sprinkled on top then dosed with acid to keep it on the paper. One problem is when it's happening no one sees anything wrong. At least so far it all looks normal. I may have to wait till it's bleeding before having them inspect it again. The first problem is bad enough...this problem is just cruel.

Butt...back to the rest of my life...

Finally settled on what I'll be drinking for my liquid diet I will be on for the first six to eight weeks. It's a meal replacement called Soylent. Contains everything an average sized person requires daily. Google it. Some of you on here might find it a useful adjutant to your meals. The instructions say add water but I put mine in chocolate soy milk. If I'm going to be on a liquid diet I want to enjoy it.

After that I'll slowly add in foods like scrambled eggs, yogurts, etc. Can't do those during those first weeks because your mouth really can't move and your ability to swallow can only handle liquid. By about a year everything should be back to normal. Might have some numbness that is permanent. Also some of the teeth might be killed off...not that some of them don't deserve it...but that will add to the cost of treatment since I'll have to have them drilled and anchored. At this point I'm pretty much tapped out of extra funds.

Think I'll post a picture of myself immediate post-opp. Let everyone see my chipmunk cheeks and dazed look. Maybe even a short video during which I throw up from the effects of the anesthesia. Why keep all the fun to myself when I can share it with all of you.

Seriously though...my face will change some. I won't be unrecognizable but lower half will fill out differently, profile and face on. Will be interesting to see the final results. Then I have to decide what type of beard I'll grow to hide it all again.

All right...I think that covers most of the past several (many, many) months. Any questions...ask away.
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #42 on: April 18, 2015, 08:42:59 pm »
It's a meal replacement called Soylent. Contains everything an average sized person requires daily. Google it. Some of you on here might find it a useful adjutant to your meals.
ummmm, I saw this movie. It's called Soylent Green . . . and, and, and, it's people!

So...if I don't ever post here again you'll know where I ended up.
I'll miss your posts <3
I can only wish you the best luck to resolve all these issues.

much like the rest of my body...a collection of ornery parts, with minds and agendas of their own, that supposedly make up me.
You know it's that positive attitude and orneriness that is going to bring you though all of this, right? You seem to have the right amount of humor and determination.

I'm a huge believer in the power of positive thinking. I told a doctor that I was going to survive yet more PCP because I had already survived it. LOL I believe that the sun will come up every tomorrow and that I'll still be living. --- of course, living the next day every day can be a pain in the ass too. LOL I don't envy you your recovery time; but I do expect to get an update from you during your recovery some time mid-May.

Maybe even a short video during which I throw up from the effects of the anesthesia. Why keep all the fun to myself when I can share it with all of you.
I think surviving for years has left us all with some un-curable problems. I still barf 4 times a month from the meds themselves. Me and the doctor have changed meds and tested for all sorts of exotica but no solutions. But it's still hugely better than back in the old aidsy days when I was puking up EVERY day.

so as I already intimately know what barfing is all about, I look forward to the vids and pix ROFLMAO :)

Good luck! :-*
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #43 on: April 25, 2015, 08:18:12 pm »
Only a little more then two weeks before the hack and whack takes place. Have been working to get my place cleaned up and ready for my recuperation. Two rooms down, two more to go. It's good to have surgery once in a while, gives one a reason to clean the apartment.

Got a call from the surgical team leader. Need to do another impression of my upper teeth. Apparently they missed a few. Best I can tell they're all there...

Still need to buy my sippy cup. Figure it's the best solution to solve the problem of a mouth that doesn't work. Forget straws, can't create suction. You want something that will let the liquid flow from the container down your throat with minimum effort and not make a mess. Sippy cup seems to fit the bill.

Have some shopping for a Water-Pik since I won't be able to brush. Probably a few other items that I'll never use again. Anything that will make my life easier I'm willing to spend the bucks on. That's where things stand for now.

Okay, just a short update.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #44 on: May 08, 2015, 07:01:48 pm »
Like a truck without brakes on a steep hill my surgery date is fast approaching. Not sure if that's the best analogy but considering the watch-tar-drip speed at which time has seemed to pass I guess I'll take it. Tuesday, May 12th is the day!

Met with the surgeon today. Went over what he will be doing to my mouth. Turns out quite a bit more than originally planned. Because my teeth didn't move their butts like they were suppose to move the doc will have to move them himself. Not a big deal, they do it all the time. However there is that rare occasion where things don't work out and your front six teeth fall out along with that part of the jaw...after turning a lovely shade of black. But lets talk about the really bad things that can happen.

Anyway, got my will signed today. Makes things seem so...permanent. Like it will be needed.

I was surprised to find out my chin will move one inch further out. Not that I mind. I was just expecting it would only be about one-half inch at most. More chin the better, I say.

That's the short end of it. Still have one more thing to do to get ready for surgery. Have to go to the orthodontist Monday afternoon so he can rework my surgical wires to get them ready for Tuesday. The wires have to be cut and something done to the ends of each segment. Gives the surgeon something to hold onto when he gets around to playing mix-and-match with my teeth.

Okay, that's it for now. Any questions just ask.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #45 on: May 11, 2015, 08:58:32 pm »
Tomorrow...Tuesday, May 12th is the day. Have to be at the hospital by 6AM. Surgery is schedule to start at 8AM. Surgeon said it would take about 8 hours...give or take. So this will be taken care of...

...however found out today the braces will be with me for another six to nine months. Arrgh...

If, or when, I get back I'll add some more about my little adventure.
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #46 on: May 11, 2015, 09:42:46 pm »
Good luck LTS ,
Sorry I just saw this , look forward to all your war stories to come ,
You are a warrior !
Wade
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #47 on: May 11, 2015, 09:45:13 pm »
Hope you are not alone now , are you ?
You have a big day ahead.
PM if you need to talk
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #48 on: May 11, 2015, 10:29:22 pm »
Best wishes!!!!  :-* :-*
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #49 on: May 19, 2015, 08:37:09 pm »
Figure it's been a week since I had my operation. So thought it was about time to drop in and write something to give y'all nightmares for at least the foreseeable future.

Surgery took 10 hours. Apparently I have extra thick jaw bones. So they ran through a few saw blades. There were 12 cuts on my jaws. 6 on the upper jaw and 6 on the lower jaw. Cuts 2-3 and 4-5 were used to create two short sections on the upper and lower jaws. These sections were tossed and the remaining sections were screwed together to create my new jaw lines. The teeth being pulled back into my mouth on both jaws.

After that my upper jaw was cut loose from my skull on a line just below my eye sockets. This line made a jog about half way back to where the cut dropped down behind my last molars on the upper jaw. The jaw was then moved forward and a sterilized bone piece was inserted where the jog created a box as the jaw was moved forward. This was to help keep my upper jaw from sliding back into it's old position.

Then there were two cuts to my lower jaw, one each side, behind the last molar on the lower jaw. This was so the surgeon could now slide my lower jaw forward to match the upper jaws new location. Plates and screws were used to hold those cuts in place. My jaws, when now x-rayed, look like a jigsaw puzzle.

After all of that some acrylic hardware was place behind my two new tooth lines to help provide stability until the jaws could make new bone to hold things in place. The acrylic hardware will start to be removed in about three weeks. At which point eating and drinking might actually be less of a let's-try-to-find-a-hole-through-this-maze-so-I-can-feed-myself. Considering I'm only on liquids, which should be able to flow around any obstruction, you begin to see the measure of difficulty that acrylic hardware introduces into feeding oneself after this type of surgery.

Along with the MMA surgery, a portion of my sinuses had to be reworked. That, quite literally, requires the surgeon to take a hammer and chisel and hack out the offending bone. It's just too tight of a fit to maneuver a miniature saw into that area. Then it has to be re-affixed in it's new position. That requires more plates and screws then you want to know about.

That pretty much sums of the surgery part. Makes you appreciate why a surgeon might charge $60,000 for the work (oh, did I mention this is all done through small holes cut on the inside of your mouth...really small holes).

So once sealed up, I was placed in the ICU for 24 hours under sedation. My surgeon did not want a repeat of the last end of surgery adventure I endured, or rather, miraculously survived. The stress on him watching me likely to die was something he didn't want to experience again. Much less have me experience it...again. Even if at the time I wasn't awake to really know what was transpiring.

Once I've recovered from writing this I will then tell the tale of waking up to new horrors. You have been warned.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2015, 08:44:29 pm by LongTimeSurvivor »
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #50 on: May 19, 2015, 08:51:01 pm »
Yeah!! You didn't die. ;D
cause, you know, this thread would have had a terrible ending if you had. LOL

glad to hear things went .... well. (ouch. yuck. ouch again)
Glad to hear you are recovering.

Continued best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery  :P
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #51 on: June 09, 2015, 08:12:44 pm »
Then I awoke...sort of...with an ice pack wrapped around my face. My arms and legs loosely tied to the sides of the bed and some hard disk thing stuck behind my teeth and filling my mouth,..ah, yes the acrylic hardware. Still remember something.

Gaining consciousness this time was slightly different than last time. This time the medical staff weren't worried that I was brain damaged from lack of oxygen like they were last time. Other than that they seemed kind enough in their actions. Not that I could exactly tell you what they were being kind about.

After 10 hours in surgery and another 24 hours sedated in ICU your brain and motor skills...lack. I just sat there and stared at things...like my hands...and wondered what do I do with them. It's a strange mental state you inhabit. Time goes slow for you...while every one else is zipping around like the Energizer Bunny...or they are the Energizer Bunny. To some extent you have regressed to an infant like state. There's lots of bright, shiny things all around and noises constantly beeping and chirping and you can't move anything other than your head to turn and try to focus on whatever it is you're looking for at that moment. Once seen clearly, still makes no sense.

Eventually it was deemed safe to move me to different quarters...sort of...something called a Step-Room. There were three other patients in there. Never saw them. Step-Room is apparently what comes after ICU. Less nurses than ICU but more nurses then if you were in a regular room. Other than the nurses trying to get me to eat I have very little memory of that time.

Next came my regular hospital room, shared with some man who had to listen to me scream bloody murder whenever the doctors decided to come in and play with my mouth. (Every now and then I could hear him whisper...God, I'm so sorry for you). You know things are bad when the other patient in the room who is dying feels sorry for you. While the outside of your face feels like it's left the room to roam about the halls the inside of your mouth is perfectly aware of where it is and doesn't like anything the doctors are doing. Which impels the brain to send word to your lungs and vocals cords to express this...in no uncertain terms. Not that you can do anything about it. So I sat there screaming bloody murder while the doctor did his thing and all the while he was saying "You hate me now, but when it's all done you'll thank me later." When he was done I gave him the "Bird." I thought that was thanks enough. Oh...and afterward I moped. Not that it helped but I thought a good mope was called for considering the circumstances.

After I had moved into the hospital room apparently it was time to change the linens and bed clothes...again. I thought they did this before you moved in to a room. But, hey, who am I to question the wisdom of the hospital cleaning crew. They have this all worked out. Lean here, lean there, lean yonder...then you're back on clean sheets. Unfortunately the lady replacing the bed linens had on perfume so strong that it was difficult for me to breathe. I'm sure she did it to cover any unpleasant smells she might come across in her duties. I was so happy when she finally left even though the scent lingered for a good thirty minutes. Personally I wanted to shove her into the shower unit and turn it on full hot till I didn't smell the perfume any more or she stopped struggling...preferably the latter.

After that I managed to shuffle around the hallways trying to get some strength and stamina back. Always shuffling a little faster when I came across "the perfume counter from Macy's." All the time hoping I was building up enough energy to get from the entry door to the car when it came time to go home. The path to my freedom which arrived the next day.

The drive home was so slow. Some taxi drivers think they're at the Indianapolis 500...not this one. You would have thought he was still in the "old country" from the way he kept peering at street signs, testing the wind with a wet finger, and throwing pebbles and seashells on the floor. I would have said something but was too tired and just lay my head back on the seat and spaced. I left it to my friend who picked me up from the hospital to take care of getting home.

Ahhh home...home...where the other horrors await...
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #52 on: June 09, 2015, 11:06:29 pm »
There's lots of bright, shiny things all around and noises constantly beeping and chirping and you can't move anything other than your head to turn and try to focus on whatever it is you're looking for at that moment. Once seen clearly, still makes no sense.
are you certain that was "recovery"? It sounds a lot like dying with PCP. At least my almost "dying with PCP" episodes in the hospital were very like this, only without enough energy to turn my head.

is it terrible of me to say that I really enjoyed reading your tale? I know, I know! It was a horrible time for you; but, on this side of the screen, I found your story interesting and entertaining and it made me laugh.

thanks for sharing! best wishes on the recovery!
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #53 on: June 11, 2015, 08:31:31 pm »
Leatherman...it's perfectly acceptable to laugh at other peoples suffering. Hospital staffs do it all the time. Sometimes they even try to hide it.

Instead of moaning and groaning about what all went on during my brief stay in the hospital I figure try to get to the humor in the situation. I mean, really, it's funny that the guy dying next to me feels sorry for me. He just lays there, no one comes to poke and pry and stick sharp objects in his mouth. It's only the ones who might live and he's glad he's not one of them.

So, yes, it's great that you enjoyed the post. It's even better that you got a laugh out of all that transpired. Lord knows I didn't.

So...hope you're doing great. Will try to get the third and final (there will be a fourth but will come as happening long after the events covered now) post up soon.
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #54 on: June 13, 2015, 10:30:58 am »
are you certain that was "recovery"? It sounds a lot like dying with PCP. At least my almost "dying with PCP" episodes in the hospital were very like this, only without enough energy to turn my head.


sounds like my near death experience with PCP !

LTS ,you are one tough cookie ,
Hope you are feeling better.
Wade
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Offline Richie_R2

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #55 on: June 13, 2015, 11:35:49 am »

Quote
sounds a lot like dying with PCP"

Quote
sounds like my near death experience with PCP !"

I know, you know, everyone on this forum knows that this means "Pneumo-Cystis Pneumonia", a common HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infection.

But guests who just happen to chance by this thread have got to think we're all on Angel Dust, by now! Hehe.  ;D
Richie "R2". the Rocket Surgeon

Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #56 on: June 13, 2015, 02:14:00 pm »
guests who just happen to chance by this thread
guests who just happen to chance by this thread... should learn the history of HIV before reading stuff in the LTS forum  ;)  ;D

Quote
The older name Pneumocystis carinii (which now only applies to the Pneumocystis species that is found in rats[16]) is still in common usage. As a result, Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is also known as Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and (incorrectly) as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.[17][18][19]

Regarding nomenclature, when the name of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) changed from P. carinii pneumonia to P. jirovecii pneumonia, it was at first felt that "PJP" should replace "PCP". However, because the term PCP was already used among physicians that managed patients with Pneumocystis infection, it was rationalized that the term PCP could continue to be used, as it could stand for PneumoCystis (jirovecii) Pneumonia.[20]
- wikipedia

Leatherman...it's perfectly acceptable to laugh at other peoples suffering. Hospital staffs do it all the time. Sometimes they even try to hide it.
....
So, yes, it's great that you enjoyed the post. It's even better that you got a laugh out of all that transpired. Lord knows I didn't.
I wasn't laughing at your suffering; but from your storytelling skills. I promise to not laugh or smile at the next post, no matter how humorously you write about your awful experiences.    :) . . . .  oops  :(
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline Richie_R2

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #57 on: June 13, 2015, 02:51:59 pm »
Well, I thought the joke was hilarious!

Woo, tough crowd!

 :P ::)
Richie "R2". the Rocket Surgeon

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #58 on: July 19, 2015, 07:29:43 pm »
Finally made it home…just. While it was nice to be out of the hospital I wasn’t exactly excited to be on my own. Except for the first night when one of my friends stayed over, if something went wrong, I’d have to get help on my own. Yelling into the phone I would have sounded like Chris Pine in that Star Trek movie where he gets "Numm tonguun."

The other worry was getting some rest. Luckily I had bought a recliner a couple of months earlier. Without it I’m not sure how I would have been able to sleep. The bed was out…tried it, didn’t work. I had thought maybe the couch with the back being able to adjust to a 60 degree slant would work. Nope…would slowly slip toward to edge of the couch. There was nothing to stop me. The recliner could recline and the way the seat angled kept me from sliding. With a pillow and some covers I was actually “comfortable.” I could sleep and that’s all I cared about at that time.

Since this is being written two months after my arrival home I may not remember all of what transpired. What I do remember was how difficult it was to consume anything because of the acrylic contraption stuck in my mouth to keep my teeth in place. When leaving the hospital I had absconded with something, it was sort of a like a very large syringe with a flexible “needle," normally it was used to clean out clotted blood...I was going to use it to feed myself. I had copped a new one…I think. It would suck up the liquid meal replacement when I pulled out the plunger. Then I would attempt to place the “needle” in my mouth and reverse the previous step pushing the plunger back into the syringe. The "food" would then spew out...but not necessarily into my mouth. Skin doesn’t stain…thank god.

Can’t say I was in pain since the whole lower part of my face was numb…and swollen. Being numb though has its downside. Can’t tell what’s going on when trying to clean out your mouth after eating.  Oh you can make a guess but, unless you’re in front of a mirror, it devolves into a 50/50 chance you’re going to do something you shouldn’t have done.

The other downside to numb is not being able to tell that the braces have develop sharp points that are now making mincemeat out of your inner cheek. Unfortunately those are also the areas that recover their feeling once you’ve left the city to go out to Fire Island to escape for a bit…and forgot to bring the ortho wax that can be used to cover the sharp points. Island trip was aborted and headed back into town, after a night of hell while waiting for morning, to go see the surgeon to get him to snip the offending wires that had been having fun stabbing me all night long.

Of course it wasn’t all fun and games…I was actually able to sleep despite all the above. This was the main purpose of the surgery. Even with swelling the x-ray showed my windpipe had more than doubled in width. Once swelling was gone it would be even wider. I no longer would fall asleep while standing up on the subway…or any other place standing or sitting. I slept and continue to sleep like a contented baby now…sort of looked like one too with my swollen cheeks.

Next I’ll write about how things have been going since the four-week recovery period ended.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #59 on: August 01, 2015, 05:53:19 pm »
Another update:

After four weeks I returned to work. Not too bad. A little slow but got back into the rhythm of work and settled back into my routine.

Some feeling had returned...unfortunately in the guise of pain. Othro and surgeon were somewhat mystified. Usually patients wouldn't be experiencing pain after four weeks. They told me to take some over-the-counter pain meds like Advil. Said it was odd but expected it would go away soon.

Wrong...didn't get better.

Had to go in to get the surgical wire removed and regular wire attached to my braces. Still had the pain but was able to deal with it. The next day I was in agony. Thought it was the new wires. Called both ortho and surgeon begging for pain relief...like maybe a mouthwash or ointment that I could rub on similar to lidocaine. They decided it wasn't a good idea. That I might chew the inside of my cheeks and make things even worse.

The next day was better so thought in a few days I'd get use to the wires and the pain level would decrease. For a few days it did improve but then started to increase again. The pain would be bearable after I woke up in the morning but by afternoon it would engulf my whole lower face and begin to work its way up to the top of my head into a headache. Told the ortho and surgeon that things weren't improving. They could not figure out what the problem was so I just had to deal with it. Ended up taking 4 Advil at a time. That helped but only in making the pain bearable. From the moment I woke to when I fell asleep I was in pain. The only good thing was I could fall asleep. The pain didn't seem to cause a problem there. I'd be asleep in about ten minutes.

Then on Tuesday of this week something happened. After lunch about 2PM I rubbed my fingers over the beard on my left side at the jaw line. Felt a bump there that hadn't been there at lunch. So called the surgeon and arranged to come in so he could check it out. First he thought it was an inflamed hair follicle. I told him I knew what inflamed hair follicles felt like and this wasn't one. He looked inside my mouth at my left cheek and agreed. Not a hair follicle but an infection around my jaw. Or rather an infection that had decided to drain out under the skin of my left cheek. An x-ray was the next order of business.

Sitting back in the chair looking at the image of the x-ray with the surgeon he turned to me and said I had broken the titanium plate on my right side and that had caused the screws on the left side to loosen because of uneven pressure. The loose screws had initiated bleeding and once some bacteria found their way into my gum they fed on the blood and the rest was history. He put me on antibiotics and said I'd need to come in to get the screws and plate removed to keep the infection from reoccuring.

When I got in Friday morning the surgeon met me with the news that actually I had broken both plates. He said breaking one plate was very unusual, breaking two plates was unheard of. When he had called my orthodontist to relay this info the ortho said "Are you surprised?" since I had only broken every single wire that had been attached to my braces. Surgeon thought he might write me up and present my case at a medical conference.

Anyway, once the infection drained my extreme pain stopped. Had the surgery. Went fine. But, as is the case with me, the attempt to keep swelling to a minimum failed. I now look like I'm hiding a baseball in my left cheek as if I'm impersonating a squirrel getting ready for winter. A really long winter.

However I know the swelling will go down...eventually. Since the pain is gone I really don't care what I look like. Anything is better than what I was going through. Surgeon said I'd probably have to have the plate and screws on the right side removed but we could leave that to a later date. I'm fine with that. I'm fine with anything that will get this episode of my life over with...the sooner the better.

Okay, this brings my continuing adventure up to date. Will update as there's a reason to update.
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #60 on: August 01, 2015, 09:54:04 pm »
Holly Crap !!!!!
I hope things start improving for you !
Are your sleeping habits any better ?
All the best I can muster , Wade
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #61 on: September 27, 2015, 03:13:03 pm »
Since we're about to exit September and mosey into October an update seems appropriate.

Finally had the second broken titanium plate removed this past Friday. The usual laugh riot. Put me on gas, jab me with syringes full of stuff that deadens half my face, wield the scalpel and cut away. Everything came out easier than last time. Surgeon didn't have to get up on my chair with the wrench to get things moving. Go back in a week to get the sutures removed.

I've spent most of the weekend sleeping. For some reason getting sliced open makes me sleepy afterward. Kind of a bummer though. It's been a beautiful fall weekend. The kind where you want to get out and walk around and see what you can't afford here in the city.

Hopefully this is the last of the hack and whacks. Now mostly adjustments to the braces. Working to get my teeth to line up correctly. This week I'll get a new wire. First one since my MMA surgery. Wonder how many wires I'll break this time.

Braces are scheduled to come off some time in November. No set date. Guess they'll surprise me. Once off then I'll be fitted for a retainer. Just one fun thing after another.

Still I am coming to the end of this little adventure. Will have to see surgeon for about a year so he can check on things. Same with orthodontist. But after that should be free and clear.

That's about it. Any questions ask away.
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #62 on: September 27, 2015, 04:39:26 pm »
Still I am coming to the end of this little adventure.
kudos to you for all you have been through. You have been quite the trooper for a long time.

Does this mean this "adventure" will be finally over by the first of the year?
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #63 on: October 26, 2015, 08:33:06 pm »
Free at last (and that's as far as I'm going with that quote)...

Braces came off this morning (October 26th) and not a minute too soon. My machine gun order was delayed so now I have to send it back when it arrives. No reason to use it now.

Actually took longer to get the braces off then it was to put them on. In case you're wondering...having braces removed sounds like someone is using special pliers to crush your teeth. Sort of feels that way too.

But before the braces could come off the permanent retainers had to be attached to the backs of my top and bottom front incisors. Not sure why I have to have permanent retainers, forgot to ask the reason, I'll try to remember to ask when I go back in for the temp retainers. Those are worn only at night.

So...I seem to be on the tail end of the major stuff. See my surgeon in three months, same for orthodontist. Next year will get my teeth whitened once I'm fairly sure there will be no more cutting done on my mouth. The mouth rinse used to keep the germs at bay after the mouth cutting turns teeth brown...dark brown..matches-my-eyes dark brown. Some of that is gone due to the grinding that is done to remove the bits that the teeth-breaking pliers couldn't snap off from the front of my teeth. Mainly my teeth are a nice shade of yellow now.

The upside is I actually sleep at night and wake up rested. No more falling asleep while standing in the subway car. It's also easier for me to exercise now. Use to take me hours to get through my routines. Now I'm done in about an hour. Same routines just more oxygen getting to my lungs and then to my muscles. I had a very narrow throat. Some of my friends were confused by that considering...

That brings things up-to-date for now. Any questions, fire away.
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Offline Jeff G

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #64 on: October 26, 2015, 09:02:52 pm »
I had sympathy dental pain … Good to hear you are on the mend .
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #65 on: October 26, 2015, 10:31:12 pm »
And...as I predicted...

Just after I finished the post below I decide to have a little soft chocolate ice cream. After a couple of spoonfuls I felt something sharp. Thought maybe some ice had formed. So spit it out and...

...it was a part of one of my back molars.

Pretty much par-for-the-course with my life. My teeth never break on something hard. It's either scrambled eggs, bread or, now, soft ice cream. I think I'll start eating bricks. My teeth will last longer.
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #66 on: October 26, 2015, 10:46:49 pm »
back in the day, when the meds were making me puke 30 days month and my teeth starting breaking, it was a bowl of mashed potatoes that broke a tooth.  ::)

The upside is I actually sleep at night and wake up rested.
WooHoo!
Try to keep focusing on the positive! I'm glad to hear you're sleeping better and are getting more oxygen.
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #67 on: November 21, 2015, 08:33:55 pm »
Just a short note...

Had to have my gums cut open again this week. There was a piece of bone that had parted ways with the rest of my jawbone and wanting to leave. So I obliged with a trip to the surgeon...again.

Apparently when the titanium plate that was screwed to my left jaw broke whatever broke it also broke lose a piece of my jawbone. Somehow this doesn't surprise me.

And to think some people wonder what drives my sense of humor...
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Offline Jeff G

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #68 on: November 21, 2015, 09:01:38 pm »
.

And to think some people wonder what drives my sense of humor...

I will guess  … screwdriver ? impact wrench ? . I had a bone splinter from a pulled molar that was poking through and I pulled it with tweezers … I had no idea at the time what I was doing or what it was but what came out was freaky .
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #69 on: November 26, 2015, 10:18:04 am »
...screwdriver...impact wrench...pfft...

Apparently, in my case, a jackhammer...at least when it comes to my jaws and teeth.

But a pretty good guess, nonetheless... ;D
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Offline Theyer

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #70 on: November 27, 2015, 08:29:57 am »
Right
I read lots caught up and award you respect if all this had ended in failure I would of joined in with the machine gun stuff.
Don,t fret about the colour off the teeth as I award you Euro status , teeth do change colour it's natural . Nought worse than an Hollywood elder with blinding teeth , my lumps off plastic where made age related or light grey if you want to insist.

So all joking aside thanks for this thread it's a realistic picture of medical intervention and that is much needed in our advertisement soaked age.
Love
M
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #71 on: November 29, 2015, 06:23:45 pm »
Theyer, still haven't sent the machine gun back. I can reroute it if you feel a need.

Not sure I deserve respect but thank you for the thought. Very solicitous of you. I kind of forget everything once past. Don't know if it's a coping mechanism or just not enough room left in my brain.

My friends always say I'm going through so much. It never feels that way to me. Especially when I see news stories of people who have no face or lost their limbs. My experiences seem minor in comparison.

So I decided to list what all has happened in my life. Almost drowning when 7, rear-end collisions, the summer of hospital stays culminating in Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, finding out I could drop dead from a heart condition, almost dying after a minor op, and so on. The list seems mighty impressive...but I'd much rather have an egg. You English folk will probably get that Mog joke.

Guess I've had some miserable experiences but why dwell. Nice to know my tales of woe bring a smile or two to all y'all who follow along.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #72 on: December 12, 2015, 03:03:19 pm »
If I believed in reincarnation I would have to assume I must have led a very bad set of previous lives. Ah...the latest...

Probably will have to start a new topic if this continues to play out but since I'm still in mouth-mode figured I pop it in here.

Went to my heart doc. A six month checkup. Basically they attach sticky things to my hairy chest and, when everything looks good, they rip them off, along with a bit of my chest hair.

However, this time was a little different. Yes, they ripped them off but only after asking did I know my heart was beating very fast. Since I really don't feel anything important like my heart beating the answer was "no."

Yes children, my heart is racing away. The current normal for a male who exercises regularly, doesn't smoke, eats good, sleeps well, etc. is 40 to 70 bpm. My heart has decided it's a Porsche after being a VW Beetle. I was going at 137 bpm.

So...now I'm on some medication that is suppose to, hopefully, slow my heart down. I go back this Wednesday and, if things haven't slowed down, I get a 24-hour monitor to wear. See if that can shed some light on why this is happening.

If it doesn't show or, I guess, even if it does show what's going on I'm not sure what the doc will be doing about it. I've refrained from googling anything about what is done about a speeding heart. Figured I'd let them surprise me.

Anyway, this is par for the course in my life. Something comes to an end and then my body decides to play spin-the-bottle and see what the next surprise will be. Anyone want to trade lives?
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #73 on: December 25, 2015, 01:38:54 pm »
Quick update:

Had to get off the Bystolic. Got my heart rate down but otherwise was killing me. Felt so bad went in for an emergency EKG to see what was happening. Off of it for now. Regaining strength, leg pain is lessening, dizziness gone, don't feel like something is really, really wrong. See heart doc this Tuesday when he's back in town.

Anyway...

Merry Christmas to anyone who happens to read this today, the 25th!
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #74 on: January 23, 2016, 08:21:55 pm »
As of now I'm scheduled to undergo a cardiac ablation for Atrial Flutter on Monday, February 8th. The procedure takes about 3 hours. Usually you are in a twilight state but I told the doc that she would be better off knocking me out totally. Expecting me to try to stay still for 3 hours while she shoves things through my blood vessels was asking a bit too much. If I lasted five minutes without jumping off the table and running out of the room with blood and tubing trailing behind she'd be lucky.

She agreed.

There is always a chance that I'll go into fibrillation during the procedure. In which case, the doc would finish the flutter ablation, after reviving me, and then I'd have to undergo an ablation for fib at a later date. Cardiac ablation for fibrillation takes about 8 hours and has to be mapped out very carefully before hand. Hence the delay...

Aside from the always present "dying from the procedure"...been there, done that...the list of bad things includes stroke, damage to blood vessels, accidentally puncturing the heart itself, and so on.

Quite frankly I think my body hates me.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2016, 08:25:48 pm by LongTimeSurvivor »
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #75 on: February 03, 2016, 09:26:51 pm »
Procedure got moved up to this past Monday, February 1st. Doc had a cancellation and called to see if I wanted to come in. So I agreed. Unfortunately that was before my sinuses decided to get infected...again...and I developed diarrhea from the antibiotic. My body likes to multitask illnesses.

Procedure was successful. But...there's always a but...I have to go in this coming Monday, February 8th to have a computer chip inserted into my chest to monitor my heart. Doc thinks I'm probably having episodes of fib but since I never feel my heartbeat she needs a way to check. I feel like I'm becoming a part of the Matrix.

If I do have the fib it's back to the hospital for another ablation for fib. That's eight hours on the slab.

Also I can't go to the gym to work out since the above referenced antibiotic for my sinus infection has the unfortunate side effect of weakening your tendons so they tear easily. I have to wait at least a month before I can get back to weight training to give it time to get out of my system. Even then your tendons could rip over the next few months. It appears my fate is starting to pre-plan what it has in store for me.

With all of this going on I had to cancel my summer holiday plans since I might have to use vacation days for medical leave like last summer.

Still am dealing with the digestive system issues. Underwent a test in that regard Monday morning before the ablation. It was to see how the muscles in my rectum were functioning. Basically squeeze, push...squeeze, push. Starved myself over the weekend to make sure that the only thing that would come out from the test would be...results. Report should be ready by next week.

That's about it for now. I'm sure something will rear its head though. It always does.



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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #76 on: February 04, 2016, 05:44:52 am »
That's about it for now. I'm sure something will rear its head though. It always does.
best wishes with all this and I'll keep my fingers crossed that nothing else happens to you until you get all these things under control. ;)
leatherman (aka Michael)

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You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #77 on: April 09, 2016, 07:48:26 pm »
And...something reared its head…(reference previous post)...

Finally got the results from the sleep study back at the end of January…still have sleep apnea. Apparently my upper palate gets tired at night and beds down on the back of my throat (Lazy bastard). Sleep study doc didn’t catch it the first go round.

Which means…surgery…what a surprise.

This time it’s a procedure called Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Say that fast three times…say it fast one time. Same result. For short just use UUUP. It involves gouging out the back of your upper throat with something similar to an ice cream scoop. Then the surgeon sews back up whatever remains. Lovely procedure. The result is you’re in extreme pain for several weeks afterward. Might still lose that weight I gained after the last operation that was supposed to result in weight loss…but we know how that turned out…gained 27 pounds.

Surgery is tentatively scheduled for the Friday before Memorial Day. Date can't be finalized till the surgeon gets the approval from the insurance company to hack and whack. Then we have to fight the insurance company because they’ll forget I’ve already done the CPAP and didn’t work the first time. Insurance companies have short memories when it comes to them having to pay money.

Once we’ve managed to get the insurance company in a headlock the tentative date can become the actual date. Then I have to obtain the clearances from my internist and my cardiologist. Then there’s the blood work. Not sure why I have to do blood work. It never changes. My blood has a horror of change.

Then there’s still my digestive system issue. Finally get to see the next butt doc end of April. Nothing will probably come of the visit. It’s a follow-up on the balloon test. The test showed that my outer sphincter was opposing my inner sphincter when it was time to go. I said you think so...I wonder why. Could it be forty years of squeezing as hard as I can so nothing comes out till I can get to a bathroom? I’m going to see her to keep the other doctors happy. Keep telling them a fecal transplant might do me good. That...or put my brain in a different body.

Other than all the above...nothing particularly important going on with me. Got my raise and bonus. So paid down my credit card some more. Figure I can always charge it back up if the need arises.

Anyway...that’s where I am at this point in time. Any questions just ask. I'm a treasure trove of medical trivia.
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #78 on: April 10, 2016, 10:09:18 am »
Holly Shit.... :o

I've heard of getting it from both ends but that's just ridiculous ...  lol
Good thing you've got a sense of humor because you have been through a mess !
Seriously my heart goes out and hope this will be the last of your surgeries.
Keep us posted !

Best, Wade

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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #79 on: April 10, 2016, 02:34:08 pm »
Quote
Got my raise and bonus.
;D WooHoo! ;D
leatherman (aka Michael)

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You were leaning in to speak to me
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #80 on: April 15, 2016, 08:21:04 pm »
Oops...

Not UUUP, that was a Northern Ireland political party back in the day...should read UPPP! After awhile all the medical and political acronyms are hard to keep straight.

Hey...it's an election year.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #81 on: April 18, 2016, 08:57:05 pm »
Monday, April 18th...went to Mt. Sinai today.

No, sillies, not THE Mt. Sinai...

The other one...the hospital in NYC. Had my x-rays, CT scan and pictures for my upcoming surgery at the end of May. Much fun was had by all.

Next up is getting clearances from my internist and cardiologist, that yes, the surgeons can operate on me and most likely I will not croak on them mid-surgery. Can't vouch for not croaking in recovery though.

Anybody got any good jokes I can tell in the OR before they begin the 'Whack and Hack'? My knock-knock joke (I only know one) is wearing thin at the hospital. This will be the third go-round and I need some new material.

Oh yes...

Hey, Mr. Leatherman...no, I can't lend you any money from my raise...it's for me...me,me,me,me...
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #82 on: May 14, 2016, 01:18:54 pm »
Well...looky, looky...if it isn't another health problem popping its head up from the sh*t.

Found out Friday afternoon I am having episodes of A-Fib. Some are as much as nine hours long which are then followed by my heart beating in a slow, erractic pattern with extended time between beats. Guess my heart hates me now. Must have talked to my digestive tract. Damn lies, I tells ya...damn lies!

The UPPP set for May 24th is still on. The Cardiac Ablation (said with an upper class english accent) will happen as soon as possible after the UPPP. I'll skip the four week blood thinner period. Instead they'll do a transesophageal echocardiogram (say that fast three times) to make sure there are no clots. It's the three months afterward that I'll be on  blood thinner...yay.

Anyone want to place bets on what body part will go to hell next?
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #83 on: May 23, 2016, 08:31:55 pm »
Surgery at noon...May 24th...wouldn't miss it for the world...
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #84 on: June 15, 2016, 08:30:05 pm »
It's been three weeks since the UPPP and additional jaw surgery. Surgeries went well. Throat only took 30 minutes. Jaw took about an hour and a half. Went home afterward. Not much pain really. Not much feeling of any type...really. Both doctors said the individual surgeries went well.

But, as is usual with my body, that one percent probability became probable. I developed infections in the edemas that formed around my lower jaw. So have been on clindamycin pretty much the whole time. Surgeon said that this might require removal of everything from my jaws. I'd take three months to make sure the infection was totally clear and my body had healed and then I'd have to go back into the OR and have all new stuff put in and hope an infection didn't develop...again.

On the upside...yes, there is always an upside with me even if it means I died...last night one of the infected areas on the right side of my face started draining through the incision and has continued through today. If that keeps up then it will be less likely to have the stuff removed. If the places on the left side of my face also start draining then it's almost certain I won't face more surgery.

As to the throat surgery post-op it's been a breeze. Mainly a little scratchy early on but almost nothing now. See that surgeon in two weeks. If there are any of the dissolving stitches left he will remove them at that time. After that at some point I will have another sleep study to see what the results are from the UPPP. If good then no more throat surgery. If not so good...ehh...

That's about it for now. Any questions just give me a holler.
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #85 on: July 11, 2016, 09:24:56 pm »
Eh...apparently I belong to the 1%...

...just not the right 1%.

Everything had to come out. Infection got really bad just before July 4th. Pus was actually leaking through my skin by the time I saw the doctor Tuesday morning (imagine peanut butter on crackers hue). He put me on the happy gas and shot me full of numbing agents then sliced into my mouth between the cheek and the jaw bone. Got about 2 shot glasses worth of pus. Lovely experience but not the end.

After that, doc had to contact Mt. Sinai to arrange for an OR for the next day. Said that he needed to get everything out. The sooner the better and so Wednesday after July 4th I was back in the hospital getting my mouth sliced open again and all the hardware removed. Then doc spent an hour or so rinsing the area around my jaw bone with antibiotics. Said there was a lot of pus to get out (I thought considering the size my cheek had swelled to...well...duh). Sent me home after I woke up...no nighty-night in the hospital.

Spent last week at home trying to recover from the whole episode. First night was unbelievable. The doc had to scrap all of the bone to clean the damage from the infection. There's no pain like scraped-bone pain...except maybe childbirth and and in-the-bone infection. The rest of the time has been dealing with nonstop headaches and tooth-pain. When it goes wrong...it really goes wrong.

Have to see the new cardiologist next. Find out when he wants to do the cardiac ablation for my fibrillation. Just what I want...another operation. In this case they keep me in the hospital for a night...just in case I want to croak the first night (they hate when you do that).

One bright item is the doc said I can go ahead with my trip to see my parents. So I head out this Wednesday. REALLY want to see Mom and Dad. Been a while and would like to see them before I have another operation. Not sure the odds are in my favor lately.

Any questions...fire away...
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #86 on: July 12, 2016, 09:13:09 am »
 Questions...yes, yes....When are you going to Fire Island ?

Think its time you had some fun !

As for PCP ....well its just easier to spell
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #87 on: September 15, 2016, 09:38:59 pm »
Knock, knock…

Who’s there?

Just open the damn door!

Been a bit since I’ve updated so thought I should let y’all know I had the cardiac ablation last Friday. Got to the hospital at 7AM. Went through the routine; remove your clothes, put on a paper gown, get led into a large containing many beds already occupied by other paper gown-wearing people, hop into bed and wait your turn. In my case I kept getting bumped. Apparently there were people dying to get ahead of me…literally. Around 4PM that afternoon finally got my turn to play dead.

Being in an OR doesn’t bother me. The whole thing is very interesting to watch. It’s like being in a movie that you’re experiencing in immersive 3D. Everyone is playing their role and you just happen to be there to act as the main prop. A prop that is moved here, there and yon. You get to have your chest and back hair shaved into interesting patterns that will take months to grow out. And best of all you get to have sharp objects shoved into your arms and extremities for the entertainment of some unseen audience...sort of like in that "Saw" movie franchise.

Once done and awake you are moved to the recovery area where you have to lay on your back motionless for four hours while trying to eat sandwiches to blunt the hunger from not eating for 24 hours. Can only imagine the mess if they decided soup was better for your recovery. I chose the PB&J in case you’re wondering.

Went home the next day and mainly slept since hospitals are not known for the quality of their beds or sound insulation. Sunday is when I started to feel some of the aftereffects; tiring easily, some pain in my chest, dizziness if I got up too quick but overall not unbearable. Could have been worse…and has.

The jaw surgeon and I are still planning on having another go at surgery to replace the corrective implants that had to be cut out because of the severe infection. Tentatively the week before Thanksgiving is when the replacement is to be attempted.

Even though the insurance company paid all the hospital bills for the initial surgery I’ve decided I want to get what is called a Pre-Determination Letter for this go around. Instead of the crap shoot you normally go through with insurance companies this letter states clearly that the surgery will be paid for by the company.

I’m tired of hearing that someone hasn’t written the insurance submission with blue ink made from some obscure mineral only available from a war-torn country that hasn’t seen a shipment of said mineral come out into the world the last one hundred years. Therefore we can't pay for your covered (HA!) surgery. My luck they probably have to write the letter using that same ink for it to be valid. Damn, sneaky insurance companies.

That’s where things stand for the moment.

Feel free to comment...
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #88 on: September 16, 2016, 09:44:12 am »
Glad to hear things went well...
Of all things for you to eat a PB&J... :o
Anyway, Onward !
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #89 on: September 28, 2016, 08:25:20 pm »
That didn't take long...

Today, September 28th, went into see my regular cardiologist for a checkup before returning to see the specialist cardiologist to follow up my fib ablation. I have flutter again with a heart rate of 118 bpm. My heart hates me.

So I see the specialist tomorrow, September 29th. I assume I'll probably have to have another ablation. The fib/flutter meds just don't work for me. After a few weeks I have extreme fatigue, pain in my extremities (not that one though) and feel like I'm dying...which I might be based on previous history.

Anyway, knew something would pop up. It always does. Just didn't figure it would be so quick to arrive.

Oh well...such is life...

Any questions, fire away now...who knows if I'll be around if you wait...
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #90 on: November 08, 2016, 09:11:10 pm »
Figures I’d update on the same day as Election Day…bad news travels together…

Actually don’t have any bad news but couldn’t resist using it as the opening for this update. I went to the heart specialist about the reoccurrence of rapid heartbeats after my cardiac ablation. He said it was normal to have this happen. During recovery the heart will at times speed up or slow down until it’s completely healed. Guess I’m not completely healed.

Then there is the matter of my jaw surgery redux. As Gomer would say “Surprise, surprise”…the insurance company pre-cleared my surgery. No fretting if the surgery will be covered. One more worry out of the way. Not use to having drama-less medical issues.

Surgery is set for the week of Thanksgiving. The surgeon will cut open my neck this time instead of going through my mouth. Going through the neck makes it less likely to have an infection develop. I’ll have a scar but at 57 who cares. The surgeon wasn’t amused when I told him to give me “Frankenstein-Style” stitches when he closes me up. I’ll spend the holiday recuperating. I hope to be back at work the following Monday.

With any luck this will be the last surgery of the year…maybe even the last surgery for years to come.

Nah...
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #91 on: December 09, 2016, 06:36:50 pm »
I’m baaaaack…

Surgery was a success. My head hasn't fallen off. ..yet.

It's been a little over two weeks since surgery. Doing pretty good considering I have an incision that runs from just under one ear to just under the other ear in a somewhat straight line…if you factor in the curve of my neck. Surgeon said everything went like clockwork. No sign of infection which is good. Incision has an itch now and again but nothing that stays for long.

My neck is still swollen and will probably stay that way for longer than normal mainly because the muscles in my neck had to be cut to access my jaw. So the normal path for drainage is blocked and excess fluid has pooled in the tissue between my chin and the incision. The excess fluid will eventually go away but for now I have a goiter-like neck.

Hopefully I am now approaching the end of my adventure with sleep apnea cures and associated ills from said cures. Suppose there will be one or more entries before I close this particular thread out. Other adventures, I'm sure, will shortly arrive on my door sill…they usually do… and I can regale everyone with new tales of madness and mayhem.

Happy Holidays!!!
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #92 on: December 17, 2016, 11:45:22 am »
Happy Holidays to you too !
Heres to hoping you can chew Christmas dinner  :)
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #93 on: December 17, 2016, 05:05:28 pm »
Yayyyyyyyyy! Someone replied. There are people out there!

The incision was through my neck, not my mouth, so no interference with eating...other than the limited amount my mouth can open due to muscles being cut and sewn back together. Eventually it'll all be back to normal...as normal is normal for me.
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Offline Wade

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #94 on: December 19, 2016, 10:36:31 am »
Sorry LTS I lost track of your adventure ...lol
I still hope you can eat Christmas dinner  :)
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Offline leatherman

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #95 on: December 19, 2016, 01:14:13 pm »
It's good to hear that you are recovering! Hopefully this will soon all just be a story to regale your friends and family with, while you have peaceful nights sleeping.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
leatherman (aka Michael)

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And I think about it all the time
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Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #96 on: August 01, 2017, 08:34:57 pm »
Now where was I? (papers shuffling) Oh yes, I was recovering...

...Not

Thought this would be the year free of medical issues. What a sap. Anyone want to sell me a bridge that goes from Manhattan to Brooklyn? There're other things but I'll stick with the latest for now.

Ever since my MMA operation I've tasted blood in my mouth upon waking up in the morning. My temporary retainers would also be stained reddish pink. Ended up having to see a periodontist about it. He checked everything out. Could find nothing wrong. I was the first patient, he said, that he had ever been able to say that to after his exam of my mouth...figures...

Fast forward a couple of months into this year. Still tasting blood when I woke up. Then one morning my mouth tasted normal. The next morning the same thing. Well, I thought, maybe wherever the blood was coming from had plugged...ha...

Next morning woke up with pain in my left jaw. Not too bad but it was there. By the next morning it was bad...very bad. The pain had moved around and now seemed centered on my jaw hinge. Great. Just what I need. An infected jaw hinge. Visions of operating rooms danced in my head. Filled with grinning nurses and laughing doctors. Made an appointment with the oral surgeon who has been dealing with my mouth.

First thing, had an image taken of my jaw. Then sit in the examining room while the doc brought up the image on the computer screen. Took a look at it and said, no, your jaw hinge is fine. I waited for the bad news. I knew bad news would follow. It always does. Bad news thinks I'm its best friend. It hates not being a part of my life.

Turns out I had an infection below my lower left back molar. A BIG infection below my lower left molar. I never have small infections. Why infect if you can't go big. So got put on double doses of antibiotics. Was to come back the following Tuesday to get the molar and it's companion on the upper jaw removed.

Hmmmm...

Removed?

Yes.

Upper too?

Yes.

Hmmmm.....

Over the weekend the infection had had enough of where it was and exited while I was in the supermarket. Nothing like having a mouthful of pus with nowhere to spit to make your day.

Come Tuesday back at the surgeon's office. He would need to deaden the left side of my jaw. Unlike previous times when deadening my jaw, this time required the needle to go to a different part of my mouth. The part of my mouth which elicits an involuntary, extremely loud scream of excruciating pain followed by another shot to go into the other part of my mouth that elicits an involuntary, extremely loud scream of excruciating pain. I'm talking take a broken, rust piece of jagged iron and rip it across the inside of your cheek to get to the outside of your cheek...

Doc asked how I was doing. I said fine.

Then he proceeded to remove my lower back left molar. After a few tugs and twists it came out. In one piece. Amazing. Then he went after the upper left back molar. After a period of tugging and twisting doc said he needed to go get another tool. I figured he had to get something from his Black & Decker toolbox. Perhaps a chisel and hammer. Back again and he dived into my mouth...

Doc asked how I was doing. I said fine.

More tugging, a bit of twisting, a small amount of cursing. Doc said he needed to go get another tool. At that point I hoped it was a hammer and chisel from his Black & Decker toolbox. He came back with something that looked like an ice cream scoop. An ice cream scoop that a serial killer would use. With sharp metal prongs. More tugging and twisting...

Doc asked how I was doing. I said fine.

Finally after a bit more struggling and more cursing out popped my upper back left molar. In one piece. Amazing. Of course, the rest of my upper jaw was shattered into many small pieces but, hey, the tooth was free.

After the two molars were out, my mouth got stuffed with wads of cotton pads to stem the blood flow. Apparently I like to bleed. After several wads of cotton had gone in white and come out red the doc decided he needed to sew up the upper gum a bit. Since my mouth was still dead to the world that was a breeze. More cotton pads went in white and came out red. Finally one pad went in white and came out only partially red. Bleeding seem to be stemmed.

Doc asked how I was doing. I said fine.

Upon hearing that he sent me home.

That, my dears, was my Tuesday afternoon. I took the rest of the week off.
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Offline em

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #97 on: August 03, 2017, 09:14:26 am »
sorry to read about your health issues. can not think of any way to help relieve the problems

my own experiences with a smaller similar problem maybe not as pronounced. Maybe it was the meds or just part of getting older. I woke up with dried blood in my mouth and throat with puddles of dried blood on my pillow and sheets. My dentist said My gums were inflamed and were bleeding I also had abscesses , swollen gums and the bone under the gums would get infected swell and was very painful. Could have been the source of the blood for me anyway . My gums have receded and I now get cavities on the roots of my teeth and food gets stuck under the teeth ( kind of gross but it us what it is ) Long in the tooth as part of getting older. I also was told and tested for sleep apnea and given a cpap machine. The thought of sleeping attached to a machine made me uncomortable. I have since switched meds and brushed mouthwash and flossed   it has stopped being such a problem for about a year or so now . that was my experience and hope your problem gets better like mine did.

different day different problems




Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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Re: You're gonna move what to where!!!
« Reply #98 on: October 06, 2017, 06:49:34 pm »
All things must end…

Yeah, but they don’t usually take this long to do it.

Had a follow up appointment with my jaw surgeon for him to check up on the area of my gums which use to be occupied with two molars. Molars that, except for that stupid gum infection, were in perfect shape never having had a cavity. Apparently my body likes to reject parts of itself that are in perfect shape. After being checked as if I was a gift horse my surgeon expressed his satisfaction with the healed gums.


We sat for a moment looking at each other.


Then I asked "Do I need to see you again?"


We sat for another moment looking at each other.

 
"GOD, NO!"

At that, I got up from the examining chair, shook his hand, thanked him for his services and hightailed it out of the office before my body could decide there was some other part of itself it didn't like.

Thus ends my tale of…
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