 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry, Lola!!!!
Ive been thru OC 3 times in 3 consecutive years. The 3rd round was rough, needing to have my lower jaw removed. Its a big surgery, usually 10+ hours. Ive seen many OC patients go thru this and helped them. Most have fared better and recovered faster than I did too.
Ask your doc lots of questions. Prepare yourself for at least one week in the hospital, but probably it will be more like 2 weeks (if complications maybe even longer). Line up some helpers for when you first come home. The recovery can be lengthy and you could need some help to get around (especially if the doc is talking about taking a section of bone from your leg for your jaw).
Hang in there, you can do this!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
