#58316 05-22-2006 06:41 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | I have my implant surgery done next Tuesday, 8 days from now, and I am more anxious and upset over this then I was with my initial surgery back in 2003. The thought of losing the teeth I have had since my early childhood is just such an emotional hurdle for me. I'm not sleeping well and I'm distracted from important things I should be doing during the day. They will be pulling out EVERY SINGLE TOOTH THAT I HAVE AND I WILL NEVER HAVE THEM BACK, EVER, FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE.I will be losing yet another piece of me that I don't want to lose.
There............I said it, I feel a little better. I'm trying to spend this week facing this fear I have head on and talk out loud about it. My fear is transferring to my girls and that's not a good thing. I have to find a way to do this without it affecting my family.
You would think that a Hollywood smile and the best chewing capabilities I have had in years would be an exciting thing for me!!
Thanks for listening.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#58317 05-22-2006 07:34 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | Been there, done that, Minnie. Only time I cried during the entire Grand Adventure of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Then I decided to look at it as a small price to pay for being alive and otherwise happy. You know -- lose teeth and live, or keep teeth and die, which would have happened without the treatment that nuked the teeth.
The actual happening is going to be nowhere near as uncomfortable as what you are conjuring up in your mind. And the replacements will definitely be better than anything you have had in years and years. You can do this, Minnie! It is very low on the scale of what you have already survived. Your life is not on the line this time. You are having some cosmetic improvements. And I guarantee you are going to be extremely pleased with the result. | | |
#58318 05-22-2006 09:44 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Minnie
I have seen the photo of Joanna the day she got her new teeth, I've NEVER seen anyone with such an expression of pure joy.
OK deal for you Minnie, I will do the teeth thing for you if you will do the resection of the trachea for me.. SWAPS?
Sunshine.. love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#58319 05-22-2006 10:57 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Hi Minnie,
It is a very dificult psychological thing, having all of your remaining teeth removed, but you will be amazed at how great you will feel after you get your new teeth. The surgery itself will be a piece of cake compared to what you've been through. We've been through this with our patients many times in my office.
You have to look at this from the right perspective. You are fortunate that you are around in a time that implants are available. Before implants, we couldn't offer our patients anything that would be better than their natural teeth. Now we can.
I hope that you have discussed your concerns with your dentist/oral surgeon, but if you would like to ask me anything, send me a personal email. If you want to talk, let me know your phone number.
Good luck.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#58320 05-23-2006 01:02 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Thanks for the replies, they hit home as usual.
Joanna, I'd love to see this pic that Helen is talking about! I hope to have a pic of myself in the same excitement soon. Helen, dang, not a switch I am going to take you up on BUT I will be thinking of you. When are you having it done?
Jerry, my biggest questions are if my face is going to swell up and if there will be any bruising? It's a busy time of year so I'm hoping it won't keep me down long.
Love,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#58321 05-23-2006 02:53 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Minnie, have you asked them to give you a "good timeframe" for this whole procedure to be over? My lower implants are GREAT, but it took several months from implant surgery to finished product. Maybe the process has speeded up since I had it done. You will love them when it's done. Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#58322 05-23-2006 03:38 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | Minnie, it must be an age thing, but I cannot remember sharing a picture with Helen, or why, or what picture that might be. However, if she says I did, I absolutely believe her and will search for it.
What I DO remember is that I had no noticeable swelling and no bruising at all. I was out and about the next day as usual. This won't slow you down, so that is one worry you can put back on the shelf.
Joanna, muddled and befuddled but with VERY nice teeth (grin). | | |
#58323 05-23-2006 03:46 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Minnie,
I would say that I have rarely seen swelling or bruising after implant placement. However, that means that it can happen. Much depends on the skill of the surgeon and also how well you follow directions. I'm sure there will be a list of do's and dont's. Every practitioner has their own suggestions, so if you follow what's recommended, you should be fine.
Are you having immediate placements, i.e. are they doing the extractions and implant placement at the same time? The more that's done at one sitting, obviously increases the chances of swelling, but if possible, this cuts down alot of time waiting for the teeth.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#58324 05-23-2006 05:17 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hey Jerry,
I'm having the extractions and implants at the same time on the bottom. I am having what they described as a bone solution put into my upper jaw and then will wait three months for the implants up there. I'm having a fixed prosthesis upper and lower when all is done, with upper being porcelin and lower being acrylic. They are also doing some work to free up my tongue a bit as it's very tied down right now and also building me a larger "gutter" for the left half of my lower lip. I'll have a temporary bottom in that day and an upper denture to wear. In three months I'll go back and have the implants "uncovered" and will have the upper ones placed. Then I'll start all over again with the uppers!!
Hoping to be chewing and enjoying food again by Christmas.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#58325 05-23-2006 05:49 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Minnie,
Soon you will look back on this as another milestone that you have achieved. I am so happy that you are getting yet another step closer to where you want to be. We may never reach where we were but we can only hope to get closer...one step at a time.
Best wishes for a very successful surgery and a speedy recovery for you.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#58326 05-24-2006 01:24 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Minnie,
Sounds like a very good treatment plan and that you have very knowledgable docs treating you. Not sure what you mean by a "bone solution" but it is probably a bone graft and I'm sure that the purpose is to get denser bone in the upper jaw so that the implants will integrate better. The upper jaw bone is more porous than the lower and that's why the immediate placement of the implants in the lower jaw is more common.
Sounds like you'll be eating your favorite foods way before Christmas.
Good luck and keep me posted.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#58327 05-24-2006 05:34 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hello Ed, how are you?? Do you ever hear from any of the posters from that other board you and I were on like a year ago?? Anna and Jim were two of the posters, the other I only knew as Scubie. I know Jim had a recurrence and wondered if you knew how he was doing.
Jerry, yes, it's bone grafts, that's the proper term for it. And if I can simply chew one tiny piece of pork chop by Christmas, I'll be thrilled. My docs tell me I'll be biting apples and eating corn on the cob! Imagine that.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#58328 05-24-2006 09:59 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Minnie
Have found and sent by email the pic of Joanna.
Joanna it was the one taken in the dentists chair, whow what a grin
Sunshine...love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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