Reading your story makes me wonder—did you specifically look for a surgeon who explained things clearly beforehand, or was it just luck? I'm scheduled for a dental bone graft soon (first-timer here, pretty nervous about it), and I'm not sure what I should prioritize when choosing my surgeon. Humor sounds nice, but honestly, I think I'd prefer someone who can calmly walk me through everything step-by-step like yours did. Did you ask a lot of questions during your consultation, or did the surgeon naturally cover everything important? Also, when you say things didn't go exactly as planned...was it painful or just unexpected? Sorry if that's too personal, but I'm trying to mentally prepare myself here.
I totally get your anxiety—my daughter had a similar procedure last year, and I was a nervous wreck beforehand. Honestly, clarity and patience from the surgeon made all the difference for us. Did your surgeon already offer a detailed consultation, or are you still looking around? Ours naturally covered most things, but I still asked a ton of questions (probably drove him nuts, lol). Also, when things didn't go exactly as planned for us, it wasn't painful—just took longer than expected and needed extra follow-up visits. Hope that helps ease your mind a bit...
We had a similar experience—our first surgeon was nice enough, but I never felt fully comfortable. Ended up getting a second opinion, and the difference was night and day. Have you thought about chatting with another doc just to compare notes?
Totally get where you're coming from. I had braces and jaw surgery a few years back, and the first orthodontist I saw was nice but kinda rushed through everything. I always felt like I was bothering him with questions, you know? Ended up switching to someone else who was way more patient and explained things clearly. Made a huge difference in how comfortable I felt going into surgery. Definitely worth chatting with another doc if you're feeling unsure... peace of mind is everything.
"I always felt like I was bothering him with questions, you know?"
Yeah, this hits home for me. I'm scheduled for bone graft surgery soon, and every time I ask my surgeon something, I get these super short answers that leave me even more confused. Like, I asked about recovery timelines and he just said "it varies," without elaborating at all. I mean, sure it varies—but can we talk averages or typical experiences at least?
Your point about switching docs makes sense. I've been hesitant because it feels like starting over, but maybe it's worth the hassle if it means feeling more confident going into surgery. Did you find it easy to transfer your records and stuff? That's another thing that's been holding me back... the paperwork nightmare.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience—it helps knowing I'm not the only one feeling this way.
