by am gula » Thu Jan 22, 1998 4:09 pm
I think because my cleft was bilateral and because the
advanced techniques that are being used today were only in the
early stages or even non-existent when I began treatment, that my
treatment took particularly long. For example, I saw a baby in my
surgeon's office who had 3 stages of treatment during one
surgery, when years ago, because I was treated very
conservatively, the 3 stages meant 3 separate surgeries. I'm
definite the treatment overall is shorter and less painful.
My parents did put me in speech therapy very early, I think
at age 2. Even though my cleft reaches the far end of my palate
(it was closed), my speech is perfect; unindicative of any cleft
problem.
Part of most treatments for cleft palate is bone grafting,
where the surgeon grafts bone from the hip into the fistula or
fistulae (for a bilateral). I did not done at the age that is
recommended today. I think maybe the technique was not perfected
or developed, or maybe my parents were too scared. I decided
myself to have it done at age 27. Unfortunately, the graft did
not take and I have to have it redone. All of the other surgeries
combined were less painful as the bone graft surgery. Young
adults have the best luck with that.
Prior to that surgery, I had braces applied (for the second
time). I got them removed only last night (yay!) I am at the
deciding point of whether to have the surgery again.
I think, and I'm not sure if there is any truth to this: that
because I did not have the bone graft surgery as a younster, that
the separated palatal segments caused my nose to get even wider
than normal with this condition. I've read that there are many
causes for excessive widening of certain facial features(even
food allergies) The end result of all my reconstructive surgeries
turned out very well.
When I was in JR High and early SR high, I was teased,
especially by males. I always had best friends, so I was never
truly alone. I did not have any psychology treatments as a child
or an adult to learn how to deal with all of it. I wish my
parents believed in it. In my 20's I disliked myself so much
because of this; the condition I could do little to change. I
went to counselling to learn to accept myself. Now I do.
Best of luck to you and your family. I hope I've answered
most or all of your questions. If I can answer any other
concerns, please write.
Am