The Romberg's Connection Surgery Guestbook

26) September 20 2003 - 17:27
Name: Kathy
Location: Lavonia, Georgia
E-mail: kramer4@alltel.net
Comments:
Hi, I was diagnosed with this disease at 4 years old. I have had 3 plastic surgeries, the first when I was 15, then the other two a couple years later. I am 42 years old now and am considering having another surgery because the silicone implant used is slipping as I get older. They first took a rib to create a cheekbone because my natural one disintegrated and then the silicone implant was supposed to be a cheek. Even though I looked much better after my surgeries, it is still very noticable and I hate the stares and feeling so different. I have two beautiful little girls and a wonderful husband who truly thinks I am beautiful. I am crying as I am writing this, no one know how emotionally painful this is unless you have this horrible disease. Every day I look at my precious daughter's faces and pray that this does not happen to them. They are 11 and 9. Can anyone tell me if this is hereditary for sure? My doctors told me that it wasn't. Also, I live in the Atlanta area and need to find a surgeon that if familiar with this. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.

25) April 25 2003 - 12:23
Name: Annette
Location: River Rouge, Michigan
E-mail: CuzinNetski@comcast.net
Comments:
Whoooaaa... had I read some of these surgery comments before I had surgery, I might have changed my mind. WHEW...
Anyways...as it happens, I have had Rombergs since age 8, ignored it for the most part of my life, wasnt until 1997 that I choose to do something about it.
Ive since had three surguries each different from the one before.
1st, was with Dr. Sheldon Mintz on November 3, 1997 whew. Did the majorityof the work from the inside of my mouth, from the top left side, all the way around and down the right side to center point again. he oput into place, 3 plates. One on my cheek bone, one along my jaw bone and one in the chin area. Then put in some lipo suction from my stomache.Things looked great until the lipo reabsorbed and he missed the chin spot. So off to the 2nd (1999)surgery with Dr. Mintz. Put another chin plate in and more lipo. Looked great again then, I went on vacation and was RUSHED home due to infection SOooo bad that he had to put in drain tubes for the lip.. ewww and yuck! After that I totally refused to do anything else, wouldnt even go backto see him, I felt as though he should have had me on antibiotics and didn't just.. terrible.
So, a few years later (2002) I noticed a large change in my apperence again so I asked my family physican to send me to a maxifacial surgeon and he sent me to one of his friends, Dr. Buchman a pediatric plastic surgeon. After consulting with Dr. Buchman, he gave me serveral options and after debating with myself and talking things over with my family, I decided to have another surgery.
This time, Dr.Buchman and Dr. Klien took the fat graft out of my leg and placed it into my face in layers. They didnt have to do anything with the bones, as Dr. Mintz did a great job with that. After the surgery, I had these little yellow sponges on my face looked BAD, bruised like you wouldnt believe (have photo's) doing well...recovering nicely.. THEN my face seemed to just take on a life of it's own...take about horror's it was HUGE... wanted to just take it off and set it somewhere..whew. So, I called the doctor, Ohhh.. Dr. Buchman is gone to a convention but Dr. Klien is there. Says to come out there and let him take a look.
Okay, Im off... me and Aunt Suz drive out there, one look and says, lets see whats in there... can be one of two things... clear and good.. Nasty and bad..Ahhh Ohhh.. Little poke with a needle and thats NOT GOOD is it?? Nasty Green and Yellow... Looked gross!! Nope.. 20 minutes later, he came back with paper work.. go admitt yourself in, surgery is in the morning.. EXCUSE ME?? Infected and needs to be treated..uuuggghhh.
Well, the short and long of it, they (Dr. Klien and Dr. Alderman) did bedside draining the first day and when they came back and it was just as swelled they opted for surgery to drain and clean it. Dr. Klien inserted two tubes, one to pump antibiotic solutiion in and one to drain it out (have photo's). Spent 10 days in the hospital hooked up to the wall, Yes, Dr. Buchman did finally come back but Dr. Klien came to see me everyday so I consider him my doctor more the Dr. Buchman. After I was released from the hospital I only went back through ER 4 times. Face swelled wasnt draining...pull the tubes out... more swelling.. UUGGHH!!
Would I do it again? Yes, if Dr. Klien and Dr. Buchamn were the surgeons, I would. I felt as though they took every precaution there was. Now that we no my body doesnt like its self, I'm sure they would find something else to use if the need ever rises again or atleast put the drain things right away. Can only hope I dont need to find out.
I know that things will never be perfect and I totally except that, but it is 100% better then before. I feel more confident about my apperence and working in a business enviorment thats a huge thing.
Annette
CuzinNetski@comcast.net

24) January 12 2003 - 08:06
Name: melissa
Location: new zealand
E-mail: brent.melissa@paridise.net.nz
Comments:
does anyone no how rare this prs is ? eg 1 in 1 billion ????? what... just be interesting to no and is there any facts about it being hereditry thanks

23) November 25 2002 - 09:56
Name: Janette
Location: Australia
E-mail: netty_nolen@hotmail.com
Comments:
Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with Rombergs when I was 12, I had surgery when I was 18 and Im now 20, and up until now Ive never had any major problems with my eyesight, but in the last six months Ive realised that I find it hard to see!! Has anyone else had these problems? I have always had headaches and when I study hard or when Im stressed I blackout which makes it very hard, but after all these years its only now that my eyesight has deteriorated, its quite scary really. My mum, Sandra, comes on here often and has said that alot of people have experienced these sort of problems also, I would really like to talk to you, I dont really know alot about rombergs, theres not really alot to know, and I normally find it hard to talk to people about, I prefer just to pretend I havent got it... but then Im still scared about the problems that come along with it.
Good luck to everyone I hope to hear from some of you soon
Best Wishes
Janette

22) May 02 2002 - 08:09
Name: Brett
Location: Australia
E-mail: ozphila@space.com
Comments:
Hi Zoric. It sounds like you have it similar to me, but would be milder. I still have a cheek, but it is only just slightly thinner than the other healthy one. I've read a post here from a person from Holland saying that they've actually stopped Romberg's and even GAINED fat using Chinese acupuncture and herbal medicines. I've decided to give it a try and am starting tommorrow. There is no chance I'm gonna just accept this disease. I have a good life ahead of me, and wanna keep it that way. With good grades at school I would do Arts at university and then try out for officer in the Army. I still do Muay Thai Kickboxing but I guess I have to give that up. Taking knocks to the left side of my face is just getting to painful.Anyway wish me luck for the therapy and if there's anyone out there who has had alternative treatments please put a post up.

21) May 01 2002 - 23:24
Name: Zoric
Location: NYC, USA
E-mail: ZoricL@aol.com
Comments:
Hello! I was diagnosed with a right hemifacial atrophy since 14 years of age, when I visited a dental surgeon back in Russia.At that time cosmetic surgery was recommended after the age of 18 when all bones would complete their development. In kindergarten,I noticed that there was a slight shadow on the right side of the face, but the facial asymmetry was not apparent in a photograph.Since 16 years of age, I would get an occasional cramp in the right jaw associated with an ache and difficulty closing mouth.The right facial muscles would occasionally "twitch." This occured every couple of months.I recalled being hit in the right face in junior high school, but never lost consciousness, and this was not a serious unjury.I had ocasional difficulty chewing in terms of an ache ad difficulty opening my mouth, but there was no numbness, hearing deficit, or increased tearing.By now this symptoms are almost gone. I am 34 and really considering to do a surgery in a near future.I have a very local soft tissue athrophy - basically I am missing a right cheek.There are no bones abnormalities. I would be really appreciated,if someone could share an information, particularly those with a similar case and who had a surgery already or maybe even better who knows an ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY SOLUTION.In case of the surgery, I am looking for an experienced plastic surgeon prefferably in the New York City, USA region. Please e-mail me at ZoricL@aol.com or Zoric_l@yahoo.com.I am really waiting for your reply.
Thank you very much.
Zoric

20) May 01 2002 - 22:51
Name: Tom
Location:
E-mail: yml25@yahoo.com
Comments:
This is a test.

19) May 01 2002 - 05:04
Name: Brett
Location:
E-mail: ozphila@space.com
Comments:
I'm 17 now. I was diagnosed with Romberg's diease at 16. I only ever really noticed it at 15. I've had fat taken from my face and have had it put in the left side of my face in two operations now. The doctors say I currently have only a very mild form of the disease. Only 1 person has ever noticed it and commented. I've never had any of the headaches, eye problems, coup de sabre etc i've read in the stories. Altough I do suffer from pains in the left side of my face after I've had my operations (never before though). It is also very sensitive now and cold weather makes it feel weird (none of this happened before the operations). Why the difference in severity? I hope this thing 'burns out'. I've seen pictures and I don't wanna end up like that (no offence to the people in the pictures). I have my life ahead of me, and now I got some bs disease to complicate things.

18) April 19 2002 - 12:38
Name: maria
Location:
E-mail:
Comments:
sorry about that rant down there. i feel a lot better today. it's just overwhelming sometimes. Peace everyone. maria

17) April 19 2002 - 00:02
Name: Maria
Location: USA
E-mail: flawlessmiggy@hotmail.com
Comments:
BIG TIME TRIGGER WARNING (this post contains scathing cynical sarcasm, some language, and perhaps an adult theme:) In other words, if you aren't old enough to ride the big roller coasters at Cedar Point, please, Stop reading Now. I don't want parents sending me mean emails.) Well, here I am again. I thought I'd just vent for awhile because I have SO much on my mind and everything seems to be piling up into a massive three week nervous breakdown, so, if you are in a happy mood, or looking for encouragement, this post is probably not the one to read :) (i wouldve posted this in yahoo, except i lost my password and cant rememeber which hotmail account I used to sign up! yehaw!) Things have gotten complicated with me. As a refresher, I'm 20, had two major surgeries, one when I was 9 to make my face more symmetrical and prevent "damage". They took a rib. Very Adameque, must say. And it was during this nine hour ordeal that I learned the true meaning of "vision quest" through morphine. Very Jim Morrison :) Anyway, my body aparently didnt like my own body since it decided to reject my own rib! So then I had to have medaprore (cant spell) some marvel of early nineties technology. That was equally fun, let me tell you. I still rememeber coming home from being in the hospital after a month and giving my mom a heart attack wanting to dance to Paula Abdul. I suppose I have always had a LOT of energy. But being older now, I can definitely see the disadantages of bouncing around with your head pieced together by staples. I suppose as much as I claim to have inner peace and not care what other people think, and be "open" and all that other * * *, I suppose some part of me is lying. I am mad about having this degenrate disease. All I ever wanted to be was normal. No such thing as normal? That is so patronizing I won't even reply. Sure it's fun to revel in difference. Pretend as though I am Unique, I am Diverse, I am the Goddess of snapping people out of their close minded predjudice. And some days, that's true. But most days, it's * * *. What really set me off is that I decided not to play the doctors game after 15, wasn't going to go down to Detroit anymore and play sterilized Rat for Experiment. This plan worked fairly well. Haven't been down there at all. Then this Feb. I found a bump on my head. No one knew what it was and it got bigger. Well now, without insurance, I just had an MRI and will find out the results tomorrow. I swear to God- correction, I don't even believe in God anymore. I swear if this is something that has to do with Rombergs I am going to go off the roof. How much is a human being supposed to take? If- having smoked for six year, I have given myself a brain tumor- I can handle that. That would be my fault. I could get over it. But if this is some delayed effect of Rombergs I'm going to go postal. Here I am in college, trying to give myself completely over to becoming the best possible writer, studying all these theories, falling in love (* * * as it sounds) with knowledge, and now I've got to worry about why the hell I have a golf ball size bump on my head?! How am I supposed to do anything with this * * * going on?! ok. i feel a little better. Well, not really, but nictotine will probably help me more at this point than further self-demonization.

16) April 10 2002 - 03:24
Name: shonna
Location: canyon texas
E-mail: covin8@msn.com
Comments:
Howdy from Texas! Just wondering if others out there have tried everything that has mentioned when it comes to halting this syndrome. It is hard for me as a parent not to keep searching for something that can halt this vicious syndrome! Has anyone tried chiropractic or acupuncture that can testify to improvements? Shonna Covin

15) February 11 2002 - 22:06
Name: stephanie
Location: united states
E-mail: nusker1@juno.com
Comments:
Hi...I found your site while searching information about paraffin injections. Actually I am searching for any information about any surgeons that might have some knowledge on how to remove this "junk" from a person's body. I came across Rhonda's story through this search and the way she mentions the removal of the silicone from her face is prabably very similar to the procedure that will need to be done to remove this "Junk". If you have any information on plastic surgeons that might have some knowledge or even care to deal with a very unusual and difficult case could you please get back to me. Any information or response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and merci...God Bless...stephanie

14) January 14 2002 - 04:42
Name: Donna
Location: Westminster, CO
E-mail: jdk5sperry@attbi.com
Comments:
We've been advised by many doctors familiar with Rombergs to have surgery early but only AFTER the face and skull is fully formed (about 15 for girls) and ONLY AFTER the Rombergs has "burned itself out". (whatever that means...) Anything done earlier could leave an undesirable end result. (mostly because it's hard to "fix" tissue from previous surgeries because of scar tissue) And if this is true...don't you ever wonder how many people with undiagnosed Rombergs are having corrections done too early??? I think about that a lot! It almost happened with Kelley!!! (Now 10) The very first surgeon we took Kelley to wanted to break all the major bones in her face...reset them and try to grow new bone. (Distraction) She would have 3 or 4 screws protruding from the skin on her face that we...(yes WE were to do it at home) would crank a mm a day...to try to keep that side "up" with the other side. Frankinstein'ish, huh??? Needless to say...we got many other opinions and all the others said NOOOOO!!!don't do it because of the reasons I stated above. This is another reason that I feel it is so important to "get the word out" ...especially to the medical community. What we learned? Get lots of opinions??

13) January 07 2002 - 04:33
Name: Jane
Location: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
E-mail: jane@dlcreativity.com
Comments:
Thank you - thank you - thank you the founders of this website!!! This is what the web really can do - bring people together! Man, I wish I'd had this when I was growing up! I was diagnosed as a teenager with Rombergs, am 34 now and have been through my share of surgeries - I think 5 now. Have a wonderful, supportive family, great doc (he's in Columbia, Missouri / Dr. Lin Puckett at the University Med Center - look him up!), great friends, good faith - these are the important things. Naturally, I hated my looks as a teen, and am still a Romberg's patient every day - it never goes away, but am growing into a more mature appreciation of what beauty really is. Nonetheless, it's a rough way to have to build character. I read Kelly's story with tears in my eyes. You are a sweetheart and brave spirit Kelly and you have been set apart to live a different, braver life. Those kids that say the wrong things - they will have challenges to go through too. Just focus on learning compassion for yourself and getting to know the beautiful you!!