Question about swelling and stitches (with pics)

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#1 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:44 pm

Well I'll be a month post-op tomorrow and I'm not doing so good

I haven't even finished writing my story yet as I've been so down recently I just can't face it. I don't want to go on and on because I don't like to complain so I'll just ask these two specific questions and hope that you guys can reassure me somewhat.

I'm still very swollen. In fact, I actually look worse than I did two weeks ago. I saw my surgeon last Tuesday and he was surprised that I was still so swollen. He had a look in my mouth and said that the swelling is due to my stitches still being in. He then said that I need to swirl liquid round my mouth whenever I'm drinking, play with the stitches with my tongue, and brush them when I clean my mouth. I wish I'd known to do these things earlier but my ortho said that the stitches wouldn't come out until 4-6 weeks ost-op so I was being really careful with them!

A couple of bits had already fallen out prior to that appointment and a couple more came out yesterday, but other than that they just won't budge.

I'm at a conference in just over a week and I really don't want to go looking like this. I will of course but I really hope that the swelling will go down even a little.

Did anyone find that their stitches took this long to come out? Also, was anyone else still very swollen at this stage?

Here are some pics (please excuse the slightly vacant expression, I still have very little range of motion in my lower face):

The first picture is two weeks post-op and the second is four weeks (yesterday). I honestly think that I look worse in the more recent one. I feel so upset about this

Just to add, my profile has improved, it's just from the front that I seem to be stuck with all this swelling.

Actually, here's some profile pics, same as before, two weeks post-op and then four weeks. My hair is a little in the way on the first picture but I think you can still see enough:

I'm still much more swollen on the left but it doesn't seem to have changed at all in two weeks so I won't post those.

At some point, probably within my story, I will post my "before" pictures, but I don't feel brave enough just now!

My second question is about my lower jaw at the surgery site. I've been experiencing a weird sort of burning sensation and some tenderness (a bit like a bruised feeling) for a day or two now. Is this just a "healing" pain? It's not bad, not actually painful as such but I'm feeling so bad about everything else that I'm half-convinced that something has gone badly wrong. I see my ortho again on Friday so will ask her then. I will, of course, call and ask advice if I feel worse in the meantime. Just wondered if anyone had anything to add.

Sorry to complain, I'm normally a very positive person but this is really getting to me now and other than my other half (who has been fantastic), I have no-one else to turn to because I don't like to admit that I'm struggling. also I don't want to upset anyone (my family would be upset for me if they thought I was having problems/in pain). I feel terrible because I feel like I'm taking a lot more from this forum than I'm giving, but I promise that I will post my story as soon as I manage to finish it and I hope that it will help people like other people's stories have helped me.

Thanks for listening,
Katie

#2 Post by **Delag** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:09 pm

Sweetie - I wish I could help you with any of your questions. I am still pre op and am a bit clueless. I am sorry to hear you are having a tough go of it. The only thing that comes to mind is to be sure you are drinking enough liquids. Your body may be retaining water because you are not drinking enough. Dedicate 3 days to drinking A LOT of liquid - that will help flush your system out. I can only imagine how tough it is for you right now, but we are all here for you. This is the hard part and you are almost done.

#3 Post by **Spooky** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:14 pm

My OS never told me about the mouth washes or that the stitches will come out either. I was told that the stitches inside my mouth will dissolve automatically.

#4 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:16 pm

Thanks for your reply, I feel a bit weepy reading it just becuse you've been so nice. That probably says a lot about my state of mind just now.

I think you've made a good point about fluids and early on I don't think I was drinking enough. I've been making a bigger effort recently and will step it up even more. It certainly can't hurt. I'll do what you say and really make a huge effort to drink LOADS over the next three days. I'm back at work tomorrow but I work from home so no excuses there

#5 Post by **thefuture** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:52 pm

hey i feel exactly like you. im much more swollen on my right. on wedsday ill be a month post op. im seeing the surgeon tommorow and i dont feel like being in public at this point. hope you feel better.

#6 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 4:55 pm

thefuture - I wish you didn't feel this way, it's awful isn't it? But at the same time it's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm also dreading going out on Friday when I see my ortho. I've practically become a hermit since my surgery.

#7 Post by **thefuture** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:03 pm

yeah i dont like to be negative either but this is horrible. i generally try to post encouraging stuff to other people but i don't know how or when this will be resolved. im starving for real food, im a hermit also, my lip and chin are still numb, ive been sleeping on my back which i dont consider much more comfortable than sitting, and everyone else is out having fun and getting ready for the holidays. it makes me sad and furious at the same time.

#8 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:16 pm

You poor thing. I completely sympathise.

I try to post encouraging stuff to others too but it's getting harder to find encouraging things to say when the days are passing so quickly and I'm not feeling any better, and in fact looking even worse.

I'm desperate for real food too. I'm allowed to chew anything soft but in reality can actually chew very little because my lips don't meet yet, my molars don't touch, and my lip and chin are numb. When I do eat it's so messy I think I'd could have a poor table manners competition with my two year old cousin and I would win hands down.

I'm also sleeping on my back, I was told that I have to for the first six weeks. It's so unbelievably uncomfortable and I''m sure that the lack of sleep can't be helping my frame of mind.

I was really looking forward to this Christmas as it's been a bad year (for personal reasons), but this is really taking the edge of it and I'm starting to dread the few social engagements I had planned

I know that we'll get through this; both of us. I keep telling myself that it's just a bad patch, but there are times when I almost believe that I'm going to look, and feel, like this forever. That's a bit (a lot even!) melodramatic I know but I do feel it sometimes!

Any time you need to complain or have a whinge just go for it. Feel free to pm me if you don't want to post on the board. I love this forum and it's a wonderful place to let off steam but I sometimes feel guilty about complaining when there are people with much worse things going on.

Katie

#9 Post by **smile2006** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:28 pm

Hi There- I do think your profile looks more defined. Unfortunately the swelling takes a long time to really go down. Do you still have a splint in your mouth? If so I know that can make eating, smiling, talking rough but you will get through it (-: I saw dramatic improvement in the amount of swelling I had by about 8 weeks so I think you are doing fine so far. I remember my stiches that hadn't fallen out were snipped and pulled out at the 6 week point when I had my splint removed. The stiches take a long time come out! Out of curiousity, have your molars been dropping down on their own? I believe you (like me) had an open bite and floating molars tends to happen after surgery. My very back molars were floating right after surgery. One side dropped right down in my case while the ortho is having to pull down. Weird how both sides don't behave in the same manner! Good luck and stay positive!

#10 Post by **Delag** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 8:44 pm

Just another thought....if you could prop up the head of the bed then maybe you could relax the whole back sleeping thing a bit. My brother in law has digestive problems and he has a couple of bricks under the bed to keep him at an angle. As fo going out in public....just last month a met a woman in the mall who was all bruised and bandaged (sp?). We got to talking while waiting to pay and she had just had a complete face lift. I loved that she was out and not at all bothered by what people thought. I thought at the time that I hope I cn be like her when my time comes. You both have undergone an amazingly brave surgery - be proud of yourselves!

#11 Post by **science teacher** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:56 pm

I'll tell you what my OS told me about swelling. Feel free to take it with a grain of salt since I had SARPE on the upper jaw.

1. Take 3 ibuprofen every 6 hours religiously for 3 days. It worked WONDERS for me.

2. At this point, putting heat on your face would also help remove the swelling. The warmth makes the blood flow faster and will help remove fluid.

3. Massage, Massage, Massage. If it doesn't hurt to rub your face do it like 3 times a day for a couple minutes.

and the stitches? Just take them out yourself. Snip them and pull with a tweezers. Pull fast though, slow hurts worse. You could definitely be swelling due to the stitches. I did and mine were only in 10 days.

Kim

#12 Post by **Clo** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:13 am

Sorry that I can't give any answers to your questions. But then I read :

I feel like I'm taking a lot more from this forum than I'm giving

Know this, yes, you really do give a lot here. Reading realistic experiences, with
the ups and downs, is very helpful to those who will have jaw surgery in the future,
included myself probably. I know it must be hard for you right now. But talking
about it here will help. And this place here is full of nice people who really understand
what you mean. So keep writing, because I am sure very soon you will tell us in an
excited way how things are improving. I want to add that your profile pic with your
hair down looks very well. Don't hesitate to join that conference ! You look really
nice. One question. When I will have jaw surgery, they will do lymphatic drainage
to avoid and reduce the swelling. Was that done or is that still an option ? As I read,
and as the surgeon told me, this has spectacular results.

Best of luck, Katie !

#13 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:19 am

You're all so fab, I'm not sure where to begin!

Smile2006 - Yes I did have an openbite and I think I do have "floating molars". No-one has told me this but it sounds exactly like you're describing. My ortho is planning on resuming treatment this Friday (although how she's going to get into my mouth I have no idea, I can still only just get two fingers in) and she did mention that she only needs to work on my molars now, so I guess this is what she'll be dealing with. Actually, now I think about it my right side does seem to fit together better now than right after surgery. The left is still miles off though. My splint was taken out before I woke up so at least I don't have that to contend with.

Meryaten - I think you're right about trying a new sleeping strategy, I think I'll try a new set-up tonight. Funnily enough I've also noticed that I'm more swollen first thing in the morning but I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or not

Re: the pain, that is exactly what it's like, it feels like it's actually in my jaw bone. I was also worried that the screws were maybe becoming infected, although logic tells me that I would be in a lot more pain if this were the case. I think that the weird sensation in my jaw bone combined with the additional swelling in this area made me panic a little. I will ask anyway just to be sure but I'm fairly certain that it is similar to what you're describing.

Delag - I really admire her bravery. You've inspired me to try to go out every day, even just for a short time. I'll start today and go for a short walk with my other half when he gets home from work. I think the exercise will do me good too (I'm really missing the gym but I think I'll have to work up to that). It will be dark by the time he gets home so I hope that's not cheating!

Science Teacher - I've started using heated gel packs. I can't tell if it's making a difference yet but they feel nice on my face. I stopped taking ibuprofen when the bottles the hospital gave us ran out but I'll start again. I can swallow tablets now (there's another improvement!) so no excuses! I had been masaging occasionally but wasn't sure if I was supposed to or not. I'll try stepping this up a little now and see what happens.

From what everyone has said it seems like this is all totally normal. I can't tell you how relieved I am. I'm starting to realise that although I was extremely well-prepared for the actual surgery and the immediate post-surgical phase, I really wasn't prepared for the longer-term phase.

I'm really glad to hear that it's normal for stitches to be in at this point. I'll just carry on with normal and hope that I can convince them to fall out soon. I've already trimmed a few myself but I don't think I can face pulling any out, they're pretty well embedded and I'm fairly sure they'd bleed if I forced them.

I'm pleased that people think my profile is looking good. I feel quite excited now about posting my before and after pictures. There is a huge difference, I think you'll all be surprised.

Thank you all. I can't tell you how much better I feel after reading your replies. I've decided as well that to celebrate my one month post-op anniversary I'm going to start posting my surgery story. It'll have to be in installments as I'm back at work and really busy (and it's not finished!) but I think it's time I did it. I think I'll probably feel better looking back and realising just how far I've come too. I have to do some work now but I'll post the first installment tonight.

#14 Post by **Svensk Tiger** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:30 am

Sorry that I can't give any answers to your questions. But then I read :

I feel like I'm taking a lot more from this forum than I'm giving
Know this, yes, you really do give a lot here. Reading realistic experiences, with
the ups and downs, is very helpful to those who will have jaw surgery in the future,
included myself probably. I know it must be hard for you right now. But talking
about it here will help. And this place here is full of nice people who really understand
what you mean. So keep writing, because I am sure very soon you will tell us in an
excited way how things are improving. I want to add that your profile pic with your
hair down looks very well. Don't hesitate to join that conference ! You look really
nice. One question. When I will have jaw surgery, they will do lymphatic drainage
to avoid and reduce the swelling. Was that done or is that still an option ? As I read,
and as the surgeon told me, this has spectacular results.

Best of luck, Katie !

Thank you, that means a lot. I've followed your story, although I haven't posted much as I often feel too shy to join into established conversations (I'm quite shy in real life and I'm surprised just how much that translates into my online "personality".) You've been through an awful lot and I really admire how well you've handled it. I hope that my story does help you and others that still have to face surgery.

I had wondered about lympatic drainage but I didn't hear about it until shortly before my surgery. I'll do a bit of googling and see it it could still help at this stage. Thanks for reminding me about that.

On a general note: If anyone is reading this and still has surgery to come or is still deciding then please don't let it worry you or affect your decision in any way. There are hard times but I know deep down that I've made the right choice. It will all be worth it in the end.

#15 Post by **Clover** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:02 pm

Hi Katie!

Let me start by saying that I think you look fantastic. I can honestly say, as someone who hasn't seen you without the swelling, that if you passed me in the street I wouldn't even notice it. It will seem a lot worse to you than it does to others.
As you know, I haven't had my surgery yet, so I can't really help with your questions (I wish I could

). There's only one thing I can suggest, and that's not to be a hermit sweetie. I know it's easy for me to say, but you need to get out and have a bit of fun and enjoy life. It will take your mind off things and maybe even help with your swelling. I had my bottom right wisdom tooth out a couple of weeks ago, and looked like I had a golf ball in my cheek on that one side. I just thought sod it, put a scarf round the bottom bit of my face and got out there. If you don't mind me saying, you're such a pretty girl with gorgeous eyes, no-one is going to notice your swelling, honest.

Why don't you treat yourself to a bit of pampering, or buy something new to wear? That always cheers me up.
I think you do give a lot to this forum, and you certainly haven't put me off having surgery. As Meryaten says, I've found this post really helpful, as it's giving me an idea of what I could expect myself. You don't get information like this from the little leaflets the surgeon gives you, but it's great to know.
One final thing I discovered from the wisdom tooth experence - Cadbury's chocolate trifles rock!

I'll be thinking about you, and really hope you feel better soon x x