Question for Those Who Had Surgery & Went Back to Work

[katemm06]

Hi,

Could anyone tell me how they handled going back to the office after jaw surgery? Specifically, how they were able to eat lunch or other food if their lip and chin were numb? I know it shouldn't matter but I feel a little self-conscious because every time I eat food it dribbles all over my face and shirt. Do you just tell your co-workers ahead of time at lunch that you are going to be messy? Did you bring more liquid type drinks (supplements, shakes, etc.) so that you would not have to mess around with taking out the rubber bands? I get tired of taking them out at home and I can't imagine what that would be like at work.

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks.

[Brandyleigh35]

Hey Kate,
My friend who recently had upper, lower, and genio, said that she used the zip and squeeze, and for the sake of conveniance etc she just did like ensure shakes, or soup broth that she drank from one of the bags while at work. She said warm blended soups were good too and that she was able to get the zip and squeeze tube in far enough that she didn't have to do much of anything but swallow.

Seems like it would probably be a bit easier to do this rather than taking the bands off and getting so messy. At least for a few weeks until you start getting feeling back.

Brandy

[smile2006]

I didn't have to go back to work until almost eight weeks post-op (since I teach at the University level and had surgery during the summer). However, I was still still quite numb and was still on liquids/mush foods. I was a bit apprehensive to tackle anything eating wise at work. I simply drank liquid supplements and treated myself to a lot of milkshakes during that time! it really isn't that bad

[Spooky]

I took 6 weeks off so by the time I got back, I was OK. You will improve by the week -- since you're only 13 days post-op, you will do fine by the time you return.

I eat at my desk most of the time, and eat soft foods that require little hassle. Always have a lot of napkins nearby so you can wipe your mouth. Almost everyone who sits near me knows that I've gone through surgery and they are all very nice and supportive. I think I worry more about what I can eat than how I will be able to eat it!

[katmpet]

I went back to work after 6 weeks of upper/lower and genio and I drank shakes. It is just easier than trying to work out eating-cleaning not only teeth but chin-desk-clothes

[katemm06]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do yet but I am thinking about having liquids like shakes and supplements throughout the day. I have a fast paced job and I can't be spending too much time in the bathroom taking elastics out and putting them back in. I might just make a bunch of shakes ahead of time and bring them to work. I actually can drink out of a cup fairly well so I wouldn't even need a straw (I am allowed to use one but I haven't tried yet). When I eat soft foods I tend to be alot messier. The elastics pose more of a problem for me because I don't find them at all easy to put in my mouth and I would definently need to take them off for eating soft foods. The trade off though is that soft foods fill me up longer than liquids do.
So we will see what happens!

I sit with a large group at lunch so I'm sure everyone is going to find out fairly soon about my numbness. I guess all I can do is just laugh about it with them.

[science teacher]

I see you have had SARPE. I have found out that I make so much more noise as I eat that I try to avoid eating when the other teachers it. I can do that because my plan time is over lunch.

They are all understanding and don't say anything but I worry about grossing them out. I totally understand how you feel about eating in a crowd. I"m sure you will get the hang of everything and feel more comfortable when you actually try it a couple times.

Good Luck
KIm

[katemm06]

Hey Guys,

So just to update everyone: My first day back at work was HORRIBLE. It was the most embarassing thing I have ever experienced . Because of the numbness of my lower lip I kept drooling all over myself and didn't even know it until it was pointed out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The absolute worst was looking down at a folder to show a co-worker some information and the drool hit the paper (how lovely). I feel like all I do is apologize for being gross. People were nice so far about it but how many times can you do this before they get tired of seeing it or worse telling you to wipe your chin????????????

I really don't understand why this is happening? Is it because I'm numb or because there are still some open spaces between my top and lower teeth? Is it going to stop?

If anyone went through this I could really use some advice because as much as I would like to just laugh I feel really down. I cannot believe it is only Monday!! I keep wondering what I got myself into with this surgery. Why can't I have Meryaten's experience?? So lucky!

[katmpet]

How horribly sad for you. It is embarassing I don't care what anyone says. I remember trying to blow a candle out right after surgery and not being able to pucker enough to blow it-I cried. Now for your drooling issues-it is,in my opinion, pretty recent after your surgery. Complete feeling in your chin can take months to come back-but I found it is more an issue of "lip" control and awareness than chin feeling. Are you doing any exercises? My OS really encouraged me to pucker and to really push my lips out there to do it-I found this made a big difference and honestly I did it as much as I could. Sitting watching TV-pucker/driving to work-pucker..well you get the idea Also trying to push your lip out-like you are a pouting 3 year old. Which right now you are absolutely entitled to do-so stick that lip out there. You are probably quite physically tired as well from working so it is hard to see the humour in the situation. Hang in there-be proud you made it to work. I took 6 weeks off-have been teaching only 6 hours a week for 4 and am just getting ready to teach full time next week. I am a big old suck

[katemm06]

Hi Kat,

Thank you so much for the lip exercise tips! I don't know if it will help or not but at least it is something proactive that I can try My OS did not recommend any exercises to me, probaly just slipped his mind. Do you hold the pucker position for a certain amount of time ( ) or do it in sets?

I do agree with you that I need to have more lip awareness. I find that when I am consciously thinking about my lower lip at work I don't drool as often. I am also wondering if my open bite could have something to do with the tendency to drool? I hope my ortho addresses this at my next visit.

What type of jaw surgery did you have? Do you still have lip numbness? I hope everything goes smoothly next week for you at work

[katemm06]

After finishing my first week of work I am glad it's the weekend!!!

The first day back was the worst. After Monday I was constantly thinking about not drooling (maybe even obsessively ) to make sure it wouldn't happen again. It didn't seem to happen much after that (or at least no one told me!) I tried to keep my lower lip tightly pressed together with the upper lip which seemed to help. I had weird sensations off and on of drool running down my chin but when I touched it there was nothing there.

I stayed on the liquids at work and this was very hard to do. I was starving all the time. By the time I got home each night I was eating double plates of dinner. One day for lunch I had yogurt but it was embarassing to have to keep wiping my lip and chin. I had to keep looking in a mirror to see what food was on my face. The smoothies/supplements were less messy for me (thank God!)

I really think that if my numbess would go away I could eat solids at work without a problem. At home I am able to eat foods like breaded eggplant. Even though it goes all over my face I don't care because I'm home.

I will keep doing the lip exercises and hope that I start to see some improvement. Doesn't seem like there has been much change. Tuesday will be one month postop for me.

[katmpet]

I had upper/lower and genio with a few other goodies thrown in so it was fairly extensive. My lips came back right around a month I would say but the biggest "lip feeling" came when my splint came out-not sure if you have one or not. As for the chin-sad to say I am at 11 weeks post op and still feels numb. I have tingles and spots of feeling so I am hopeful-my OS said it can be up to 6 months for the feeling to come back. The drooling issue does go away but I understand about work. It is a hard thing to manage and sometimes it isn't worth it. Think about making a huge smoothie and putting it in something you can sip at your desk-I found it filled me up and wasn't messy. Especially if you put protein powder etc in it. I was just thinking the other day how everything about my surgery seems a life time away. Now if I could just get these bloody braces off

[katemm06]

Hi Kat!

How are you? How is life at work going? Do you feel it has been easier to eat without being messy now since more of your lip feeling returned?

I have still been doing the smoothie/liquid thing at work. I keep drinking liquids every hour at work in order to fight the hunger. I usually drink a big cup of tea, two apple juices, a smoothie, and bottled waters at work and have a big dinner at home. I'm going to stop drinking the Ensure/Boost because I've started feeling nauseous each time I drink one, not exactly sure why.

I would like to eventually start eating some normal foods at work. I haven't gotten up the nerve yet to do this in public because of my numbness.

Oh, and when I asked my OS yesterday about the lip exercises he agreed with you about pursing the lips together. So thanks for the tip!