Just thought it was now time to start part two of my original posting. Its morning of day 8 after my operation. Recovery is going well I think but as it only day 8 I really cannot judge. I am eating great and sleeping great. The liquidiser is wonderful. This morning I took a normal bowl of breakfast cereal,(Bran flakes with raisons). Put that into the liquidiser with half of a banana, Quarter of medium melon, three slice of mango and half a pear. Added 200ml of full fat milk and blended it till smooth enough to suck up into a syringe with a long quill attached. I am lucky as I have a missing back tooth and so I can use the “portal’ to get in all I need.
My biggest anxiety is that although banded by rubbers tightly the only discomfort I have is the cold numbness in my bottom lip and chin. I am feeling slight tingling from time to time. Seems to occur just below the lip and is like someone tinkling 3 or 4 notes on a piano. I also have slight numbness on the tip of my nose and my cheek. As I had both upper and lower I wonder how typical this is? I am still taking painkillers which are good but I wonder how long I will need them?
I have my first post op visit tomorrow but I have no great expectations of getting much information from either my Surgeon or ortho. They both are case orientated and I get the feeling any questions or anxieties I bring up are dismissed as information that I really do not need and that anyway not bothered. Unfortunately I could not change either as I had started the process.
I know lots of others posted talking about recovery taking time and I know that its very early days but now that I am here at this end I wondered how others coped with the fear of not being able to see how long or short recovery will take?
Just at the beginning PART 2
Moderator: bbsadmin
Just at the beginning PART 2
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Re: Just at the beginning PART 2
The numbness is pretty common, I think. If it helps as a point of reference, I also had both jaws done and am numb on lower lip and chin, and have partial numbness on the right side of my nose, and on my cheeks just below both eyes. My chin is definitely waking up - at 2 weeks post-op, I get burning pain in it for a minute or two after something touches it. I also get the same burning pain in my chin if I touch my lower lip, and the lip tingles sometimes too. In the couple of days after the op, I was getting tingling in the lip and nothing in the chin, so something's definitely happening there.Davep wrote:My biggest anxiety is that although banded by rubbers tightly the only discomfort I have is the cold numbness in my bottom lip and chin. I am feeling slight tingling from time to time. Seems to occur just below the lip and is like someone tinkling 3 or 4 notes on a piano. I also have slight numbness on the tip of my nose and my cheek. As I had both upper and lower I wonder how typical this is? I am still taking painkillers which are good but I wonder how long I will need them?
Have you noticed a change from 1 week ago? Omega 3 supplements are meant to help with nerve regeneration - if you can't face neat fish oil, and can't manage capsules, grind up some flaxseed and mix it into your slop.
As for painkillers, you won't really know if you need them until you stop taking them. I developed a headache after 3 days on paracetamol, so weaned myself off painkillers then. The only pain I was in after that came from sore patches in my mouth where the swelling was making the brackets dig into my cheeks.
At 2 weeks post op, it's just the elastics which are causing me discomfort - that sort of itchy ache that heavy elastics give you. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will change the elastic configuration when I see them afternoon, 'cos this is making me a bit miserable.
Actually, I should warn you of the post-op crash. I was cheerful (as you sound) for 2 weeks, despite everyone telling me I would crash.. then yesterday the novelty wore off, and today I am just fed up of not being able to eat with dignity, of the elastics, the fact my teeth don't meet and that I feel like a bulldog. Somebody call me a waaaahmbulance.
Braced May 2005
Bimaxillary surgery Aug 2007
Debraced Jun 2008
Bimaxillary surgery Aug 2007
Debraced Jun 2008
Likewise I was pretty damn numb! I liked gently stroking my face as well as I could feel strange sensations from the nerves! 
The numbness should get less and less as the months go by...
Try not to worry about the recovery, it takes time but before you know it you'll be back to normal. I was banded shut for 6 weeks, then slack for 2 weeks, so I was back to normal in about 8-10 weeks after surgery upper, lower, genio)
The numbness should get less and less as the months go by...
Try not to worry about the recovery, it takes time but before you know it you'll be back to normal. I was banded shut for 6 weeks, then slack for 2 weeks, so I was back to normal in about 8-10 weeks after surgery upper, lower, genio)
Davep,
Sounds like you're doing swimmingly in your recovery! Thank heavens for that little gap in the back of your mouth, eh?
Numbness is something that takes a long time to go away, for most of us, that is. I am eight weeks out, and am still quite tingly in my chin and lower lip, although I have regained partial feeling, so I'm optimistic. As far as the pain meds go, I think the best advice is to listen to your body. If you don't need them, you might start going off of them, but only you know that. I find that when I start forgetting doses is when I start thinking about moving off of them. My body just naturally weans me off of them, but everyone is different.
Best of luck!
p.s. Being a professional musician, I love your piano analogy!
Sounds like you're doing swimmingly in your recovery! Thank heavens for that little gap in the back of your mouth, eh?
Numbness is something that takes a long time to go away, for most of us, that is. I am eight weeks out, and am still quite tingly in my chin and lower lip, although I have regained partial feeling, so I'm optimistic. As far as the pain meds go, I think the best advice is to listen to your body. If you don't need them, you might start going off of them, but only you know that. I find that when I start forgetting doses is when I start thinking about moving off of them. My body just naturally weans me off of them, but everyone is different.
Best of luck!
p.s. Being a professional musician, I love your piano analogy!
Thanks Guys,
I think just hit a small wall of self pity. The strange sensation of being banded with the mumbness was something I was not really prerared for. Pain I knew i could deal with. I suppose too , getting used to my look is also taking its toll. Having had a severe class 111 underbite It has been such a huge change. Not being able to smile and say , hey, thats good no more underbite too me aback a bit I guess. My front on image is not so hugely different its my profile that takes getting used to. My cheeks went really into the classic chipmunk with face full of nuts mode. In the beginning it was very swollen to one side. Today its much less but even. My wife tells me she saw a huge improvment today. I looked at the photos that i asked my wife to take in the hospital I was rather dissappointed as I remember being REALLLLY swollen and the photo does not really show it at all as bad. Perhaps the photo is more realistic than I was seeing myself. Today as well I have been clearing my nasal passages but the left on will not stop bleeding. just stuffed tissue in and hope it stops. The surgeon told me that there were 2 areas about the size of a hens egg that were slowly going to weep over the next number of days. A stuffed nose is not a nice feeling and I supposed contributes to getting down a bit. Thank goodness for the forum.
I think just hit a small wall of self pity. The strange sensation of being banded with the mumbness was something I was not really prerared for. Pain I knew i could deal with. I suppose too , getting used to my look is also taking its toll. Having had a severe class 111 underbite It has been such a huge change. Not being able to smile and say , hey, thats good no more underbite too me aback a bit I guess. My front on image is not so hugely different its my profile that takes getting used to. My cheeks went really into the classic chipmunk with face full of nuts mode. In the beginning it was very swollen to one side. Today its much less but even. My wife tells me she saw a huge improvment today. I looked at the photos that i asked my wife to take in the hospital I was rather dissappointed as I remember being REALLLLY swollen and the photo does not really show it at all as bad. Perhaps the photo is more realistic than I was seeing myself. Today as well I have been clearing my nasal passages but the left on will not stop bleeding. just stuffed tissue in and hope it stops. The surgeon told me that there were 2 areas about the size of a hens egg that were slowly going to weep over the next number of days. A stuffed nose is not a nice feeling and I supposed contributes to getting down a bit. Thank goodness for the forum.
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
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Brandyleigh35
- Posts: 1018
- Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:25 pm
- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
Hey Davep,
Trust me when I say that things will be much improved by the end of your second week. The first week..(8-10) days is the worst, after that is usually starts to improve dramatically! The puffy cheeks, numbness, not being able to eat anything but liquids, plus the after affects of the anesthesia can all play into that down feeling you are having. Many people crash a bit after their surgery, some as late as 3 weeks later.
The bleeding sinuses are a pain for sure, but it is a good sign that you are healing and it should start to taper off in the next few days I would think. Are you using nasal spray? as that could be contributing to the bleeding. Also, saline spray can help a lot with the stuffiness. My doctor told me to take q tips and dip then in saline, and then use them to clean out my sinuses. He did say absolutely no blowing my nose though, and that if I sneeze to do it through my mouth not my nose. Even at two months my sinuses were still far from being back to normal. I'm a little over 3 months now and things are just starting to feel a bit more normal compared to how they used to be. This is a long process, as my friend says its a marathon not a relay. Slow and steady wins the race!
The numbness is normal, and can persist for quite awhile. I'm still feeling a bit thick through my chin area, and just this last week starting getting a lot more feeling in my lower lip (half of it felt completely dead, and the other half was very tingly and sensitive to touch.) as well as really being able to feel my chin below the surface. It can take up to a year to get feeling back. My friend still has some numbness in her chin at 8 months which is not uncommon. Also up until this week my lower lip would get freezing cold, and actually turn blue. I found that chapstick helped a lot, created like a blanket of warmth for my freezing lips. I wouldn't go anywhere without it. Now, however, my lip feels smoking hot, almost like it has cinnamon on it or something and feeling is really coming back. So....go figure how it all works.
Something you might want to try (if you aren't already) is taking some of the emergen C packets during the day. My doctor said that Vitamin C was the most important thing I could take. Also a good multi-vitamin. I did a ton of vitamin supplementation and my recovery has been very good and fast! Hope this helps a bit, and that you are feeling better very soon!
Hang in there, we've all been where you are and lived through it, and you will too! Have a good day!
Brandy
Trust me when I say that things will be much improved by the end of your second week. The first week..(8-10) days is the worst, after that is usually starts to improve dramatically! The puffy cheeks, numbness, not being able to eat anything but liquids, plus the after affects of the anesthesia can all play into that down feeling you are having. Many people crash a bit after their surgery, some as late as 3 weeks later.
The bleeding sinuses are a pain for sure, but it is a good sign that you are healing and it should start to taper off in the next few days I would think. Are you using nasal spray? as that could be contributing to the bleeding. Also, saline spray can help a lot with the stuffiness. My doctor told me to take q tips and dip then in saline, and then use them to clean out my sinuses. He did say absolutely no blowing my nose though, and that if I sneeze to do it through my mouth not my nose. Even at two months my sinuses were still far from being back to normal. I'm a little over 3 months now and things are just starting to feel a bit more normal compared to how they used to be. This is a long process, as my friend says its a marathon not a relay. Slow and steady wins the race!
The numbness is normal, and can persist for quite awhile. I'm still feeling a bit thick through my chin area, and just this last week starting getting a lot more feeling in my lower lip (half of it felt completely dead, and the other half was very tingly and sensitive to touch.) as well as really being able to feel my chin below the surface. It can take up to a year to get feeling back. My friend still has some numbness in her chin at 8 months which is not uncommon. Also up until this week my lower lip would get freezing cold, and actually turn blue. I found that chapstick helped a lot, created like a blanket of warmth for my freezing lips. I wouldn't go anywhere without it. Now, however, my lip feels smoking hot, almost like it has cinnamon on it or something and feeling is really coming back. So....go figure how it all works.
Something you might want to try (if you aren't already) is taking some of the emergen C packets during the day. My doctor said that Vitamin C was the most important thing I could take. Also a good multi-vitamin. I did a ton of vitamin supplementation and my recovery has been very good and fast! Hope this helps a bit, and that you are feeling better very soon!
Hang in there, we've all been where you are and lived through it, and you will too! Have a good day!
Brandy
Hi Davep
I'm not there yet, still waiting for surgery, but I've been reading your postings. Sound like you're going through a bit of a rough patch.
I expect after making the big decision to have the op, then the braces, then all the waiting for a date, it's the final straw to end up numb, swollen and nose so bunged up.
But in the big scheme of things, this recovery period is very short, even if it takes a few weeks, or even months. I guess you'll be worried about the start of term soon too (if I've remembered correctly that you teach).
Make sure you rest loads. I've only had two big ops in my life, very different (children born by C Section), but each time - by about day 10, I thought that the body had done most of the work, and I was well on the road to recovery. Of course bones take longer, but I'm sure you'll still feel better very soon.
I'm not there yet, still waiting for surgery, but I've been reading your postings. Sound like you're going through a bit of a rough patch.
I expect after making the big decision to have the op, then the braces, then all the waiting for a date, it's the final straw to end up numb, swollen and nose so bunged up.
But in the big scheme of things, this recovery period is very short, even if it takes a few weeks, or even months. I guess you'll be worried about the start of term soon too (if I've remembered correctly that you teach).
Make sure you rest loads. I've only had two big ops in my life, very different (children born by C Section), but each time - by about day 10, I thought that the body had done most of the work, and I was well on the road to recovery. Of course bones take longer, but I'm sure you'll still feel better very soon.
Hi again, just back from my first post op. It was a joint Surgeon and Ortho session and if the truth be know I was rather worried. But all went well. The surgeon took the tight bands off and all I have now are 2 bands, one at each side in a rectangular shape. I have to keep an eye on the midline of the teeth in case they drift off, but he said he thought they were fine. Huge relief. thought my jaw was going to fall off when bands came off. Strange feeling. Surgeon told me I would be able to sing soon. Delighted with that news, as I could not sing a note before the operation!!!!!!!
Have to replace the bands twice a day or after washing my teeth. Forgot to ask him how much or little can I open my teeth. Don’t know yet if I can get a brush in at the back of teeth. Next visit is 3 weeks away.
My nose feels much clearer today and the bleeding stopped eventually. He said that blocked nose was normal and would clear eventually.
I think that the numbness today is slightly better, I find it hard to judge.
I had an acquaintance call to the house. He looked at me and said “ I have to tell you, you look terrible!â€
Have to replace the bands twice a day or after washing my teeth. Forgot to ask him how much or little can I open my teeth. Don’t know yet if I can get a brush in at the back of teeth. Next visit is 3 weeks away.
My nose feels much clearer today and the bleeding stopped eventually. He said that blocked nose was normal and would clear eventually.
I think that the numbness today is slightly better, I find it hard to judge.
I had an acquaintance call to the house. He looked at me and said “ I have to tell you, you look terrible!â€
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Another mile stone passed. I had a good breakfast og 70gm of Raisin bran, half a pear, half banana, 2 plumbs and 3 scoops of melon. Added 200ml full fat milk and blended until ready to squirt. Better breakfast than I used normally eat.
Then I, having first made a detailed drawing, removed the 2 rubber bands and cleaned my teeth frony and BACK. I could get tthe baby brush in and it was a great feeling to know that I could brush again. I was worried about the internal stitches but had no problems.
Funny how a little thing like this can seem such a huge step. As to lunch I found that a portion of salt water prawns blended with a packet of savory rice and 100mls of milk was realy tasty and has got to be good.
started writing this and it was a typical Irish late summer day...ie, Rain but now as I look out over the fields( I live in the middle of the country) it cloudy and BIG patches of blue with nice sunshine.
Heading out for some fresh air
Then I, having first made a detailed drawing, removed the 2 rubber bands and cleaned my teeth frony and BACK. I could get tthe baby brush in and it was a great feeling to know that I could brush again. I was worried about the internal stitches but had no problems.
Funny how a little thing like this can seem such a huge step. As to lunch I found that a portion of salt water prawns blended with a packet of savory rice and 100mls of milk was realy tasty and has got to be good.
started writing this and it was a typical Irish late summer day...ie, Rain but now as I look out over the fields( I live in the middle of the country) it cloudy and BIG patches of blue with nice sunshine.
Heading out for some fresh air
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Starting into my third week post op. have to report that my numbness in my bottom lip and chin are very slightly going. Still i feel that I have to take pain killers just for my bottom lip and nothing else. can now feel sensation on the left half of my lip , so I hope this is the beginning of the sensations coming back or at least getting less annoying. I have only 1 bands now on each side and can open m teeth about 1/2 inch. This is enough to get a flat spoon in far enough to eat creamed rice. I sort of have to swallow it down but at least it feels like I am eating. I am using a large syringe to squirt the liquidised food into my mouth. Last night I tried liquidised peking duck with fired rice!!!!! Colour was not the best but , boy, did it taste good.
I have about 8 hooks on my top brace and only 4 hooks are used. I find these the most dreadful annoyance and I intend to ask my Ortho on the next visit, Friday week, to remove if possible any surplus to requirement. they stick to my upper lip overnight and are just downright sore. there has got to be a better solution than these hooks. I know what a fish feels like now!
Swelling is very much reduced but still a little chubby in the cheeks and above the top lip. How long did it take anyone here for the chubby appearence to go fully?
My profile has now change out of all proportion and the underbite is gone forever.
I have about 8 hooks on my top brace and only 4 hooks are used. I find these the most dreadful annoyance and I intend to ask my Ortho on the next visit, Friday week, to remove if possible any surplus to requirement. they stick to my upper lip overnight and are just downright sore. there has got to be a better solution than these hooks. I know what a fish feels like now!
Swelling is very much reduced but still a little chubby in the cheeks and above the top lip. How long did it take anyone here for the chubby appearence to go fully?
My profile has now change out of all proportion and the underbite is gone forever.
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
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SandraJones
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:23 am
- Location: Chicago
ROFL @ "Colour was not the best" Blended food can look rather disgusting.
Nov 1960: born
1973 ?: palate expander
1973-1977: braces
Aug 1981: Le Fort I, posterior impaction to correct anterior open bite and class II malocclusion
Aug 2007: braces again to correct various alignment issues and class II malocclusion
1973 ?: palate expander
1973-1977: braces
Aug 1981: Le Fort I, posterior impaction to correct anterior open bite and class II malocclusion
Aug 2007: braces again to correct various alignment issues and class II malocclusion
Yesterday I had my second post op visit. I was quite anxious as I really wanted to see how things had progressed from the surgeons and the orthos point of view. I have only 2 rubber bands now , one on each side. My surgeon took them off and said that the healing was just fine on the stitches. He said I had 96 in total, four sets of 24. In the last couple of weeks I have found them coming out as I wash my teeth. My inside of my cheeks are quite stiff and a little sore with movement, although getting better.
I was hoping that I could get some of the hooks removed, the ones not being used at the moment. I find them really horrible and just wanted rid of them. However he said that to take them off would mean that the heavy arch wire, to which they are attached, would have to come out as well for that to happen. He repositioned my two rubber bands into a bigger rectangle ( well rhomboid shape) and then told me that the wire would be removed in two weeks, with all the extra hooks and replaced with a finer wire. The ortho then is to see what “tweakingâ€
I was hoping that I could get some of the hooks removed, the ones not being used at the moment. I find them really horrible and just wanted rid of them. However he said that to take them off would mean that the heavy arch wire, to which they are attached, would have to come out as well for that to happen. He repositioned my two rubber bands into a bigger rectangle ( well rhomboid shape) and then told me that the wire would be removed in two weeks, with all the extra hooks and replaced with a finer wire. The ortho then is to see what “tweakingâ€
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
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orangecountymetal
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:22 pm
Hi Davep,
Happy to hear things are moving along. I am 1 month post op from upper and lower surgery. I can relate to your painful lower lip. I'm numb on my lower lip and chin, however over the last week the left half of my lower lip is waking up. If I run an ice cube across my lips, I can definitely feel the cool sensation on the left side of the lower lip as well as the lower left chin. My right side is the side where the upper surgery was perfomed and is still quite swolled, so i'm sure that's why i'm still totally numb (I hope). In regards to you lower lip, does it hurt all the time? You mentioned a cold sensation... My lower lip is burning hot, like it's on fire, making it hard to concentrate on anything else...
Happy to hear things are moving along. I am 1 month post op from upper and lower surgery. I can relate to your painful lower lip. I'm numb on my lower lip and chin, however over the last week the left half of my lower lip is waking up. If I run an ice cube across my lips, I can definitely feel the cool sensation on the left side of the lower lip as well as the lower left chin. My right side is the side where the upper surgery was perfomed and is still quite swolled, so i'm sure that's why i'm still totally numb (I hope). In regards to you lower lip, does it hurt all the time? You mentioned a cold sensation... My lower lip is burning hot, like it's on fire, making it hard to concentrate on anything else...
Braced (Upper & Lower -Metal): 01/17/2006
Lower Bicuspids Extracted:03/09/2006
Anthrocentesis for TMJ - 04/10/2007
Arthroscopic Jaw Surgery - 04/25/2007
Lower Jaw/Upper Jaw Surgery: 08/15/2007!!!
Braces removed: 02/11/2008
Hi,
I think that from what I read on the board here that our numbness is fairly typical. it takes time and that really sums it up. I always thought that the surgery and recovery would be a case of dealing with pain but for me anyway it is the constant feeling of numbness in the lip and chin. my feeling was one of really cold lip but now its a sort of tingling. I can however feel my finger on the left side if I rub it over the lip. the right side is still quite numb. It can take many months to return but i am now finding it difficult to compare to two weeks ago. I guess that that is normal.
I think that from what I read on the board here that our numbness is fairly typical. it takes time and that really sums it up. I always thought that the surgery and recovery would be a case of dealing with pain but for me anyway it is the constant feeling of numbness in the lip and chin. my feeling was one of really cold lip but now its a sort of tingling. I can however feel my finger on the left side if I rub it over the lip. the right side is still quite numb. It can take many months to return but i am now finding it difficult to compare to two weeks ago. I guess that that is normal.
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October
Tomorrow is 6 weeks post op. I have had quite a change in the last 10 days. My teeth have started to come back to life. I can feel little toothaches all over. Thought at first that i had lots of fillings required but I think that the teeth are a bit confused. Still the numbness in the lower lip and chin but really a different type of numbness and much easier to handle. I saw another post that someone said that they had stabbing pains from time to time in the chin. Well over the last week I have had quite painful stabs of pain in the numb chin area. really odd because the natural reaction is to rub the area but with a numb chin ...nothing happens, I still have the pain but the rub is no good. Guess that this is a good sign as the brain has to get the notion of pain from the nerves, so they are on the way back. Just wish they would hurry along a bit.
Off to the Ortho next Monday, I really hope he takes these horror hooks out! I am also going to see what sort of projection he gives for taking off the brackets in total. I cannot see what more is to be done. Not sure if there is a minimum time with upper and lower surgery that its possible to to remove the lot, with having 6 plates in in total.
Till Monday
bye
Off to the Ortho next Monday, I really hope he takes these horror hooks out! I am also going to see what sort of projection he gives for taking off the brackets in total. I cannot see what more is to be done. Not sure if there is a minimum time with upper and lower surgery that its possible to to remove the lot, with having 6 plates in in total.
Till Monday
bye
In braces since 13th June 2005. Upper and lower on the 15th August 2007 and braces off 23rd October