question................

[shanalouis]

those of you who only had lower jaw done, were you still banded shut?................

[baileymc]

Hi! I had lower jaw surgery on monday (August 16th)! so its been 5 days post-op and im not 100% sure that everyone is the same, but yes i am banded shut, its very difficult to speak, (more of a mumble), and i have to drink through a straw. My next follow up appointment with my surgeon is August 24th, and if things are going well he is going to loosen these bands. But for now my jaws are completely shut together...
things are looking up I hope this answered your question.

[shanalouis]

how do you drink from a straw if you're banded shut? ........

[baileymc]

My teeth are now aligned in the front, correcting my overbite but my molars do not touch now, leaving gaps between my top teeth and bottom teeth, As long as i get a straw in my mouth and try to get it as far back as possible to these spots i can eat and drink. Its just a hassel to get back there with my lips swollen. I hope that makes sence...

[Audra]

Are you sure you are allowed to drink through a straw? I wasn't allowed to use one so had to use a syringe with tubing attached on the end.

[James0099]

I am allowed to drink through a straw, I am wired shut though. But I usually just drink from a cup now, its easier. I started drinking through a cup like the 2nd or 3rd day, I was annoyed with the syringe. Though I still eat my soup through it...

[shanalouis]

what if you have to throw up or something, then what do you do?...............................

[baileymc]

Once your Post-op your surgeon, doctors and nurses will try their best to avoid this. If you feel nauseous you can be given medications to help prevent you from throwing up. When I was in the hospital I was probably asked if i felt sick to my stomach 20 times, because the pain killers i was on were known for that so they are informed and try their best to prevent you from throwing up. And I think if you did; by that time the only things you would have in your stomach would be liquids so basically as gross as it sounds you would just have to lean foreward and let it out through your teeth... Thats what I was told when I was in the hospital, and fortunatly I dident feel sick at all, it just depends on how your body reacts to everything...

[shanalouis]

well someone better drill a hole through me because if thats the case,there's no way in hell i could throw up through my teeth...

[AF104]

You'll be able to throw up through your teeth. I did as a nurse was searching for an anti-vomit drug and it was mostly blood.

[technojaw]

I was wired shut, and then banded (and remain banded at the moment). I was allowed to use a straw to "eat", and like what was said before the liquid just finds whatever nooks and crannies in your teeth to pass through and then you swallow.
I also puked. Again, liquid in, liquid out. It made me super anxious, but liquid just found it's way through my teeth out, and it also came out my nose. Not extremely pleasant and it was the one thing I was super worried about before surgery. It happened, I experienced it, and it's not as bad as what you'd think.