Week 1 post-op & I'm eating mash. Can I do harm?Burning lip?

[Harmony]

Hello everyone

Well I'm at Week 1 post-op and managed to eat mash and baked beans today I got lower jaw surgery (BSSO) done.
Dr/Surgeon told me last week that I'm on liquid diet for 3-4 weeks but today I felt I'm sure I can eat this and it's just like shovel in and swallow as such (not chewing) but am I doing any harm to my jaw as I was told liquid diet for 3-4 weeks?

Also, I'm still numb in lower lip and chin and my lower lip is burning awful today and wondering what that means?

Harmony

[samoorelaw]

Burning often means the feeling is returning, which is a good thing. I would ask my surgeon about whether eating mashed foods is appropriate: I'll tell you that I didn't attempt mashed food until at least the 6 week mark, and even then that was challenging. Please don't do anything to compromise your healing.

[sirwired]

If you aren't chewing, I'd say it's fine. Just keep in mind if food gets stuck, it's going to feel real annoying since it'll be hard to clear it out with you tongue like you might be used to. I imagine a skin from a bean would drive me nuts!

[Harmony]

Thanks samoorelaw and sirwired. I mashed up the beans with the mash and it was just lovely. Felt great to taste abit of food as such. No I'm not chewing so I hope I'm not doing any harm!

Oh so the burning is a good sign, I'll welcome that

I read somewhere that you take the splint out when eating as well, I take my elastics off when eating but was never told to take my plastic splint off my upper teeth? Do/did any of you take the splint off as well?

[rowo]

I was eating mash the second day after double jaw surgery, my surgeon said it was good that I could eat it that early. Like you I couldn't chew, instead I was kind of mushing it against the roof of my mouth with my tongue.

[sirwired]

Oh, I would have paid a fortune to be able to remove my splint! Mine was wired to my archwire. Better than my jaws being wired shut, but at the end of four weeks it was a smelly, awful, mess. Took brushing three times in a row to clean my teeth!

I just about broke down in tears when they told me it had to go back in for three more weeks, as my bone was really thin and had not finished healing. (And to top it off, the gruff surgical resident refused to bend the wires out of the way, saying he was afraid they would break... I bent those wires the second I got home; and they didn't break.)

[Alicia110613]

Harmony,

I also had BSSO done. I was supposedly on liquid /no chew for 3 weeks, but did begin having some mashed food after about the 1-week mark when my mouth could open wide enough to fit a fork (just using my tongue to mash it then swallow). I think as long as you're careful about not chewing and putting pressure on your jaw, you'll be fine. Have you tried guacamole? Easy to eat and really awesome.

[Harmony]

Ah rowo that was quick, day two after double jaw surgery and you where eating mash, that's just brill. Here was me 7 days post-op thinking am I doing any harm eating this as I was told liquid diet, but I wasn't chewing and when the fork can fit in there then I'm happy.

Sirwired I'd give anything to get this splint removed. I actually rang the hospital and was told it's attached to a wire as well and they said I might get it off next week at my appointment, won't get excited yet incase I don't!

I haven't tried guacamole Alicia110613, must have a look for it. The taste of mashed food is just great. Managed more mash today, home-made smoothies are good as well and of course ice-cream.

I'm having a burning day again on my bottom lip but I don't mind seeing it's a good sign

[sirwired]

Harmony... hope your recovery is going well.

One of my "go-to" recipies during recovery:

1/2 tin minced corned beef fried up in a skillet
2 servings mash (nothing fancy, just instant flakes prepared according to the package)
A generous handful of shredded cheddar cheese

Stir together, top with Ketchup and Sriracha sauce. (Sriracha is a mild, sweet, hot sauce...)

Savory, flavorful, and lots of calories with little work.

[Harmony]

Thanks for that sirwired. Recovery going not to bad now and on mashed foods, pasta etc and it feels great eating some food again. Worse part is the numbing and burning in my lower lip. Think it's starting to get to me now but will have to have more patience. I've still some swelling and am 3 weeks post op tomorrow, I'm sure ice/heat won't help at this stage??

[sirwired]

Yeah, you are well beyond the ice/heat stage. I think that's over after a couple of days. Just time for the swelling to go down. You should not expect to be at your "final result" for as much as six months. (The really obvious swelling will go down well before then, but not all swelling.)