SARPE Surgery

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#136 Post by **RachelP** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:34 am

Hey everyone!

So I am just over 24 hours post op. My face is really swollen and bruised. It was more than I expected, but my mom said it was less than she expected - so I guess it evens out. My jaw hurts alot...in the actual joint...did anyone else feel this way? The joint hurts worse than where the actual surgery was.

I wish I could brush my teeth!!!! Oh well.

Right now things are pretty good considering. I am going to try to get a picture of my puffy face...I look like a muppet. haha

Right now I am feeling good about my decision - but I have been up and down on that. I just keep touching my teeth with my tongue and thinking that one day they won't feel like this anymore - and that makes me happy.

Thanks for all the well-wishing. I will keep you updated between naps and such!

Rachel

#137 Post by **mic26** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 9:40 am

Rachel,

Congrats on the surgery. I was not so swollen the first day, but every day after that I swelled. I looked like one of the planet of the ape people. My nose and cheeks swelled so bad that I got black eyes! But it was all worth it and I can look back and the pictures and be really glad I'm over that part. You'll probably have ups and downs the first few weeks, I did anyway.

I too had joint pain. I think because of all the movement and stuff required for surgery. Then the expanding shifted things. It does get better though. Remeber, you're only 24 hours post-op, the first few days are ususally the worst for pain.

Good luck! I'm excited for you to be underway with your treatment!

#138 Post by **decisionmade** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:05 am

Hey All! Rachel congrats to you...oh how I remember that swelling!!!..my doc had said i would possibly get black eyes but luckily i didn't..I remember my bite changing daily..even within the same day ..it felt SOO weird!..and Mic..I havea small amount of feeling back but it is subtle...jeez i wonder if it ever comes back fully.... and Kate i love the story of the photo in the office..I think the space I had was smaller than many because my two front teeth overlapped...it was so weird to see them slowly seaparating after a lifetime with them like that!...My mouth is feeling pretty good right now but Thursdays are the day i teach and am talking ALL day and read loads of stories..(Preschool teacher)..so guaranteed I won't be feeling too well tomorrow night and it will start all over again..oh well...i have supposedly two more months with the expander..oh the agaony of it!!..but i am going to talk with my ortho about it on the tenth..jeez can't I have an xray to see if the bone has filled in completely yet..my top teeth are pretty straight so of course i'm hoping she'll take it out sooner than 2 months...

just yesterdaya got more complements from people who haven't seen me since before surgery so that feels really good..from peoples reaction I look prettier:) which definately makes me smile!..tinsel teeth and all

they keep commenting on the shape of my face ..my face was very long before but now with the mid section wider..it looks more balanced..not so sure I'll need that chin reduction when this is all done...we'll see.. Greast to hear everyone is positive and hanging in there!

#139 Post by **RachelP** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:11 pm

So yesterday was pretty bad. Day two. Today (day three) was alittle better - I slept more today than ever. Its weird, one side of my face is looks drastically worse than the other. My left side is really swollen, really bruised, and my left eye is black. My right side is only slightly swollen and has some small bruising around my jaw line. I wonder why its like that.

I had a mishap today - I have been breaking my pain pills in half so I can swallow them more easily. Well, today one of the halves got caught in my expander. It was SOOOO gross! I had to wait for it to dissolve and fall out...my mouth was way too swollen to be able to open wide enough to get in there and get it out. It tasted awful.

I'm glad to hear that everyone feels good about their decisions - cause honestly, right now I'm worried I made a mistake. I can't believe how awful I look, and the thought that the swelling will go away only to have a huge gap in my teeth isn't very appealing right now. But, it seems like everyone has had these ups and downs - so it gives me a lot of hope that I will get back on the up and up again.

Thanks everyone!

Rachel

#140 Post by **katemm06** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 4:53 pm

Hey Rachel

You made it! Your now on the other side

Things are going to get better (really they are

). Every one of us who had had this surgery has had our good and bad days. I was so glad once I got off the steroids because they really changed my mood a lot. For me personally, it was scary to be so swollen and to have so much numbness. My anxiety at times was really high, especially in the first week. Unlike a lot of the posts I have read, I rarely slept at all during the first week. I was an insomniac even with tons of pain meds in me. I was too uncomfortable every time I tried to sleep.

One of the things I did was to talk as much as possible because I think that the more you can start to work your jaw, the better your mouth will go back to normal. I also attempted to brush my teeth a few days after surgery. The worst was when someone would make me laugh. It hurt so bad, but I believe it helped in the healing process for me. Now I have all my feeling back and it doesn't hurt or feel uncomfortable to talk (except for the occassional speech impediments from the expander~but that's more from my own embarrassment!)

It's the hardest advice to follow, but give the healing process time. By the way, I remember you mentioned you were a student, did you take time off from school?

#141 Post by **katemm06** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 5:03 pm

DM,

That's so great that people are complementing you on your appearance! I also have a long chin, which is not very flattering. I remember that in 6th grade, I went to an oral surgeon who recommended that I have jaw surgery. However, he called my chin "a man's chin" and I cried the whole entire day about it. He was not a very tactful doctor to say the least.

My orthodontist had initially recommended this same doctor to me last year and I said absolutely not. Thankfully, I got an even better doctor

With the lower jaw surgery coming up in a year or so, I will also need to get chin surgery. But I'm trying not to think about it too much right now! One thing at a time!

#142 Post by **RachelP** » Thu Nov 03, 2005 6:22 pm

Thanks Katemm...

It really does help to know that others have been through the same thing. I can't imagine having other surgeries in the future - this is it for me. I know I need to give it time...at least I keep trying to remind myself of that. Thanks for the advice on talking. It hurts to talk, so I try not to, but maybe I should try to talk some more.

#143 Post by **tina_14** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 12:30 am

Hi everyone! I've just been reading about all of your experiences with SARPE because im scheduled to get mine done on the 29 of november. I'm kind of nervous/afraid but thats how I was when I got my wisdom teeth out and it turned out to not be as bad as I had expected. From what I have read, it doesn't seem to be as bad as I had thought it was going to be. None the less, I'm not looking forward to it, haha. I had to move all my midterms in school because of it. Hopefully I heal in time to study for my finals and pass 2 weeks later...
If anyone has some words of wisdom that would be great. How does it compare to 4 wisdom tooth removal?
Either way, I will be sure to keep you all posted on how things go with the surgery!
It's great to know there are other ppl who have experienced this. When my ortho told me I had to have it, I thought it was a rare occurance and I was gunna be a 'wierdo'! But i was wrong! hehe, lotsa ppl have lil jaws i guess hehe.
Congrats on your surgery rachel! Best wishes with the rest of the healing process.
Tina

#144 Post by **katemm06** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 12:41 pm

Hey Tina,

I wish you the best on your upcoming surgery. It's a big step to take but well worth it. I had four wisdom teeth removed at the same time as the SARPE, so I can't really compare the two experiences. I was so numb that I had little pain, which was definently a good thing! The numbness and swelling were more uncomfortable for me, although not in a painful way.

As a college student myself, it was really hard to go back to classes two weeks after surgery. Physically, I was ready, but emotionally, I was not. I felt really awkward with a big gap in my mouth. I didn't want to talk, smile or be observed by others. Once the gap began getting smaller, a lot more of my self-confidence back. Thankfully, though I've been able to keep my grades up

SARPE is definently not an easy experience to go through, but it is not the worst either. It is one of the best feelings when the gap begins to close and you can see your improved smile.

Take care

#145 Post by **tina_14** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:54 pm

Thanks Kate!

Yeah, I know it isnt the worst thing i can experience, and i know others have had much worse. I couldnt imagine getting my wisdom teeth AND the sarpe surgery at the same time! I think one is enough to endure at one time so good job to you! heh. Yeah, im kind of worried about the whole gap thing, but i have a supportive family and circle of friends so hopefully it isnt that bad.

22 more days of eating...then no more=( . so much for christmas supper!=*( meh, it will be ok...thanks for ur support!

Tina

#146 Post by **katemm06** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:02 am

Tina,

Don't worry! I'm pretty sure you will be able to eat Christmas dinner

I was only on liquids for the first week.

#147 Post by **decisionmade** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 12:00 pm

Welcome Tina, Supportive friends and family were crucial to my healing process both physically and mentally/emotionally...so if you have that you have already won half the battle!! I am proof that that gap will be gone and you'll be left with a beaming smile! ..not to say its not tough.. for it is! but time does indeed pass..I had my surgery in July and am now more than 5 weeks with braces..and am smiling big these days!Good luck and best wishes to you!
DM

#148 Post by **RachelP** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:16 pm

Things are really starting to get better everyday. For a couple days, people would say I looked better, and I didn't see it, but for the last 2 days I have noticed a huge change each morning. I had my post-op check-up today, and the doc said everything looks great. Tomorrow I go to the ortho and start the expansion. I'm nervous about that part. When I did it this summer (without surgery) it didn't hurt at all, it just felt like sinus pressure as I expanded each day. But, now that my palate is actually in two pieces, and I know it will actually be moving, I am really worried that it is going to hurt... For those of you who have been there, how was it?

The doc said part of the ortho visit will be uncomfortable...they didn't cement in the expander because he thought he might need to take it out during surgery. So now, they are going to have to take it out, and then cement it back in, and then do two turns. Having it out the first time (when it was cemented) was AWFUL, but now since it isn't cemented I'm not as worried about that - I'm just really worried about them jamming it back in there. Oh well - you gotta do what you gotta do - and at least I know that no matter what, the worst is over.

Rachel

ps - good Luck Tina! And unless you have T-bone steak for Christmas dinner, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to eat most of what is served...you might just have to cut it well!

#149 Post by **joplin** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:30 am

But, now that my palate is actually in two pieces, and I know it will actually be moving, I am really worried that it is going to hurt... For those of you who have been there, how was it?

Rachel, in fact I think it should be less painful now that those palate halves are separated. I never felt any pain while expanding. Just a little pressure, that's all.
Glad to hear your surgery went fine and you're feeling better already

Good luck with the rest of your treatment!

#150 Post by **decisionmade** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:55 am

hi Rachelp!..glad things are improving for you!...I had no pain during the acctual expansion(turning of the key)..It is just awkward and I felt a slight pressure which went away within minutes...I usually took something like alleve an hour before just to be safe:)...Lucky for me I was able to stay at my mom's so she could turn it for me..For me the pain, discomfort, and general awkwardness during the process came from swelling,bite changes, self consciousness etc..I never had any sharp unbearable pain during the process but then again painkillers were my friends..hope this helps and that everything goes well!
DM