January 2010 Buddies

[ReneG]

If my surgery was Wed. 1/20, does that day count as day 1 or day 0? I'm getting desperate for the swelling to subside, but so far, it hasn't. I am like a huge puffer fish and it's keeping me up at night. My OS said that I was a big "oozer" the whole surgery and afterwards, so maybe that has something to do with it.

When can I expect the swelling to get more comfortable? I don't need it to go away completely, I would just like to wind down on the pain meds and right now I'm so swollen, it's very painful. So I'm either on Day 4 or Day 5, depending on whether or not the day of surgery counts as Day 1 or not. Anything I can do in the meantime? I'm up and about more, drinking fluids as much as possible.

What helped my swelling go down was constant ice packs and sleeping propped up. I piled pillows so no matter what, my head was always angled higher than my shoulders.

The worst swelling was day 3 (counting surgery as day 0) to day 5 and as of now, day 12, there is just slight swelling where the plates and screws are.

[ReneG]

Can we talk hygiene? I am adjusting to archbars as well as recovering, and my mouth is so sore. The arch bars are imbedding themselves in my swollen cheeks and it is very difficult to get fluid to the back of my mouth. I used a water pik on the lowest setting last night and I rinse and swish with water and some of the rinse they gave me for "debrining". Hmmmm....wonder what that word means? What else should I be using?

Took me a few days before I dared to use my electric tooth brush. Before that, I squeezed the head into my mouth to brush manually... which wasn't a very thorough job!! They also gave me a rinse to use (tasted minty) so that helped a bit. As the swelling goes down, cleaning will get easier.

TBH I have not flossed my molars at all since surgery and did not start flossing the front teeth till day 7. It just hurt too much to hold my mouth open for that long - manipulating the floss and all.

I think that as long as there are no food remnants, our teeth will be fine until we can manage the full routine again.

[crazybeautiful]

According to my surgeon, the stitches in my mouth are supposed to come out on their own, but it does take a while. However she said at this point I would heal better without them in so she opted to remove them.

Yeah I think I would do better with some of them taking out. The ones on my left side have loosened, but I still can't pull them out myself. However the one on my right side is very painful to the touch, so I want this one taking out because I hate having to get in there to change my elastics! Also the ones on my upper jaw along the front are very taut still, so it hurts when I smile or laugh

[OhioM]

anyone else feeling some despair today? I am just a wreck and my husband is so busy with the kids he can't even keep me company. I'm getting worried about my nose and why it's still so clogged. I can semi-clear out the right side, but the left is just SOLID. I can see something in there and it's not just a clot, so now I'm worried that something's wrong and I'm going to be back in for more surgery or something. My OS wanted to put the bands back on tomorrow, but that will be a problem if I can't breathe through my nose by then!

[crazybeautiful]

anyone else feeling some despair today? I am just a wreck and my husband is so busy with the kids he can't even keep me company. I'm getting worried about my nose and why it's still so clogged. I can semi-clear out the right side, but the left is just SOLID. I can see something in there and it's not just a clot, so now I'm worried that something's wrong and I'm going to be back in for more surgery or something. My OS wanted to put the bands back on tomorrow, but that will be a problem if I can't breathe through my nose by then!

I've just been crying literally 2 minutes ago! My stitch on the lower right side is very painful to the touch, and the bands have been irritating me. Anyway I've just had my dinner and changed them. During hanging, I saw a little bit of food just over my stitch on the right side, so I just got my little prozy brush to just gently brush it away. Anyway the bristle of the brush got stuck in the stitch and pulled it a little bit; it hurt so much as to make me cry.

I'm just sick of the pain from the stitch

Anyway, sorry your nose is still clogged up. Mine was so clogged you almost think it must be something else for it to be so bad, but it's usually just a build up of blood clots and snot. Can you sort of pick it out? Or try using something with menthol (Vicks) in to try and make your nose run, or at least to clear it a little.

[crazybeautiful]

* Forgot to add- To feel better, I'm going to listen to some nice music, and have a long bath!

Hope things get better for you

[enigma]

Glad to hear everyone is doing well in their own ways....looking forward to my turn on the other side waiting for nerves to kick in lol too excited xxx

[lfwood]

Count me in!!!
Im having double surgery Jan 25th though Im not sure of the technical terms sorry....Im having lower jaw advancement and upper jaw moved upwards.

Enigma - you are the for the month - Best wishes

To everyone one - I am sorry to hear of your troubles I think the best advise that I can give is that if you think that something is wrong to talk/ask your Doctor. And give big hugs.

OhioM -

I am just a wreck and my husband is so busy with the kids he can't even keep me company

- I know that feeling. Just remember you are a strong women!! Keep positive - you can do this!!

As me for - I am doing well. Have been trying to eat some soft toast this morning - lots of butter!! My teeth are in an awkward position and I can't wait to go back to the ortho to get some movement going so that my relaxed teeth position fits better. My ligs are terribly stained - pumpkin soup. I still have to wear my bands at night time, it puts so much pressure on my teeth.

Anyway, am on my own today, my husband has gone back to work. Luckily tomorrow is a public holiday here in Australia - (Its Australia Day), so my husband will be home too.

[OhioM]

I'm sorry, I've been wallowing in self pity and despondency! Good luck tomorrow - what are you having for dinner? Let us know ASAP that you're OK.

[crazybeautiful]

Is anyone sleeping on their sides again yet? I tried to last night but it didn't feel particularly comfortable, and also I kept drooling a and couldn't control it

I'm getting quite restless at night because I just can't get comfy laying on my back and on an incline anymore, but at the same time I'm scared to fully lay on my cheek

[OhioM]

crazybeautiful, no I'm still desperately trying to decrease swelling, so I'm sleeping as upright as possible.

I also wanted to say that I enjoyed your surgery story on your blog. Thanks for sharing all the details. I got some of those stares while I was waiting for my husband to bring the car around, too. I just stared at the ground and let them look as much as they wanted.

[lfwood]

Is anyone sleeping on their sides again yet?

I have been, or it least slightly on the side. I have a very small, soft 'u' shaped neck pillow and I basically use it where my cheek bone and forehead is - more so to stop my face rolling over but then I don't have any pressure on my jaw aread.

[OhioM]

I am so relieved right now. The white glob in my nose is swollen "turbine" or some such word. It's a huge piece of tissue blocking my airway, but he poked around and suctioned things out and now I can breathe a little.

My bite looks good and he isn't making me put bands back on! I was worried about that, too. So I'm wearing arch bars for a lot of nothing right now, but that's OK.

I got to see my x-rays and he went over with us exactly what was done - 6mm genioplasty, 5.5mm maxilla impaction, and removed part of my deviated septum - and told me I can go to soft chew, which I'm not yet. I'm just not interested in food at this point, sorry! The Ensure drinks and soups are more than enough right now.

Still thinking about enigma right now. Hope you're all keeping your spirits up today, too.

[OhioM]

and here's to a good night's sleep for us all tonight!

[lfwood]

Had my 2nd post op appointment today and I am back to being banded 24/7 again - til monday at least. Oh well. Had to take a pain killer tonight as my right side of my jaw is hurting a bit.

Hows everyone else going?

Enigma, you ok?