Smile's Recovery: "Did you just say TPA?"

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#16 Post by **anabel** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:04 am

Why no dairy?

#17 Post by **nvcarissa** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:06 am

I think it is because dairy is generally mucus forming, and can cause or exacerbate nasal congestion, which smile is going to need to avoid. But I can't figure out the pineapple...to eat before surgery? Can't do it after...

#18 Post by **nvcarissa** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 8:31 am

Meryaten! Are you still in the hospital or are you at home now?

#19 Post by **smile** » Sat Jul 08, 2006 10:19 pm

nvcarissa - alas, we don't have a recliner. I wish we did though! Hmm, but we HAVE always wanted one.. It's a good excuse to buy one if there ever was one. The pineapples are apparently good for swelling. Whether that's true or not, they're tasty and easily juiced (once they're peeled anyway) so I guess they won't hurt. =]

anabel - yeup, what nvcarissa said about mucus-y and also my surgeon also mentioned the bacteria in dairy isn't very good for healing.. or something. Either way, I won't miss dairy much. Ensure has no milk ingredients unlike Boost.

Meryaten - thanks for the good wishes! And I can't wait to pass on the baton to the next person..

#20 Post by **smile** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 12:34 am

Odd post, but felt like measuring my bite - at BEST (opening as widest as I possibly can) I'm at 39mm pre-surgery. But "comfortably" opening I'm at 31mm. We'll see if I can get back to these numbers!

And oops - I broke a bit of my wire tie while flossing. I need to call the ortho Monday ASAP so I can get that fixed before sugery..

Oh, and it seems my dentist is on vacation (side note: my ortho will be going on vacation very soon - so I have to see him 6 days post-surgery instead of the usual 14.. he'd rather see me earlier than the usual 14 than later. Fortunately, the visit is just to see how I'm doing and not actual ortho work..) so I couldn't book a cleaning with him. I ended up calling pretty much every dentist in this area and finally made an appointment for early wednesday. I never knew dentists were so insanely booked.

I'm getting so so so excited to ditch the horrible bite and profile.. and to be able to breathe better (well, eventually anyway)! 5 days left.

Additional memo to self:
- rinse with warm salt water 3-4 times a day and after each meal (as directed by surgeon)

#21 Post by **anabel** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:59 am

Aha! I knew about the mucous but didn't think about the bacteria. Good point! So much for the post op milkshake diet.

#22 Post by **nvcarissa** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:47 pm

I literally had my appointment for my six month cleaning set for June 19th...and that worked out perfectly to have a nice clean set of teeth for my surgery two days later. Now I have a full six months before I have to open wide for the hygienist.

My OS didn't say anything about dairy either and I don't know what I would do without my Instant Breakfast and yogurt. I am not a fruit smoothie fan, so I would have been really up a creek without a paddle!! However, my OS did tell me to rinse with Listerine to help with germs and healing.

#23 Post by **smile** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:21 pm

I do agree a LOT of non-chew things are dairy-based and there are plenty of people who eat dairy after surgery.. I suppose my surgeon is being extra careful. I'm sure I'll be able to find non-dairy things to keep me satisfied though.

Meryaten - I did go recliner shopping today. I found one at an amazing price (yay for sales.. sadly, I'm a poor student who can't afford $900 on a chair) and I'll be picking it up tomorrow. I have blue gel packs at my house too. I should try to locate them.. I'm guessing the ice-jaw-wrapper thingy is provided for you at the hospital?

And that's intersting about the whole mouthwash thing - I was told I'd be provided a special mouthwash by the surgeon.

#24 Post by **smile** » Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:58 pm

Yeup - I'm going for it all. Double jaw and genio. Ooh, so your into blending stuff huh? I don't think I'll be blending much - probably sticking to a lot of already clear stuff. I don't think I want to go through the process of blending and then straining. Although with blending I'm sure there's a lot more variety eh?

And thanks for the reminder of the blue gelly stuff - found them and stuck them in the freezer tonight. =]

4 days..

#25 Post by **nahky** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:00 am

Sweeeet, you have a recliner now... That will be VERY useful. I was reading in the yahoo orthognathic forum, poeple ahve mentioned drinking 7up to dissolve any mucus build up, apparently they really vouch for this. I never had a mucus problem but i thought i'd put it out there

You better be eating smile!

Have your last suppers, hehe, and savour them.

J

#26 Post by **nvcarissa** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 2:40 pm

smile - woohoo! You got a recliner! Believe me, you will really appreciate it in the weeks to come.

Sweetie and I went furniture shopping this weekend. Got kind of tired at having a family room that looked like early Salvation Army. We splurged a bit and got a sofa with dual recliners and a comfy brown leather arm chair and matching ottoman. Throw in the area rug and end table to pull it all together and my credit card is a tad on the hot side, but the room looks so much nicer now!

Again, good luck with your final count down. We are here for you!!

#27 Post by **smile** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:46 pm

Mm, picked up the recliner today. I decided to put it upstairs because I'd rather sleep in my room than the living room. The living room is so.. open.. and the phone is ringing constantly! The recliner is not tremendously heavy so it won't be too hard to get it back downstairs after recovery. It's so comfortable - I can sleep there no problem.

Nahky - thanks for that. I bought some 7 up today. =) Don't worry about me eating pre-surgery. I've been eating stuff I don't even usally eat! haha, ice cream, cinnamon buns, steak, chips.. mm. I've always been calorie conscious but that's gone out the window the last week! haha, I figure I might as well eat tasty things while I can. I had some pho tonight because I don't think I'll be having that for a while!

Meryaten - Oh, I missed the word 'soup' when you posted yesterday. I thought you were blending food-food. I went shopping today and bought tons of stuff.. It's nice to have it done finally and now I feel ready!

nvcarissa - lucky you! All that new furniture =D I loveee leather furniture (or rather, leather in general) so enjoy it!

So I've double checked my time with the surgeon today.. I have to be at the hospital before 6:15 AM Friday. No eating/drinking after midnight! I've been told not to bring any valubles (guess I won't be bringing my mp3 player) including jewellery. Also to wear a button down or zip up shirt for ease of changing. I asked if there are other things I should bring but they said no. I have an appoinment with the surgeon exactly 13 days after my surgery. (exactly a week after my visit with the OD)

My wire-tie was fixed today - apparently the other side was broken too haha but I wasn't even aware of it..

So the cleaning on wednesday and last shift at work on Thursday.. and then show time baby!

I'm super-duper excited.

#28 Post by **smile** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:35 pm

Oh yeah, I should ask my mom to hold on to it for me. Good idea. I'm really hoping to sleep the night at the hospital but then again, it might be wishful thinking. I've been told I'll be at the hospital one night so I'll probably be leaving Saturday morning. Hopefully not too early - since when are teenagers morning-people? =P It'll be a challenge to wake up early for Friday I bet! Why do they not let you eat or drink before surgery? I've always wondered that. Possibility of vomiting, is that why?

Oh and I forgot to mention I also picked up the kiddy toothbrush today. Aww, it's so adorable. And winnie the pooh too! haha I'm too easily amused..

#29 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:00 pm

Hey Meryten,
Have been reading the posts but haven't seen an actual report on how you are doing? So...HOW ARE YOU DOING? Seems like you are remarkably chipper for someone who just had jaw surgery. How's your swelling? pain? etc? Was it worse or better than you thought it would be. I'm curious as my surgery will be just like yours, with the tight bands and all. How did you do waking up in the hospital? Sorry to ask so many questions but inquiring minds want to know lol!

Brandy

#30 Post by **anabel** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:56 am

Smile--My surgery is on the 19th and I've been eating nonstop for the last couple of weeks, too! Lots of chips and chocolate and fast food and last night, pizza. I try to savor every single bite. I'm jealous, though--I don't have a recliner. Oh well, GOOD LUCK on Friday!! It's great that you sound so positive and definitely well prepared! I'll be thinking about you!