January Buddies

[suzyscientist]

That sounds like a baptism of fire you had today! I'm so pleased it went well! How did it feel being out and seeing so many people you knew? Did anyone ask you about it? Nice of your husband to bring someone home when you're just post-surgery! You know I'm sure your visitor tonight won't notice, especially if he hasn't met you before. You could do a test - don't tell him til the end of the evening then ask if he could tell you just had an operation

Your weekend sounds heavenly! You should get all the treatments you can, you deserve it after your surgery. I'm very jealous, hope your husband treats you while you're there

My weekend will be pretty quiet I think. My dad is coming up finally (he's been stuck at work) and I'll just try and get out and about a bit more. Other than that, I guess I'll do a lot of the same & watch TV and movies

I'm 29, approaching the big 3-oh in September! My goal is to be brace-free for my 30th and have a big party with all the foods I've not been able to eat for years. I don't even remember the last time I could eat a salad or pizza or sandwich or even grilled cheese without having to cut it up with knife and fork...

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Hi Suzy-

Hoping your day went well today. I slept fairly flat last night and woke up feeling horrible, I couldn't get comfortable.....I am afraid to sleep on my side So, I think I built it up to be better than it was.....maybe tonight is the night I really sleep

I woke up feeling really, really sore in my jaw and TMJ muscles I finally got myself moving this morning, got a haircut and feel a bit better now. Uncertain if I can manage going to my son's hockey game at 7:30-9:30pm tonight...part of my wants to, part of me doesn't. we'll see.

Hope you are feeling better today!

[suzyscientist]

Hi Christine!

So sorry your night of flat sleep wasn't as good as you hoped Maybe it will just take some time to get used to lying flat again, and to stop being afraid of lying on your side... I think I read in one of the other threads (one of the buddies ones but can't remember which) that someone got one of those travel neck pillows and slept on it with their jaw in the gap where your neck goes... maybe that could help?

You know what's really funny, my jaw muscles are so painful today too, and very stiff. Trying to brush my teeth this morning was not fun at all. I think it's because I took my bands off yesterday, and I guess it will just take time before the joint and the muscles recover properly

My day was pretty quiet, I went for a walk into the city centre, had a coffee in my favourite coffee shop, then came back and have been keeping the sofa company ever since

I'm looking forward to next week, getting back to normal. My dad is coming tomorrow and staying overnight, then he and my mum are going home on Sunday. I really appreciate that my mum has looked after me so well but I'm definitely ready to get my apartment back and get back to work, see my friends etc...

I think you should play it by ear tonight! See how you feel nearer the time of the game... it would be great to go, but you're going away this weekend and if you push yourself today, you might not feel at your best over the weekend... I think this recovery business really centers on listening to your body If only it would listen back!

Hope you have a good day, and a great weekend!

Suzy

[amandapanda]

I finally had my surgery on the 21st! I am feeling super great I had the surgery on Friday (Apparently, I was in surgery and in recovery for a total of seven hours!) and was able to leave the hospital on Sunday. My jaws were banded shut until Tuesday and since then I've been wearing elastics. The only thing that deterred me was the fact that the liquid medication had sorbitol which doesn't sit well with my stomach so I was getting up every hour or so when I tried to sleep on Monday night after the surgery. I've been able to eat a lot of stuff now like soup, mashed potato and loads of sorbet. The feeling is coming back to my face and I'm looking so different already! I have barely any swelling as well... probably because they gave me steroids. Did anyone else get steroid medication?

I hope everyone else is doing well with their recovery!

[I love my teeth]

Amanda-

Thanks great--you sound wonderful!!!! My swelling is pretty much gone too....not sure if I had any steroids? I think I may have had something the night after the surgery, but I am not sure?? To my I thought my swelling was a lot, but the girls in the surgeons office post op day 2 thought I looked great.....

Not sure if I am having any improvement in my numbness....I seem to have none of the right, but still quite a bit on the left in my chin and lower lip.....I can't really tell if it's changed or not?? I have a lot of pulsing nerve sensations, that occassionally burn--so I am taking that as a good sign that things will improve sooner rather than later. I see the surgeon again this Wednesday for a 2 week followup.

I was banded shut right after surgery, but he look those off the next morning before he sent me home, and I have no bands or elastics on---I am eating better--all soft, no chew foods, but I can open my mouth 1-2 finger widths.

I am starting to get out more, and finally sleeping a bit better. We are going away tonight with the kids--nice hotel, pool/hot tub--then they will ski tomorrow and I have a lovely mani/pedi scheduled at the spa!! I am hoping a little change of scenery will help my recovery....but being you are in Austrailia, I hope you are enjoying your summer It's still cold and snowy here!

talk soon, keep in touch
Christine

[suzyscientist]

Hi folks,

Amanda - Congrats on your surgery outcome! Sounds like you are doing really well, which is great news I did get two doses of steroids in my IV when I was in hospital, but that's it. My swelling also has almost gone other than around the actual trauma areas where it still feels sore and bumpy. I have elastics as well - at first I had these giant white things that discoloured really quickly and looked GROSS. But my surgeon gave me nice thin ones that aren't so noticeable, but I have to wear them 24/7 other than to eat and to brush my teeth.

Christine - I'm so glad you're sleeping a bit better. I actually got about 5 hours last night which was great... sleeping on the sofa is really working, although I hope that the surgeon will say I can sleep normally after Thursday.

My parents left today, so I have my flat to myself again. It's good to feel like I'm getting back to normal, but I know I'm going to have to be really disciplined with eating: I can't be bothered blending things, it's so much hassle... today for example I just had a milkshake and a cup of hot chocolate, which I know is not healthy, so I will have to start being strict with myself and getting some nutrition!

Work tomorrow - I'm really nervous about what my colleagues will think. In all honesty, I don't think I look that different apart from the swelling, but I don't know if other people will think the same. I just can't wait to get these darn elastics off, get my braces off, and get my face back!

Frustrated today, as my post probably shows... I have no patience

Christine - hope you have a brilliant time in Whistler!

Amanda - keep us updated on your progress!

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Thanks Suzy-
Hoping to get out of here in 2 hours, my youngest has hockey until 2:30pm....I am feeling overall pretty good, not taking pain meds as much...my bite (or lack of) is quite bothersome, I am really looking forward to my 2 week check up on Wednesday (not looking forward to the 3hour each way drive )

I am eating fairly normal, with no chewing of course--last night we had Chinese take out, and I can do wonton soup, steamed dumplings--cut up really small, and some lomein noodles cut up.....Hoping to try come cooked fish and sushi soon! I am still doing protein shakes in the morning to get my vitamins and extra protein...at least I feel like my diet is having slightly more variety in it, I miss chewing stuff, but hopefully that will start in a couple of weeks!

talk soon! good luck at work--it will be fine......to others we probably don't look like we've had surgery, but of course when you are still numb, and can't use your mouth normally you know, but others probably wont. take it easy, don't overdo it, and remember to eat!!

[I love my teeth]

Suzy-
Hope the rest of your weekend was good and you were successful going back to work! We had a great time in Whistler, and I almost felt normal We went out for dinner and I ordered fish--which was flaky and easy to eat---a real meal!! I missed skiing alot, but I got some quiet time at the spa, which was nice.....I didn't realize how much I'd miss skiing with the kids

I slept OK, not great, but OK--I didn't take any pain meds at all yesterday or last night, and I am paying or it today--feeling really sore, guess I do still need some motrin

Heading to Seattle tomorrow--leaving around 7am for my 10am appt. So, hoping it's all good news!!

write soon!
Christine

[suzyscientist]

Hey Christine,

How are you? Sounds like you had a nice time in Whistler! Shame you missed the skiing, but there will be other times... when your jaw is healed and you don't need to worry about injury

Anyway, so yesterday I went back to work. I felt really self conscious! Like everyone was staring at my mouth... I mean they probably were looking for a difference, which is to be expected I suppose. It was good to be back but I've missed so much and I feel really out of the loop.

I got really tired really quickly too, and left after a few hours, feeling pretty sorry for myself. I guess I have to realise that I'm still recovering and I can't expect to be 100% already.

Stayed home today, and I'm not going into work for the rest of the week - tomorrow I am meeting a friend for smoothie, then have an appointment with my orthodontist, Thursday I see the surgeon, and Friday... well I will see how I feel. I might go to work, but Friday is always drinks night and I don't know if I'd want to be around when everyone is having fun and I'm tired and grumpy!

It's good that you are managing to get some time off the motrin... but don't worry about the pain coming back... it will take time I guess! I haven't taken any for a few days, but I'm still totally numb which I think is hiding the pain!

Good luck at your appointment tomorrow, and with the long drive... let me know how it goes

Suzy

[amandapanda]

Thanks for all the messages everyone It's really great to hear from people who are going through the same surgery at the same time.

Suzy, I know how you feel. A few days after the surgery, I thought it would be a good idea to go shopping for a few hours. It seemed like a good idea at the time but it left me so exhausted for a few days after that. But I guess it's also good to try to persevere and get on with a lot of things. I admire the fact that you could go back to work! My lips still don't meet so I can't really talk properly. I answer phone calls at my work so I think it would be absolutely impossible to do my job properly. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about going back to work just yet since I took quite a lot of time off. I'm actually a full-time student (I'm only 18) and uni starts back in about a month and that should be plenty of time to recover some more.

My tongue looks crazy though... It's developed some sort of white furry look. My tongue is extremely long and I haven't really been using it so I guess that's probably why. I can barely even see my tongue because I'm afraid of opening my jaws too much. (I keep dreaming that they're going to snap off or something crazy ) My bottom teeth are starting to hurt every now and then but I guess that's just because everything is trying to go back to normal.

I'm seeing my orthodontist tomorrow. I hope that he fixes some of my broken brackets. I have a sneaking suspicion that the surgeon broke them during the surgery!

[suzyscientist]

Hey folks,

Amanda - you know that day I went back to work... I was so tired! And really grumpy. So I haven't been back since I won't go back again until next week as I have appointments and errands that will keep me away... It's really the boredom that's getting to me now... I went out today and bought a whole stack of books to keep me entertained.

Christine - how did it go with your surgeon today? Hope the drive was ok!

So my day - today I went to the orthodontist just for a check up, and all the orthos and assistants came over to see me and they were all totally amazed that I was only 2 weeks post-op! They said my swelling was almost totally gone and that I was on par with the 4 week post-op people. So I guess the ice packs, arnica cream and sleeping upright has been worthwhile

The downside is that it looks like I'll be in elastics for some time yet I was hoping that my bite wouldn't need much work but it looks like I'll need more elastics after my next ortho appointment (2 weeks today) and a new arch wire on my lower jaw... boo hiss! I WANT MY FACE BACK OK maybe I was being a little unrealistic with my expectations

Tomorrow I see the surgeon and I'm going to ask him if I can just wear elastics at night or something, because they're driving me crazy. Also I need to ask him when I can start singing again... I was training for my musical theatre diploma last year but wearing braces got in the way. I've still been singing though, and I want to start training properly again but at the minute I can only open my jaw 1.5 fingers wide, so singing is a no-no right now.

So as you can tell I'm still grumpy

Hope everyone's doing well today!

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Hello ladies!

Amanda--the white furry stuff may be thrush (a type of fungal infection)--google it to compare your symptoms---if it is, I think you need some kind of medication asap! I hope it's not!!

My 2 week followup was great! Left the house at 6:45am, got down to Seattle at 9:20am for my 10am appt...got a latte and got to the office 15min early, they all know I travel, so they got my in right away, and I was on my way home by 10:20am....got here about 1:15pm!!

Surgeon didn't take any xrays, he just checked my bite (hilarious, since I really don't have one!)--he seemed pleased with his work, midlines are lined up, ect, ect....he gave me some exercises to stretch my jaw--I can open 22mm, normal is 40mm, so I have a ways to go...he said do the stretching, use my teeth to chew soft foods(haha, easy for him to say!), and keep an eye on the teeth (ie-that the fronts are overlapping the bottoms and not edge to edge--if it stays edge to edge to more than 1 day call him--sounds mostly like a muscle pulling thing, I hope as they get stretched out my bite will get better!!)....follow up again in 5 weeks. No ortho until after the 5 week follow up (which will be post op 7-8 weeks)

I assume he was pleased, as I expected to have to see him again in 2-3 weeks, but I was happy he's so confident and thought 5 weeks was good!!...

So, I need to buckle down and stretch and chew, ect, ect....

Hope you ladies had good days!
Christine

[suzyscientist]

Hello everyone!

I saw my surgeon today for a check up. He is really pleased with his work too and is impressed with how much my swelling has gone down. I can sleep normally now!!! So excited!

When he checked my bite he noticed that my midline is off to the left, so he got the molds of my teeth and it turns out that my bottom incisors have moved about 2mm since the surgery! He was worried that my jaw had moved but nope, it's just my teeth being strange It's probably because he took both lower wisdom teeth out so there is more room on my bottom jaw. I'm going back next week for another check up and get x-rays etc, then I have to see him once more and then I'm discharged to the care of orthodontics! So, things are looking good so far.

I even managed more interesting food today. Well - it was a giant mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top Also had some lentil soup and left some chunks of veg un-pureed, and it was so nice to have texture in my food!

Got my first social engagement this weekend! The husband of my close friend is having a superbowl party at her house, and I'm invited to keep her company, so I will get to try out my new face on some strangers I'm hoping they won't stare at my braces & the elastics... but I guess I should be used to that now, right?

Christine - sounds like you had a good trip yesterday! I was so pleased to hear that. Was thinking about you and your 3 hour drive! It's great that you're getting to chew a little (good luck!) and to stretch. Do you get any pain when you open your mouth? My jaw feels so stiff and sore when I try to open. Surgeon said that was normal but I wonder how long it takes to go away?

Hope everyone is doing well

Suzy

[I love my teeth]

Suzy-

My jaw is so stiff and sore, but I am doing the exercises religiously...I am a physio therapist by trade (I haven't worked since we moved to Canada 2.5years ago)--so I have seen so many post op patients--telling them to stretch, stretch, stretch, and the jaw is a joint just like the knee or hip---so after 15years of dishing it out, I have to be my own patient I guess. But even just after 1.5days of stretching my jaw I can see a difference, I am comfortable 2 finger widths now....chewing--interesting---I ate some halibut last night--I went threw the motion of chewing, but it doesn't seem to do anything---the food doesn't get any smaller---I don't seem to have any pressure--so I am just going through the motions now.

I am thinking about doing some acupuncture for some added healing and to see about getting rid of the numbness. I am a bit skeptical, but I don't think it can hurt anything?? I am sleeping on my side now, and it is glorious!! I am finally sleeping almost normally.

My husband is going on a business trip Sunday morning until Wednesday night, so I will be on my own with the kids---hoping that I am up for it!! But we are moving back to the states in April, so he's got some business to attend to prior to our move.

Glad to hear your appt went well also, sorry about the teeth moving, but that sounds like something ortho can fix. I won't be turned back over to ortho until after my next appt in March..keep me updated!


talk soon!
christine

[suzyscientist]

Aaaargghhhh!!! So last night I tried to sleep on my side, I was so looking forward to it, but I couldn't sleep because I was being paranoid that my jaw was hurting

I did get to sleep eventually, and stayed in bed til 11am (heaven!) but it's just frustrating that I've conditioned myself to be so careful with my jaw that now I think I'm too cautious! Maybe it will be better tonight.

Been eating a lot today! Had a slim fast shake for breakfast, then had some mashed potato for lunch, soup for dinner... and just ate a WHOLE jar of peanut butter and a WHOLE jar of chocolate spread... feel a bit ill now But, I'm sure I'll start to get weight back this way!

So interesting that you're a physio! And yes you definitely need to be your own patient But if the stretching and exercising is working then I guess its a no brainer! Funny that chewing doesn't work yet... I wonder if we'll have to re-learn how to chew?

How's the numbness today? My chin and lower lip are completely numb except for one patch that keeps getting funny cold sensations. I've been trying to move my mouth as much as possible in the hope that the feeling comes back! Wishful thinking

Oh one last thing - I've noticed that I've been clenching my teeth a lot... never used to do it, so it must be a new thing... anyone else noticed weird jaw behaviour?!

Hope you're well today

Suzy