Orthognathic surgery to close an open bite and widen palate
Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:17 pm
I have not been here for a while But I wanted to share my surgery story. . .
I have been in braces for 20 months now.
You can see my braces story on here from my recent posts.
Surgery pre operative:
My orthodontist had me in a hold pattern for the last 4 months. It has been a long 4 months. The surgery required an over night stay and cost approx 12000. My insurance covered all but 10 %.
Operation day 1.
I went in at 6 am. They put me in a room, weighed me, and then made me change into a terrible gown that did not match my eye color or do ANYTHING for my hips what so ever. Apparently when you go in for surgery, they now cover you in a bubble suit to keep you warm in surgery. i felt like I was ready for take off, either that or a pool party.
I expressed a mild anxiety as the nurse reached for the giant needle to stuff in my hand for my IV. She pumped this terribly tiny needle in my hand that numbed the area and made a very funny bump on my hand. I don't care what she said, I still felt the needle sliding in my vein.
It did NOT feel good.
So they gave me some valium. Which was fantastic. I felt like an idiot and they prepped for surgery.
Between bouts of giggling, I was taken into a operating room. I remember laying on the table and POOF I was out. Don't remember anything else.
Waking up, recovery
I don't remember much of the recovery room. I was out like a light. when I woke up, my throat hurt from the breathing tube they stuffed in my nose. That was the first thing I could remember.
i woke up in severe discomfort. I woke up with my mouth rubber banded shut. I noticed an uncomfortable thing sitting between my upper and lower teeth and realized that it's going to be a fixture in my mouth for the next month.
I was given DEMEROL for the pain and LORTAB. They attempted to give me pills, but I advised them they were insane and required liquids. They even tried to feed me this day. Which was absolutely insane, the last thing on my mind was FOOD.
I had alot of different sensations in my face. My cheeks were numb at this point, as were my lips and my upper gums. My tongue had a strange feeling as well.
The first 48 hours were the worst and the most intense.
============================================
Now i am on day 7 of this monstrosity.
My gums on my upper teeth are still numb, as is the roof of my mouth. The doc said that the nerves should grow back eventually and when the feeling starts coming back, it should come back quickly.
i can eat anything as long as I don't have to chew it. I have lost a little weight, which I really haven't minded.
I have little to no pain during the day. My cheeks are BARELY swollen and I am moving along VERY quickly. I can feel my RIGHT cheek now and my left one is still numb. I still have the splint in my mouth which actually is holding my jaw in place. The rubber bands holding my jaw together are acting as "Rubber muscles" holding my bite in the proper place for my healing.
Due to the palate expansion, I have a strange CLICK noise when I swallow and I can feel the roof of my mouth move. It's REALLY weird, I was concerned but the doctor said it was normal.
The only pain i get is at night. When I am sleeping.
I wake up in the middle of the night almost in tears because I feel like my upper jaw is being ripped apart from the inside out. It seriously hurts, so even though You don't feel them pain during the day, dose up on some pain killers before you go to bed because i PROMISE you will want it. I just keep the bottle by my bed. The pain is relieved by slowly opening and closing my teeth. SLOWLY though, it hurts if you do it to fast and getting up and walking around sure helps to.
I've been going between the Darvocet and LORTAB's.
I went back to the doc today and the doc said i'm a week ahead in my healing process.
and if you are having oral surgery
TIPS to recover faster.
ACUPUNCTURE, Rub your ears it helps the pain.
massage your jaw muscles lightly with your fingers.
and do NOT be scared to change your bands or try to open your mouth, it's GOOD to get the muscles working again
Make sure you dont' smoke or drink for 10 days, smoking is hard as heck anyways
and good luck drinking a beer and not having it taste TERRIBLE. My taste buds are a little off from the nerves in my mouth being cut.
any questions or requests for photos of my swelling or what i've eaten during my surgery recovery, feel free to ask!
I have been in braces for 20 months now.
You can see my braces story on here from my recent posts.
Surgery pre operative:
My orthodontist had me in a hold pattern for the last 4 months. It has been a long 4 months. The surgery required an over night stay and cost approx 12000. My insurance covered all but 10 %.
Operation day 1.
I went in at 6 am. They put me in a room, weighed me, and then made me change into a terrible gown that did not match my eye color or do ANYTHING for my hips what so ever. Apparently when you go in for surgery, they now cover you in a bubble suit to keep you warm in surgery. i felt like I was ready for take off, either that or a pool party.
I expressed a mild anxiety as the nurse reached for the giant needle to stuff in my hand for my IV. She pumped this terribly tiny needle in my hand that numbed the area and made a very funny bump on my hand. I don't care what she said, I still felt the needle sliding in my vein.
It did NOT feel good.
So they gave me some valium. Which was fantastic. I felt like an idiot and they prepped for surgery.
Between bouts of giggling, I was taken into a operating room. I remember laying on the table and POOF I was out. Don't remember anything else.
Waking up, recovery
I don't remember much of the recovery room. I was out like a light. when I woke up, my throat hurt from the breathing tube they stuffed in my nose. That was the first thing I could remember.
i woke up in severe discomfort. I woke up with my mouth rubber banded shut. I noticed an uncomfortable thing sitting between my upper and lower teeth and realized that it's going to be a fixture in my mouth for the next month.
I was given DEMEROL for the pain and LORTAB. They attempted to give me pills, but I advised them they were insane and required liquids. They even tried to feed me this day. Which was absolutely insane, the last thing on my mind was FOOD.
I had alot of different sensations in my face. My cheeks were numb at this point, as were my lips and my upper gums. My tongue had a strange feeling as well.
The first 48 hours were the worst and the most intense.
============================================
Now i am on day 7 of this monstrosity.
My gums on my upper teeth are still numb, as is the roof of my mouth. The doc said that the nerves should grow back eventually and when the feeling starts coming back, it should come back quickly.
i can eat anything as long as I don't have to chew it. I have lost a little weight, which I really haven't minded.
I have little to no pain during the day. My cheeks are BARELY swollen and I am moving along VERY quickly. I can feel my RIGHT cheek now and my left one is still numb. I still have the splint in my mouth which actually is holding my jaw in place. The rubber bands holding my jaw together are acting as "Rubber muscles" holding my bite in the proper place for my healing.
Due to the palate expansion, I have a strange CLICK noise when I swallow and I can feel the roof of my mouth move. It's REALLY weird, I was concerned but the doctor said it was normal.
The only pain i get is at night. When I am sleeping.
I wake up in the middle of the night almost in tears because I feel like my upper jaw is being ripped apart from the inside out. It seriously hurts, so even though You don't feel them pain during the day, dose up on some pain killers before you go to bed because i PROMISE you will want it. I just keep the bottle by my bed. The pain is relieved by slowly opening and closing my teeth. SLOWLY though, it hurts if you do it to fast and getting up and walking around sure helps to.
I've been going between the Darvocet and LORTAB's.
I went back to the doc today and the doc said i'm a week ahead in my healing process.
and if you are having oral surgery
TIPS to recover faster.
ACUPUNCTURE, Rub your ears it helps the pain.
massage your jaw muscles lightly with your fingers.
and do NOT be scared to change your bands or try to open your mouth, it's GOOD to get the muscles working again
Make sure you dont' smoke or drink for 10 days, smoking is hard as heck anyways
and good luck drinking a beer and not having it taste TERRIBLE. My taste buds are a little off from the nerves in my mouth being cut.any questions or requests for photos of my swelling or what i've eaten during my surgery recovery, feel free to ask!
