Has swelling ever RETURNED? Any ideas why it happens?

[Nathaniel]

I am 15 days post op of a SARPE and three wisdom teeth extractions; since day 1, my swelling has been going down down down down down. In fact, yesterday morning, it looked as if it was *all* gone. Literally, you could hardly see anything at day 14. At 2PM I felt a pain that I could describe as a mild toothache, but I thought nothing of it as supposedly a small cavity was developing there. At 6:30PM though, m right side of my face was all swollen. I figured I'll sleep it off with some ice, but this morning it's still there, if not slightly larger. I'm going to the OS office today to hopefully get some understanding as to why, it's only the one side of my face, the other side *knock on wood* is normal.

Has this ever happened to you? Any idea why it happens?

Thanks a lot!
Nathaniel

[Nathaniel]

So I went to the OS office, supposedly I have an infection in the cheek. Not really sure how that happened as I have been brushing and rinsing with the prescribed mouthwash and saline, but what can you do. They administered some antibiotics via IV as well as provided me with a prescription. They say it should subside in a few days, I'm hoping it will! It's just the one side of my face at least, not both

[I love my teeth]

sorry to hear that Nathaniel!! Sounds like you caught it early--Its only the cheek, that's a good thing! good luck!

[sauerkraut]

Well done for getting it sorted so quickly. I also got an infection in the cheek, after my BSSO. A poky wire dug a hole in the inside of my cheek while I was still numb from surgery so I didn't feel it, and the infection started there. The swelling increased on that side of my face and my temperature started to spike. Like you I was zapped with IV antibiotics. That dealt with it in a matter of 3 or 4 days.

Swelling can come back for less sinister reasons as well. I had some swelling return several weeks after surgery when I stopped sleeping upright, for instance.

[amandapanda]

My swelling keeps going up and down but I think that's mainly due to the extremely hot weather we're having here in Australia. I hope that this is normal. I mean, my swelling isn't spiking out of control but sometimes I feel more puffiness on some days than others.

[Nathaniel]

Hi everyone, thanks for the kind words sauerkraut, thank you for the tip on extending the proper sleeping position. I should continue to do that, I started to ease off on being on the 45 degree incline because it was quite hard to keep me there lol.

Amandapanda, I would say if it hasn't gone completely previously, that it is normal. I felt as though mine was going up and down prior to having it be "gone" (it wasn't completely gone, just not that noticeable). How long have you been post-op?