well the thing is i think there is somethign loose on that side for sure.. i can here a clicking noise from that area and its not my jaw joint. when i open my mouth and then push around in the jaw area i can hear a tapping sound as if the screw it hitting the plate or something. ive had a clicking rite TMJ and i know what it sounds like. the noise this one makes is more of a tapping souns. nonethelss the surgeon will know what is best. for now im just massaging the area every couple of hours to keep the swelling down so i don't look like a freak. so far i have been able to control the swelling by doing that. and the torn sutured area on that side in my cheek doesn't seem to want to heal either. i guess with all the bacteria in the area/puss, it isn't able to, although the wound does not hurt or inflamed at all anymore.
oh well, at least this is happening NOW rather than LATER. and i thought the whole incident with the chin was bad!
BSSO on the 22nd of FEb **DONE!!! DEBRACED!!!**
Moderator: bbsadmin
I could be totally wrong. i mean anything that makes noise within our face.. it sounds automtically like its coming from the earss.. but im sure if there were any loose hardware they would have picked it up in the xray.. i even looked at the xray myself and al the screws were where they were supposed to be.
anyways,i just got back from the surgeons office, and he was convinced that the puss and infection is from the suture wound. i was glad to hear him say that but at the same time i won't know for sure until things start , if they start, getting better. he took me off ammoxicillin which the walk in clinic doc prescribed and put me on some crazy AB called clindamycin. this stuff's cycle ends in 6 rather than 10 days and im supposed to wait 30 mins before i lay down after taking these suckers. i am going to research more about this certain AB. but like i said, the surgeon said that everything looks good and some rest along with the AB and i should be good to go. he took a feel around my jaw as well and looked inside and i guess from what he saw/felt he didn't believe the hardware were the culprit.
hopefully he is right! crosses fingers. toes. etc. neways. wish me luck! thanks for all those who have been such a great support here. ill keep you guys posted.
meryaten: youre right.. if worse comes to worse, i will have to get the hardware removed and it def isnt as invasive as no bones will be broken, just snipping here, cleansing there, sucking over there.. sterilizing all over the place.. and suturing up part 2 lol. thats life rite?
anyways,i just got back from the surgeons office, and he was convinced that the puss and infection is from the suture wound. i was glad to hear him say that but at the same time i won't know for sure until things start , if they start, getting better. he took me off ammoxicillin which the walk in clinic doc prescribed and put me on some crazy AB called clindamycin. this stuff's cycle ends in 6 rather than 10 days and im supposed to wait 30 mins before i lay down after taking these suckers. i am going to research more about this certain AB. but like i said, the surgeon said that everything looks good and some rest along with the AB and i should be good to go. he took a feel around my jaw as well and looked inside and i guess from what he saw/felt he didn't believe the hardware were the culprit.
hopefully he is right! crosses fingers. toes. etc. neways. wish me luck! thanks for all those who have been such a great support here. ill keep you guys posted.
meryaten: youre right.. if worse comes to worse, i will have to get the hardware removed and it def isnt as invasive as no bones will be broken, just snipping here, cleansing there, sucking over there.. sterilizing all over the place.. and suturing up part 2 lol. thats life rite?
JayC,
I was on Clindamycin after my last surgery. Very good antibiotic. I don't know why my surgeon chose it over amoxicillin, except that maybe he wanted to vary antibiotic usage, so I didn't develop a resistance.
Good luck with clearing up the infection. I agree with Louise. Give it some time--these things don't clear up overnight. We can still hope for the best!
I was on Clindamycin after my last surgery. Very good antibiotic. I don't know why my surgeon chose it over amoxicillin, except that maybe he wanted to vary antibiotic usage, so I didn't develop a resistance.
Good luck with clearing up the infection. I agree with Louise. Give it some time--these things don't clear up overnight. We can still hope for the best!
There are no ordinary moments.
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Check out my blog! http://pcadams.wordpress.com/
it looks like clindamycin is more particular in attacking strepto/staph infections which are the 2 most common and infectious oral bacteria. also there are harsher side effects with clindamycin than ammox. maybe that is why it isnt prescribed as much esp with ppl who have allergy issues and intestinal sensitivity. ill update at weeks end as theres really no point updating every few hours as things can change constantly
Hey - I really hope that those AB's are working for you - Dr. W just prescribed me the same Clindamycin yesterday for my wisdom teeth removal, but never mentioned anything about the lying down part? - so far i haven't noticed any side effects and I only got 10 pills (3/day).
My fingers are crossed for you and i hope that this'll resolve your infection!
My fingers are crossed for you and i hope that this'll resolve your infection!
how many mg are your pills? maybe it depends on the size of the individual as well. the pharmacy that i went to "drugstore pharmacy" th e ones located in superstores had stickers and a sheet with info about the meds. it said on mybottle 19 caps take one immediately and 3 times a day thereafter. i have to go back as they only gave me 17 capsules. AB's is something i don't wanna take a shortage of because of the nasty resistance that's been going on. So far the actual suture wound is healing fine. the pain and tendernes is pretty much fading but there is still some random swelling that happens here and htere. its not a firm hard swelling that hurts but more like a soft puffiness. no redness and i dont have a fever which is odd. my lymph nodes have decreased in size as well.
i really dont know what to think at this point. im just crossing my fingers . i dont have a problemwith gaving the hardware in mymouth removed, it's mainly the fact that I want it resolved asap if that is indeed the issue. Dr. W did say that it isn;t the hardware, but no one can be 100% sure. I guess I will see what is in store for me this long weekend. I am predicting it is make or break this weekend as it will be day 5 on the clindamycin on sunday. if no real improvements with the swelling is evident from then and today, i will have to contact him after the long weekend.
the good news is that the wound is healing in my mouth and i can eat and chew fine. the only ngging thing is that i dont like having a swollen cheek (although like i mentioned before isnt too obvious). when i work with so many different ppl through the day grrr.. right about now i wish i had a desk job lol. im hoping the puffiness rite now is only the debris from the lasting bacteria/wbc's etc that are needing to be drained away bythe lymphatic system
i really dont know what to think at this point. im just crossing my fingers . i dont have a problemwith gaving the hardware in mymouth removed, it's mainly the fact that I want it resolved asap if that is indeed the issue. Dr. W did say that it isn;t the hardware, but no one can be 100% sure. I guess I will see what is in store for me this long weekend. I am predicting it is make or break this weekend as it will be day 5 on the clindamycin on sunday. if no real improvements with the swelling is evident from then and today, i will have to contact him after the long weekend.
the good news is that the wound is healing in my mouth and i can eat and chew fine. the only ngging thing is that i dont like having a swollen cheek (although like i mentioned before isnt too obvious). when i work with so many different ppl through the day grrr.. right about now i wish i had a desk job lol. im hoping the puffiness rite now is only the debris from the lasting bacteria/wbc's etc that are needing to be drained away bythe lymphatic system
ok so it seems that the infection is gone (knock on wood) and the incisions in my left cheek are healing properly (no more nasty smell/inflammation). i stll have 2 days left with my ABs but it is starting to get to my stomach.. it's giving me heartburn feelings. I emailed my surgeon and he told me it was best probably to stop taking them but I don't want to stop now in case of re infection and bacterial resistance. So i will rough it out and take the last 5 pills. As long as it isn't giving me sever diarrhea or vomitting i think ill survive. I've been laoding up on probiotic yogurt as well to try to get my good gut bacteria balanced.
ANyone experienced uneven swelling in terms of recovery whre one side seemed to have stayed a tad more swollen or in different areas comapred to the other side? i also emailed my surgeon about that and he said not to worry about it. my left side seems to be a bit more saggy on the jawline and a bit more tender than the right side. i do remember the right side being a bit tender as well int he same location but that has dissipated from the right side. i guess with the infection to the left cheek it kinda slowed down the overall healing in that area compared to the right.
neways, hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on in. its only really been a month but it seems like i had the surgery 3 months ago! i guess im just being a little eager beaver
ANyone experienced uneven swelling in terms of recovery whre one side seemed to have stayed a tad more swollen or in different areas comapred to the other side? i also emailed my surgeon about that and he said not to worry about it. my left side seems to be a bit more saggy on the jawline and a bit more tender than the right side. i do remember the right side being a bit tender as well int he same location but that has dissipated from the right side. i guess with the infection to the left cheek it kinda slowed down the overall healing in that area compared to the right.
neways, hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on in. its only really been a month but it seems like i had the surgery 3 months ago! i guess im just being a little eager beaver
yea the lage diff with me was cuz y right side drain tube wasnt working properly. but now the difference is mainly do to differnt locations in teh sweeling... the right side the lower jaw cheek area isnt as swollen as the left.. but the upper cheekbone area my left is actually a lot down compared to the rite lol.
ARGHHHHHHH.. i am so frustrated beyond belief. the swelling is back and worse than it has been the last few days. i really don't know what it is at this point because the initial infection and incision areas are completely clean.. no oozing pussing and no redness either. BUT. theres a new swollen area in the jaw area by teh corner of my left lip. at first i thought it was just the swollen tissues (cheek/muscle) from the surgery, but it wouldn't make sense for that area to get inflamed. it doesn't hurt at all. it doesnt throb.it doesnt prevent me from opening and closing my jaw all the way, its just a LUMP.it feels a bit tender when i press on it.. kind of an itchy bruise feeling if that makes any sense.
i am really baffled. i have a slight suspicion it may not even be an infection as there are no signs or symptoms of it being so. i dont have a fever nor is that area any hotter than the rest of my face.. im going to see the surgeon today even though it is easter monday. i sent him a few emails and he said he willprescribe me another antibiotics but i really doubt that it's going to work. i already feel sesame from the clindamycin that ended. the clindamycin did work to get rid of the infection to the incisiona nd cheek but i have no idea what this is as t feels totally different then what i had a few days ago. could it be leftover abcess that can't be drained away by my body? im really starting to regret this whole surgery thing.
i jsut want my regular life back without all the trips to the surgeons office, and being slef conscious about how i look. and all my surgeon says is "dont worry it will resolve".
if he didnt have over 35 years of experience and dont over 1000 jaw operations i would give him attitude.. but i can't cuz hes the "professional"
i am really baffled. i have a slight suspicion it may not even be an infection as there are no signs or symptoms of it being so. i dont have a fever nor is that area any hotter than the rest of my face.. im going to see the surgeon today even though it is easter monday. i sent him a few emails and he said he willprescribe me another antibiotics but i really doubt that it's going to work. i already feel sesame from the clindamycin that ended. the clindamycin did work to get rid of the infection to the incisiona nd cheek but i have no idea what this is as t feels totally different then what i had a few days ago. could it be leftover abcess that can't be drained away by my body? im really starting to regret this whole surgery thing.
i jsut want my regular life back without all the trips to the surgeons office, and being slef conscious about how i look. and all my surgeon says is "dont worry it will resolve".if he didnt have over 35 years of experience and dont over 1000 jaw operations i would give him attitude.. but i can't cuz hes the "professional"
Hey jayC
Just caught up with your story and was so happy for you when i read the antibiotics had worked...till i read on
weirdly my swelling went down abit on wednesday and i was hoping for a miricle then thursday it was worse than ever so i really do no how you feel. Also know exactly what you mean about regreting it all, ive had times like this but the unfortanate truth is that we cant turn the clock back, weve both just been unlucky, and all we can do is get on with it. 
Also know exactly what you mean about the surgeon, mines attitiude has been very similar. I hope hes been able to make you abit happier in person today? Whats he saying about the new swelling etc?
It will all get better you know (and im saying that to myself as much as you
) take care
Just caught up with your story and was so happy for you when i read the antibiotics had worked...till i read on
weirdly my swelling went down abit on wednesday and i was hoping for a miricle then thursday it was worse than ever so i really do no how you feel. Also know exactly what you mean about regreting it all, ive had times like this but the unfortanate truth is that we cant turn the clock back, weve both just been unlucky, and all we can do is get on with it. Also know exactly what you mean about the surgeon, mines attitiude has been very similar. I hope hes been able to make you abit happier in person today? Whats he saying about the new swelling etc?
It will all get better you know (and im saying that to myself as much as you
) take care
Braces on 11th June 2006,~ BSSO and Wisdom tooth removal 11th February 2008,~ Plate Removal 14th May 2008,~ Braces off 28th August 2008.
http://adultwithbraces.blogspot.com/
I suppose the initially treatement would be presccribing antibitics to see if things would clear up because it is the cheapest and least invasive method in dealing with such a thing. But at least your surgeon didn't count out the possibility of an infected screw right away. They basically pinpointed that it is most likely the cuplrit and the reason not much is to be done right now is because they are waiting for the jaw bone to heal properly before they remove the plates/screws.
In my case its basically throwing me in some anitbiotics which may reduce the swelling and contain the infection from spreading, but won't eliminate it. heck.. maybe the hardware isn't infected but i have caught a knarley case of MSRA. But that would not make sense as if it were MSRA none of my initial infection would have gotten better. The part that baffles me is the different location the swelling is occuring in now. If anything I would not be surprised if it was maybe a bone chip that is aggravating or inflaming the area currently. I have yet to see my surgeon as it is only 1140am where I am and he is going to call me to meet me at his office in the afternoon. I can already predict what he is going to do/say "the infection has recurred and I will prescribe you some other antibiotics. Don't worry it's gonna resolve itself". The thing is... Clindamycin is a pretty strong antibiotic in terms of eliminating oral infections and other aerobic/anaerobic bacteria. If that didn't work, I dunno what else he will prescribe me. I am going to ask him straight up today if he has seen anything like this before. But I bet he will just say "Sure it's fairly common and it will resolve itself"
thanks for all your support Lou
In my case its basically throwing me in some anitbiotics which may reduce the swelling and contain the infection from spreading, but won't eliminate it. heck.. maybe the hardware isn't infected but i have caught a knarley case of MSRA. But that would not make sense as if it were MSRA none of my initial infection would have gotten better. The part that baffles me is the different location the swelling is occuring in now. If anything I would not be surprised if it was maybe a bone chip that is aggravating or inflaming the area currently. I have yet to see my surgeon as it is only 1140am where I am and he is going to call me to meet me at his office in the afternoon. I can already predict what he is going to do/say "the infection has recurred and I will prescribe you some other antibiotics. Don't worry it's gonna resolve itself". The thing is... Clindamycin is a pretty strong antibiotic in terms of eliminating oral infections and other aerobic/anaerobic bacteria. If that didn't work, I dunno what else he will prescribe me. I am going to ask him straight up today if he has seen anything like this before. But I bet he will just say "Sure it's fairly common and it will resolve itself"
thanks for all your support Lou
Hey 
You may find that what they do next is to give you a number of antibiotics to be taken at the same time which isnt as bad as it sounds. I had a antibiotic resistant bacteria in my jaw bone a few years ago (after a routine extraction that time, what can i say im just unlucky 
) which they believed to be mrsa and i had 2 small operations, and had to take several weeks of antibiotics and differnent antibiotics at the same time to clear it. But it did clear. Mrsa tho as you say would be unlikely in your case as you had begun to heal.
Possibly my previous history has meant my surgeon has taken my concerns more seriously this time (especailly as its the same surgeon!) but if you know theres something wrong then make sure you persevere and dont be afraid to tell him your not happy. Yes he is the profeesional but its your face.
Your welcome for the support, just hope you get things sorted out later today
You may find that what they do next is to give you a number of antibiotics to be taken at the same time
which isnt as bad as it sounds. I had a antibiotic resistant bacteria in my jaw bone a few years ago (after a routine extraction that time, what can i say im just unlucky ) which they believed to be mrsa and i had 2 small operations, and had to take several weeks of antibiotics and differnent antibiotics at the same time to clear it. But it did clear. Mrsa tho as you say would be unlikely in your case as you had begun to heal. Possibly my previous history has meant my surgeon has taken my concerns more seriously this time (especailly as its the same surgeon!) but if you know theres something wrong then make sure you persevere and dont be afraid to tell him your not happy. Yes he is the profeesional but its your face.
Your welcome for the support, just hope you get things sorted out later today
Braces on 11th June 2006,~ BSSO and Wisdom tooth removal 11th February 2008,~ Plate Removal 14th May 2008,~ Braces off 28th August 2008.
http://adultwithbraces.blogspot.com/
okso i just got back. he was really nice nad understanding.. felt around some more.. prescribed me a diff type of antibiotic as i thoguht he would. he said there was no need for surgery or draining etc. he explained the different life cycles of bacteria and there re certain percentages of ppl who get recurrent infections and also an even smaller percent (3%) who get a third infection by the same bacteria in a diff life cycle. he said for my age and health, it usually doesn happen but it isnt uncommon.
i do believe what he says and i HOPE it is the case with me. he seems to be very confident in what he is talking about. i mean to be able to say with 110% confident "you wont need further surgery or draining", he better be able to back it up or he has been around long enough to know and seen what i have occur more than a few times with his patients...
i do believe what he says and i HOPE it is the case with me. he seems to be very confident in what he is talking about. i mean to be able to say with 110% confident "you wont need further surgery or draining", he better be able to back it up or he has been around long enough to know and seen what i have occur more than a few times with his patients...
Glad it went well, fingers crossed that this lot of antibiotics do the job keep me updated.
keep me updated.Braces on 11th June 2006,~ BSSO and Wisdom tooth removal 11th February 2008,~ Plate Removal 14th May 2008,~ Braces off 28th August 2008.
http://adultwithbraces.blogspot.com/
-
StephCanuck
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:57 pm
- Location: Kingston, Canada
Hey, wow. Im new to the board and have been keeping up with your post Jay. And despite the resent....hurtles...you’ve had to get over I still am quite comforted by your story.
Im having my surgery on May 2, in Kingston Ontario. It freakin creeps up on you doesn’t it? Well, for me at least, considering I only decided to do it in August... which is when I got the braces and all that, and now, less then a year later and SURGERY.
A bit scary...
Im having my surgery on May 2, in Kingston Ontario. It freakin creeps up on you doesn’t it? Well, for me at least, considering I only decided to do it in August... which is when I got the braces and all that, and now, less then a year later and SURGERY.
A bit scary...