Day 36 after Jaw Surgery

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#1 Post by **MandaLou** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:36 am

Well, It's very frustrating. The swelling and bruising is long gone, but where they cut in my gums to do the surgery on my lower jaw and chin still feels very thick. As if someone shoved kleenex in there..
I also still don't have any feeling in my front four bottom teeth and gums. I can't open my mouth much, barely my first two fingers. I used to be able to open it fairly large. I can't smile any kind of normal either. Because there's so much muscle and that thick feeling in my chin I can't smile and it's the most depressing thing. I feel so ugly right now. I don't feel pretty at all

Does everyone still have that thickness at this point? I know my surgeon said that if I still have no feeling somewhere in two months time then we should start to worry but he didn't say anything about this thick gross feeling that doesn't let me feel normal.

And.. Can I floss yet?? Or would it cut too much into my gums if they're still too soft.

#2 Post by **cmeyer115** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:54 am

Sorry to hear, I was hoping it would get better by that point. I am only on day 7 of just lower jaw surgery and I feel like I'm swallowing my bottom lip. Have you had any improvement in the numbness cuz right now I can't feel a thing from the lip down to the bottom of the chin. I haven't had much bruising jsut a yellowish green look, but the swelling and thickness is still there and I feel like people are starring all the time. You should get yourself a massage or pedicure to make yourself feel better, it works for me

Hope you get to feeling better!

#3 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Wed May 28, 2008 11:14 am

Hi MandyLou,

Hang in there. It was six months before my face looked and felt 100% normal. I know exactly what you mean - your face does not look right to you. It will get better.

Meryaten has a great suggestion for working on your ROM - applying heat really helps. Yes, you can and should be flossing by now. I don't agree with surgeon saying you should worry about numbness at two months, because I am still improving at more than a year after surgery.

#4 Post by **loulou123** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:09 pm

I know exactly what you mean by feeling ugly, tho the reality of it is that no one really notices (unless your swellings really bad and then its obvious that youve had something done anyway)

Ive had pretty significant swelling on one side since my op (nearly 4 months!) due to infection and have even started to wear my hair more to one side to cover my cheek! Which i know is pretty silly.

Ive still got numbness and no one is worried, so id give it a while longer before you get too concerned. ROM wise 2 fingers isnt bad for a monthish after op in my opinion, but im sure your ortho and/or surgeon will get you working on that very soon!

Good luck.

#5 Post by **Raspberry** » Thu May 29, 2008 9:29 am

I'm glad that you posted this thread because i was wondering the same thing. I am a month post surgery and i still have that thick feeling in my cheeks/jawline, and when i look at myself i find my face looks weird, I think it's just a combination of that and the new jaw position. I guess i'm just not used to it. i have been doing the exercises given to me by the surgeon, and i also can barely fit 2 fingers.
I also have numbness, but mostly in my cheeks.

#6 Post by **cmeyer115** » Thu May 29, 2008 3:31 pm

How are you doing? I was having a rough time and decided some pampering was due, so I got my hair done and went shopping for some new clothes since my weight is going down. Just getting out and trying to feel normal actually helped some. I know people are still looking funny at me with the swelling, looks like I have a big jawbreaker in the left cheek

and my bottom lip feels like it is constantly being swallowed over the teeth from the swelling, BUT I didn't care. It felt good. With my job I don't really do my hair all up or put makeup on, so I kinds forgot what it looked like. Well hope you are finding ways to feel better. Take care!

#7 Post by **ssspidermom** » Thu May 29, 2008 6:28 pm

Hey! I had upper surgery. I think some of what you are experiencing may be the scar healing, and becoming tighter. I feel like I have a wet piece of yarn under my upper lip, glued in place, and pulling when I smile or laugh.

I also have lots of weird stinging and itching in the upper jaw and behind my nose, which is very distracting. Some days it is all I can do to not scream! (Not really, but aggravating.)

I hope you start feeling more "normal" soon!!

Our surgeries were very close (4/22).

Pamper yourself! I always feel better when I wear something that makes me feel pretty!