April 2010 Buddies
Moderator: bbsadmin
Am I the only one not allowed to remove my elastics at all? I'd love to take them off to eat but my surgeon said a big fat NO WAY. So it's slop meals sucked through the gap for the time being - i'm seeing him on the 23rd. I might beg. 
Otherwise all is well, so nice to feel that the is surgery slipping further and further into the past...
Otherwise all is well, so nice to feel that the is surgery slipping further and further into the past...
ive been told i can take out elastics to eat and clean but most things i can take with elastics in as all i can manage is soups and protien drinks
does anyone find taking them off and on a pain. last week i got the arrangement changed wow what pain my front teeth were clamped on top of each other i thought they were going to chip as my jaw is in spasm. i got it sorted on thursday
does anyone find taking them off and on a pain. last week i got the arrangement changed wow what pain my front teeth were clamped on top of each other i thought they were going to chip as my jaw is in spasm. i got it sorted on thursday
I'm doing pretty good. Still look a bit like a chipmunk. Most of my face feels OK, but my lips still feel really weird. The eating thing is just a tease - being allowed to chew, but physically unable.
My elastics are not that elaborate yet, as I haven't been to the orthodontist yet.
Definitely feel like the worst is over. I think I have my normal amount of energy back, so pretty happy about that.
Does anyone know when you are supposed to start jaw exercises to gain range of motion back? My surgeon didn't say anything at all about that and I don't see him now for 3 months.
My elastics are not that elaborate yet, as I haven't been to the orthodontist yet.
Definitely feel like the worst is over. I think I have my normal amount of energy back, so pretty happy about that.
Does anyone know when you are supposed to start jaw exercises to gain range of motion back? My surgeon didn't say anything at all about that and I don't see him now for 3 months.
Since you went through a similar procedure to the one I'm going to go through (double jaw surgery to fix underbite).Audra wrote:Why am I the only one you ask to post pics? If I wanted to post full face pics I would. Obviously I don't want to.
I wasn't aware that the reason is shyness (which is totally understandable). It's simply that at an earlier post you mentioned swelling to be the problem.
I AM shy. I haven't even posted my face on my FB account for my friends to see.
There are a lot of pics posted on the Facebook group "We Need/Got Jaw Surgery". I found them quite helpful when I was researching this surgery.
I have found the swelling amongst people who have had this surgery to be incredibly variable. It all depends on the person's underlying health, age, supplement program, etc. What I have learned is that you really can't compare someone else's experience to your own as far as that goes. My doctor told me I would take longer to heal because of my age (I'm 43). I sort of scoffed at that at first, but he's right. So, I'm just dealing with it.
Every morning when I wake up, I feel like a squirrel who's been storing nuts for the winter in my mouth.
Of course, I'm overweight to begin with so I don't know how much of that is still swelling (even though I KNOW some of it is) and how much of it is just "me" that's been re-distributed.
I am still pretty self-conscious. I'm happy about my teeth and will probably post those pics, but I really am not up to full face pics.
There are a lot of pics posted on the Facebook group "We Need/Got Jaw Surgery". I found them quite helpful when I was researching this surgery.
I have found the swelling amongst people who have had this surgery to be incredibly variable. It all depends on the person's underlying health, age, supplement program, etc. What I have learned is that you really can't compare someone else's experience to your own as far as that goes. My doctor told me I would take longer to heal because of my age (I'm 43). I sort of scoffed at that at first, but he's right. So, I'm just dealing with it.
Every morning when I wake up, I feel like a squirrel who's been storing nuts for the winter in my mouth.
Of course, I'm overweight to begin with so I don't know how much of that is still swelling (even though I KNOW some of it is) and how much of it is just "me" that's been re-distributed.
I am still pretty self-conscious. I'm happy about my teeth and will probably post those pics, but I really am not up to full face pics.
Hey Descantus,
I was pretty much wired shut for the first 3.5 weeks. At that point I was finally given lighter elastics, but was still only allowed to drink my food. I'm guessing my surgeon is also extra cautious.
Speaking of elastics, I'm pretty surprised at how quick the elastics the ortho had me put on seem to be working. I just put the weak little bands I was given boxed around my back molars and I already feel light contact back there. I'm hoping at this rate I won't need to keep them too long since its a pain having to pull them out and put them back in a bunch of times each day.
I was pretty much wired shut for the first 3.5 weeks. At that point I was finally given lighter elastics, but was still only allowed to drink my food. I'm guessing my surgeon is also extra cautious.
Speaking of elastics, I'm pretty surprised at how quick the elastics the ortho had me put on seem to be working. I just put the weak little bands I was given boxed around my back molars and I already feel light contact back there. I'm hoping at this rate I won't need to keep them too long since its a pain having to pull them out and put them back in a bunch of times each day.
I was told no exercises (only asked after seeing people posting about loss of range of motion still months after surgery). They said normal motion eating, talking is the best exercise and nearly a month later I'm seeing gradual improvements, especially in side to side motion.Audra wrote: Does anyone know when you are supposed to start jaw exercises to gain range of motion back? My surgeon didn't say anything at all about that and I don't see him now for 3 months.
Hey Audra,
I was only recently told to try and start stretching my jaw open a bit on my recent appointment (~6 weeks). I wasn't given an exercise routine to go through though, the surgeon just said once in a while take off the bands and try to open your mouth and stretch it a bit.
What crumble mentioned is what I think seems to help the most, just going through the day talking and eating as best you can seems to work well. I barely stretch my jaw on my own, it usually just happens when I yawn.
I was only recently told to try and start stretching my jaw open a bit on my recent appointment (~6 weeks). I wasn't given an exercise routine to go through though, the surgeon just said once in a while take off the bands and try to open your mouth and stretch it a bit.
What crumble mentioned is what I think seems to help the most, just going through the day talking and eating as best you can seems to work well. I barely stretch my jaw on my own, it usually just happens when I yawn.
Thanks nineeyes.
I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything, since my surgeon gave me no instruction on this whatsoever.
When I had my acl reconstruction (knee) I had to start physio the next day to start working on range of motion. So, I was a bit worried that if I wasn't doing what I was supposed to I'd end up not being able to open my mouth down the road.
I was yawning A LOT last night, as I stayed up later than usual and it was my first full week back at work. Didn't hurt - just felt weird.
I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything, since my surgeon gave me no instruction on this whatsoever.
When I had my acl reconstruction (knee) I had to start physio the next day to start working on range of motion. So, I was a bit worried that if I wasn't doing what I was supposed to I'd end up not being able to open my mouth down the road.
I was yawning A LOT last night, as I stayed up later than usual and it was my first full week back at work. Didn't hurt - just felt weird.