MeanCactus wrote:Just wondering how long everyone else has been shut? I'm hoping it only takes me two weeks in bands because I want to start eating for one and start lifting weights again before my whole summer is shot as well. idk I'm tired of just feeling like laying around cause I can't talk or do much of anything besides light activity. My oral surgeon won't even let me work over four hours or lift anything over 10 pounds. I personally think I could do both of those things.
I was also wired shut for nearly five weeks, however, after the first week or two my surgeon said that I could resume weightlifting as long as I didn't strain with my jaw & he was strict about not running. As TitaniumAdded experienced, I too was also only pushing a minimum amount of weights. The biggest problem I had when lifting was the inability to breathe thanks to my splint. I couldn't push myself very hard without getting lightheaded, quite the limiting factor. I still haven't caught back up to my "usual" pre-surgery weights. That's been primarily by choice as I decided to use my weight loss as a jumpstart to get leaner and faster (for triathlons, 5k's, etc.) rather than try to regain the mass I had lost - 20 lbs lost while wired, 10 more since then (by choice).
Once I got unwired, I was only banded tightly for about ten days, until my ortho took over from my OS. I found it reassuring to have the rubber bands holding things in place. When I would take them out to eat I felt very exposed and somewhat fragile...afraid that I was about ruin my healing process. That didn't last too long.
You should get outside and walk to help the healing process. Sitting around too much can be quite tough mentally too, I found.
DRG