Sorry, Should have said February 2014 surgery buddies

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

The next development in surgery?

Hey guys, I know this is too late for us, but the future of jaw surgery may include...silk!

Here's an article about silk screws being used in lab tests, with pretty good results so far. Minimizes swelling, the body absorbs them, and no need for surgery to have the screws removed. Wild and amazing!

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-me ... ilk-screws

What do you think? I would have asked for tie die screws

Wow, this is amazing! Science never ceases to amaze me. I have to be honest, I kind of want these screws and plates out of me because the thought of having them in my body indefinitely makes me a bit wary. I just hope my plates/screws haven't shifted: won't know until I have my x-rays done on Friday. I always thought the surgeon did x-rays right after the surgery and then at the 6-week mark but apparently my surgeon didn't think that was necessary.

Yeah, I'd like my metal removed, but I don't want to go under the knife again. I read some people can suffer nerve damage from that process, so no thank you. I did have my xray done like as soon as I woke up from surgery lol. It was crazy. My OS didn't do another one yet, but my ortho actually did a side view when i went in at the 1 month mark. I have enough xrays to cover all four walls of my room- at least it feels that way.

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

Haven't posted in awhile; mostly because I have nothing new to report. Still in tight bands (and liquid diet) - for at least another week. I can take the bands off once a day for teeth cleaning and to change the bands, but that's all. I thought the hunger pangs would go away eventually, but they seem to be getting worse! Whatever happens at my next appt (April 2), I am taking these things off long enough to eat some (very soft) cake! My swelling is gone with just a bit of puffiness left. Numbness is going away slowley but surely. I have much of the feeling back on the right side; the left side is creeping back. I truly think the Reiki treatments helped. I envy you guys eating "real" food! I'm at the point of "why bother", and have to remind myself to get enough healing calories and liquids.
Anyhow, we're getting through this. As Sherry says, what choice do we have? Only (I hope) another week for me. I'll be thinking of you when I have that cake!

I'm sorry you're still in the tight bands . Things will get better quickly as soon as you're released from them. For example, I was able to eat a personal pan pizza yesterday! Yes, it took some effort and took me a while and I had to cut it, but I did it. My surgeon said at the 6-week mark, which is today (unbelievable), I can start eating anything I want. I'm craving a taco salad but not sure I should risk chewing the taco shell...I may just stick with something else and be cautious until I see the surgeon on Friday.

I still have numbness in the upper gums and palate but there are one or two places in the gums and palate that I can sense feeling coming back. They weren't kidding when they said this is a waiting game.

Enjoy that cake and let us know how it goes! I had a cupcake yesterday and it was just GLORIOUS!

Wow! You're progressing much quicker than I am! I'm still on softies...and I have swelling still, though you can't tell too much. But I can when food gets stuck where I can't see it because I'm swollen. And I'm still super stiff and numb all around my lip area. What gives?!?! I've tried Arnica tea, lots of heat packs, potato peels...even acupuncture (once).

Any recommendations?

My ROM is coming back...slowly, but surely.

[samoorelaw]

I'm still trying to take things slow and as soon as I feel some soreness, I stop. But I figure I can progress faster because my surgeon said at 6 weeks I can eat whatever I want and it's been 6 weeks as of today. I figure as long as I don't feel any sharp pains near the incision sites and just feel some aches in the muscles from lack of use that it's okay and I'm not hurting anything.

I still have some residual swelling in my cheeks and am still numb a bit on the right part of my upper lip/cheek, but I also feel some feeling in these areas but I can tell something is still off. I haven't been using anything other than the occasional heat pack at night, nothing fancy and my surgeon said the last time I saw him 3 weeks ago that I'm healing very well. I don't think you need to use Arnica or any of that, especially since there is no evidence that stuff works: it's still going to take some time and all of those things are probably just a placebo, at best.

I can fit 2 maybe 2.5 fingers in my open mouth but can't get to 3. What's your ROM?

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

I'm still trying to take things slow and as soon as I feel some soreness, I stop. But I figure I can progress faster because my surgeon said at 6 weeks I can eat whatever I want and it's been 6 weeks as of today. I figure as long as I don't feel any sharp pains near the incision sites and just feel some aches in the muscles from lack of use that it's okay and I'm not hurting anything.

I still have some residual swelling in my cheeks and am still numb a bit on the right part of my upper lip/cheek, but I also feel some feeling in these areas but I can tell something is still off. I haven't been using anything other than the occasional heat pack at night, nothing fancy and my surgeon said the last time I saw him 3 weeks ago that I'm healing very well. I don't think you need to use Arnica or any of that, especially since there is no evidence that stuff works: it's still going to take some time and all of those things are probably just a placebo, at best.

I can fit 2 maybe 2.5 fingers in my open mouth but can't get to 3. What's your ROM?

I was less than 1 finger at 5-6 weeks, and my OS said it should be at least 2 at that point...but I wasn't told to open my mouth yet...so go figure. Now with the stretches, less than two weeks later I'm at 2.5. I mostly stretch just opening my jaw until slight discomfort and hold for a couple seconds. I don't pry my jaws open with the popsicle sticks or my fingers yet. I'm saving the good stuff as a last resort.

[samoorelaw]

I was less than 1 finger at 5-6 weeks, and my OS said it should be at least 2 at that point...but I wasn't told to open my mouth yet...so go figure. Now with the stretches, less than two weeks later I'm at 2.5. I mostly stretch just opening my jaw until slight discomfort and hold for a couple seconds. I don't pry my jaws open with the popsicle sticks or my fingers yet. I'm saving the good stuff as a last resort.

That's amazing progress. I started doing stretches like that more seriously yesterday and I can already open my mouth a bit more (almost at 3). I was also able to eat a grilled chicken burger and fries yesterday and my beloved taco salad today, even the shell! It feels so good to eat again, even though it does take me much longer but I don't care: I ate much too quickly before anyway and eating longer allows me to feel full and enjoy my meal for longer.

Did you have double or single jaw surgery? If single jaw, which one: upper or lower?

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

I was less than 1 finger at 5-6 weeks, and my OS said it should be at least 2 at that point...but I wasn't told to open my mouth yet...so go figure. Now with the stretches, less than two weeks later I'm at 2.5. I mostly stretch just opening my jaw until slight discomfort and hold for a couple seconds. I don't pry my jaws open with the popsicle sticks or my fingers yet. I'm saving the good stuff as a last resort.

That's amazing progress. I started doing stretches like that more seriously yesterday and I can already open my mouth a bit more (almost at 3). I was also able to eat a grilled chicken burger and fries yesterday and my beloved taco salad today, even the shell! It feels so good to eat again, even though it does take me much longer but I don't care: I ate much too quickly before anyway and eating longer allows me to feel full and enjoy my meal for longer.

Did you have double or single jaw surgery? If single jaw, which one: upper or lower?

Oh wow, I'm still at fish and lasagna

I had double jaw. I planned on only upper, then the day of the surgery I was told it would be two : ( What about you? Sorry, I can't recall if I read that at the beginning of this thread..

[samoorelaw]

I was less than 1 finger at 5-6 weeks, and my OS said it should be at least 2 at that point...but I wasn't told to open my mouth yet...so go figure. Now with the stretches, less than two weeks later I'm at 2.5. I mostly stretch just opening my jaw until slight discomfort and hold for a couple seconds. I don't pry my jaws open with the popsicle sticks or my fingers yet. I'm saving the good stuff as a last resort.

That's amazing progress. I started doing stretches like that more seriously yesterday and I can already open my mouth a bit more (almost at 3). I was also able to eat a grilled chicken burger and fries yesterday and my beloved taco salad today, even the shell! It feels so good to eat again, even though it does take me much longer but I don't care: I ate much too quickly before anyway and eating longer allows me to feel full and enjoy my meal for longer.

Did you have double or single jaw surgery? If single jaw, which one: upper or lower?

Oh wow, I'm still at fish and lasagna

I had double jaw. I planned on only upper, then the day of the surgery I was told it would be two : ( What about you? Sorry, I can't recall if I read that at the beginning of this thread..

I just had upper jaw surgery: I say "just" like it was easy, but it was enough! I can't imagine how much tougher it would be to do the lower, too, because when you think about it, you initiate opening your mouth and chewing with your lower jaw...

[redwine]

I'm sooo jealous of you guys! I've gotton to the point where I actually dream of baked goods! And I only watch Netflix or DVR programs because the food ads make me crazy. However, less than a week to go and I should be able to have some cake. I can remove my bands once a day for cleaning and as of yesterday was able to get my electric toothbrush in my mouth! It took a bit of doing, but the back of my teeth feels so much cleaner. I guess that would translate to 1 finger width? Even though I am jealous, I'm very happy to hear you're both doing so well. I would probably be right there with you if the surgery had gone as planned. No use crying over spilled milk (Boost?). I'm happy to have some feeling back on the right side of my jaw. The left is gone for good, and I'm starting to get used to it a little.

[samoorelaw]

I'm sooo jealous of you guys! I've gotton to the point where I actually dream of baked goods! And I only watch Netflix or DVR programs because the food ads make me crazy. However, less than a week to go and I should be able to have some cake. I can remove my bands once a day for cleaning and as of yesterday was able to get my electric toothbrush in my mouth! It took a bit of doing, but the back of my teeth feels so much cleaner. I guess that would translate to 1 finger width? Even though I am jealous, I'm very happy to hear you're both doing so well. I would probably be right there with you if the surgery had gone as planned. No use crying over spilled milk (Boost?). I'm happy to have some feeling back on the right side of my jaw. The left is gone for good, and I'm starting to get used to it a little.

I'm so sorry you've had such a rough go of it so far. You have much more of a reason to complain about your post-op experience than I do! I hope things continue to get better with each passing day and that you're able to start chewing real food again.

How's your bite coming along? Any pics? I've attached a recent picture. I still have gaps in the back molars, more so on the right side than left. I see the ortho on Wednesday and hope he will give me elastics in a different configuration to help close them: the Class II traingle configuration just isn't closing them.

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

I'm sooo jealous of you guys! I've gotton to the point where I actually dream of baked goods! And I only watch Netflix or DVR programs because the food ads make me crazy. However, less than a week to go and I should be able to have some cake. I can remove my bands once a day for cleaning and as of yesterday was able to get my electric toothbrush in my mouth! It took a bit of doing, but the back of my teeth feels so much cleaner. I guess that would translate to 1 finger width? Even though I am jealous, I'm very happy to hear you're both doing so well. I would probably be right there with you if the surgery had gone as planned. No use crying over spilled milk (Boost?). I'm happy to have some feeling back on the right side of my jaw. The left is gone for good, and I'm starting to get used to it a little.

Try not to get too caught up in it! It's very tough, I know. It also didn't help me that others were constantly asking if I could eat solids yet. I just kept saying it was like getting my braces tightened. Immediately after an ortho visit, I was on softs for a couple days - a week even! So I just said this was just one long painful tightening and I was used to being on a soft/liquid diet for a while : ) The mind is an amazing thing.

And try not to fret about the numbness thing. I am still very very numb in most of my chin and somewhat around my lips. Actually, my lips feel like they're buring.all.the.time. My surgeon said that even if a nerve is severed, if it is stitched, there's a chance you'll get feeling back. Otherwise, why bother to stitch it back together, right?

Try not to get discouraged, and instead applaud the small victories. I truly believe your attitude plays a crucial role in your recovery. I still feel crappy, but when people ask, I say 'today is better than yesterday" or 'each day is better than the one before". True, even if it's only 1/2% : )

My recovery is going slow - my OS said I'm a slow healer...so off to therapy I go : ( Why can't I be 20 ; )

[samoorelaw]

Hope everyone is healing well! Just found out I need crown lengthening for 8 of the teeth in my upper arch I need crowns for when the braces come off. Looking into getting this done within 4-6 weeks: just had the appointment with my dentist-recommended periodontist. Trying to decide if I should do this under just local anesthesia (numbing) or twilight anesthesia. After the jaw surgery, this procedure should be easy: most of my gums and palate are still numb so don't know if the anesthesia is necessary and it would save me $450 if I didn't have it. It will also make my teeth more attractive. Anyone ever have this? I've always thought my upper teeth looked small but never realized this was the procedure to solve that problem.

[redwine]

Hi guys! I'm back and excited because I can eat again! Actually I've been able to since last Wednesday, just have been too busy to post. I can leave bands off for up to 12 hours a day and I'm supposed to exercise my jaw throughout the day. I yawn frequently as it stretches the jaw, and helps clear my ears which have been fluid-filled since surgery. They're finally starting to clear out some and everything else continues to improve as well.
So everyone else seems to be coming along nicely. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we were miserable, and wondering if we would make it. At least, that's how I felt. I've been told that the braces will come of at the end of the summer and have that to look forward to. I'm pretty sure I'll have to have one crown re-glued (it seems loose now) and I'll have to get another one when the brackets come off. Eight crowns Sherrie? That's a lot! However, we know you can take it, even if your wallet screams bloody murder.
I'm still on soft chew but it's fine with me. Baked goods definitely qualify as soft-chew!

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

Great to hear!

Not sure what happened to my last reply, but I just want to reiterate that I know nothing about crowns : )

Everything is healing just fine, except that persistent numbness on one side of my chin - I forgot to mention that although I didn't technically have genioplasty, I did. My lower jaw was moved more on one side than the other, so my OS had to compensate by making a little slice in the chin. If you look at it from the front, it looks like a little wedge. Well, that wedge is annoying me recovery-wise.

Anywho, I was told that I get my braces off in early - mid June. Wohoo.

Redwine - hang in there and glad you checked in. I was wondering about you. I healed slow too, but I'm getting there, so I have faith you will too : )

[samoorelaw]

Hi guys! I'm back and excited because I can eat again! Actually I've been able to since last Wednesday, just have been too busy to post. I can leave bands off for up to 12 hours a day and I'm supposed to exercise my jaw throughout the day. I yawn frequently as it stretches the jaw, and helps clear my ears which have been fluid-filled since surgery. They're finally starting to clear out some and everything else continues to improve as well.
So everyone else seems to be coming along nicely. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago we were miserable, and wondering if we would make it. At least, that's how I felt. I've been told that the braces will come of at the end of the summer and have that to look forward to. I'm pretty sure I'll have to have one crown re-glued (it seems loose now) and I'll have to get another one when the brackets come off. Eight crowns Sherrie? That's a lot! However, we know you can take it, even if your wallet screams bloody murder.
I'm still on soft chew but it's fine with me. Baked goods definitely qualify as soft-chew!

Glad to hear from you; I was also wondering how you were doing. Yes, 8 crowns, but I was told this before I even began treatment. The only thing I WASN'T told was that I needed crown lengthening to be done to make room for the crowns. I scheduled the procedure for Friday, May 9th: I just want to get it out of the way, and I figured why not do this while most of my gums are still numb? This will only make recovery easier.

So jealous that you know when your braces will come off! I have asked several times and my ortho simply says "oh, it's usually an average of 6-8 months after the surgery," but he has not indicated to me whether I will be that average. I still have a bit of a posterior open bite on my right side. The elastics have helped getting my very back molars touching on both sides but the side of my mouth on the right side is still a wee bit open. My midline is perfect when wearing the elastic but immediately shifts back when I take it off. Maybe my midline won't ever be be perfect.

What elastic configuration are you wearing? I'm wearing the upside-down triangles on the very back molars on both sides (with double elastics on the right side) as well as the midline one.

Glad to hear you're able to eat again! The first meal after being debanded is both the scariest and best meal of your life, huh?

[redwine]

Sherrie, you have the first meal correct, both tastiest and scariest! It was just my "no-chew barbeque" but it was sooo good to roll it around in my mouth. Since then I've had many memorable meals and I hope I'll never again take them for granted!
I don't actually have a de-brace date yet, but it will (for now anyway) be in August. I've scheduled a cleaning and whitening for the end of August and plan to take a short vacation (brace-free!) over Labor Day weekend.
My bands are in a parallelogram configuration with hooks on 2 & 4 on the top and 3 & 5 on the bottom. I had wires on the top and bottom changed at my last appt.,my midline remains perfect so far and the openings on the side are closing rapidly. My surgeon is happy, ortho is happy and my tech (who works hardest) is thrilled! As am I. Wow, what a long strange trip this has been!
Question: My eustachion tubes are all messed up since surgery. Surgeon says it's common with lower jaw surgery, but I've never seen it mentioned on these pages. Hoping it goes away soon. Constantly feel fluid in there and I'm having a difficult time hearing - much worse than usual! I yawn a lot - it exercises the jaw and makes my ears pop.
I think having teeth made longer is fairly common. At least among those that can afford it, or people like us who are willing to go the extra mile after all we've been through!