June/July 2015 Surgery Buddies

[jaime]

Snap, I don't think it clicked in that you were a similar age to me when I saw your photo. In my mind, I'm still college-aged or something. Although nowadays when I see teenagers, they look like children to me.

I doubt you'd do any damage smoking a cigarette now. I can only see that being a problem while the incision closes but I'm sure that has long ago happened. I smoke occasionally while drinking too...guess I'm not alone in that habit around here!!

Vaguy, congrats on being done. Hopefully you are doing okay. Days 3 and 4 (today and tomorrow for you) were my worst. What everyone says about staying hydrated and getting in calories is VERY true. I ignored that advice and paid the consequences.

Nozzel...yum, donuts!! I think we all understand how great it is to eat tasty, non-liquid things! That was like my White Castle binge last weekend. This weekend I had some different dessert squares, danishes, and a pancake. So good to eat normal food.

How's everyone's chewing coming along? I'm doing much better but some soft things are still too difficult. Like the skin on brie was too much, and toast can still be bothersome.

Also, I've noticed that the plate on the left side of my nose is really bothering me. I can feel the screw under my skin and it kind of aches after I do any chewing. I guess the bone is starting to heal and chewing sort of irritates the tissue.

I went to my grandma's funeral on Saturday. There were several people there whom I hadn't seen in a few years, when I was 20+lbs heavier and before I started fixing my teeth. Lots of people didn't recognize me! It's hard to believe I look that different.

[snapdresser]

Nozzelnut - Phew! That's good to hear I was worried. Besides the diet, I had stuck with the post-op regimen so well up until this point...

Jaime - Haha, yeah, I think the same thing about college kids even. But I agree, I met some people that looked really old to me at those parties over the weekend, lo and behold they're like 31-33 lol. Nope, you're not alone in that habit. I quit a few months before surgery but Saturday night just got the best of me. My chewing hasn't improved much in the last week or two. My teeth are still sensitive (tho it's now my top right canine and the incisor next to it), probably cuz of the archabars tugging on them. I still can't open more than about a finger and a half wide, which is an issue a lot of the time. My bite power seems alright, tho. Still can't do fried calamari and thin crust pizza. I could see myself having a problem with toast, but I haven't tried it. That's interesting about being able to feel that screw. It just feels like general inflammation in that area for me. As long as you're sticking to the prescribed diet, I bet that aching gets better in the next couple weeks. Most people I've seen since the surgery recognized me, since I was with my wife or I was at work at my desk with a nametag on it lol. I'm planning a trip to see some old friends over Labor Day weekend tho. I'm not sure if they'll recognize me right off the bat; I guess we'll see. I don't think I've changed tremendously from the front tho. My shaving was probably the single biggest change

[EP30]

Good luck!

[deathorglory]

My dentist's wife had double jaw surgery and he said that for 6 months she thought about her surgery and what was and wasn't possible......then it seemed one day she just forgot it'd happened and was able to eat everything without issue! ALSO I tend to do stupid things that make me think about the surgery. The other day I managed to smack myself in the healing jaw bone (at the incision no less) with a binder. I'm just that talented, guys. Don't be jealous my jaw throbbed for a bit but no harm done No pain after an hour, anyway...

[Nozzelnut]

My dentist's wife had double jaw surgery and he said that for 6 months she thought about her surgery and what was and wasn't possible......then it seemed one day she just forgot it'd happened and was able to eat everything without issue! ALSO I tend to do stupid things that make me think about the surgery. The other day I managed to smack myself in the healing jaw bone (at the incision no less) with a binder. I'm just that talented, guys. Don't be jealous my jaw throbbed for a bit but no harm done No pain after an hour, anyway...

Good to hear about the 6 month thing; not so good to hear about smacking yourself in the jaw....

Jaime, the chewing is only so-so. Sometimes ok and sometimes not-so good. It's not great yet. Opening is only ok. I had one afternoon that it felt like I opened 2x as much and then that night back to stiff and sore. Nights I get pretty sore and achy.

This surgery seems to be a bit longer in recovery than what I had envisioned. Kind of like a thumb injury; it hurts forever.

Almost forgot; getting some tingling in my beard hairs on the left side of my chin that was D-E-D dead 2 weeks ago

[Liz192]

Ok I have to say, when I first joined this forum I totally thought I was the "old" one of the group but am pleasantly surprised that we are all around the same age. I feel like that's why we relate so well to each other, besides the surgery obviously. Lol. Oh and in case y'all are wondering I'm 30 and love it! Haha

Jamie- Chewing for me is still a struggle. I know I look ridiculous trying to chew. Ugh and oh my gosh, I can't tell you how many whole pieces of food I pull out from between my lower teeth and cheeks all because I can't feel it. Haha anyway, I can open 2 fingers wide but still manage to hit my lip when trying to feed myself. I'm hoping it gets easier once I regain the feeling in my lower lip. I don't eat a whole lot at once because I find that my muscles get tired. I had a French fry today. It was salty goodness. Lol it's the little things in life right now.

[snapdresser]

deathorglory - 6 months? Hmmm... That's not so bad in the scheme of things. I know after my mom's rotator cuff tear she was dealing with the post-op physical therapy for like a year. And most of you guys started your pre-op orthodontics well over a year ago! That's rough about wacking yourself with the binder. I bump my cheek accidentally from time to time too, I just hope I never do it TOO hard.

Nozzelnut - Woooo!!! Congrats on the feeling in your chin! That sounds pretty similar to what I have. Encouraging, eh?

Liz192 - Lol, yeah, I think we all feel like the "old person" on a braces-related forum (which we probably are, relative to the braces, wisdom teeth, etc. topics), but apparently people start seriously planning this surgery in their mid-to-late 20s. Maybe once we all found work, settled down, etc? We were finally able to focus on and afford such things?

T-minus 3 hours until my archbars are off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure I couldn't understate my excitement BUT I understand it's painful. They have to numb you up to do it. When I had my braces removed all those years ago I don't remember any numbing. Maybe my partial numbness in my gums (at least on the left side) will help some. I'm reeeeally hoping I don't have any more loose teeth. I'll try to report back this afternoon, but if I go straight home afterwards, I might not.

[KaylaChristine]

This morning when I was removing my elastics I noticed that my upper jaw moves up when I bite down. It seems like I'm having a delayed union (hopefully not a nonunion ) I see my surgeon this afternoon....hopefully he calms my fears a bit. It's really unsettling seeing my upper jaw move up & down though...I'm really worried it won't heal and I'll have to have another surgery.

I'll try and catch up on your guys posts later tonight. I'll update on what my surgeon says...

[snapdresser]

KaylaChristine - Jeez... You had the regular Lefort I on the top, right? So there's hardware on the top? I know you have no hardware on the mandible because of the specific procedure you got. Typically it's supposed to be the hardware that keeps everything in place while the bone regenerates in the maxilla. That leads me to believe maybe the bone chipped around the screw or something. If the hardware isn't keeping it in place, I could see it being difficult for the bone to regenerate. That would mean they'd have to go back in, I would think. BUT at least it's just the top. The top has the least risk of permanent numbness, less swelling, etc., as I'm sure you're well aware. AND since it'd just be the top, you'd also avoid getting wired shut again, I should think. GOOD LUCK!!! Anxious to hear how it turns out. Keep us posted!

[Liz192]

Whoo Snap!!! I can't wait to hear how it goes! I'm super excited for you! And in honor of you getting your arch bar removed- emojis!!

[Nozzelnut]

Congrats Snap! Arch bars should be off around now! >>>

I can't wait for that day of freedom when my braces come off. I haven't asked my ortho and I'm not sure I want to hear his answer if it's something like "Ohhh, another year."

I'm with you Liz about it being hard to chew and finding food in my cheeks on the bottom. The good news is that it's getting better. More feeling and whatnot.

One thing I've noticed is it's difficult to chew with my lips closed. Not sure if anyone else has noticed this too.

[Liz192]

Nozzlenut- I noticed the same thing. It is easier to chew with my lips open. I look like a cow but hey. Is your lower lip still numb? Mine is still numb. Has tingles but still numb.

Yay Snap!

[jaime]

Waiting to hear how it went with snap!

Nozzel, that's great news that you're getting feeling back in your chin.

I've found it hard to chew with my mouth closed since SARPE, but part of the problem is that I had an RPE and now I have a TPA. There's less room in my mouth because of them. I'm almost more excited to be free of my TPA than I am of the braces. I'm not going to know what to do with myself when it all comes out.

I find food in my cheeks constantly, too. Combine that with the fact it feels harder to move my tongue around since surgery, I spit out a lot of food when I brush.

Kayla, hopefully everything goes okay with your jaw and I am hoping you don't need any other surgeries!

Liz: compared to the rest of the forum, 30 is pretty young! It's actually sort of nice that this forum is mainly adults...there is a braces and jaw surgery "community" on Instagram but it seems to be mainly teenagers.

Deathorglory: 6 months seems about right. Sometimes I forget I have chewing limitations and I start planning what I want to eat.

Snap: I forgot to answer your question about how I knocked my front teeth loose. As a kid, I had the brilliant idea of jumping off my top bunk into a pile of pillows on the floor. Only, I landed wrong my knee slammed into my face. I was a smart cookie.

My honeymoon starts this weekend and I'm off to the east coast. I'm excited that fish is easy to eat!

[snapdresser]

Thanks for all the support everybody!!! I'M DONE!!!!! They used topical analgesic and novocaine all over my gums, so it was mostly painless. It was a very offputting sound/feeling when they yanked the wires out tho. The way the wire runs against your teeth as they yank it out with the pliers is weird There was a fair bit of blood and my gums feel pretty jacked up when I feel them with my tongue, but I figure that'll all be settled over the coming days and weeks. And I'M DONE!!!!!!!

Other news is that I can start all exercises again "with caution", which apparently means being mindful not to clench my teeth super hard. And my diet is pretty much open now, she just wants me to avoid really tough foods.

[jaime]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo