June/July 2015 Surgery Buddies

[snapdresser]

Thanks! I know there aren't many pre-op pictures of me on FB, and they're all what I considered "good" pictures of me. The "bad" pictures of me, which were by far the majority, never saw the light of day "Polished", nice I started doing my hair after the surgery. I think I just started taking more pride in my appearance afterwards. It's kind of hard to explain.

Your ortho is blasé about everything, or your surgeon is? That's not a good characteristic when trying to decide on treatment plans Did you ever try the muscle relaxers to try and get that side to loosen up?

There's a Canadian Thanksgiving?! Woaahhhh Ours is from a story about a successful harvest back in the pilgrim days, IIRC. What's you guys' story?! My diet's back to what it was pre-op, basically. There are some crunchy things that are painful to eat, like pita chips, but I still have them I just wonder if it was worth it afterwards lol. Are your bones still moving? Or is it pain that's driving the diet restrictions?

[jaime]

My ortho is the blasé one. He's been an orthodontist for a longgggggg time, 30+ years. He just seems generally disinterested in the process and the patients, but I went to him because I knew I had several problems and he would have the experience to fix everything. It's just his bedside manner that leaves something to be desired.

I haven't had a chance to get any muscle relaxants yet. I don't think the problem with my bite is muscular, though. My jaw pain has actually eased off this week.

In researching why our Thanksgiving occurs earlier than America's, I learned that we've actually been celebrating the holiday for several decades longer than the USA! There is no clear reason why it's earlier, but it was all over the place until the government finally decided on the second Monday of October. The purpose of the holiday is the same, though. But ours is less pilgrims and more appreciation for the bounty of the harvest. Apparently.

Anyway, back to the jaw stuff! I still have pain when I eat certain things. It doesn't stop me, though. The pain goes away quickly enough.

Are you able to eat steak and salad now? I consider that to be the final frontier.

[jaime]

Alright so I saw my ortho and I expressed my concern about the fact my molars aren't moving down. First he told me to double up on elastics but then he changed his mind and gave me an even smaller elastic (3M Unitek "Cathy"). Anyway, I said, "So what happens if my teeth don't move?" He looked at me sideways and said, "Well that would be very unusual."

He thinks things look pretty good but said we still have more work to do with my bite. So much for getting my braces off at the lower end of the estimate!

I think I will probably double up on this smaller elastic even though he said we'll just try one elastic first. I'm desperate!

[snapdresser]

Jaime - That's good to hear about your jaw pain! When do you see him again? I don't know if it's a good idea to double-up on elastics without him telling you to. I'd think he's trying to do the minimum to get the job done for a reason. Maybe there are some potential consequences of putting on such strong elastics? But I empathize with your exasperation about your bite coming together And I think we've all broken the rules somewhere along the way I wonder what, exactly, the elastics are supposed to change about your anatomy that will cause your bite to come together. My surgeon said the purpose of the elastics was to train the soft tissues, so I guess it's just supposed to stretch the TMJ muscles and kinda torque them around such that it comes together?

Woahhh Canadian Thanksgiving was first?! Canadian Thanksgiving sounds wacky lol. Is poutine an acceptable dish for Canadian Thanksgiving? Or it's turkey and cranberry sauce up there too?

I do eat steak and salad now. The thick really crunchy things or huge burgers that make me really stretch my jaws are the two things I'm still having difficulty eating.

[jaime]

Doubling up on elastics is pretty low on the list of orthodontic crimes, IMHO. He said we might try 2 elastics if 1 doesn't work, but I figured what the hey. I might actually just go down to 1 elastic but change it more often.

I think elastics work in different ways depending how they're applied. I think mine are physically pulling my molars down but I don't know. I don't think my muscles play into the open bite because there's no way I can manipulative my jaw to make those teeth touch. IE I'm not just posturing my jaw wrong.

We eat the usual turkey dinner thing. We don't do the sweet potato mash with marshmallows, though.

So when you chew steak or salad, your jaw doesn't ache afterwards? I can feel it where the bone was cut, it aches.

[snapdresser]

Jaime - Lol, true, it's probly not a big deal. Yeah, just changing your 1 elastic frequently might work too. I wonder how long it's supposed to take to see a noticeable change. How far apart are your molars on the side that doesn't touch? If it's physically pulling your molars down, that sounds kind of scary! My front tooth that started to move down only moved a couple of mm and I was already freaking out It seems crazy to think that they're manipulating bone position with elastics. Actually, I think they can move teeth vertically with braces! Seems like a waste to add the elastics if that's what they're doing. Hmmm... How's your midline doing these days? You said it went back to the correct position with an elastic on the front, right?

Haha I don't do the sweet potato pie either. Or cranberry sauce. Or stuffing. In fact, I'm not much for traditional Thanksgiving foods in general Speaking of Canadian Thanksgiving, I brought up going to Dinosaur BBQ for poutine again with my wife the other day, but we're on a tight budget until she starts work in a couple weeks, but theeeen I'll for sure check it out!

My jaw doesn't ache after eating anything really anymore. Tho I take my steak medium or medium-rare. A well-done steak might leave me with some soreness afterwards. My front 4 teeth on the top seem to have solidified now too, so they don't really ache anymore either, which is nice.

[jaime]

I'm impressed you can eat steak! Medium, even! I used to take my steak medium rare but since I got braces, I switched to rare and mmm, I don't think I'm going back.

My bite is open about 3mm on the left side. It sounds like nothing but it makes chewing certain things impossible.

I just had my first dental checkup since pre-surgery. They were impressed at how clean my teeth were. I felt like a bit of a celebrity in there. They wanted to see photos and marvel at my panorama x-ray, haha. One hygienist even interrupted my cleaning to come take a look at my new face. My dentist said, "This is seriously the best thing you could have done for yourself." So you guys should take that as a compliment, too!

You don't like stuffing?! That's the best part! I'm with you on the sweet potato mash and cranberry sauce, though. Blech.

[snapdresser]

Jaime - Yeah, my jaw muscles don't really get sore anymore, so I'm mostly just worried about really hard, crunchy stuff, cuz I don't want it to jam into my gums on accident and cut them. I still have reduced feeling in a large part of my gums and palate. Lol I don't blame you for sticking with rare. It's pretty amazing Especially if you get a really great cut of beef like a porterhouse or something. Nicely marbled and rare... Mmmmm... I want steak!!!

3mm eh? You're right, it doesn't sound like much, but if you're really trying to chew through something, that probably makes a huge difference. Have you noticed any change in the size since immediately post-op?

Haha, yeah, I think we're "special, interesting cases" for the dental and surgical people. Your surgeon did more of these procedures than mine, but when I go to my surgeon's office all the staff wants to come see me and look at how I'm progressing. I bet your x-rays blew them away too! Those screws in the chin are pretty crazy not to mention all the other hardware! The best thing we could have done for ourselves, I might buy that! Have you noticed people treating you differently since the surgery? I'm kind of curious what the impact is for a girl. I get approached much more in the street and at stores, etc. tho much less so when I'm out with my wife People stare at me all the time That takes a lot of getting used to. It makes me super self-conscious... When I talk to women, they seem really interested in what I have to say now. Or maybe I've just come up with better things to say? Yeah, that must be it...

Nah, I don't like stuffing. I prefer a Thanksgiving ham, TBH. But leftover turkey made into a sandwich slathered with mayo is awesome too Next Monday is Columbus day for us! You guys celebrate Christopher Columbus?

[jaime]

That's interesting that people look at you more now. Your wife is totally gorgeous so I can't blame people if they're looking at her instead of you!

I have to say that looking at your old photos and comparing to when you had longer hair and a goatee, you look way, way different now. And like I said, very polished and put together so I'm not surprised you notice a difference.

I don't notice people treat me any differently now, but I did notice that a little bit when I lost 25lbs back in 2013-2014. I think part of it is that I/people in general exude more confidence when they feel good about themselves, and people do notice that.

I have no idea if the gap is smaller since post-op as I didn't pay toooooo much attention to it right after surgery, other than to notice it was open. I thought I saw a bit of difference when I first started wearing the elastic, though.

You sound like you are far ahead of me as far as healing.

[snapdresser]

Jaime - Haha yeah, my wife gets plenty of attention. You may be right about the confidence thing... You did the whole reinvention package what with the weight loss and surgery! You were engaged before any of that stuff, right? What's your man got to say about it?

Yeah, now that you're doing strong elastics hopefully you see some progress soon. You doubling up on the elastics?

I might be ahead of you in terms of diet, but I think we're on the same page in terms of numbness. Also, when I touch my left cheek, the corner of my mouth feels tingly... I hope that goes away. It feels really weird

[jaime]

Funny about your cheek. I don't have any crossed wires like that, but I did earlier on. If I touched my tongue to the roof of my mouth, I felt it in my lip. I've never heard of anyone saying that phantom feeling is permanent, it seems to go away eventually.

My husband and I didn't get engaged until last summer, so I was already post-SARPE and into braces. We only just got married in April. I have made jokes that I was something of an investment that is now paying off. Buy low, marry high...that kind of thing! My husband has been super supportive all along the way. He lost about 25lbs himself when I did, which was nice. He's already been through braces and palatal expansion so he already has straight teeth!

I doubled up on elastics today, yup. I look at the open bite every few hours to see if it's changed. I should probably give it a few weeks, eh?

[snapdresser]

Jaime - I think the thing with my cheek only developed in the last few weeks. I had it on the inside of my cheek first, but now it's the outside of my cheek causing the sensation. Strange things are afoot... That's good that yours went away.

LOL "buy low"... That's good that he's being supportive! My wife has been somewhat less than supportive I think she's trying to ground me

Haha well, I don't blame you for being anxious to see results from the elastics, but since it may take a little time to affect things, maybe you should take a picture or do some measurements somehow so you can identify small changes day-to-day?

Btw, I think you said in your last blog post that you think you still have some slight swelling. Where do you still have swelling? I think mine kinda makes a ring around my mouth, extending out to the front portion of my cheeks to the sides of my nose, and down under my chin. It's slight, maybe only 1 mm in thickness or less.

[gruntled]

Hahah Jaime at your buy low comment! I'm sure you were just as gorgeous before as you are now. I do hope your open bite gets sorted out soon!

And Snap, you are a very handsome man yourself! I don't know what your wife looks like but I'm sure you're a very photogenic couple.

I've forgotten how much I hate using this website on my phone, typing is such a hassle! I'm not sure why but my phone just seems to type ridiculously on this site's format.

[gruntled]

I've been dreadful at keeping up so here's a few questions:

1. Is anyone still experiencing some numbness? My top gums are sort of 70% feeling and have been for the past 3 months. I suspect they'll never get better.

2. I feel as though my upper jaw is still "loose" from my skull. It's been 4 months so I would have thought it would have healed up by now. If I use my electric toothbrush I feel as though my whole skull is vibrating because of my more loose upper jaw. It's better than June but still not great. Anyone else?

3. I can open my jaw about 4 fingers now but I still have to open my mouth carefully and consciously because the joints arent quite right still. Is this normal in your experience?

4. I feel as though my gums receded quite dramatically thanks to this op and my inability to brush properly afterwards. I'm concerned that they won't ever make a return. Has anyone had good experience with gum regrowth?

Thanks for being my support group when I'm panicking!

[KaylaChristine]

I've been dreadful at keeping up so here's a few questions:

1. Is anyone still experiencing some numbness? My top gums are sort of 70% feeling and have been for the past 3 months. I suspect they'll never get better.

2. I feel as though my upper jaw is still "loose" from my skull. It's been 4 months so I would have thought it would have healed up by now. If I use my electric toothbrush I feel as though my whole skull is vibrating because of my more loose upper jaw. It's better than June but still not great. Anyone else?

3. I can open my jaw about 4 fingers now but I still have to open my mouth carefully and consciously because the joints arent quite right still. Is this normal in your experience?

4. I feel as though my gums receded quite dramatically thanks to this op and my inability to brush properly afterwards. I'm concerned that they won't ever make a return. Has anyone had good experience with gum regrowth?

Thanks for being my support group when I'm panicking!

My left nostril down to my the left half of my upper lip is partially numb. It had actually went away and then I had pain behind the nostril and the next day it was numb again. Surgeon seemed confused by it and prescribed me antibiotics. Finished them and still have numbness. Parts of my top gums are still numb as well.

My upper jaw feels loose (and heavy) as well. Though, my upper jaw is kinda loose in a way. The bone growth between my jaw and skull is still soft and flexible so if I bite down too hard it moves up

I can only open mine about 2 fingers .