Haha sleeping sitting up is so hard, I'm a side sleeper too and I have to be really tired to be able to sleep with my head up like that!
My swelling was almost completely gone in the last 2 days but when I woke up yesterday my left cheek was swollen again and I had a little pain so I talked to the orthodontist about it this morning at my appointment and he saw that I had some kind of infection at the end of the incision, so he drained it and gave me antibiotics and tomorrow I have an appointment with the surgeon to make sure everything is healing fine.
Also I started to expand this morning, and the feeling is weiiirddd ! It's really not painful but it feels all fuzzy and tingly under my nose haha
I have to turn 3 times twice a day, I was worried it would be too much but with my expander, 1 turn is only 1/12mm so I'm expanding a total of 0,5mm a day.
November Surgery Buddies!
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
Sucks to hear about your infection! I hope it clears up quickly. I've been on antibiotics since surgery day and dont seem to be having any problems. I have a check in with my surgeon tomorrow and I'll drop by to see my orthodontist after that. How is your numbness?
The sleeping for me is difficult because I have to wake up at midnight to take antibiotics. Then getting back to sleep through my boyfriend's snoring is nearly impossible. Not to mention that he has taken to sleeping on my pillow, even though I'm propped up on a bed wedge. So every time I try to adjust my pillow, he wakes up and complains that I'm moving my pillow. Never mind that he has about 6 pillows of his own to curl up with. So when I get up at 6am to take more medicine, I go back to sleep in my recliner downstairs. It annoys him but I've been so tired. I actually needed pain meds today because my head was pounding from lack of sleep. The ice for my swelling is helping with my headaches too. I tried a heating pad on low yesterday and while it felt nice, it didn't seem to do much for swelling.
The sleeping for me is difficult because I have to wake up at midnight to take antibiotics. Then getting back to sleep through my boyfriend's snoring is nearly impossible. Not to mention that he has taken to sleeping on my pillow, even though I'm propped up on a bed wedge. So every time I try to adjust my pillow, he wakes up and complains that I'm moving my pillow. Never mind that he has about 6 pillows of his own to curl up with. So when I get up at 6am to take more medicine, I go back to sleep in my recliner downstairs. It annoys him but I've been so tired. I actually needed pain meds today because my head was pounding from lack of sleep. The ice for my swelling is helping with my headaches too. I tried a heating pad on low yesterday and while it felt nice, it didn't seem to do much for swelling.
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sherrifrob
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- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:23 pm
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
I'm late to the party on this one. I had my surgery on November 20th.
The swelling peaked I think today & is starting to go down. You are so right about the sleeping upright, fun drool & boredom. I can't take codeine as it makes me nauseous when I take it on an empty stomach, that was a fun lesson to learn post op. I'm just taking paracetamol which is fine for the most part but I've had a sinusy headache for hours & hours now & it's not helping that.
Now normally, I'd just sleep all of this off BUT obviously even with my exquisite pillow wedge thingy that is not happening.
Any consensus on how long it took for sleeping to get a bit easier? post swelling? post elastics removal? post weird gross nose bleeds?
The swelling peaked I think today & is starting to go down. You are so right about the sleeping upright, fun drool & boredom. I can't take codeine as it makes me nauseous when I take it on an empty stomach, that was a fun lesson to learn post op. I'm just taking paracetamol which is fine for the most part but I've had a sinusy headache for hours & hours now & it's not helping that.
Now normally, I'd just sleep all of this off BUT obviously even with my exquisite pillow wedge thingy that is not happening.
Any consensus on how long it took for sleeping to get a bit easier? post swelling? post elastics removal? post weird gross nose bleeds?
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
I'm glad to have my bed all to myself for my recovery ! My boyfriend lives 2 hours from me and he only comes over on the weekends so I
Lack of sleep after surgery seems to get to you pretty quickly I noticed, so I take a couple small naps during the day.
For the numbness I don't know what's normal or not but there's not that much left ! At first it was like we often read from other people, below the eyes down to the cheeks, the tip of the nose and the upper lip. Now I got almost all my left side back, the only numbness I have left on that side is a little part of my upper lip and also a small part of my nose, and on the right side there's a part of my cheek and part of my nose also.
Like you I thought that the heat wasn't doing much for the swelling, but after a couple days it felt much better than the cold on my face, and I read that it helps with blood circulation, but I don't know if it really makes a difference..!
Lack of sleep after surgery seems to get to you pretty quickly I noticed, so I take a couple small naps during the day.
For the numbness I don't know what's normal or not but there's not that much left ! At first it was like we often read from other people, below the eyes down to the cheeks, the tip of the nose and the upper lip. Now I got almost all my left side back, the only numbness I have left on that side is a little part of my upper lip and also a small part of my nose, and on the right side there's a part of my cheek and part of my nose also.
Like you I thought that the heat wasn't doing much for the swelling, but after a couple days it felt much better than the cold on my face, and I read that it helps with blood circulation, but I don't know if it really makes a difference..!
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
Hey welcome to the discussion !sherrifrob wrote:I'm late to the party on this one. I had my surgery on November 20th.
The swelling peaked I think today & is starting to go down. You are so right about the sleeping upright, fun drool & boredom. I can't take codeine as it makes me nauseous when I take it on an empty stomach, that was a fun lesson to learn post op. I'm just taking paracetamol which is fine for the most part but I've had a sinusy headache for hours & hours now & it's not helping that.
Now normally, I'd just sleep all of this off BUT obviously even with my exquisite pillow wedge thingy that is not happening.
Any consensus on how long it took for sleeping to get a bit easier? post swelling? post elastics removal? post weird gross nose bleeds?
What surgery did you have ?
Mine was Sarpe a week ago and the swelling was definitely at it's worst on day 3, after that it gets better really quickly, everyday when you wake up you notice the swelling has gone down a bit. I had nose bleeding only for a couple hours post-op so I don't know about that, but the sinus-headaches also gets better after a couple days.
For sleeping, well it's not easy, but what I think helped me the most to be able to sleep in that awful position is a neck pillow, like the ones people bring in planes, with the U shape. It helps to keep the neck stable without having too much pillows.
Hope that helps somehow !
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sherrifrob
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:23 pm
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
The sleep thing definitely takes it's toll. I worked nights for ten years so I have a pretty high tolerance, after a certain point though all you want to do is face plant a pillow.
I had my upper & lower jaw osteotomy to correct problems with my bite. I've had braces for 2 years so far, with any luck they'll come off soon.
You're totally right about the swelling, although the bruising is more obvious today the actual swelling has gone down. I'm off to get a post op xray & my stitches removed. I think it'll be nap time as soon as I get home.
The travel pillow is a good call, I did manage to get some sleep last night & the sinus headache is gone. I had in my head that I just needed to get through day 4/5 & that was the worst of it over with. I cannot wait to be able to consume something other than clear fluids through a syringe. I've got a bottle of codeine in the fridge that I've been unable to take on an empty stomach. Soon as I can get something resembling food down I am netflixing in a codeine bubble.
Hows everyone doing post op? Where are you all by the way? I'm in Brighton, UK but I'm Irish.
Clare
I had my upper & lower jaw osteotomy to correct problems with my bite. I've had braces for 2 years so far, with any luck they'll come off soon.
You're totally right about the swelling, although the bruising is more obvious today the actual swelling has gone down. I'm off to get a post op xray & my stitches removed. I think it'll be nap time as soon as I get home.
The travel pillow is a good call, I did manage to get some sleep last night & the sinus headache is gone. I had in my head that I just needed to get through day 4/5 & that was the worst of it over with. I cannot wait to be able to consume something other than clear fluids through a syringe. I've got a bottle of codeine in the fridge that I've been unable to take on an empty stomach. Soon as I can get something resembling food down I am netflixing in a codeine bubble.
Hows everyone doing post op? Where are you all by the way? I'm in Brighton, UK but I'm Irish.
Clare
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
Welcome!sherrifrob wrote:The sleep thing definitely takes it's toll. I worked nights for ten years so I have a pretty high tolerance, after a certain point though all you want to do is face plant a pillow.
I had my upper & lower jaw osteotomy to correct problems with my bite. I've had braces for 2 years so far, with any luck they'll come off soon.
You're totally right about the swelling, although the bruising is more obvious today the actual swelling has gone down. I'm off to get a post op xray & my stitches removed. I think it'll be nap time as soon as I get home.
The travel pillow is a good call, I did manage to get some sleep last night & the sinus headache is gone. I had in my head that I just needed to get through day 4/5 & that was the worst of it over with. I cannot wait to be able to consume something other than clear fluids through a syringe. I've got a bottle of codeine in the fridge that I've been unable to take on an empty stomach. Soon as I can get something resembling food down I am netflixing in a codeine bubble.
Hows everyone doing post op? Where are you all by the way? I'm in Brighton, UK but I'm Irish.
Clare
The bruising definitely peaks on day 3-4. I'm a week post op today and I could probably change my name to Captain Greenbeard.
Post op, I've been feeling great. Minimal pain, just a lot of swelling and a touch of numbness in my chin and lower lip, pretty standard for lower jaw only. I was on blended solids starting on day 3, which was nice. Except that nothing tastes how it should and that's disappointing.
I had a post op x-Ray done before I left the surgery facility on surgery day and my stitches are dissolvable. I feel one of the stitches from an extraction site coming loose, which is exciting, except it's poking on the inside of my teeth and I can't move because of the heavy elastics. Today is my first post op appointment but I don't know what to expect since I can't really open my mouth. It should be interesting to say the least because I'm going to see my orthodontist too.
Last but not least, location: Spokane, WA, United States. Today we are celebrating our first snow of the season, just a week after a historic windstorm that knocked out power for 200,000 people. We still have about 8% of our population without power, schools have been closed for the last week (and are closed for the remainder of this week) and we're still cleaning up knocked down trees and debris.
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
I'm from Quebec, Canada
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sherrifrob
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:23 pm
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
I had my post op follow up today, I was dreading it cos from experience with a lot of knee surgery its usually unpleasant. It wasn't! 
They took Xrays & whipped out two stitches in either cheek. Seriously having your eyebrows waxed is worse. They had a look but didn't do anything that hurt or mess with the elastics. I think my surgeon & my orthodontist hate each other, he made a crack about them bickering like a married couple & she physically recoiled.
They won't change elastics til next week or try getting me to change them myself til after that so post op appointment was no big deal.
Swelling is going down & I too have that wonderful greenish yellow stuff on my huge lantern chin, also I have a massive bruise on my boob. Surgeon mentioned how strong my jaw bones were & how he couldn't find some nerves he was looking for. I shut him down, from experience that only leads to graphic descriptions which explain why you're so bruised.
As it's the UK & my lounge faces the sea it's like living in a car wash with all the rain. Luckily I'm not going out cos I will literally scare people.
How's everyone passing the time? Other than blizzard preparedness & what not.
They took Xrays & whipped out two stitches in either cheek. Seriously having your eyebrows waxed is worse. They had a look but didn't do anything that hurt or mess with the elastics. I think my surgeon & my orthodontist hate each other, he made a crack about them bickering like a married couple & she physically recoiled.
They won't change elastics til next week or try getting me to change them myself til after that so post op appointment was no big deal.
Swelling is going down & I too have that wonderful greenish yellow stuff on my huge lantern chin, also I have a massive bruise on my boob. Surgeon mentioned how strong my jaw bones were & how he couldn't find some nerves he was looking for. I shut him down, from experience that only leads to graphic descriptions which explain why you're so bruised.
As it's the UK & my lounge faces the sea it's like living in a car wash with all the rain. Luckily I'm not going out cos I will literally scare people.
How's everyone passing the time? Other than blizzard preparedness & what not.
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
Good to hear that your post op went well! My orthodontist said he wanted to look at elastics starting one week post op. He said he'll make all the decisions regarding rubber bands. I have a nice view of a river from my townhouse but with it being so cold, I just stay inside. I really have a hard time sitting still so staying on the couch playing SPAMS or watching tv is really tough. My jail keeper took me to the grocery store last night which was awesome. I think I only scared one person and it was a little kid. My boyfriend is exactly a foot taller than me and twice my weight because of it, so I worry that going out with him looks like he did this to me. And that's not the case at all!sherrifrob wrote:I had my post op follow up today, I was dreading it cos from experience with a lot of knee surgery its usually unpleasant. It wasn't!
They took Xrays & whipped out two stitches in either cheek. Seriously having your eyebrows waxed is worse. They had a look but didn't do anything that hurt or mess with the elastics. I think my surgeon & my orthodontist hate each other, he made a crack about them bickering like a married couple & she physically recoiled.
They won't change elastics til next week or try getting me to change them myself til after that so post op appointment was no big deal.
Swelling is going down & I too have that wonderful greenish yellow stuff on my huge lantern chin, also I have a massive bruise on my boob. Surgeon mentioned how strong my jaw bones were & how he couldn't find some nerves he was looking for. I shut him down, from experience that only leads to graphic descriptions which explain why you're so bruised.
As it's the UK & my lounge faces the sea it's like living in a car wash with all the rain. Luckily I'm not going out cos I will literally scare people.
How's everyone passing the time? Other than blizzard preparedness & what not.
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
God I hadn't thought about that when I went grocery shopping with my boyfriend last weekend haha ! You referring to him as your jail keeper was hilarious, made me think about my mom the first couple of days as she would almost measure everything I drank or ate to make sure I was getting enough & forbid me to get back to my appartment until she told me I could ! Anyway it was nice having somebody taking care of me though !EWUgal15 wrote:
My jail keeper took me to the grocery store last night which was awesome. I think I only scared one person and it was a little kid. My boyfriend is exactly a foot taller than me and twice my weight because of it, so I worry that going out with him looks like he did this to me. And that's not the case at all!
Luckily I live in a small town where everyone pretty much knows everyone so when I go out people aren't scared, they just look at me thinking that I must have changed something cause I wasn't that ugly before haha
And Sherrifrob, for passing the time, I'm watching a lot of tv shows on my laptop, and tv, movies.. The internet can be very entertaining too; blogs, youtube, and I also really like to go on Reddit.
When I have the energy I try to do some cleaning around my appartment, also taking small walks really helps, it feels good to be standing up and moving sometimes, especially with the fresh air outside.
I'm really not doing much these days, I spend most of my time on the couch actually but I don't get to do that very often so I enjoy it !
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sherrifrob
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 7:23 pm
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
My surgeon seemed offended that I covered my face with a scarf, it's not you, it's me....& my melon face.
God why is there food in everything on TV? I was avoiding dairy to clear my sinuses so I can sleep but sleeps just not happening so I'm having a late night shake. Tomorrow I'll go on the hunt for non-dairy soups that will fit in a syringe, how exciting!
God why is there food in everything on TV? I was avoiding dairy to clear my sinuses so I can sleep but sleeps just not happening so I'm having a late night shake. Tomorrow I'll go on the hunt for non-dairy soups that will fit in a syringe, how exciting!
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
My surgeon and his staff didn't even comment on my scarf. But I've done the same thing every time I go out. Mostly to prevent people seeing all the bruising but it's also been really cold here. I've had a milkshake for dinner every night for the last 4 days. Helps with the depression.sherrifrob wrote:My surgeon seemed offended that I covered my face with a scarf, it's not you, it's me....& my melon face.
God why is there food in everything on TV? I was avoiding dairy to clear my sinuses so I can sleep but sleeps just not happening so I'm having a late night shake. Tomorrow I'll go on the hunt for non-dairy soups that will fit in a syringe, how exciting!
I'm also terrible at passing the time watching tv...I had a Chopped marathon the first night home from surgery. The recovery nurse couldn't believe I was watching a cooking competition show all night long. And I'm still watching cooking shows. Trying to plan what I'm going to eat when I'm allowed to chew again.
Re: November Surgery Buddies!
I'm already having a small gap between the front teeth ! I started to turn the key monday morning so I have made 15 turns now, which is almost 1,5 mm (each turn is something like 1/12mm)
I attached a picture, I hope it's working ! Sorry about my big face haha
And Sherrifrob for your soups, I don't know if you have those in the UK, here in Canada it's a classic meal, I bought cans of Pea soup with vegetables and I blended it so there wouldn't be any chunks and it was good but also very nutritive, because the peas have a decent amount of protein. For me it's one of the easiest soups to drink because you can blend it to a thin liquid and at the same time it's as nutritive as a soup with meat and everything.
I attached a picture, I hope it's working ! Sorry about my big face haha
And Sherrifrob for your soups, I don't know if you have those in the UK, here in Canada it's a classic meal, I bought cans of Pea soup with vegetables and I blended it so there wouldn't be any chunks and it was good but also very nutritive, because the peas have a decent amount of protein. For me it's one of the easiest soups to drink because you can blend it to a thin liquid and at the same time it's as nutritive as a soup with meat and everything.
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Re: November Surgery Buddies!
Looking really good Stellla! I don't see any bruising, that's awesome!
Does SARPE require that you be on a liquid diet? You're probably having an easier time eating than the rest of us because you're not banded shut. I was thankful that I didn't have to be wired shut, but the heavy rubber bands are basically being wired shut. What I wouldn't give to use a spoon...
Does SARPE require that you be on a liquid diet? You're probably having an easier time eating than the rest of us because you're not banded shut. I was thankful that I didn't have to be wired shut, but the heavy rubber bands are basically being wired shut. What I wouldn't give to use a spoon...