July 2011 Buddies?

[leeann001]

Hi all! Day 10 post op here. Had another follow up with my surgeon. Things are looking good so far. I go back in two weeks. I never took anything other than ibuprofen. The pain, for me, is minimal. But, I'm also older than some of you (35) and I've gone through other painful things which puts it all in perspective.

@Ramirez- I am only day ten which means I have 32 days left of wearing this thing. I hate it, but, I know it's necessary. I'm wondering how I'm going to talk to my patients a work.

@Lucia- glad to hear you're feeling good.

@Anna- happy to hear that your second surgery was a success.

So am I the only one that is completely wired shut with zero movement? It stinks. I've lost twelve pounds in ten days. I purposely gained ten before the surgery which probably was a good idea. I'm tired of smooties, protein shakes and soup. Only 32 days left

[IamSam12345]

hi everyone!!
I'm so happy to hear that everyone's doing well and getting their splints out or getting close to that.

@leeann001: oh man! you have to be on liquids for over 30 days? That sucks. I've only been on the liquid diet for a week and it gets old so quickly! I'm hoping to be off of it next week, but I feel for you! And it definitely puts it in perspective for me.

@Lucia: seems like things are moving along well. Good to hear. And it's so strange to see what makes you so tired after surgery. Yesterday, I was at my friends apartment and came up the elevator and then walked down the hall to her door and I was so worn out from it. It's so hard to gauge what activities we can and can't do. Now I'm worried because I have to do my laundry! hopefully I'll be able to.

@ramirez: I'm jealous!! Enjoy it!!! I can't wait to eat foods I never though I'd miss!! Like mac and cheese

[dexter7188]

Day 23 Update:

My surgeon told me he was gonna take out my splint this week. He lied He wants me to wait until next week because that's when my ortho appointment is, which makes sense, I guess. But I was really looking forward to the splint being out this week. I'm starting to get sensation back in the small numb patch on the bottom right of my chin. My surgeon was surprised that that was all the numbness I had from a bimax.

The only swelling I can see if in the front of my face near my cheeks. Pain level is at 0. Discomfort is at about a 3 because of splint and elastics. Also because I'm getting tired of no-chew food. I've been hearing clicking noises every now and then when I move my jaw or if I've been laying on my face.

[IamSam12345]

Dexter: Have you asked your surgeon about the clicking? Is that normal? Sometimes I feel an almost click, but it's more like a grind/pop (if those could combine) kind of sound, I'm not exactly sure how to describe it. Does that sound like what you have?

[Lucia07]

@Sam: I was reading your blog and I tried to leave a comment but I didn't know how so I'm posting on here instead. I totally understand how you feel self conscious about going out in public. I went out with my husband on Thursday for groceries at Wal-mart and Target and I got stares from a few people. It felt so uncomfortable because I'm not used to being stared at. What makes me look odd I guess is not really my swelling (because most of it is gone) but the splint I have because I have a hard time closing my lips. My appearance thankfully didn't change much. My nose is a little upturned but it's so subtle that it's nice. I'm just ready to be past this but I know it requires patience.

@leeann: good to hear that things are looking good for you and you didn't have to take other pain meds. I'm sure your patients will understand a bit more than you think when you talk to them with your splint. I've found that if I move my lips more when talking it makes my speech easier to understand. As a speech-language pathologist myself, I now understand more the anxieties my patients/students feel when they can't pronounce sounds, words, or sentences clearly.

[annafaith]

@lucia - I didn't realise you were a speech pathologist - I've just finished my first year at uni. Do you specialise in a particular area?

3 week update...
Swelling and bruising are now a non issue. Residual swelling is still there but only I notice it. I'm currently in box shaped elastics, one each side, to close my bite at the back which has apparently moved even in the three weeks since surgery Going back to the ortho in two weeks to see how it's going. The elastics hurt. A lot. I'm on ibuprofen, paracetemol and codeine and my whole jaw still aches, it's worse than surgery, i want my morphine button back!

I have a couple of questions for all you july people...
- What are your schedules like for ortho appointments? How many have you had, and how long between visits? I'd like to get some idea of the norm.
- Ditto, but surgical/doctor follow ups?
- What are is your bite like? Do your teeth all fit together or are there still some open gaps?

as always, hope everyone's okay. all the updates seem positive so that's great x

[dexter7188]

Sam: I haven't asked my surgeon, but what you described is exactly what mine sound like.

Anna: For me it's
-I used to go once every 3 weeks before surgery. I've been going since July of last year.
-For surgical follow-ups, I've been going once a week. The frequency still seems to be weekly at this point for me.
-I can't really tell how my teeth fit because of the splint, but my surgeon told me my premolars don't meet.

[Lucia07]

@Annafaith: that's so neat that you're studying communication disorders, at least that's what it's called over here in the US. I would say that I enjoy working more with young children, 3-5 years old, who are language delayed and working with children with autism. I wouldn't say that I specialize in a particular area because I've worked in a number of settings like in a hospital, an out-patient rehabilitation clinic, and currently in a school. I've also worked with adults. I think this career is great because it gives you this opportunity of change if you are seeking it.

And to answer your questions
What are your schedules like for ortho appointments? How many have you had, and how long between visits? I'd like to get some idea of the norm. Prior to surgery I was going to the ortho every 6-7 weeks. After surgery I haven't gone yet because I still have this splint. I have however made an appointment to go on Aug. 25th since I won't have my splint in anymore.
- Ditto, but surgical/doctor follow ups? My OS has been very good about wanting to see me. I've been at follow up appointments for a total of 6 times. One week I went 3 times.
- What are is your bite like? Do your teeth all fit together or are there still some open gaps? As far as my bite goes, the OS keeps saying it looks good. I can't really tell because of the splint. What I can see is that I do have a quite a gap between my upper lateral incisor and canine teeth.

My day 19 update is looking good. I now take some of the elastic bands off to eat and I eat so much better. I do sometimes feel like a boxer (I don't mean the dog, I mean like someone who fights) with this splint in my mouth and the little swelling I have in my cheeks. My energy keeps getting better each day so that is always a good thing. And I'm now using toothpaste to brush my teeth. I kept using the mouthwash the OS prescribed but I got tired of it. I hope it's ok to use toothpaste now, I didn't really ask my OS. Have any of you used toothpaste already?

[IamSam12345]

I just want to say how much I love having this forum where I can talk to all of you. I truly look forward to hearing about all of your progress and get very excited when there are more posts to read. I think we're so lucky to be able to go through this "together."

@Lucia: that's strange that the splint causes such a noticeable change in your appearance. Does it make your lips jut out because you can't close them? I didn't get a splint even though they said I would. I don't know why they didn't give me one, but I guess I'm glad because it seems to make things more complicated. I've been using toothpaste since my second day post op. I didn't even think to ask if it was okay...were we supposed to be dry brushing or with the mouthwash? oops...

@annafaith: I don't have my first ortho appt until 6 weeks post op. I had my first surgical post op appt after 6 days and I'm going back this week on thursday which is two weeks post op. My surgeon told me this was unusual and that they normally see patients after one week and then 4 weeks post op. He wants to keep a closer eye on me because I am different with the TADs and no braces. I'm glad he's keeping a close watch over my case; it's definitely better than the alternative. My bite is okay...definitely so much better than before!! It closes very tightly on the right, but it doesn't even feel like my left back molars are touching. They said my teeth are abnormally shaped which is preventing them from closing completely. My lower jaw is also a little bit to the right. I always try to hold it over to the left to correct my mid line. My rubber bands are connected to the TADs which are in my jaw between my teeth. Because of this, they've been shifting my teeth so now I have some gaps. I'm somewhat concerned about this, but at the same time I know it can be fixed with ortho later on so it should all turn out okay.

@Dexter: Oh no!! I hope this is normal. Please let me know when you get an answer. I'm going to see my surgeon on Thursday so I'll ask him too and tell you what he says.

I just updated my blog and added the pics from this past week into my posts and I found some pics of my teeth on my first day of invisalign which are in the before photos tab at the top!

[annafaith]

Thanks guys for your responses, seems like there's a wide variety of time between appointments for people. I suppose it all depends on complexity of surgery as well. I've had one post op checkup up five days later and the next one will be a month after my second surgery. Sounds about right as I'm only a simple lower jaw case with no splint or anything. I've seen my ortho twice since, and will be back in two weeks. Next time I imagine the gap will be longer - I think he wants to see how the box elastics are doing.

@Iamsam - I was wandering why you get the luxery of not having to wear braces!?

[w0nnie]

Hi all,

Day 19 for me, most of my visible swelling has gone now alothough i do have some puffyness in my jaw at about the point the the BSSO cut was made (i think, it was where i had a external stitch on each side). The big move for me today is that im back in the office, i worked from home last thursday (2 week point) and friday as i felt a bit fragile to commute. The only trouble im having at work so far is not being able to graze as easy as i did at home, having to remove my bands in the bathroom at work to eat anything has limitied opportunites to have food.

I have had the two square bands on the front, directly from midline and slightly larger than M&M width (yeap, they fit through) which now just seem natural, doesnt take long to get used to them, I have to have them on for 6 weeks, only removing them to eat and clean.

@annafaith, your questions
- What are your schedules like for ortho appointments? How many have you had, and how long between visits? I'd like to get some idea of the norm.

i am not scheduled to visit my ortho until the surgeon passes me back, which is planned to be at the 6 week mark. before that i used to see him about every 6 weeks.

- Ditto, but surgical/doctor follow ups?

apart from directly post op, i seen my surgeon on day 6 in his office and see him weekly now for at least 6 weeks, until he passes me to then ortho

- What are is your bite like? Do your teeth all fit together or are there still some open gaps?

i am a bit open on the left side, but i still feel that the jaw is swollen there, although i cant see it. The surgeon has said its a little open there but its nothing that the ortho cant fix. The issue i have now is where my front teeth should bite, directly onto each other or slightly back.

[IamSam12345]

@annafaith: honestly, I got really really lucky. The ortho that I see is one of the top invisalign providers in my state so they are capable of handling difficult cases. One of the surgeons I had a consult with said I'd have to get braces on before the surgery so I didn't choose him. The surgeon who did my surgery said he had done it once before and that it would be more difficult, but that he'd be willing to do it without the braces.

[annafaith]

@annafaith: honestly, I got really really lucky. The ortho that I see is one of the top invisalign providers in my state so they are capable of handling difficult cases. One of the surgeons I had a consult with said I'd have to get braces on before the surgery so I didn't choose him. The surgeon who did my surgery said he had done it once before and that it would be more difficult, but that he'd be willing to do it without the braces.

Ah cool, lucky you How are you finding the elastics at the front? I'm dreading being told I have to wear them on my front teeth. Do you still get aches from wearing them on the tads?

[IamSam12345]

Pre surgery, I may have been very upset to think that I'd have to wear them in the front, but I don't really care at all now. I don't feel attractive right now so it's not really doing anything to harm my self esteem or make me feel more self conscious. It's kind of annoying when I'm eating bc I have to direct it to the sides if I'm eating something thick, but regular liquids go through fine. My gums are very irritated and if I open my mouth the elastics drag against my gums and it hurts a lot. Yawning is the worst bc it's so hard to keep my mouth closed. My teeth have also moved a bit because of the elastics pulling the TADs in different directions, but I'm sure it'll be okay after they're off.

[Lucia07]

Hello everyone!

Today is my 3 week update, yay! I actually ventured out to the movies today and it was good to be out and watch a movie (Crazy, Stupid, Love) with a friend. I did laugh quite a bit so now my right side of my face, by my TMJ area, is hurting. Not in a excruciating kind of way but just hurting. Other than that things are great. I've been walking in the afternoons to get more energy and prepared to go back to work next week. My first day of work should be Monday but I'm taking that day off so my co-workers won't see me with the splint. I have the appointment to get the splint off that same Monday, the 15th, at 5pm. I can't wait!!

Well I'm glad to hear everyone's updates. I too am happy for this forum where I can share how I'm doing with all of you and in the process do not feel like I'm going through it alone.